Podcasts about early christians

This is my relatively short talk given during the 2025 Plato's Academy multidisciplinary conference: The Philosophy and Psychology of Anger, during which I discuss some of the useful insights and practices early Christian thinkers (2nd-5th Century CE) can provide us. These don't require one to be committed to Christianity and can be applied by a wide range of people. I begin with a passage from Pierre Hadot's book Philosophy As A Way Of Life: "[Christians] believed they recognized spiritual exercises, which they had learned through philosophy, in specific scriptural passages . . . The reason why Christian authors paid attention to these particular biblical passages, was that they were already familiar, from other sources, with the spiritual exercises of prosokhē, meditation on death, and examination of the conscience.” What Hadot calls “spiritual exercises” gets called by a variety of other terms by other thinkers. Foucault's "technologies of the self", Nussbaum's "therapeutic arguments", as well as the more general "philosophical practices" many of us reference in our work and study. What we can say about these early Christian thinkers is that many had a philosophical education, had opportunities to engage with pagan philosophical schools, some of which had pretty strong religious stances, with precursor and contemporary Jewish thought, and with a variety of other disciplines like rhetoric, medicine, literature, political theory, law, history, music, etc. There was already a strong interest in issues about anger already raised and debated in ancient philosophy including: vicious anger, can anger have useful role, dangers of indulging or excusing anger, anger and courage or justice, types or levels of anger, divine anger. Early Christian thinkers rely upon or incorporating broadly Platonic psychology, and ethical conceptions drawn from Platonist, Stoic, and Aristotelian schools, but within a framework Christianity provides. The thinkers I reference and discuss in this presentation include: 2nd-4th Century CE: Clement of Alexandria 150 – c. 215 AD, Tertullian 155 – c. 220, Origen 185 – c. 253, Lactantius 250 – c. 325 4th 5th century CE: Basil of Caesarea 330 – 379, Gregory of Nyssa 335, Evagrius Ponticus 345–399 AD, John Chrysostom 347-407, Ambrose 339-397, Jerome 342–347-420, Prudentius 348-413?, John Cassian 360 – 435, Augustine of Hippo 354-430 Some of the key scriptural passages they tend to engage most heavily with include: A number of discussions of anger in Pre-Christian Jewish scriptures, particularly in the Psalms, Proverbs, and Sirach The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Paul's Letter To Ephesians, and the Letter of James There is a stress on identifying and dealing with vices that involve anger, but also on developing virtues of Patience, Humility, Mercy, and Forgiveness. They also adopt, develop, and discuss a number of useful practices for lessening, understanding, or dealing with anger.

In this episode, we explore how Dr. Boone draws on a powerful ancient Christian symbol: the fish, also known as "ICTHUS." Early Christians used the fish as a sign of their faith and hope, and Dr. Boone invites us to see our worship journey as tracing this profound yet straightforward symbol through the various stages of worship.

Join Pastor Lucas Miles as he delivers a timely message addressing the growing cultural shift toward pagan and post-Christian worldviews. In this sermon, Pastor Lucas emphasizes that the challenge facing the church is not individual people, but the larger attempt to replace the Christian worldview with spiritual substitutes that promise meaning yet lead people away from the truth of the Gospel. He explains why the church must understand both the moment we're living in and the direction society is moving—preparing to become the “Church of Tomorrow” by standing firm with clarity, conviction, and grace.Throughout the message, Pastor Lucas highlights the importance of open dialogue within the church, pointing to our upcoming “Ask Me Anything” Sunday as an opportunity for honest questions and deeper discipleship. He also unpacks the significance of communion as a reminder of Christ's victory and the transformation available to every believer. Drawing from early church history, he shows how Christians in ancient Rome defended their faith against false accusations and makes clear the parallels to modern criticisms of Christianity today—accusations of bigotry, judgmentalism, and irrelevance.Pastor Lucas then explores humanity's built-in awareness of God and explains how suppressing that truth leads to spiritual confusion and the rise of alternative belief systems. He addresses the increasing popularity of modern spiritual trends—earth worship, reincarnation, astrology, manifestation, chakras, and globalism—revealing how the desires behind these beliefs ultimately point back to what only Christ can fulfill. The message concludes with a call to reestablish the goodness of God in people's hearts, demolish arguments that set themselves against the knowledge of God, and invite those seeking spiritual truth to find their answers in Jesus.Key Themes: • The rise of pagan and post-Christian worldviews • Preparing to be the “Church of Tomorrow” • The importance of open dialogue (“Ask Me Anything” Sunday) • Communion and the victory of Christ • Early Christian apologetics and modern accusations • Humanity's innate awareness of God • The pursuit of spirituality in all the wrong places • Reestablishing God's goodness in a confused culture • Calling seekers to truth found only in JesusTimestamps:3:21 — The Church of Tomorrow & Facing Cultural Threats 3:40 — The Rise of Post-Christian & Pagan Worldviews 3:59 — Paganism, Marxism & Competing Ideologies 4:17 — Understanding Today to Prepare for Tomorrow 4:54 — A New “Apology”: Defending the Christian Faith 5:59 — Early Church Apologetics: Justin Martyr & Rome 7:27 — Accusations Faced by Early Christians 12:21 — Modern Accusations Against the Church 13:46 — Romans 1: Awareness & Suppression of God 17:03 — The Search for Meaning & Spiritual Confusion 21:44 — Pagan Pursuits vs. Fulfillment in Christ 26:14 — Globalism & the Kingdom of God

Join Pastor Lucas Miles as he delivers a timely message addressing the growing cultural shift toward pagan and post-Christian worldviews. In this sermon, Pastor Lucas emphasizes that the challenge facing the church is not individual people, but the larger attempt to replace the Christian worldview with spiritual substitutes that promise meaning yet lead people away from the truth of the Gospel. He explains why the church must understand both the moment we're living in and the direction society is moving—preparing to become the “Church of Tomorrow” by standing firm with clarity, conviction, and grace.Throughout the message, Pastor Lucas highlights the importance of open dialogue within the church, pointing to our upcoming “Ask Me Anything” Sunday as an opportunity for honest questions and deeper discipleship. He also unpacks the significance of communion as a reminder of Christ's victory and the transformation available to every believer. Drawing from early church history, he shows how Christians in ancient Rome defended their faith against false accusations and makes clear the parallels to modern criticisms of Christianity today—accusations of bigotry, judgmentalism, and irrelevance.Pastor Lucas then explores humanity's built-in awareness of God and explains how suppressing that truth leads to spiritual confusion and the rise of alternative belief systems. He addresses the increasing popularity of modern spiritual trends—earth worship, reincarnation, astrology, manifestation, chakras, and globalism—revealing how the desires behind these beliefs ultimately point back to what only Christ can fulfill. The message concludes with a call to reestablish the goodness of God in people's hearts, demolish arguments that set themselves against the knowledge of God, and invite those seeking spiritual truth to find their answers in Jesus.Key Themes: • The rise of pagan and post-Christian worldviews • Preparing to be the “Church of Tomorrow” • The importance of open dialogue (“Ask Me Anything” Sunday) • Communion and the victory of Christ • Early Christian apologetics and modern accusations • Humanity's innate awareness of God • The pursuit of spirituality in all the wrong places • Reestablishing God's goodness in a confused culture • Calling seekers to truth found only in JesusTimestamps:3:21 — The Church of Tomorrow & Facing Cultural Threats 3:40 — The Rise of Post-Christian & Pagan Worldviews 3:59 — Paganism, Marxism & Competing Ideologies 4:17 — Understanding Today to Prepare for Tomorrow 4:54 — A New “Apology”: Defending the Christian Faith 5:59 — Early Church Apologetics: Justin Martyr & Rome 7:27 — Accusations Faced by Early Christians 12:21 — Modern Accusations Against the Church 13:46 — Romans 1: Awareness & Suppression of God 17:03 — The Search for Meaning & Spiritual Confusion 21:44 — Pagan Pursuits vs. Fulfillment in Christ 26:14 — Globalism & the Kingdom of God

This is a podcast of a guest sermon, given by invitation to the Unitarian Universalist Community of Rock Tavern. In it, I discuss anger as a common problem not only of our own times, but of all times. Christian teachings on anger present us with some "hard sayings," and several 4th century thinkers -- John Cassian, Augustine of Hippo, and John Chrysostom -- are very helpful for understanding how to live with and live out these difficult requirements. A transcript of the sermon is available here: https://www.academia.edu/14942379/_And_Whoever_is_Angry_With_His_Brother_Early_Christian_Insights_A

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Creekside.me/sermons

The rulers threatened the apostles not to preach in the name of Christ, but had to let them go that time. But the violence against the church escalated during the next encounter: Peter and the others were again preaching at the temple the Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ. The rulers arrested and jailed them, and reminded them that they had been told not to preach in the name of Christ, yet they were still doing so, filling Jerusalem with the Gospel, and accusing the rulers of murdering Messiah! How dare they try to bring Christ's blood down on the rulers' hands! Early Christians were very clear on this point, because it was true: Peter had repeatedly accused the people and the rulers of crucifying Christ, even as he proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation by Christ through faith in His offering for sin. What a privilege it was for the early Christians to be able to confront those wicked rulers who crucified Christ, and face to face, force them to acknowledge the accusation of what they had done. After all, these very same people had demanded of Pontius Pilate, that Christ's blood be upon their hands, and the hands of their children! But now they were not keen at all to be confronted with their crimes against Messiah. Once again, Peter made it clear: that it was obedience to God's command that they both preach the Gospel of Christ, and accuse the rulers of murdering Him on the cross! Peter refused to cease preaching, and would not withdraw the accusation, even before the face of those very rulers who strongly objected to the truth. Therefore, Peter did it again to their faces! "The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree!"

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Early Christian Creeds, Part 4 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 11/7/25 (3111) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Creekside.me/sermons

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Amen.Last week, Conner Smith took his son, Charlie, to a new candy store in Riverside, California. They found the store was closed but had been left unlocked. Uptown Candy Shop had only been open for about a week. Since the store is in a shopping mall in the greater LA area, there was a real risk of it being looted.So, Conner and his son stood guard in front of the unlocked door. They found the phone number for the security company at the mall. Then they waited in front of the candy shop until a guard arrived to lock up. The grateful candy shop owner shared the security footage of the dad using this situation as a teaching moment for his young son. The video went viral. The store owner told CBS LA, "We wanted to properly thank them, so we posted it on TikTok to get the word out there. We figured TikTok finds the bad guys really fast, so let's see how long it takes them to find the good guy."The author of the letter to the Hebrews is giving encouragement to Christians who are being persecuted. He lists great heroes of faith. He finds the good guys. He's using this as a teachable moment. "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again" (Hebrews 11:32-34).Gideon defeated the mighty Midianites, even though his army was outnumbered 135,000 to 300. Deborah and Barak defeated the army of Sisera because God sent a flood that wiped out the enemy army. Samson killed 1,000 Philistines using the jawbone of a donkey. Jephthah slaughtered the Ammonite army. David slayed the mighty giant Goliath with a sling and a stone. Samuel was a prophet and a judge. Daniel survived the lions' den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived the fiery furnace. The widow of Zarephath and the woman of Shunem both received their sons back from the dead.These are known and named good guys and gals. But the author goes on to list unnamed, but still remembered, good guys and gals. "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword – they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated" (Hebrews 11:35-37).The Devil hates these good guys and gals! That's why he sends his bad guys to hunt, hurt, harass, and commit homicide on God's good guys and gals. The ways of the Devil are always violent and destructive. While John the Baptist was in prison, the people were asking Jesus about John. Jesus responded, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). Early Christians suffered violence for being citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Throughout the history of the Christian Church, Christians have been held captive as prisoners, had bounties on their heads, been bludgeoned, beheaded, burned at the stake, fed to the lions, crucified, and any of numerous creatively macabre ways to be killed. In every age, the kingdom of heaven is threatened by the allies of hell. We should expect nothing else.The ways of the Devil remain violent and destructive. The Christian Church, with her proclamation of a crucified Christ, continues to appear weak and wimpy in comparison. We are living in the Church Militant – the Church at war.Christ and his apostles tell us to expect this violence against us. The bad guys will always be coming after Christ's good guys and gals. Jesus promised, "Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will put you to death. You will be hated by all nations because of my name" (Matthew 24:9). St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians to let them know that Timothy was sent to them to prepare them for suffering, "We sent him to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one will be shaken by these trials, for you know well that we are destined for this. In fact, even when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer" (1 Thessalonians 3:2-4). St. Paul told the Philippians that by God's grace they were given both the gift of faith in Christ and also the gift of suffering in Christ's name: "For it has been graciously granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" (Philippians 1:29).This violence against Christians and the Christian Church will continue to come. Satan is described in Scripture as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. That's an apt description provided by the Holy Spirit's inspiration. Lions will come in force. They may also come one at a time. They feint and fake and then attack from a different direction. Lions will pick off the weak, the young, the elderly. Then they'll come for the strong and healthy.What do you see Satan doing? He's coming after our children through media, music, public schools, inattentive parents, and more. He's coming after our elderly through disinformation and misinformation. His attacks are sometimes sneaky and sometimes bold. He really only has two temptations. They are the same ones he first used as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He'll ask, "Did God really say?" And, "Does God really love you?" They're simple, strategic, and effective. Once Satan picks off the weak, young, and elderly, he turns his attention to the older, wiser, and stronger.The baptized saints of God are not being sent into a fairy tale world where everything is rainbows and unicorns. The bad guys are always attacking God's good guys and gals. That's the way it's always been. That's the way it will always be. But the violence will not prevail. The Devil and his demonic horde have already gone down in defeat. But like a lion caught in a trap, the roaring lion of the Devil is unwilling to surrender. He continues to thrash, claw, and maul. Satan and his allies will do whatever they can as they "wage war against the saints to overcome them" (Revelation 13:7).In the face of threats of violence, we proclaim the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people (Revelation 14:6). We stand upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. We will not simply endure; we will prevail against the forces of Satan. In the end, the good guys and good gals always win! That's the singular point of the whole book of Revelation.God's baptized saints are equipped as soldiers of the cross. Whether you were in the 1st century hearing the letter to the Hebrews for the first time or you're here in the 21st century hearing this letter to the Hebrews another time, do not fear anything you suffer. You have received and believed Christ's promise that when you are faithful unto death, he will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).Fellow soldiers of the cross, we are in a war! That's what it means to be in the Church Militant. But the way for us to win the war for our children's souls and the hearts of people is by using the same weapons we've always been given – God's Word and Sacraments. These weapons seem like weakness in the face of the enemies' onslaught. Yet the Lord promises, "He is the one who gives strength to the weak, and he increases the strength of those who lack power" (Isaiah 40:29). We join with St. Paul as we rejoice in our weaknesses so that we can rely on the strengths of our Almighty God: "I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me. That is why I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).We listen to God's Word so that we can then share that Word with those who have closed their ears and hearts to the Lord. We are called to share God's truths with those who have been trapped by the Devil's lies. We fight against the bad guys so by God's will and through his Word, the Holy Spirit might win the bad guys over to his side! He can turn the bad guys into the good guys – just like he once did with us! We remember that we have been made heirs of heaven through our Baptism so we can invite those claimed by the Devil to be baptized and dispossessed of the Devil. We rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins so we can encourage others to find acceptance in Christ instead of searching for acceptance in the world. We celebrate our unity when we commune together at the Lord's Table as we invite others to set aside their petty differences about skin color, political party affiliation, or anything else the Devil uses to divide us into little tribes. With these humble means of Word and Sacrament, we are advancing forcefully into the Devil's domain.Take the time right now to bow your head to confess your fear of fighting the Devil and his band of bad guys.Silent confession.Fellow saints, Jesus Christ has paid for your fear. He gives you forgiveness that he boldly won for you on the cross and out of the grave. He calls you to trust his promise that violence will come upon us as his Christian soldiers. His promise doesn't end there. He also promises to rescue you from this current violence, just like he rescued his chosen people out of Egypt. He will deliver you from spiritual oppression and destruction. He will enable the citizens of his kingdom to conquer all things, and – yes – to endure all things for the sake of his name. The ultimate promise is that he will one day transfer your membership from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant in heaven.The Uptown Candy Store invited Conner and his family to their chocolate factory for a tour and sweet treats. Many on social media said the family deserved the Golden Ticket. It's great when the good guys get recognition.The author of Hebrews gives the saints in his list recognition by saying that the world was not worthy of such good guys and gals. "The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:38-40). The world thinks that people who are suffering and sacrificing like this are unworthy of honor. Yet, God thinks the world is not worthy of having these men and women of faith living among them.As you undergo persecution for your faith from the bad guys, take comfort in this great verse. You are judged by God's divine standards, not the world's flawed standards. The world's rejection of you reflects its own fallen nature. It does not reflect your inferiority. The world is not equipped to value saints of profound faith. So, the way it handles you is with mockery and derision. Your worth is not measured by worldly success like power or popularity. Your worth is in the way God's Son came, bled, died, and rose for you. Your worth is in your faithfulness and obedience to God's calling, even in the face of suffering.Why doesn't God prevent all persecution? He is planning something better. Together with us, those persecuted saints will be made perfect in heaven. That's way better than a Golden Ticket! Together, we have been made God's glorious saints. Those who have died already shine in that glory of God. We who remain on the earth struggle. But when you struggle, remember the glory God has in store for you one day!Through God's Word, through the washing waters of Baptism, and through his holy Supper, you are made one of God's saints. You are among the list of unnamed heroes of faith. By God's grace, you are one of the good guys and gals. Amen.Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Amen.View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-good-guys-and-gals/

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Early Christian Creeds, Part 3 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 10/31/25 (3042) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Creekside.me/sermons

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Early Christian Creeds, Part 2 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 10/24/25 (2971) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Creekside.me/sermons

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Early Christian Creeds, Part 1 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 10/17/25 (2901) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Galatians Summary Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Creekside.me/sermons

"Sometimes we never try more because we're stuck thinking we're who we used to be rather than who we are now. Maybe the change happens so slowly in your life that you don't realize what God has made you capable of right now" Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Creekside.me/sermons

Send us a textEpisode 91 | A debate review featuring Ijaz Ahmed & Biblical scholar Dr David Instone-Brewer, former research Fellow at Tyndale House, Cambridge. Christians are invited to join the discussion. Guests will be invited on a first come first serve basis. Please note we can only have a maximum of 10 panelists (including efdawah panelists) at any one time.Link to join the panel: TEARS OF GAZA Donation Link: https://givebrite.com/gazacrisis© 2025 EFDawah All Rights ReservedWebsite : https://efdawah.com/https://www.patreon.com/EFDawahhttps://gofund.me/7cb27d17https://www.paypal.me/EFDawahhttps://www.cashbackmycharity.co.uk/?...https://www.facebook.com/efdawah/Timestamps:00:00 - Intro 01:06 - EF Dawah Panel join: Format of the Stream03:08 - Importance of Resurrection in Christianity04:04 - Background of the Debate04:49 - Giving Dawah via Formal Academic Debates06:35 - Historical Analysis of the Resurrection07:49 - Issue with the arguments for the resurrection10:49 - Scrutinizing the Claims for Resurrection 14:26 - Early Christians not believing in Resurrection15:01 - Gospel of John emphasizing the resurrection18:48 - Background of the Guest in the Debate20:08 - Starting the debate video25:06 - Opening Statement from Dr. David26:44 - Opening Statement from Br. Ijaz28:46 - Jesus being Alive in Islam & Christianity31:11 - Phraseology of the Resurrection32:35 - Issues with Dr. David's emotional argument36:13 - Dr. David's arguments for Christianity38:05 - Claim about history of christian oral tradition39:53 - Debunking the claims about the oral tradition42:40 - Unreliability of the Gospel Authors45:24 - Problems with the Christian Oral Tradition52:32 - Argument for the oral tradition & the Gospels53:59 - Refutation of the Argument58:35 - Examining the Authenticity of the Gospels1:03:33 - Holy Scripture in Islam vs Christianity1:07:23 - Analysis of the Baptism in Christianity 1:12:15 - Comparing the Qur'an, Hadith & the Bible 1:13:48 - Issue with the interpretation of the Gospels1:14:56 - Refuting historical arguments for the Bible 1:23:03 - David's claims about the Spread of Islam1:23:58 - Debunking David's claims about Islam1:31:55 - Discourse on Islam vs Christianity debates1:34:09 - Historical Evidence for the Resurrection?1:38:03 - No archaeological evidence for the resurrection1:45:59 - Sister Deejah joins1:46:25 - Discrepancies in David's arguments 1:49:35 - Disputes & Divisions in Early Christianity1:53:39 - Refutation of David's Arguments1:55:39 - Comparing Islam with Christianity 1:57:34 - Review of the Debate2:01:43 - Inviting Christians & Upcoming Debates2:03:53 - Explanation of "Being Provable" in Religion 2:10:14 - Masihi (Christian) joins: Connection Issues2:15:29 - Deejah rejoins: Issues with the resurrection2:17:20 - Upcoming Debates of Br. Ijaz 2:20:18 - Discussing Islam vs Christianity debates2:22:41 - Chinwag & Message to Christians2:25:50 - Masihi rejoins2:26:21 - Debate on the Evidence for the Crucifixion 2:37:05 - semiswt (Christian) joins2:38:01 - Claim about the Evidence for Resurrection 2:39:37 - Problems with the claim & debate on it2:54:31 - Ali (Muslim) joins2:56:16 - Closing Remarks & Wrapping UpSupport the show

An Interview with The Reverend Benjamin Wyatt This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a turning point in Christian history. In this episode, Rev. Benjamin Wyatt, Episcopal priest and author of Christ and the Council, joins Shirley Paulson to explore the controversies that led to the Nicene Creed, Constantine's role in enforcing unity, and why debates about Christ's divinity mattered so deeply. Their conversation sheds light on the messy, human realities behind doctrines still shaping Christianity today. The Reverend Benjamin Wyatt is an Episcopal priest, serving as the Priest-in-Charge at the Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis. He has run two podcasts on ancient Christianity, “The Road to Nicaea” and “In Simeon's Wake.” Just in time for Nicaea's 1700th anniversary celebration, Ben's new book, titled Christ and the Council, published by Wipf and Stock, is forthcoming. He holds an M.Div. and S.T.M. from Yale Divinity School. Visit the podcast show notes page on the Early Christian Texts website for a complete transcript. https://earlychristiantexts.com/council-of-nicaea/

The U.S. government recently issued a directive targeting groups that show "anti-American" or "anti-capitalist" tendencies. Early Christians faced eerily similar accusations: they were called atheists, conspirators, and haters of humanity. This sermon explores how the book of Revelation wasn't written as a prophecy decoder ring—it was a survival manual for communities resisting empire. But there's a twist. After unpacking how to read Revelation as a guide for dissident discipleship, Pastor Anthony turns the mirror on progressive faith communities themselves. What happens when deconstruction—necessary as it was—becomes a wall that keeps out not just toxic religion, but genuine encounter with the sacred? Can you be both critically thinking and spiritually surrendered? Includes a powerful testimony about kidney transplants, monuments to God's faithfulness, and why hope isn't magic—it's work. For anyone who's left the church but still wonders if there's something worth rebuilding.

Candida Moss is a historian of Christianity and author of The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"If I cannot witness where I am comfortable, why would god call me to where I am unconfortable?" Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: creekside.me/respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at creekside.me/sermons

How did Gaza become a centre of learning and festivals during the Byzantine era? Who was St. Porphyrius of Gaza, and why did he destroy pagan temples in the city? Why is the Early Christian period considered a Golden Age for Gaza? Anita and William are joined by Peter Sarris, Professor of Late Antique, Medieval and Byzantine Studies at the University of Cambridge, to discuss Byzantine Gaza and the rise of Christianity in the region. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most people know about the big heresies of the early Church—Arianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism. But have you ever heard of the Agnoetae? This strange and almost forgotten heresy claimed that Jesus didn't know everything in His earthly life. In this video, we'll explore who the Agnoetae were, what they believed, why the Church condemned them, and […]

On Sunday Pastor Nate kicked off our new series, “This is the Way.” Early Christians were known as “people of the Way,” because they learned to walk with Jesus and live reflecting God's values. In the book of Acts we read about Spirit-led patterns and practices that were part of the fabric of the early church. In this 5-part series, we'll cover a pattern each week on Sunday and discuss it in Connect Groups throughout the week. The first pattern that Pastor Nate preached about is “Life-Giving Spiritual Community.” We may find community in many relationships, but spiritual community brings life to our soul. If we want the fruit of community, we need to have the roots of commitment to each other. What a powerful message! If you couldn't join on Sunday, check out the message here.

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

“What Biblical Texts Support the Mass and Transubstantiation?” In this episode, we explore key scriptural references that underpin the Mass, while also addressing questions about the differences between transubstantiation and consubstantiation, the changes made during Vatican II, and how the early Christians might perceive today’s Catholic Mass. Tune in for a thoughtful examination of these important topics. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 02:00 – What biblical texts support the practice of the Mass? 18:02 – What’s the difference between transubstantiation and consubstantiation? 30:53 – Why during Vatican 2 did they decide to take out so much to form this new liturgy? 36:50 – How do you respond to the claim that if the Early Christians were to see the Catholic mass, they wouldn’t recognize it as their form of worship? 44:45 – Where do you even see the Mass in the Bible?

"Life together is a gift, not a given." Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

"Foundations in the Book of Genesis: A Geologist's Perspective" by Andrew Snelling You can get your copy today: https://ttwpress.com 2555 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.comClick the icon below to listen.         Related PodcastsA Tribute to John MacArthur #1085: Jerusalem Is Gone (Through the Psalms) Psalm 79Trusting God in Changing Times #2 

"Foundations in the Book of Genesis: A Geologist's Perspective" by Andrew Snelling You can get your copy today: https://ttwpress.com 2554 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.comClick the icon below to listen.         Related PodcastsA Tribute to John MacArthur #1085: Jerusalem Is Gone (Through the Psalms) Psalm 79Trusting God in Changing Times #2 

This Sunday, we come to the end of Hebrews, as well as the end of our series Letters to the Church. The writer of Hebrews in the application points of his sermon-come-letter speaks to living a life of persevering faith in the face of persecution and being an outsider. Early Christians took an oath to each other to live true to this 'Outsider's Pact' for God's glory and the sake of the world that desperately needs Jesus. We'll consider what this means for us today. See you Sunday ... and in the meantime, stay gold.

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

An Interview with Dr. Perry Kea When the young teen, Thecla, heard Paul's preaching about a new kind of life following Christ, she became infatuated with both the message and the messenger. Abandoning her fiancé and her Roman aristocratic life style, she faced two death threats, discovered her own strength and worth, and matured in her appreciation for both Paul and his teachings. She bought into the ascetic way of life and insisted on her rights as a woman with authority. Dr. Perry Kea has been an active Scholar of the Westar Institute since 1987. He served as the Chair of its Board of Directors from 2014 – 2019. He co-Chaired Westar's Mini-seminar on the Bible and Human Sexuality and has participated in several other seminars, notably the Jesus Seminar, the Acts Seminar, and the two Christianity Seminars. He also contributes to Westar publications and Westar programming. Perry is Associate Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at the University of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he taught for 35 years. A transcript is available at https://earlychristiantexts.com/theclas-challenge-early-christian-world.

Was the Hail Mary already known in the early Church? You might be surprised.Morning Offering, August 5, 2025Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Disclaimer: The ads shown before, during, or after this video have no affiliation with Morning Offering and are controlled by YouTubeLet us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)________________

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

Daily Dose of Hope July 31, 2025   Scripture – Luke 2:1-21   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Provider, Sustainer, Thank you for being the God who cares, who provides, who sustains, and who saves.  As we talk about the Christmas story today, help us remember how you became one of us, and lived among us, to demonstrate the full extent of your love.  Thank you for Jesus.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us actually live the way you taught us.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we start Luke 2 and read about the birth of Christ, what we know as the Christmas story.   We have kind of sanitized the Christmas story. It's a sweet story we tell our kids with friendly donkeys and smiling shepherds. But the world that Jesus was born into was a rough one. It was a world of poverty, violence, and division. The Jewish people had been expecting a Savior for 700 years since Isaiah prophesied that God would send a king–a wonderful counselor, mighty God, holy one, Emmanuel. They had been waiting 700 years! Things were tough. Living under the rule of the Roman Empire was no picnic–it was a violent and oppressive place; they were waiting for this one that God would send to save them, to rescue them from the trouble and darkness of their lives. They were restless, weary, and impatient.   And then, God sends a Savior in the form of a baby. Just like the world he was born into, the circumstances around Jesus' birth were troubling and dark. Jesus' mom was a poor 14 year old girl, who appears on the surface to get pregnant out of wedlock (we know it was the Holy Spirit, but can you imagine the gossip in her little town of Nazareth?) And toward the end of her pregnancy, the government requires all heads of households to go to the town of their ancestors to register for a census. That meant that Joseph, Mary's fiancé, needed to go to Bethlehem, because that was the town of King David and he was descended from David. Most likely, Mary didn't have to be there but she does go with him, possibly to get away from the scandal in her own village. It was a 90 mile trip, over hills and rough terrain, and it probably took about 9 days. In her 9th month of pregnancy, she walked for 9 days straight (no mention of a donkey in Scripture).   When they arrive, Mary goes into labor (surprise, surprise after all that walking )but there is no place for them to stay. We don't know if everything was occupied, as there were many people who had entered the city for the census, or they simply didn't have enough money to pay for a proper room. Mary has the baby in a stable of sorts, maybe not a stable like we think of a stable, but the place where the animals were kept. Some think it could have even been in a cave. But it was warm and cheap and she has the baby and places him in a manger, which is the animals' feeding trough. I'm sure this wasn't anything like Mary had dreamed about when she thought about starting a family. It wasn't pleasant and magical and peaceful, it was hard and uncomfortable and scary.   After Jesus was born, an angel, a messenger from God, appears to the shepherds and says, I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all people. For a baby has been born in Bethlehem and he is the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord. These were the names that the emperor used to describe himself and now the angel is saying that the true ruler, the true Savior of the people, the true bringer of Good News and peace, was in fact this little baby. And the angel told them that they would find this baby laying in an animal's feeding container and wrapped up in strips of cloth. And then we go from one to many, many angels (the armies of heaven) saying, Glory to God in Highest Heaven and peace to all those whom God favors. For even the angels and all the company of heaven rejoiced at the birth of this baby.   This is a story most of us have heard many, many times.  So, what was the Good News of great joy?   First, this child was called the Messiah, the anointed one, the one they had been waiting for over a period of hundreds and hundreds of years.  Would this child be the one to save them?  Remember, the Jews thought they needed saving from their oppressors.  They had trouble wrapping their brains around any other kind of savior.   Think about what it means to be a Savior – someone who rescues another from destruction, ruin, or defeat. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that our world is quite a mess and we need saving. We can't fix any of this mess ourselves. If we could, we would have already done it.   The Jews thought the only kind of saving they needed was from their Roman occupiers.  But they had no idea that there was a deeper, more insidious need.  What do we need to be saved from? Well, SIN.  We need to be saved from ourselves, our brokenness. On the cross Jesus saves us from our own failings, from our own darkness. Early Christians called Christmas “the light piercing the darkness” because at just the right time, just when humanity needed it most, God sent Jesus to be light in our darkness.    And this, my friends, is just the beginning.  Let's see what else Luke has to say about the incarnation.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Psalm 96 - Speaker: John Moon - Sing to the LORD! This is the call of Psalm 96 - a call to daily worship God for his nature, His character, and reputation. It's a call to daily proclaim the good news that He saves. It's a call to daily declare His glory to the world. It's a call to worship – not only to God's people, but to the entire world. It pictures the heavens, the earth, the sea, the sea creatures, the fields, the land creatures, the trees, the forest ultimately all filled with joy and rejoicing. In the Old Testament this psalm anticipated the worldwide mission of the Christian Church (Matt 28:16-20). Early Christians saw the significance of the psalm, and the old Latin version in verse 10 has: ‘Say among the nations, the Lord reigns from the cross.' May god help us as the people of God to sing the glory of God to the nations, so that they could join the ever growing choir of our great God.

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans in chapter 3, verse 23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” It's true. We are all sinners and in need of God's forgiveness and grace. Early Christians began to group sins together and by the 6th century, a list of seven sins had emerged. They were called the “seven deadly sins” because they lead to death. Others called them the “cardinal sins” or “capital vices” because they were the worst of the sins. In this series, each of our pastors will explore one of the deadly sins even as we give thanks for God's grace that frees us from sin. Today's scripture reading is Galatians 5:13-21. Support the showContact Village Presbyterian Churchvillagepres.orgcommunications@villagepres.org913-262-4200Have a prayer request? pastoral-care@villagepres.orgFacebook @villagepresInstagram @villagepreschurchYouTube @villagepresbyterianchurchTo join in the mission and ministry of Village Church, go to villagepres.org/giving

Host Chez Filippini welcomes Dr. Luke Arredondo back to continue their conversation on Catholic Social Teachings. They discuss the concept of the "City of God" by Augustine, the Roman Empire's conversion to Christendom, the role of the Church in society and the upcoming focus on Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "Rerum Novarum."

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Hayes talks about the meanings behind early church symbols, especially the ichthus. Understanding the significance of symbols like the Jesus fish symbol meaning helps us better understand early Christianity and their beliefs. This episode ends with a reminder of the importance of visual communication in early Christian communities and for Christians even today. Chapters-00:01 Introduction-03:11 The Journey into Christian Iconography-06:06 The Significance of Ancient Graffiti -08:52 Understanding the Ichthus Symbol-12:10 The Widespread Use of Ichthus -15:11 The Eight-Spoked Wheel and Its Meaning-18:04 Reclaiming Pagan Spaces for Christianity -23:47 The Rise of Christian Symbols in Pagan Temples-36:25 Dating Early Christian Graffiti and Symbols -45:44 The Significance of the Cross and Early Christian Symbols

Jesus declared that his disciples would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Early Christians lived out this proclamation in powerful and palpable ways. Today we struggle to witness to those close to us, let alone to those at the ends of the earth. This series offers a glimpse into ways early Christians witnessed. Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/sermons

Early Christians were unwavering in their commitment to the faith, even in the face of death. Their example should both inspire us and ignite within us a deeper zeal for God. In this four-part series, I will offer a brief biography and key lessons from the lives of these early believers.Today, we talk about Tertullian of Carthage: The Man Who Coined the Term "Trinity". Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/SauravRawal11 Website- https://we3bministries.org/

Galatians 5:22-23 Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Deacon Frank – a deacon, author, columnist, and speaker – to unpack the biblical roots, proof, and evidence for the Perpetual Virginity of Mary. Using the Bible as the jumping off point, Deacon Frank is speaking directly to our non-Catholic Christian audience as he explains what makes Catholics believe – in tandem with the Early Christians – that Mary was not only a virgin before and after the birth of Jesus but was vowed, from the beginning, to remain one. This is a great explainer for one of those crucial Marian dogmas that trip up so many non-Catholic Christians. With charity, clarity, and light, Deacon Frank tackles this tough topic. You'll love it. For more from Deacon Frank check out his articles on Catholic Exchange.Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Christians living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic