Church Seminar on Early Christianity
Christians today are appallingly lacking in their understanding of Christian History. This Church seminar will rectify that in one session.
This is the information age. I love Christian history, and I have studied it for years, but I know that 90% of what I read in a Church history book is going to be forgotten. I'm almost wasting my time reading it, when I could bounce around a web site, skimming pages and headlines and finding only the information that matters to me.
Powerful and to the Point
My seminar on early Christianity takes all that into account and gets right to the point.
- What do we know about the apostles churches?
- Why does it matter?
- What names do you need to know?
- What events mattered?
- What happened to apostolic Christianity to turn it into modern Christianity?
- How can I check up on people's claims about history?
Whether I'm with you one hour for a church service or three hours for a seminar, we will cover all the questions above. Your church members or house group will walk away understanding how we got from Acts to America in the 21st century; they will also know how to verify what they heard and study more if they want to.
In one hour they will know exactly what is controversial, what is agreed upon, and—more importantly—what it means for them today.
Is the Seminar Controversial?
Of course it is! We're going back all the way to the source, the very first churches. This is powerful stuff!
But it is handled tastefully. I am not coming to dismantle your church or frighten your members.
So here's what will be said. I have two issues that matter to me, and I will neither compromise nor back down on them:
- Obedience is part of the Gospel: Jesus Christ must be obeyed. Any faith that does not produce obedience is not an apostolic faith; it is not a weak faith; it is a dead and useless faith.
- Unity among Christians is mandated by our Lord and Savior: Division is a sin, and it damages the testimony of Christ every day. Obedient Christians are supposed to be unified Chrisitans. The apostles' churches had much to say about unity, just as Jesus did.
In every other area, I will make every effort to be sensitive and avoid controversy.
There is one more issue I need to warn you about. I would happily avoid this one, but it can't be avoided unless it just never comes up.
Side Note on Baptism
The issue is baptism and its relation to regeneration or being born again. History is strongly against Evangelicals that believe baptism is symbolic. There is no avoiding the fact that everyone believed in baptismal regeneration for the first 16 centuries of Christian history.
Everyone. Really.
On the other hand, everyone loves to talk about baptism, and it's only so controversial. It's obvious that a lot of people who believe in a purely symbolic baptism have been saved and redeemed by God. Baptism has been replaced by the sinner's prayer and altar calls in many Evangelical churches, and God seems to have allowed that, probably in the same way he allowed sacrifices on high places to good kings in old Israel.
The modes and methods of baptism used by the early Church are extremely interesting. I've never met a group of people that didn't love hearing and talking about it.
But I'm not telling you about it here. You have to invite me to come speak to hear about it and a lot of other interesting facts about the apostles' churches.
The Bottom Line
And remember, at the end, you're going to know which historians to trust, why, and how to check on what you've heard.
Details
We've found a couple methods work best.
- Devote an hour's time in a church service to a fast-moving introduction to the early churches and Christian history in general. Don't worry, no one goes to sleep. One attendee told me it was like drinking from a fire hose.
- Set aside a three hour period for a more complete seminar. I tell more stories, write more things down, we do our play, and I have time to answer questions. Often that's the funnest part.
I've been told repeatedly that there is nothing boring about the seminar. In fact, I've been told the amount of information can be exhausting.
Don't worry about it. I'll have handouts for you to review.
Costs
We have a ministry to support, traveling costs money, and seminars take time away from my business. I will happily take whatever your group or church can give, and I will tell you with a good conscience that no matter how much you give it will be put to good use. God will bless us both.
However, there is no cost. I am not wealthy, never have been wealthy, and I have no desire to be wealthy. I just want to bless God's kingdom.
I do ask that if I have to stay overnight that you find me a place to stay. Christians are supposed to be devoted to hospitality. Generally, I bring my wife and a couple others.
