Monthly Archives: September 2016

Thursday, Sept. 29                       Mt. 18:20.  “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  I have heard this verse … Continue reading →

Tuesday, Sept. 27                               There is significant risk in going to a secular college.  It was bad enough in my days—decades ago—but it is much worse now.  Christians can handle some of it fairly well, the sanctity of life, defences … Continue reading →

Monday, Sept. 26                                Here’s an update on my friend whose wife is suffering through the ordeal of ovarian cancer.  He just found out that the … Continue reading →

Sunday, Sept. 25                               “I need to glance at my problem and gaze on my Savior.”  This is not just a cute saying.  It came from … Continue reading →

Saturday, Sept. 24                              The world’s view is that we should feel good about ourselves.  The Christian view is that we should feel good about what God … Continue reading →

Friday, Sept. 23                                   Sometimes when I’m trying to sleep, my body is in neutral while my mind is in overdrive.  My mind is … Continue reading →

Thursday, Sept. 22                                 Through the first five centuries, truths concerning God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the trinity, and salvation by grace through faith, survived … Continue reading →

Wednesday, Sept. 21                            We all believe that God’s Word is correct and straightforward, but it’s still true that divine truth being communicated to finite human beings presents … Continue reading →

  Tuesday, Sept. 20                               The word “canon” means “rule” or “ruler.”  It was basically a straightedge.  The “canon” was to measure how “straight” a writing … Continue reading →

Monday, Sept. 19                                I feel compelled to share a few other tidbits from our pantheon of Early Church Fathers.  Eusebius (263-339).  His forté was church … Continue reading →

Sunday, Sept. 18                                 Jesus said “The poor you will always have with you.”  During these first five centuries of the Church, you could also … Continue reading →

Friday, Sept. 16                                   Athenasius, deserves a little more attention.  He grew up in Alexandria and was duly influenced by the allegorical method of … Continue reading →

Thursday, Sept. 15                              By 318 A.D. Arianism had spread throughout the Empire.  Many churches were led by Arian bishops.  As it reached crisis proportions in 24, Constantine took action.  He called a council of bishops from all over the Empire … Continue reading →

Wednesday, Sept. 14                         Constantine                            Probably the biggest single event in the first five centuries A.D. apart from the incarnation and the birth of the Christian Church was the ascendancy of Constantine to the Roman throne.  He was … Continue reading →

Originally posted on Crumbs from the Master's Table:
Tuesday, Sept. 13                                    Arianism was by far the most serious threat to Christianity—greater than…

Tuesday, Sept. 13                                    Arianism was by far the most serious threat to Christianity—greater than all the waves of persecution by the Roman Empire … Continue reading →

Monday, Sept. 12                                The first two centuries had plenty of problems, but things got worse in the next few centuries.  During the second century several … Continue reading →

Sunday, Sept. 11                                 The Apostolic Age wasn’t even over before the Church began it’s decline into papacy.  Plurality of leadership, in vogue throughout the … Continue reading →

Saturday, Sept. 10                              Irenaeus was born in Smyrna, studied under Polycarp before leaving to study under Justin Martyr and then appointed bishop of Lyon, France, in … Continue reading →

Friday, Sept. 9                                    Bold and Blunt The defenders of the faith were bold, blunt, and offensive.  They needed to be—well, maybe not offensive.  The issues were crucial, not only for that time, but for the centuries to come.  Men like … Continue reading →

Thursday, Sept. 8                               Polycarp Polycarp (69-155) grew up in Smyrna, a city not far from Ephesus.  He was discipled by the Apostle John, appointed by John as a bishop (elder) in Smyrna in 100 A.D.  He was a strong defender … Continue reading →

Wednesday, Sept. 7                            There were many godly men(and women who served the Lord faithfully in the first century, many of whom are revealed in the N.T.  There … Continue reading →

Tuesday, Sept. 6                                Early Church Seminaries In the last half of the first century and the second century several cities became centers of Christian learning.  1. Antioch:  the church that supported Paul’s missionary work in Asia Minor.  2. Alexandria: a … Continue reading →

Monday, Sept. 5                                  Besides dealing with doctrinal issues, the Early Church had to contend with the pagan Romans, who dominated the western world.  Along … Continue reading →

Sunday, Sept. 4                                   When we read the New Testament, it all seems rather straight forward, although filled with persecution and doctrinal issues.  In … Continue reading →

Friday, Sept. 2                                     The Apostolic age is from the beginning of the church as recorded in Acts 2 to the death of … Continue reading →

Thursday, Sept. 1                                The sports world is often caught up in evaluating star players.  They take delight in picking out MVPs and comparing all time … Continue reading →