Embracing Church History: Lessons for Today's Faith

 

Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the profound significance of church history and its relevance to contemporary Christianity. We began by addressing the pervasive issue of being consumed by the present moment in our media-saturated world. This tendency often leads to a neglect of the rich heritage and lessons from the past. As Christians, we are part of a historical continuum, and the Holy Spirit has been guiding the church for over two millennia. This historical perspective is not just informative but essential for understanding our faith today and preparing for the future.

We delved into the importance of Christology, emphasizing the need to understand the person and work of Jesus Christ. The early church faced numerous heresies and challenges, and their responses, encapsulated in creeds like the Nicene Creed, remain instructive for us today. These historical insights help us navigate contemporary distortions and denials of Christ's nature and work.

The conversation also touched on the Reformation, questioning whether its issues are still relevant. Despite changes in the Roman Catholic Church, the core doctrinal differences, particularly regarding justification by faith alone, persist. Moreover, within Protestantism, challenges to doctrines like justification and the sufficiency of Scripture highlight the ongoing need for Reformation principles.

We celebrated the legacy of figures like John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards, whose teachings continue to resonate. Calvin's emphasis on piety and pastoral care, and Edwards' focus on God's providence and the godliness of all things, offer timeless insights. The discussion also acknowledged the significant contributions of women in church history, from the Reformation to the world mission movement.

As we look forward to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we anticipate a renewed focus on Martin Luther's humanity and his enduring impact. The conversation concluded with reflections on the 20th century's influential figures, such as J. Gresham Machen, whose commitment to doctrinal integrity remains a powerful example.

Key Takeaways:

- Historical Awareness: In a world obsessed with the present, Christians must remember their historical roots. The Holy Spirit has been active throughout church history, providing a rich tapestry of lessons and insights that can guide us today and into the future. [02:57]

- Christology's Centrality: Understanding the person and work of Jesus is crucial. The early church's struggles and creeds offer valuable guidance in addressing contemporary distortions of Christ's nature and work, reminding us of the gospel's core truths. [05:09]

- Reformation's Relevance: The issues of the Reformation, particularly justification by faith alone, remain pertinent. Both within and outside Protestantism, challenges to foundational doctrines highlight the ongoing need for Reformation principles. [14:04]

- Legacy of Faithful Leaders: Figures like John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards provide enduring insights. Calvin's pastoral care and Edwards' emphasis on God's providence and the godliness of all things offer timeless guidance for living a faithful Christian life. [32:20]

- Role of Women in Church History: Women have played significant roles throughout church history, from the Reformation to the world mission movement. Their contributions offer valuable examples and inspiration for women in the church today. [47:49]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the Hangout
[01:25] - Why the Past Matters
[03:26] - Christology and Church History
[06:02] - Trusting Church History
[09:36] - Upcoming Projects
[11:59] - The Reformation's Relevance
[17:37] - John Calvin's Legacy
[22:14] - Upcoming Reformation Anniversary
[28:05] - Jonathan Edwards' Influence
[35:20] - Significant 20th Century Figures
[39:00] - J. Gresham Machen's Legacy
[44:17] - Role of Women in Church History
[48:05] - Upcoming Projects and Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 13:7 - "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."
2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
3. Galatians 1:8-9 - "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!"

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some of the key historical events or figures mentioned in the sermon that have shaped contemporary Christianity? [02:41]

2. How did the early church respond to heresies and challenges, and what role did creeds like the Nicene Creed play in this? [05:09]

3. What are the core doctrinal differences between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism that were highlighted in the sermon? [14:04]

4. How have women contributed to church history, according to the sermon? [47:49]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding church history help Christians today in navigating contemporary challenges to their faith? [02:57]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the principles of the Reformation are still relevant to modern Christianity? [14:04]

3. How can the legacy of leaders like John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards inspire current and future generations of Christians? [32:20]

4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of maintaining doctrinal integrity in the face of modern theological challenges? [39:00]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you were more focused on the present moment than on learning from the past. How can you incorporate historical awareness into your faith journey? [02:41]

2. How can you deepen your understanding of Christology to better address contemporary distortions of Christ's nature and work? [05:09]

3. In what ways can you apply the principles of the Reformation, such as justification by faith alone, in your daily life? [14:04]

4. Consider the legacy of a historical Christian leader who inspires you. How can you emulate their faith and dedication in your own life? [32:20]

5. Identify a woman from church history who has made a significant impact. How can her story inspire you or others in your community today? [47:49]

6. How can you ensure that you are upholding doctrinal integrity in your personal study and understanding of Scripture? [39:00]

7. What steps can you take to educate yourself and others about the rich heritage of church history and its relevance to contemporary faith? [02:57]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Historical Roots
In a world that often prioritizes the present, Christians are called to remember their historical roots. The Holy Spirit has been active throughout church history, providing a rich tapestry of lessons and insights that can guide us today and into the future. By understanding the past, we can better comprehend our faith and prepare for what lies ahead. This historical awareness is not merely academic; it is a spiritual discipline that connects us to the broader story of God's work in the world. [02:57]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a historical figure or event in church history that you are unfamiliar with. How can you learn more about it this week, and what might God want to teach you through this exploration?


Day 2: Christology as the Foundation of Faith
Understanding the person and work of Jesus is crucial for navigating contemporary distortions of Christ's nature and work. The early church faced numerous heresies and challenges, and their responses, encapsulated in creeds like the Nicene Creed, remain instructive for us today. These historical insights remind us of the gospel's core truths and help us maintain doctrinal integrity in a world that often seeks to redefine Jesus according to cultural preferences. [05:09]

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." (Colossians 1:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of who Jesus is. Are there any aspects of His nature or work that you find challenging to grasp? How can you seek clarity and deeper understanding in these areas?


Day 3: The Ongoing Relevance of Reformation Principles
The issues of the Reformation, particularly justification by faith alone, remain pertinent today. Despite changes in the Roman Catholic Church, core doctrinal differences persist. Within Protestantism, challenges to foundational doctrines like justification and the sufficiency of Scripture highlight the ongoing need for Reformation principles. These principles serve as a guide to maintaining theological clarity and faithfulness in a world that often blurs doctrinal lines. [14:04]

"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (Romans 3:28, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a doctrine or belief that you find yourself questioning or struggling with. How can you seek guidance and understanding to reaffirm your faith in this area?


Day 4: Learning from Faithful Leaders
Figures like John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards provide enduring insights into living a faithful Christian life. Calvin's emphasis on piety and pastoral care, and Edwards' focus on God's providence and the godliness of all things, offer timeless guidance. By studying the lives and teachings of these leaders, we can gain wisdom and inspiration for our own spiritual journeys, learning how to integrate faith into every aspect of life. [32:20]

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a spiritual leader, past or present, who has influenced your faith. What specific qualities or teachings from their life can you incorporate into your own spiritual practice today?


Day 5: Recognizing the Contributions of Women in Church History
Women have played significant roles throughout church history, from the Reformation to the world mission movement. Their contributions offer valuable examples and inspiration for women in the church today. By acknowledging and learning from these stories, we can appreciate the diverse ways God has worked through women to advance His kingdom and encourage the full participation of women in the life of the church. [47:49]

"And I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well." (Romans 16:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on the role of women in your church community. How can you support and encourage the women around you to use their gifts and talents for God's glory?

Quotes


we are people with a past uh the holy spirit is an unique gift to the 21st century Church holy spirit's been the gift of the church for the last 2,000 years and uh that's a that's a past that's instructive for us I think it's useful hopefully as we uh go along today [00:02:44]

what we're talking about here is the gospel El we're talking about the person of Christ and the work of Christ and as you survey the horizons of contemporary evangelicalism or of contemporary culture or even of of global issues if we throw Islam into the mix what we see here is uh distortions if not denials on the person of Christ [00:03:57]

it's very fascinating to me as I as I look back in the early church much of what they were doing they're theologizing that came out these wonderful Creeds the nyine Creed or the Caledonian Creed from the early church councils was driven very much by their worship of Christ who is this Jesus this that is at the center of the church [00:05:00]

the consistent Orthodox teaching eventually uh won and the uh Bishops just hammered that theme and we have these great Creeds coming down to us from the early church so so as we look at our church today and we look at the 21st century we see distortions and denials of the person work of Christ and the past can be very helpful for us [00:05:37]

the Roman Catholic church has changed it is not the same church as it was in Luther's day there's far more transparency certainly it has its issues it was a financial crisis just a few weeks ago in the news everyone's aware of uh but it's sort of apples and oranges so so we need to be honest with that [00:12:47]

one of the Cannons of the Council of Trent is that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is anathema it is justification plus works and that's at the heart of the Gospel and the fact of the matter is Trent remains canon law or what we say Church law in Roman Catholicism and those that are familiar with Roman Catholics [00:13:37]

you know Jim Boyce uh Dr sproul's good friend for all those decades Jim Boyce said you know in the 60s and 70s in 80s the battle was over inherency and Chicago statement came out of that Dr Boyce Dr Sproul locked arms and and just really fought that battle but Boyce would say in the 90s uh the issue now is sufficiency of scripture [00:16:08]

one of the things that's interesting to me is I sort of look back on all that uh because we have a few years distance and histo you know as a church of story and I love these anniversary dates so you know I was able to live through Edward's 300th anniversary in 20 03 that was very exciting and then Jonathan Edwards and now John Calvin's 500th anniversary [00:18:47]

one of the things that made sure of is that these folks if they couldn't purchase a Bible and you got to keep in mind books were very expensive in the 1560s OR 50s especially a Bible just a lot of you know to produce that the Geneva Council would buy them a Bible this is fascinating record after record of Calvin wanting to make sure his parishioners had a Bible in their home [00:20:29]

I think the thing that I hope people see in Luther is what what we often like to call the humanity of Luther Luther was a very earthy guy uh he he you know we talk about show the portrait in all right no airbrushing uh Luther has those spots of him his Humanity shines through and uh I think that can actually be encouraging to people [00:25:48]

I think one that I like about Edwards is he so stresses the god-given of all things I that's such a fundamental piece to Edwards the god-given US of everything so whether he's uh exegeting Paul or he's reading the Psalms or he's horseback riding through the beautiful Connecticut River Valley uh he is seeing God revealed and asking himself what can I learn of God [00:28:38]

we see women playing a role in the Old Testament you know we've got the deboras and the ruths and the Naomi they're certainly playing a role and in the New Testament we see women playing a role women in the lives in the life of Jesus and uh and Aquilla and Priscilla right husband and wife team playing a role in the New Testament so so it is in church history [00:44:51]

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Transcript
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