Development and growth of the Christian religion
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The Roman world couldn't figure Christians out. They weren't pagans, they weren't exactly Jews, and although they lived ordinary lives, there was something remarkably different about them. So, who were these early Christians, and what did they actually believe? In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston discuss the Letter to Diognetus, one of the earliest Christian writings addressed to a nonbeliever. They discuss how the letter defended Christianity in the Roman world, challenged pagan idolatry, distinguished Christianity from Judaism, and described believers as ordinary people whose lives were transformed by their heavenly citizenship. Chapters:00:00 Introduction: Who Were the Early Christians?The Roman world struggled to categorize Christians because they weren't pagans or simply another Jewish group, yet their lives were noticeably different.03:00 Christianity in the Roman WorldBy approximately AD 130, Christianity had become distinct enough within Roman society that people were asking who Christians were and what they believed.04:15 What Is the Letter to Diognetus?This anonymous early Christian document was written to explain and defend Christianity to a pagan audience unfamiliar with the Bible.07:05 Three Questions About the Christian FaithThe writer addresses who Christians worship, why they demonstrate remarkable love, and why the Christian way of life appeared when it did.08:00 Defending Christianity Without Quoting ScriptureBecause Scripture held no authority for his pagan audience, the apologist appealed to reason, observation, and the lives of Christians.09:35 The Letter's Challenge to Pagan IdolatryThe writer exposes the irrationality of creating an idol with human hands and then worshiping it as a source of meaning and direction.13:35 How Christianity Differs From Jewish RitualismThe writer explains that Israel's sacrifices and covenant markers find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice for sin.16:05 Christians as the Soul of the WorldThe writer compares Christians to the soul within the body, describing how faithful believers can serve as a conscience to the surrounding world.17:35 How Christian Living Challenges CultureGenerosity confronts greed, forgiveness challenges revenge, humility confronts pride, and love demonstrates that another way of life is possible.18:35 Final Thoughts and a Challenge to Read DiognetusTiffany and Pastor Jeff encourage listeners to read the Letter to Diognetus before returning for the second part of their discussion.“ Here's the question the letter to Diognetus forces us to consider: what are we becoming because of what we worship? Because worship always shapes the worshiper.” – Pastor Jeff CranstonSources: Read the Letter to Diognetus: http://public-library.uk/ebooks/61/61.pdfBackground on the Letter to Diognetus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_to_Diognetus
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
Aujourd'hui heureusement ça va mieux, mais pendant longtemps, les gauchers étaient dénigrés et réprimés. On faisait quelques exceptions, par exemple pour des Léonard de Vinci, Michel-Ange et autres Beethoven, mais pour tous les autres la vie n'était pas facile ! Croyances, préjugés, persécutions…d'où ça vient ?Bonne écoute !
Introduction II Corinthians 10:12, 18 Should I be satisfied with the work we are doing now? Philippians 3:17 Close spiritual relationships…
In this episode of Conversations with Interpreter, Avram and Thora interview David Calabro about his intriguing article where he argues that there is an underlying Christian ritual context for the Book of Moses. This article, entitled “An Early Christian Context for the Book of Abraham,” was published in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. Drawing on a variety of ancient Christian baptismal texts, Dr. Calabro argues that there is a distinctive ritual progression visible in the Book of Moses that gives that a distinctive structure and context to the materials in Moses. The interview discusses how Dr. Calabro came to this position, potential difficulties with it, and new evidence for this Christian background that he has discovered since the original publication of the article. The post Conversations with Interpreter: David Calabro — An Early Christian Context for the Book of Moses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.
Join Logos Academy's mens reading of the complete Book of Enoch starting June 30th every Tuesday evening at 7:00pm EST. Over the coming weeks we'll explore the Nephilim, Watchers, giants, Second Temple Judaism, the reception of Enoch among the Church Fathers, and its influence on the world of the New Testament. Inside Logos Academy you'll receive: • Weekly live reading sessions • Historical and theological commentary • Live Q&A discussions • Access to our brotherhood of Orthodox Christian men • Additional courses, study guides, and exclusive content
Biblical teaching on the Christian fish symbol, the ichthus, and the identity of Jesus Christ as Savior. This message explores the history and meaning of the Christian fish, one of the most recognizable symbols of the Christian faith. Jesus often used fishing imagery when teaching His disciples, calling them to become “fishers of men” and participate in bringing others into God's Kingdom (Matthew 4:19). Because fishing was such a common part of daily life, these illustrations were easily understood by those who followed Him.The sermon explains how Jesus continued to use fishing imagery throughout His ministry, including parables about the Kingdom of Heaven being like a net gathering fish of every kind (Matthew 13:47). After His resurrection, Jesus also shared a meal of bread and fish with His disciples, reminding them of His provision, His servant heart, and His victory over death (John 21:9-14).A major focus of the message is the Greek word ichthus, meaning fish. Early Christians used the letters of this word as an acronym for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” During times of persecution, the fish became a simple way for believers to identify one another and quietly express their faith in Christ.The teaching also challenges Christians to study Scripture carefully and understand the deeper meaning behind biblical symbols and teachings. Believers are encouraged to meditate on God's Word and allow it to shape their understanding rather than conforming to the culture around them.Ultimately, the fish serves as a reminder of the central message of Christianity: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Those who believe in Him are called to live as His ambassadors and faithfully represent Him wherever they go.Referenced Verses:Matthew 4:19Matthew 13:47John 21:9-14-Social Media Ministries, founded by Spencer Coffman, is committed to sharing the Word of God with the entire world. We use social media to reach more people in more places and are counting on you to help us fulfill our mission. Learn more at https://socialmediaministries.com/about-us-MISSION: To use social media to present the living Word of God to as many people as possible and to help them understand and interpret the scriptures in the Bible.-FOLLOW US:YouTube - Podcast - Instagram - Facebook - Medium - Pinterest - TikTok - LinkedIn - X - Join Our Discord Server-DONATE:https://paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/4478888https://socialmediaministries.com/give-Apparel-Resources -Sharing Jesus. Making Disciples. Taking Ground. Building The Kingdom.
The story of the Roman catacombs is vastly different than that of the catacombs of Paris, as Rome’s are much older and were created for very different reasons. Research: Bonello, Giovanni. “Charting the enigmatic life of Antonio Bosio.” Times of Malta. Dec. 6, 2014. https://timesofmalta.com/article/Charting-the-enigmatic-life-of-Antonio-Bosio.547468 Bonello, Giovanni. “How Antonio Bosio Became famous Worldwide.” Times of Malta. Dec. 13, 2014. https://timesofmalta.com/article/How-Antonio-Bosio-became-famous-worldwide.548393 Bosio, Antonio. “Roma sotteranea.” 1650. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=zCXXSKqq3nQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false Britannica Editors. "Edict of Milan". Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Aug. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Edict-of-Milan Britannica Editors. "First Jewish Revolt". Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/First-Jewish-Revolt Britannica Editors. "Law of the Twelve Tables". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Mar. 2018, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Law-of-the-Twelve-Tables “The Catacombs of Rome.” The Atlantic Monthly. March 1858. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1858/03/the-catacombs-of-rome/627225/ Coleman-Norton, Paul R. “The Twelve Tables.” 2024 (eBook). https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/14783/pg14783-images.html “Diocletianic Persecution.” Ebsco. 2023. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/diocletianic-persecution “Jews in Roman Times.” The Roman Empire. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/jews.html Lamberton, Clark D. “The Development of Christian Symbolism as Illustrated in Roman Catacomb Painting.” American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 15, no. 4, 1911, pp. 507–22. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/497187 Munro, Dana Carleton et al. “Translations and reprints from the original sources of European history : series for 1897.” University of Pennsylvania. 1898. https://archive.org/details/translationsrepr00munr/page/n3/mode/2up Northcote, James Spencer. “The Roman Catacombs.” Sophia Institute Press. 2017. (Reprint) Northcote, James Spencer. ““The Roman Catacombs; or Some Accounts of the Burial Places of the Early Christians in Rome.” Philadelphia. Peter F. Cunningham. 1857. (Reprint) Osborne, J. “The Roman Catacombs in the Middle Ages.” Papers of the British School at Rome , 1985, Vol. 53 (1985), pp. 278-328. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40310821 Perrottet, Tony. “Explore Rome’s Hidden Underworld, Where a City Lurks Beneath a City.” Smithsonian. April/May 2025. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/explore-romes-hidden-underworld-city-beneath-city-180986228/ “PONTIFICAL COMMISSION FOR SACRED ARCHAEOLOGY – Historical Notes.” Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_commissions/archeo/inglese/documents/rc_com_archeo_doc_20011010_cenni_en.html Richter, J. P. “Early Christian Art in the Roman Catacombs.” The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, vol. 6, no. 22, 1905, pp. 286–262. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/856226 “The Roman Catacombs.” Architecture. April 20, 1888. No. 414, p. 224. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433084078983&seq=414&q1=catacombs “The Roman Catacombs.” Scientific American, vol. 58, no. 20, 1888, pp. 312–312. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26094597 Rossi, Giovannie Battista de, et all. “Roma sotterranea : or, Some account of the Roman catacombs, especially of the cemetery of San Callisto ; comp. from the works of Commendatore de Rossi with the consent of the author.” Longmans, Green, Reader and Dyer. London. 1869. https://archive.org/details/a606740800rossuoft/a606740800rossuoft/page/6/mode/2up RUTGERS, LEONARD VICTOR, and לאונרד רוטגרס. “הקטקומבות היהודיות ברומא: הערכה מחודשת / THE JEWISH CATACOMBS OF ROME RECONSIDERED.” Proceedings of the World Congress of Jewish Studies / דברי הקונגרס העולמי למדעי היהדות, י, 1989, pp. 29–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23535611 Terry, Andrea, and John Osborne. “Un Canadien Errant: Charles Smeaton and the Earliest Photographs of the Roman Catacombs.” RACAR: Revue d’art Canadienne / Canadian Art Review, vol. 32, no. 1/2, 2007, pp. 94–106. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42630755 Yeomans, Sarah. “City of the Dead.” Archaeology, vol. 61, no. 4, 2008, pp. 55–62. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41780388 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Episode: In this episode co-host Amy Brown Hughes nerds out with fellow historical theologian J. Warren Smith about what it would be like if a bunch of early Christian theologians hung […] The post J. Warren Smith – Early Christian Theology first appeared on OnScript.
Episode: In this episode co-host Amy Brown Hughes nerds out with fellow historical theologian J. Warren Smith about what it would be like if a bunch of early Christian theologians hung […] The post J. Warren Smith – Early Christian Theology first appeared on OnScript.
What do we actually know about Jesus' childhood? Not much.The canonical Gospels say surprisingly little about the birth and early life of Jesus. Matthew gives us only a few verses about the Magi. Luke tells us about the manger and one story of Jesus at the temple at age twelve. After that, the story goes silent.But early Christians were not satisfied with the silence.In the centuries after the New Testament was written, believers began creating new stories to answer the questions the Gospels left unexplored. Who was Mary before the birth of Jesus? What was Jesus like as a child? Who were the Magi really?In this episode of The Dig In Podcast, Johnny Ova sits down with Eric Vanden Eykel, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Ferrum College and author of The Magi: Who They Were, How They've Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate. Dr. Vanden Eykel is a leading scholar of early Christian apocryphal literature and has spent years studying the texts that shaped Christian tradition but never made it into the Bible.Together we explore the fascinating world of early Christian writings, including:• The Protevangelium of James and how it shaped what Christians believe about Mary• Why the three kings of the Christmas story are not actually in the Bible• The Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the strange stories about Jesus' childhood miracles• How early Christians filled in the gaps left by the Gospels• Why some texts became Scripture while others did not• How tradition helped create the nativity story most people picture todayThis conversation takes us into the questions early Christians were asking, the stories they wrote to answer them, and what those stories reveal about the development of Christian belief.Check out one of the latest books by Dr. Eric Vanden Eykel.The Magi: Who They Were, How They've Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate- https://a.co/d/0avwBxrt Stay connected with The Dig In Podcast and Subscribe.Website: https://johnnyova.com/Subscribe on Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@UCdD6qAedykU7b4fgNPsPogw Get a copy of Johnny's latest book about the book of Revelation: https://a.co/d/02v5yH7A
Mark 13 has often been misinterpreted as primarily about the end times, but understanding its historical context reveals a different message. When Jesus predicted the temple's destruction, his disciples asked when this would happen and what signs to watch for. Jesus described the conditions leading to Jerusalem's destruction in A.D. 70, including false messiahs, wars, and persecution of the apostles. He gave specific instructions for escape when they saw the abomination of desolation - Roman armies surrounding the city. Early Christians heeded this warning and fled to safety. While Jesus also spoke of his ultimate return, the primary lesson is about faithful obedience rather than predicting dates.
"The body that was broken became the means by which we were saved. The ship is a shadow of the greater story of the gospel." 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
Veiling meant many things to the ancients. On women, veils could signify virtue, beauty, piety, self-control, and status. On men, covering the head could signify piety or an emotion such as grief. Late Roman mosaics show people covering their hands with veils when receiving or giving something precious. They covered their altars, doorways, shrines, and temples; and many covered their heads when sacrificing to their gods. Early Christian intellectuals such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa used these everyday practices of veiling to interpret sacred texts. These writers understood the divine as veiled, and the notion of a veiled spiritual truth informed their interpretation of the bible. Veiling in the Late Antique World (Cambridge UP, 2026) provides the first assessment of textual and material evidence for veiling in the late antique Mediterranean world. Susanna Drake here explores the relation between the social history of the veil and the intellectual history of the concept of truth as veiled/revealed. New Books in Late Antiquity is Presented by Ancient Jew Review Susanna Drake is Professor of Religious Studies at Macalister College. Her first book was Slandering the Jew: Sexuality and Difference in Early Christian Texts. Michael Motia teaches Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Veiling meant many things to the ancients. On women, veils could signify virtue, beauty, piety, self-control, and status. On men, covering the head could signify piety or an emotion such as grief. Late Roman mosaics show people covering their hands with veils when receiving or giving something precious. They covered their altars, doorways, shrines, and temples; and many covered their heads when sacrificing to their gods. Early Christian intellectuals such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa used these everyday practices of veiling to interpret sacred texts. These writers understood the divine as veiled, and the notion of a veiled spiritual truth informed their interpretation of the bible. Veiling in the Late Antique World (Cambridge UP, 2026) provides the first assessment of textual and material evidence for veiling in the late antique Mediterranean world. Susanna Drake here explores the relation between the social history of the veil and the intellectual history of the concept of truth as veiled/revealed. New Books in Late Antiquity is Presented by Ancient Jew Review Susanna Drake is Professor of Religious Studies at Macalister College. Her first book was Slandering the Jew: Sexuality and Difference in Early Christian Texts. Michael Motia teaches Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history
Veiling meant many things to the ancients. On women, veils could signify virtue, beauty, piety, self-control, and status. On men, covering the head could signify piety or an emotion such as grief. Late Roman mosaics show people covering their hands with veils when receiving or giving something precious. They covered their altars, doorways, shrines, and temples; and many covered their heads when sacrificing to their gods. Early Christian intellectuals such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa used these everyday practices of veiling to interpret sacred texts. These writers understood the divine as veiled, and the notion of a veiled spiritual truth informed their interpretation of the bible. Veiling in the Late Antique World (Cambridge UP, 2026) provides the first assessment of textual and material evidence for veiling in the late antique Mediterranean world. Susanna Drake here explores the relation between the social history of the veil and the intellectual history of the concept of truth as veiled/revealed. New Books in Late Antiquity is Presented by Ancient Jew Review Susanna Drake is Professor of Religious Studies at Macalister College. Her first book was Slandering the Jew: Sexuality and Difference in Early Christian Texts. Michael Motia teaches Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Veiling meant many things to the ancients. On women, veils could signify virtue, beauty, piety, self-control, and status. On men, covering the head could signify piety or an emotion such as grief. Late Roman mosaics show people covering their hands with veils when receiving or giving something precious. They covered their altars, doorways, shrines, and temples; and many covered their heads when sacrificing to their gods. Early Christian intellectuals such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa used these everyday practices of veiling to interpret sacred texts. These writers understood the divine as veiled, and the notion of a veiled spiritual truth informed their interpretation of the bible. Veiling in the Late Antique World (Cambridge UP, 2026) provides the first assessment of textual and material evidence for veiling in the late antique Mediterranean world. Susanna Drake here explores the relation between the social history of the veil and the intellectual history of the concept of truth as veiled/revealed. New Books in Late Antiquity is Presented by Ancient Jew Review Susanna Drake is Professor of Religious Studies at Macalister College. Her first book was Slandering the Jew: Sexuality and Difference in Early Christian Texts. Michael Motia teaches Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion
Veiling meant many things to the ancients. On women, veils could signify virtue, beauty, piety, self-control, and status. On men, covering the head could signify piety or an emotion such as grief. Late Roman mosaics show people covering their hands with veils when receiving or giving something precious. They covered their altars, doorways, shrines, and temples; and many covered their heads when sacrificing to their gods. Early Christian intellectuals such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa used these everyday practices of veiling to interpret sacred texts. These writers understood the divine as veiled, and the notion of a veiled spiritual truth informed their interpretation of the bible. Veiling in the Late Antique World (Cambridge UP, 2026) provides the first assessment of textual and material evidence for veiling in the late antique Mediterranean world. Susanna Drake here explores the relation between the social history of the veil and the intellectual history of the concept of truth as veiled/revealed. New Books in Late Antiquity is Presented by Ancient Jew Review Susanna Drake is Professor of Religious Studies at Macalister College. Her first book was Slandering the Jew: Sexuality and Difference in Early Christian Texts. Michael Motia teaches Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/italian-studies
Veiling meant many things to the ancients. On women, veils could signify virtue, beauty, piety, self-control, and status. On men, covering the head could signify piety or an emotion such as grief. Late Roman mosaics show people covering their hands with veils when receiving or giving something precious. They covered their altars, doorways, shrines, and temples; and many covered their heads when sacrificing to their gods. Early Christian intellectuals such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa used these everyday practices of veiling to interpret sacred texts. These writers understood the divine as veiled, and the notion of a veiled spiritual truth informed their interpretation of the bible. Veiling in the Late Antique World (Cambridge UP, 2026) provides the first assessment of textual and material evidence for veiling in the late antique Mediterranean world. Susanna Drake here explores the relation between the social history of the veil and the intellectual history of the concept of truth as veiled/revealed. New Books in Late Antiquity is Presented by Ancient Jew Review Susanna Drake is Professor of Religious Studies at Macalister College. Her first book was Slandering the Jew: Sexuality and Difference in Early Christian Texts. Michael Motia teaches Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston
Veiling meant many things to the ancients. On women, veils could signify virtue, beauty, piety, self-control, and status. On men, covering the head could signify piety or an emotion such as grief. Late Roman mosaics show people covering their hands with veils when receiving or giving something precious. They covered their altars, doorways, shrines, and temples; and many covered their heads when sacrificing to their gods. Early Christian intellectuals such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa used these everyday practices of veiling to interpret sacred texts. These writers understood the divine as veiled, and the notion of a veiled spiritual truth informed their interpretation of the bible. Veiling in the Late Antique World (Cambridge UP, 2026) provides the first assessment of textual and material evidence for veiling in the late antique Mediterranean world. Susanna Drake here explores the relation between the social history of the veil and the intellectual history of the concept of truth as veiled/revealed. New Books in Late Antiquity is Presented by Ancient Jew Review Susanna Drake is Professor of Religious Studies at Macalister College. Her first book was Slandering the Jew: Sexuality and Difference in Early Christian Texts. Michael Motia teaches Classics and Religious Studies at UMass Boston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies
Good morning. Economists, climate scientists and delegates are gathered in Paris to address what's called the polycrisis: climate breakdown, political extremism and rising social tension. They're considering taxes on billionaires, reductions in working hours, a change in diets and transfering investment from industry to education and health. Right now, attention is focusing on tech bros. Some believe a few geniuses will invent our way out of our multiple crises, and are entitled to the rewards. Others maintain only a flattening of wealth across our whole society will make life sustainable beyond this generation. It seems like a face-off between liberty and equality. What's seldom recognised is that these are originally theological notions. Liberty says we're fundamentally solitary creatures. Our well-being is for ourselves to determine; sin is a personal failure: repentance is a chance for individual renewal. It's an imposition for the state to inhibit that. By contrast equality says we're fundamentally collective beings. Our situation in life is profoundly shaped by the social, economic and psychological conditions around us; sin is about structural and systemic forces beyond our individual ability to withstand: by combining with one another we find power to address them. The state rightly steps in to assist and protect when we're struggling, and to catalyse and redistribute to make society fairer. There's plenty of support for both positions in the Bible and theology. But another thing that's often overlooked is how these rival perspectives shaped the most basic things about early Christianity. Women and slaves flocked to the first-century church because there they found dignity and security in the face of the predations of their masters. Early Christians shared material goods and supported the needy. These were significant practices of equality. But the church also called for individual conversion. It never forgot the centrality of personal relationships and discipline. Most tangibly, it created a weekly event in which each person, based on their individual income and material affluence, brought their respective gift to a common table; whereupon a priest described the personal and social transformation made possible by Christ; after which everyone gathered ate and drank – but crucially, each received the same. Over the centuries this came to be called the eucharist or the mass, and was ritualised into an elaborate ceremony. But originally it was a vivid social practice that harmonised a focus on the individual in their gifts as well as their need for repentance, with the collective ideal that all could flourish and none need be left behind. To get through the polycrisis we're going to need all the wisdom we can get. But sometimes that wisdom lies in the past, not just the future.
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Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsBIBLIOGRAPHYHidden Rooms, Holy Water, and the DeadWhite, L. Michael. The Social Origins of Christian Architecture, Volume I: Building God's House in the Roman World: Architectural Adaptation Among Pagans, Jews, and Christians. Trinity Press International, 1996. Key use: Essential source for early Christian architectural adaptation, especially the shift from domestic and semi-domestic gathering spaces toward more specialized Christian buildings. White's work is useful for showing that early Christian architecture develops inside a broader Roman social and architectural world, not in isolation.White, L. Michael. The Social Origins of Christian Architecture, Volume II: Texts and Monuments for the Christian Domus Ecclesiae in Its Environment. Trinity Press International, 1997. Key use: Companion volume for the textual and archaeological evidence behind the domus ecclesiae, early meeting spaces, and the built environment of pre-Constantinian Christianity.Yale University Art Gallery. “Christian Building.” Dura-Europos: Excavating Antiquity. Key use: Strong anchor for the Dura-Europos Christian building and its wall paintings. Yale notes that the Christian paintings were uncovered in 1932 and that Clark Hopkins described the murals as preserved from more than three-quarters of a century before Constantine recognized Christianity in 312.Yale News. “House Call: A New Study Rethinks Early Christian Landmark.” 2024. Key use: Useful cautionary source for not oversimplifying Dura-Europos as merely a domestic “house church.” The report highlights recent scholarship reexamining how domestic the Dura Christian building really was and why its architectural classification needs care.Smarthistory. “Dura-Europos.” Key use: Accessible overview of Dura-Europos as a multicultural Roman frontier site, including the adapted Christian building used as a meeting place and baptistery in the first half of the third century.Peppard, Michael. The World's Oldest Church: Bible, Art, and Ritual at Dura-Europos, Syria. Yale University Press, 2016. Key use: Major source for the Dura-Europos Christian building, its baptistery, biblical imagery, ritual use, and the danger of reading the site too simply through later church categories.Snyder, Graydon F. Ante Pacem: Archaeological Evidence of Church Life Before Constantine. Mercer University Press, revised edition, 2003. Key use: Important archaeological source for Christian life before Constantine, especially material evidence for worship, burial, symbols, and everyday Christian practice before public imperial privilege. Mercer University Press identifies the book as focused on archaeological evidence of church life before Constantine.Jensen, Robin M. Baptismal Imagery in Early Christianity: Ritual, Visual, and Theological Dimensions. Baker Academic, 2012. Key use: Core source for baptismal images, ritual meaning, water, initiation, death and rebirth, and the way visual programs frame baptismal practice.Jensen, Robin M. Understanding Early Christian Art. Routledge, 2000. Key use: Early Christian visual culture, catacomb imagery, baptismal scenes, Good Shepherd imagery, Jonah, Daniel, Lazarus, and the visual language of salvation and resurrection.Ferguson, Everett. Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries. Eerdmans, 2009. Key use: Major historical and theological source for baptismal practice, initiation, immersion, anointing, catechesis, and the development of baptismal rites.Johnson, Maxwell E. The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation. Liturgical Press. Key use: Development of initiation rites, catechumenate, baptism, post-baptismal rites, and how Christian initiation becomes structured over time.Spinks, Bryan D. Early and Medieval Rituals and Theologies of Baptism: From the New Testament to the Council of Trent. Ashgate, 2006. Key use: Long-range ritual and theological development of baptism, useful for tracking how early baptismal space later becomes more formalized.Britannica. “Catacomb.” Key use: Baseline definition of catacombs as subterranean cemeteries composed of galleries or passages with recesses for tombs; useful for correcting the popular misconception that catacombs were primarily secret churches rather than burial landscapes.Stevenson, James. The Catacombs: Rediscovered Monuments of Early Christianity. Thames & Hudson, 1978. Key use: Classic overview of Roman catacombs, burial architecture, inscriptions, symbols, and early Christian memory.Rutgers, Leonard V. Subterranean Rome: In Search of the Roots of Christianity in the Catacombs of the Eternal City. Peeters, 2000. Key use: Catacombs as archaeological and social evidence, including burial practice, community identity, and the relationship between Jews, Christians, and Roman funerary culture.Fiocchi Nicolai, Vincenzo, Fabrizio Bisconti, and Danilo Mazzoleni. The Christian Catacombs of Rome: History, Decoration, Inscriptions. Schnell & Steiner, 2002. Key use: Detailed treatment of catacomb history, inscriptions, burial spaces, and visual programs.Brown, Peter. The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity. University of Chicago Press, enlarged edition. Key use: Essential source for the holy dead, saint veneration, relics, tombs, pilgrimage, and the way corporeal remains became central to Christian religious life. The University of Chicago Press describes Brown's work as exploring how worship of saints and their corporeal remains became central to religious life in Western Europe.Brown, Peter. The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity. Columbia University Press, 1988. Key use: Christian body theology, asceticism, holiness, discipline, and why the body is so central to late antique Christian imagination.Yasin, Ann Marie. Saints and Church Spaces in the Late Antique Mediterranean: Architecture, Cult, and Community. Cambridge University Press, 2009. Key use: Churches, saints, relics, cult practice, community identity, and how sacred spaces are organized around holy bodies and memory.Grabar, André. Martyrium: Recherches sur le culte des reliques et l'art chrétien antique. Key use: Classic work on martyr shrines, relic cult, and the relationship between architecture, art, and the holy dead.van Gennep, Arnold. The Rites of Passage. Key use: Separation, liminality, and incorporation. Crucial for baptism, catechumenate, thresholds, initiation, and the movement from outsider to insider.Turner, Victor. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Key use: Liminality, threshold states, ritual transition, and communitas. Useful for baptism, catacomb descent, martyr devotion, and controlled access.Kilde, Jeanne Halgren. Sacred Power, Sacred Space: An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship. Oxford University Press, 2008. Key use: Christian buildings as arrangements of power, worship, divine presence, and embodied access. Useful for thresholds, sanctuary divisions, nave, altar, and congregation.Kieckhefer, Richard. Theology in Stone: Church Architecture from Byzantium to Berkeley. Oxford University Press, 2004. Key use: Church architecture as theology made spatial. Useful for altar, pulpit, nave, threshold, symbolic layout, and worship practice.Krautheimer, Richard. Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture. Yale University Press / Pelican History of Art. Key use: Classic architectural history for early Christian and Byzantine buildings, including the shift from pre-Constantinian spaces to basilicas, baptisteries, martyr shrines, and later monumental forms.Mathews, Thomas F. The Clash of Gods: A Reinterpretation of Early Christian Art. Princeton University Press, 1993. Key use: Early Christian imagery, visual conflict, ritual meaning, and the development of Christian art within the Roman world.Elsner, Jaś. Imperial Rome and Christian Triumph: The Art of the Roman Empire AD 100–450. Oxford University Press, 1998. Key use: Roman visual culture, Christian adaptation, imperial imagery, and the shift into Christian public art and architecture.MacMullen, Ramsay. Christianizing the Roman Empire: A.D. 100–400. Yale University Press, 1984. Key use: Social and historical context for Christian expansion before and after Constantine, useful for understanding how Christian space changes as Christianity grows.Mango, Cyril. Byzantine Architecture. Key use: LonAlso want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. 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
Share a commentIf you want a definition of faith that is concrete enough to test, James gives one that is both simple and unsettling: care for orphans and widows in their distress, and keep yourself unstained by the world. We take that line seriously and ask what it means when compassion is not a sentimental moment but an ongoing, hands-on responsibility for people who can never repay you. Along the way, we connect the heartbeat of the gospel to a Father's heart, and to the kind of generosity that imitates God instead of trying to “pay God back.”We also zoom out into church history and the world James wrote into. In the first century, infanticide and child abandonment were normal in Greece and Rome, with infant girls often left to die or be exploited. Early Christians went out at night to rescue children and raise them, and that legacy echoes through stories like George Mueller's orphan work and the American orphan trains that helped shape the modern foster care system. These are not random history lessons; they show how Christian compassion can rebuild a culture's definition of human value.Then the conversation turns to courage and cost, including the Dutch efforts to save Jewish babies during Nazi raids and the Ten Boom safe houses, followed by a sobering look at how widows have been treated in places where the gospel is absent, including the history of widow burning in India and the pushback led by gospel-driven reformers. We finish with a direct, daily challenge from James: reject the world's value system, bridle self-promoting speech, and refuse to ignore needs that will never “pay off” in earthly terms.If this moved you or challenged you, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What's one practical act of compassion you think you should stop postponing?Get instant, biblically faithful answers to your Bible questions. https://www.wisdomonline.org/ask Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show
Share a commentIf you want a definition of faith that is concrete enough to test, James gives one that is both simple and unsettling: care for orphans and widows in their distress, and keep yourself unstained by the world. We take that line seriously and ask what it means when compassion is not a sentimental moment but an ongoing, hands-on responsibility for people who can never repay you. Along the way, we connect the heartbeat of the gospel to a Father's heart, and to the kind of generosity that imitates God instead of trying to “pay God back.”We also zoom out into church history and the world James wrote into. In the first century, infanticide and child abandonment were normal in Greece and Rome, with infant girls often left to die or be exploited. Early Christians went out at night to rescue children and raise them, and that legacy echoes through stories like George Mueller's orphan work and the American orphan trains that helped shape the modern foster care system. These are not random history lessons; they show how Christian compassion can rebuild a culture's definition of human value.Then the conversation turns to courage and cost, including the Dutch efforts to save Jewish babies during Nazi raids and the Ten Boom safe houses, followed by a sobering look at how widows have been treated in places where the gospel is absent, including the history of widow burning in India and the pushback led by gospel-driven reformers. We finish with a direct, daily challenge from James: reject the world's value system, bridle self-promoting speech, and refuse to ignore needs that will never “pay off” in earthly terms.If this moved you or challenged you, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What's one practical act of compassion you think you should stop postponing?Get instant, biblically faithful answers to your Bible questions. https://www.wisdomonline.org/ask Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show
Cardon Ellis and Luke Hansen dive deep into three powerful doctrines from the earliest Christian church that Joseph Smith restored—doctrines largely abandoned or reinterpreted by mainstream Christianity today.Using scriptures, early Church Fathers' writings, and the book Restoring the Ancient Church by Barry Robert Bickmore, they explore:The future coming of Elias (Elijah) as a forerunner before the Second ComingThe literal 1,000-year millennial reign of Christ on earthCreation ex materia (out of existing matter) vs. the later doctrine of creation ex nihilo (out of nothing)This episode shows how Joseph Smith aligned with ancient Christianity on these key points, often against later theological developments like Neoplatonism and the Trinity. Packed with scripture breakdowns, historical quotes, and thoughtful discussion—perfect for Latter-day Saints, students of church history, and anyone interested in the Restoration.#LatterDaySaints #JosephSmith #EarlyChristianity #Restoration #BookOfMormon #Millennium #Elias #CreationExMateria #WardRadio #LDS00:00 Intro & Setup: Three Early Doctrines Restored by Joseph Smith02:10 Why These Doctrines Matter & the Patrick Madrid Challenge03:45 Source: Restoring the Ancient Church by Barry Robert Bickmore05:20 Doctrine 1: The Coming of Elias / Elijah as Forerunner08:40 Biblical Foundations11:15 Early Church Fathers on a Future Coming of Elias14:50 Kirtland Temple Fulfillment & Passover Timing17:30 Doctrine 2: The Literal 1,000-Year Millennial Reign20:10 Early Beliefs vs. Later Spiritualized Interpretations23:45 Papias, Eusebius & the Shift Away from Literal Millennium27:30 Doctrine 3: Creation Ex Materia vs. Creation Ex Nihilo30:45 Historical Origins of Ex Nihilo & Gnostic/Platonic Influences34:20 Why Creation Ex Nihilo is Essential to the Trinity37:10 Joseph Smith's Revelations Aligning with Ancient Christianity39:40 Final ThoughtsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmsAFGrFuGe0obW6tkEY6w/joinAmazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AQLMTSMBM4DC?ref_=wl_shareVisit us for this and more at: WardRadio.comTo subscribe to "The Women of Ward Radio" Youtube Channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbu-wpRztV-8TYXClhUZhhwTo Subscribe to Cardon Ellis' Adventure Channel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/@CardonEllisAdventuresThe following authors and/or sponsors are generously offering discounts on their gospel-related publication to Ward Radio listeners.⚡For free trial of Scripture Notes please visit the following link!: https://scripturenotes.com/?via=wardradio⚡For a discount on Tiny 3D Temples, Save 15% with code WARDRADIO at checkout or visit tiny3dtemples.com/wardradio⚡Family: A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids book visit the following linkhttps://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/family-a-rhyming-proclamation-for-kids . Use the code "Ward Radio" for 10% off. ⚡To Order Jonah's Book, “Lost Gems of Genesis” visit the following link and use coupon Code: WARDRADIO https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/coming-soon-the-lost-gems-of-genesis-how-apocryphal-texts-prove-joseph-smith-fixed-the-bibleFor 10% off Plain and Precious Publishing Books, visit plainandpreciouspublishing.com and use Coupon Code: WARDRADIOFor a 5% discount on Go and Do Travel, visit goanddotravel.com and use the promo code WARDRADIO5#christian #mormon #exmormon #latter-daysaints #latterdaysaints #latterdays #bible #bookofmormon #archaeology #BYU #midnightmormons #jesus #jesuschrist #scriptures #sundayschool #biblestudy #christiancomedy #cardonellis #kwakuel #bradwitbeckTo support the channel:Venmo @WardRadio or visit: https://account.venmo.com/u/MidnightMormonsPaypal: paypal.me/@midnightmedia CashApp: $WardRadioFollow us at:Instagram: @cardonellis @kwakuel @braderico @boho.birdyFacebook: @WardRadioWorldwideTwitter: WardRadioShowTikTok: WardRadioWorldwide
Several hundred bishops came from regions including Asia Minor, the eastern Mediterranean, and parts of the Latin West where they formulated the Nicene Creed, which affirmed that the Son was “of the same substance” as the ...
This week we'll be studying Acts 28:16-31 under the theme “An Unfinished Story.” Here we learn that even in chains, Paul's story wasn't over...and neither is the mission of Jesus through his people.Series Summary: The Book of Acts is a companion volume to The Gospel of Luke. It tells the story of the early Christian Church. For 2000 years, Christian churches have often studied Acts in the weeks following Easter, learning what early Christians did after Jesus' death and resurrection, and contextualizing that lifestyle into modern times. We seek to do the same with our series, “O, Church Arise."Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.
"There is only one person in human history who died and came back." 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
284 Intro Historical Theology: Why Church History MattersAfter the apostles died, the church did not disappear. It continued to preserve, defend, and pass down the truth once delivered to the saints. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany continue their historical theology series by introducing Clement of Rome, one of the earliest Apostolic Fathers. They explain why Clement matters, what his letter to the Corinthian church reveals about early Christian belief, and how his writings point believers back to Scripture, humility, unity, and justification by faith in Christ alone.00:55 What Is Historical Theology?Historical theology studies how Christian doctrine developed and was defended throughout church history.02:30 The Patristic PeriodAfter the death of the Apostle John, the church entered the patristic period, the era of the early church fathers.04:00 Who Were the Apostolic Fathers?The Apostolic Fathers include Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Papias of Hierapolis, and several key early Christian writings, including The Didache, The Epistle of Barnabas, The Shepherd of Hermas, and The Epistle to Diognetus. 06:15 What Does Orthodoxy Mean?Orthodoxy means right belief, helping Christians distinguish true biblical doctrine from error.07:30 Preserving Apostolic TeachingAfter the apostles died, the church did not disappear. Early Christian leaders helped preserve and defend the teachings handed down to them.11:00 Who Was Clement of Rome?Clement of Rome was an early bishop who lived near the end of the first century and wrote an important letter to the church at Corinth.18:15 Justification by Faith in the Early ChurchClement clearly taught that salvation is not earned by human effort, but received by faith in Christ.20:30 What Clement Teaches Us TodayClement reminds believers to be shaped by Scripture, pursue unity, and trust in Christ alone for salvation.“ Studying historical theology should make us steadier. Clement reminds us that faithful Christians anchor themselves in scripture. We pursue humility.” – Pastor Jeff Cranston
In today's episode, Claire is joined by Tish Harrison Warrento discuss her brand new book, What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience. Early Christians often grappled with a reality we rarely talk about in contemporary life: that God seems to abandon the soul at times, leaving us feeling as if we are alone and left to our own resources. These are times of futility, when work and relationships feel hard, when prayer feels unsatisfying, and we question whether our efforts are amounting to anything. For centuries, Warren notes, times of “aridity” were seen as necessary prerequisites for growth and maturity. Yet in our culture fixated on speed and optimization, we risk losing this deeper sense of the human journey and the resilience that comes with it.Writing for a moment when two-thirds of Americans are dissatisfied with their work, and a sense of languishing is widespread, Warren draws from both her own season of exhaustion and the rich well of Christian tradition— particularly that of the earliest Christian monks—to discover the habits and mindsets that anchor us in times of doubt, difficulty, and spiritual dryness. She offers hope to those who feel like life is overwhelming, taxing, and disorienting.What Grows in Weary Lands speaks to anyone longing for a life of depth in a distracted age. Warren helps us see that nothing is wasted—that even in desert seasons something good is growing, rooted in grace and reaching toward glory. Tish Harrison Warren is a writer and an Anglican priest. She is the author of several books, including Liturgy of the Ordinary, which won Christianity Today's 2018 Book of the Year, and Prayer in the Night, which won ChristianityToday's 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year. She formerly wrote a weekly newsletter for The New York Times, which focused on faith in public discourse and private life. She was also a columnist at Christianity Today. Her articles and essays have appeared in Comment Magazine, The Point Magazine, Religion News Service, and elsewhere. She currently serves as the C.S. Lewis Theological Writer-in-Residence for The Anglican Episcopal House of Studies at Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. She is a senior fellow with the Trinity Forum and an assisting priest at Immanuel Anglican Church. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three children.
We'll be studying Acts 14:1-7 under the theme “Stay Anyway.” We learn that sharing the Gospel about Jesus will bring about hardships and opposition. Division is often part of the impact that proclaiming the Good News has! Effectiveness in ministry doesn't mean absence of conflict. It is often where God deepens faith, strengthens his people, and advances his work.Series Summary: The Book of Acts is a companion volume to The Gospel of Luke. It tells the story of the early Christian Church. For 2000 years, Christian churches have often studied Acts in the weeks following Easter, learning what early Christians did after Jesus' death and resurrection, and contextualizing that lifestyle into modern times. We seek to do the same with our series, “O, Church Arise."Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.
"The gospel is not an invitation to perform better; it is an invitation to stop pretending." 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
This week we'll be studying Acts 13:4-12 under the theme “Blinded by the Truth.” We learn that when the church speaks the truth of Jesus with Paul-like courage, and confronts falsehood head-on, the end result is both opening the eyes of some, while also exposing and disabling the darkness of others.Series Summary: The Book of Acts is a companion volume to The Gospel of Luke. It tells the story of the early Christian Church. For 2000 years, Christian churches have often studied Acts in the weeks following Easter, learning what early Christians did after Jesus' death and resurrection, and contextualizing that lifestyle into modern times. We seek to do the same with our series, “O, Church Arise."Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click 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 Creekside.me/sermons
Today’s Topics: 1) Gospel – John 10:22-30 – The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in My Father's Name testify to Me. But you do not believe, because you are not among My sheep. My sheep hear My Voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of My Hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's Hand. The Father and I are one.” Memorial of Saint Louis Mary de Montfort, Priest Memorial of Saint Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr Saints Louis and Peter, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Steve Ray joins Terry to discuss the incredible faith of the Early Christians, many who gave their lives for belief in Jesus. Do we have that faith?
Today’s Topics: 1) Gospel – John 10:22-30 – The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in My Father's Name testify to Me. But you do not believe, because you are not among My sheep. My sheep hear My Voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of My Hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's Hand. The Father and I are one.” Memorial of Saint Louis Mary de Montfort, Priest Memorial of Saint Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr Saints Louis and Peter, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Steve Ray joins Terry to discuss the incredible faith of the Early Christians, many who gave their lives for belief in Jesus. Do we have that faith?
This week we will be studying Acts 11:1-18 under the theme “Bigger Than Us.” The early Church was made aware that when God starts moving, he doesn't ask for our permission. He blows past our preconceived boundaries. This text shows a gospel that refuses to stay small, and how Jesus, as Savior of all, works in, but doesn't fit in, any man-made culture. Series Summary: The Book of Acts is a companion volume to The Gospel of Luke. It tells the story of the early Christian Church. For 2000 years, Christian churches have often studied Acts in the weeks following Easter, learning what early Christians did after Jesus' death and resurrection, and contextualizing that lifestyle into modern times. We seek to do the same with our series, “O, Church Arise."Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.
“God stands nearest when pressure is greatest.” 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
Early Christians were no exception in ancient beliefs in ghosts. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss reports of ghostly encounters in the ancient Church, what theologians thought of them, and how Jimmy would evaluate these cases today. The post Ancient Christian Ghosts appeared first on StarQuest Media.
Early Christians were no exception in ancient beliefs in ghosts. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss reports of ghostly encounters in the ancient Church, what theologians thought of them, and how Jimmy would evaluate these cases today.
This week we'll be studying Acts 8:1-8 under the theme “Scattered, But Never Stopped.” Here we learn that scattered by persecution, yet propelled by purpose, the early Church discovered that what was meant to silence them actually multiplies their mission. When the gospel moves through ordinary people with both words and deeds, even the darkest moments can spark unexpected joy in entire cities.Series Summary: The Book of Acts is a companion volume to The Gospel of Luke. It tells the story of the early Christian Church. For 2000 years, Christian churches have often studied Acts in the weeks following Easter, learning what early Christians did after Jesus' death and resurrection, and contextualizing that lifestyle into modern times. We seek to do the same with our series, “O, Church Arise."Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.
“God is pursuing his people, even today. He is working to capture your attention.” 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
Weekend Edition for April 18-19, 2026 Show Notes: Germany / Switzerland - Study Tour Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on YouTube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Dan van Voorhis SHOW TRANSCRIPTS are available: https://www.1517.org/podcasts/the-christian-history-almanac CONTACT: CHA@1517.org SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Overcast Google Play FOLLOW US: Facebook Twitter Audio production by Christopher Gillespie (outerrimterritories.com).
Trying to cram some theology into 5 minutes or so. These brief treatments are intended only as a spur to further study on the part of the listener.Please consider donating to help keep this podcast going by going to buymeacoffee.com/catholicdailybrief Also, if you enjoy these episodes, please give a five star rating and share the podcast with your friends and family
Where am I assuming instead of seeking truth? 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
We celebrate Easter from the perspective of the sages of the docetic version of Christianity. This leads to the recognition that the whole world is a holographic projection—none of us is really here. The Self transmits the holographic image of a body; and consciousness mistakenly identifies with that form, rather than with the Light and Intelligence projecting all forms in a motion picture epic of Divine Authorship. That epic is rendered into animation by the Goddess and destined to reach its climax with Revelation, Rapture, and Redemption.
Abstract: Easter should be a feast for all our senses. Early Christians recounted the events between Christ's death and Resurrection with joy, and much in their accounts is familiar to us. Doctrine and Covenants 138 describes and celebrates Christ's visit to the world of the spirits between his death and Resurrection. As this revelation becomes […] The post Easter and Doctrine and Covenants 138: Our Harrowing of Hell, Our Descensus Christi ad Inferos, Our Anastasis first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.
In this special Easter episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark walks through the historical and biblical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. He explores why the resurrection is not just a matter of faith, but a claim rooted in real events, eyewitness testimony, and early Christian conviction.Episode Highlights00:30 — Setting the context: Easter week and the importance of the resurrection00:59 — Why Christians revisit the evidence for the resurrection every year01:45 — Turning to 1 Corinthians 15 as a foundational text01:57 — The early creed: death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus03:13 — The resurrection as the center of the Christian message06:49 — Eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus08:12 — The gospel accounts as historical sources10:12 — The resurrection as a real historical event, not just a spiritual idea12:24 — Early Christian belief grounded in real testimony14:18 — The reliability of the New Testament documents16:17 — The uniqueness of the resurrection story20:44 — Could the resurrection have been made up?22:52 — Why the resurrection still matters todayResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineThe Reason for God by Tim KellerAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Erkki Koskenniemi, author, “Love, Marriage and Family: Learning from the Early Christians” Love, Marriage and Family: Learning from the Early ChristiansThe post Christian Sexual Ethics in the Greco-Roman World – Pr. Erkki Koskenniemi, 3/4/26 (0632) first appeared on Issues, Etc..