Church History

  • Building St. Peters by

    Sadly, the church, composed of sinful men and women, does not escape the infiltration of depravity, but it frequently suffers greatly from it. Corruption among officials, particularly high-ranking leaders, has serious ramifications both within and without the church’s borders …

  • Church Power and Dissent by

    As the Middle Ages progressed, the Roman Catholic Church became one of the most powerful institutions in Western Europe. People responded to the church’s growing influence in a number of ways. Many supported the church, considering it to be …

  • Forerunners of the Reformation by

    As the church continued to consolidate its power and define its beliefs, it did not always act and speak with one voice. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, certain churchmen began to speak out against the corrupt practices and unbiblical …

  • Great Scholastics by

    The thirteenth and fourteenth centuries represented an era of significant change in the Medieval world. In the East, these centuries witnessed the final decline and collapse of the Byzantine Empire. Meanwhile, institutions in the West continued to develop and flourish …

  • Gregory, Missions & Islam by

    Around 600, as Gregory I labored in Rome for the growth and development of Christianity in Western Europe, an Arabian trader named Muhammad began to wrestle with religious questions and arrive at answers that were very different from the teachings …

  • Indulgence Controversy by

    Theological disputation occurs frequently within the confines of the church. At times, differences among brothers and sisters in Christ lead to divisive splits and even animosity, which generally burgeons on account of poor behavior and a less than gentle spirit …

  • Innocent III by

    So far we have studied several notable events and movements that took place in the high Middle Ages. In addition to being an era of significant social, political, and cultural developments, this era also marked an important chapter in the …

  • Introduction to the Middle Ages by

    Our word “medieval” comes from the Latin terms medium and aevum, which mean “middle age.” Neglected by some and romanticized by others, the period of the Middle Ages is important for understanding the triumphs and struggles of Christians in Europe …

  • Justinian & Gregory by

    Emperor Justinian I and Pope Gregory I stand out as two of the most significant figures in the centuries of transition that marked the early Middle Ages. As the vestiges of Roman culture and institutions continued to fade or be …

  • Luther & the Lightning Bolt by

    Protestants around the world today celebrate their distinction from the Roman Catholic Church proudly and regularly. Yet, how many actually know the history behind their separation? The old adage “you can’t know where you are going until you know …

  • Monastery & Rome Crisis by

    The word “holy” gets bandied about often in contemporary culture. Some apply the term to archaic or sacred ideas or items from past civilizations, while others combine it with a noun for use as an impromptu expression of fear or …

  • Monasticism & Scholasticism by

    For nearly two millennia, many Christians have chosen to express their piety through ascetic living. Though the roots of monasticism existed long before, the sixth-century monk Benedict of Nursia is considered to be the founding father of the medieval monastic …

  • Mysticism & the Renaissance by

    As the Middle Ages continued to wind down in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, a diverse array of movements continued to exercise influence inside and outside the church. Amidst the backdrop of great Scholastic thinkers, other leaders appeared, advocating a …

  • OPTIONAL SESSION: Pillars of Grace by

    In this optional session, Steven Lawson walks readers through the ups and downs of church history, profiling pillars who stood on the foundation of Scripture and upheld the truth of God’s sovereign role in salvation. Related Resource: Pillars of …

  • OPTIONAL SESSION: The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon by

    In this optional session, Steven Lawson shows that Spurgeon fearlessly taught the doctrines of grace and simultaneously held forth the free offer of salvation in Jesus Christ. He gives a passionate call for all Christians to follow Spurgeon in maintaining …