Ekklesia: A Study Of Church History

Ep. 28: The English Protestants examines those noteworthy figures which directly followed the advent of the Reformation. We will consider but a few of the many faithful English Christians who carried the torch of Christ well in their day.

Ep. 27: Radicals Of The Reformation uncovers the early roots of Baptist theology within the Reformation. This session seeks to reveal the struggles of the Anabaptists as those persecuted by Rome as well as the Protestants alike. This session will highlight the doctrinal conviction for believer's baptism among a small, yet mighty group of Reformers in Switzerland.

Ep. 26: Ulrich Zwingli discusses the Swiss parallel to Luther's reforms in Germany. Ulrich Zwingli is perhaps less well-known than Luther, but their lives intersect in many ways. Hear of the ways in which God used Zwingli to initiate a return to biblical faithfulness in Switzerland. Also, learn of the successes and pitfalls of his ministry.

Ep. 25: William Tyndale remembers the life of the English Reformer who suffered much for the sake of Christ. Learn about the miraculous ministry of William Tyndale, including his heroic efforts to bring about the very first English translation of the Greek and Hebrew biblical manuscripts.

Ep. 24: John Calvin considers the indomitable life and ministry of perhaps the most famous man ever born on French soil. Many recognize John Calvin as a prevailing theological voice of the Reformation. However, history has often failed to rightly emphasize his role as a shepherd. Hear the story of his incredible call to ministry as well as the hardships he endured within it.

Ep. 23: The Five Solas reminds us that doctrine matters in all things pertaining to the Church. The days of the Reformation clearly highlight the doctrinal divide between those who championed the authority of Rome and those who championed the authority of God. This session seeks to understand the 5 Latin phrases often associated with these doctrinal distinctions. Sola Gratia. Sola Fide. Solus Christus. Sola Scriptura. Soli Deo Gloria. Learn the meaning of each as well as their priority within the Reformation.

Ep. 22: Martin Luther introduces the Reformation through the lens of its central figure. We will learn of the contextual factors which led this German monk to light a revolution in his day. We'll also learn how this revolution sprang from the inward strivings of Luther's own soul. Finally, we'll consider how God leveraged the backlash Luther received in order to bring the Word of God back to the people of God.

Ep. 21: How To Cook A Goose recounts the life and legacy of John Huss, the Bohemian martyr who valued biblical faithfulness above his own life. This man, convicted and empowered by the Word of God, shamelessly took his stand against those who distorted the Gospel, inspiring others to do the very same.

Ep. 20: The Morning Star gives biography to John Wycliffe. This pre-Reformation Englishman paved the way for light to later shine in the 16th century. Learn of Wycliffe's love for the Word of God as well as the Church of God as Wycliffe married the two in relentless pursuit of his high calling. This calling would most certainly include consequences, both positive and negative.

Ep. 19: The Big Three highlights a trifecta of noteworthy happenings during the Middle Ages. We give special attention in this session to arguably the most impactful three events which marked this time: the Crusades, the Black Plague, and the Discovery of the New World.

Ep. 18: The Great Divide recounts the East-West Schism of 1054. This pivotal event left the Roman Catholic church virtually split between competing figures of spiritual authority. Learn how this rift affected believers in the centuries leading up to the Reformation.

Ep. 17: Revival Of The West introduces the advent of the Byzantine Empire under the leadership of Charlemagne. Could the heyday of Rome find new light centuries after its fall? How did the re-emergence of the Roman ideology impact the known world at that time?

Ep. 16: Rise Of A Rival Religion explores the advent of Islam as well as the consequences with its arrival.

Ep. 15: What About Rome? helps us to understand the context of Roman Catholicism up to and during the Middle Ages. How did the Roman Catholic Church rise to its level of prominence and authority? We answer those questions and more in this session.

Ep. 14: Overview Of The Middle Ages provides the background for understanding the context of the Middle Ages (500-1000 A.D.). Here, explore the major factors which defined this era of Christian history.

Ep. 13: The Chalcedonian Definition presents an important document produced by believers in the fifth century. The Church had already answered the question of Christ's divinity, yet was faced now with defining His humanity. This session considers the content of this definition.

Ep. 12: Jerome chronicles the life and legacy of a captivating, yet contentious figure of Church history. Relive the story of the man who translated the Latin Vulgate and left his imprint upon the Church for centuries to come.

Ep. 11: John Chrysostom follows the life and extraordinary preaching ministry of "John The Golden-Tongued." We'll examine John's commitment to expository preaching and consider the consequences he willingly faced on account of his convictions.

Ep. 10: Augustine Of Hippo recounts the life and contributions of one of the Church's greatest theological minds. Explore the difference the Gospel made in the life of a man of keep intellect and a starving soul.

Ep. 9: From Nicaea To Constantinople follows the timeline between the first ecumenical council and the second. This episode especially chronicles the heroic efforts of Athanasius of Alexander in his quest to defend biblical truth.

Ep. 8: The Showdown At Nicaea explains what came to be known as the Arian Controversy and what the Church did to address it. Along the way we learn about the colorful cast of characters present at the council, including the mythical account of St. Nick's right hook.

What happens when a pagan, Roman Emperor embraces Christianity? How should Christians today evaluate the supposed conversion of Constantine? Furthermore, how did Constantine's Christianity impact both the empire and the Church? Find these answers and more in this episode.

Christianity initially suffered tremendous persecution at the hands of Rome. Yet all of that abruptly changed beginning in the 4th Century, AD. In this session, learn about the providential factors which led to this sudden shift in Rome's attitude toward the Christian faith.

Ep. 5: Written In Blood considers the initial persecutions toward the Church. We will survey both Jewish and Roman persecution from A.D. 33 to 200. We'll also consider the accounts of a few early Christian martyrs.

Ep. 4: The Response Of The Faithful explores the era of the Church Fathers. How did the early Church answer the false teachings which threatened the truths of the Gospel? What can we learn from their faithfulness as well as their errors? Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/t... License code: Z3J2BLXW7WY6RUH2

Ep. 1: Introduction | In this introductory episode, we consider some helpful definitions for navigating the centuries of Christian history. Namely, we will define the Greek word, "ekklesia" as given by Jesus in Matthew 16. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/t... License code: Z3J2BLXW7WY6RUH2

Ep. 3: Early Heresies explores a few of the predominant first and second-century strands of false Christian teaching. Discover the allusions to these movements in the New Testament as well as the dangers they posed as they matured. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/t... License code: Z3J2BLXW7WY6RUH2

Episode 2: The First Century Church considers the historical context which parallels the expansion of Christ's Church following His Ascension. In this episode, learn of the factors helped advance the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/t... License code: Z3J2BLXW7WY6RUH2