In this final lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia discusses the “fall” of the Roman Empire, reviews the state of Christ’s church at the end of the classical period, and previews the challenges the church would face in the medieval period.
Somerset, NJ
Sermons/Sunday Schools in the series Church History 101: The Early Church:
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia examines two more fourth century church fathers and their legacies : Ambrose (the Church Supremacist) and Augustine (The Legacy Provider). Augustine’s influence has been particularly significant on the Western church and even Western civilization.
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia examines three important fourth century church fathers and their legacies: Athanasius (the Trinity Defender), John Chrysostom (the Expositor), and Jerome (the Translator).
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia finishes up presentation of the Polemical Fathers by introducing a final third century theologian, the controversial Origen. Pastor Dave also discusses two issues brought up the second and third century fathers: the allegorical hermeneutic and the proper Christian response to world culture.
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia introduces key church fathers from the second and third centuries, men known as the second century apologists and polemical fathers. As Pastor Dave discusses these men and their legacies for the church, Pastor Dave asks us to consider a crucial question: what is the proper way for Christians to…
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia briefly discusses the issue of canonicity, how the Christian church came to recognize which books belonged in the Bible and which books did not. Pastor Dave then introduces several apostolic fathers, those church leaders who came right after the apostles and some of whom were even taught directly by…
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia discusses the seven ecumenical councils of the early and medieval church that sought to clarify what the Bible teaches about the Trinity and the nature of Christ against various emerging heretical beliefs. In many ways, we Christians today still benefit from the pronouncements of these ancient councils, but not…
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia discusses the four main heresies affecting the Christian church before the fourth century. Pastor Dave emphasizes how the early church stood on the word handed down from the apostles to defend the faith and how we need to do the same today as we see new forms of the…
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia discusses how the situation for early Roman Christians transformed dramatically with the emperorship of Constantine. Pastor Dave explains what happened to bring Constantine to power, what Constantine’s policies were toward Christians, and how his policies—and those of his successors—had profound effects on Christianity, both positively and negatively.
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia examines the persecutions Christians suffered in the first to early fourth centuries. Specifically, Pastor Dave explains: 1. What were the persecutions? 2. Why were Christians persecuted? 3. How did Christians respond to persecution?