Survey of Church History 1

This course describes how the church fulfilled its mission and protected essential doctrine through the period from the early church to the Reformation.

This course provides an introductory survey of church history from A.D. 30-1517.

In the Appendix you will find:

• Key Events in Church History (listing)
• Key Figures in Church History (listing)

(Please read through these before beginning the first lesson.)

Lesson Structure

(1) If studying as a group, take turns reading the material. You should stop periodically for any class discussion. As the class leader, you are responsible to keep discussion from wandering from the material being studied. It is helpful to have a time limit for each discussion period.

(2) Each time you come to the sign ►, let students discuss the question. It is important to show how the study of church history is relevant to the church of today. Most of the discussion questions for this course ask the students to relate what they have learned about history to their circumstances. Please take sufficient time for these discussions. Without this, students may fail to connect their study of the past to the needs of the church today.

(3) Each lesson will include an assignment. When the assignment is a presentation to the group, give time at the beginning of the next class meeting for oral presentations. Every student should do the project for Lesson 1. There are additional projects for each lesson. Students should complete at least five of the assignments for Lessons 2-8.

(4) Each lesson will include test questions. At the end of each class, the leader may review these questions with the students. Dates and names are more important in a church history course than in many other courses. Take time to review the “Important Names” and “Important Dates” that are listed at the end of each chapter. The following class session should begin with a short test with these questions. Testing can be done orally or in written form.

(5) There are eight lessons for this course. Each lesson covers a large amount of material and will take a minimum of 3-4 hours. If you are meeting for shorter sessions, you should plan two sessions per lesson.