Semester II, Week 10: 21st Century Christianity

In this last class, we take time to review the entire semester. We then open the floor to discuss two questions: what changes in the Church have your experienced in your life; and what voices are influencing the Church today? Everything is wrapped up as we consider what a church in Barcelona, Spain has to do with Our Christian History.

Lecture Notes

Whiteboard

Lecture Recording (1:27:32; 80.1 MB)


Additional Resources

Rev. Bill Fisher: "Airplanes, Bicycles, and Churches"

Year-in-Review Barna's Top 10 Findings from 2014 - Barna Group

Six Megathemes Emerge from Barna Group Research in 2010 - Barna Group

One church’s sunset means a new day for another - The Washington Post

Semester II, Week 09: The Church in a Nuclear Age

As we enter the volatile 20th century, we’ll study three Christian reactions to massive crisis in culture:

• the Church exchanged
• the Church estranged
• the Church engaged

Lecture Notes

Lecture Recording (1:10:08; 64.2 MB)


Extras:

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Semester II, Week 08: The Religious Marketplace in 19th Century America

The religious vitality once found in Europe found a new home in 19th century America. Religious freedom, a progressive and democratic spirit - along with other factors - created a fertile environment for religious experimentation. American Protestantism seemed poised to take over the world. So what events caused the market to abandon such optimism?

Lecture Notes

Whiteboard

Lecture Recording (1:11:11; 65.2 MB)

The Most Amazing Thing In The World

Semester II, Week 07: Awakenings and Revivals

The Great Awakenings were a reaction to the rational, intellectual, heady faith that was emerging in Europe during the Age of Enlightenment. It sought to reconnect and re-affirm the place of emotion in self-authenticating religious experiences. Revivalism in America sparked a debate over the answer to this question: What must I do to be saved?

Teacher's Guide

Lecture Recording (1:21:08; 74.2 MB)

Additional Resources

The Great Awakening - 1

The Great Awakening - 2

The First Great Awakening

Religious Transformation 

Puritanism/Predestination 

Whitefield - Timeline and Biography

Open air preaching 

Opposing Views - Old/New Lights 

Whitefield/Wesley split  - 1

Whitefield/Wesley split  - 2

Edwards versus Chauncy

John Wesley Almost Marries Grace Murray

Semester II, Week 06: Coming to America

DISCLAIMER: This week's recording was destroyed by either providence or technology; it is hard to say. The recording linked here is taken from last year's class. Please understand that some of the lessons referred to in this recording are not in the same order as this year's.

That said, today's lesson discusses the Puritans - from their origin in England, and the dissenting groups who left to create a New World in America.

Lecture Notes

Slide Deck

Lecture Recording (1:13:41; 67.4 MB)

John Winthrop's "Model of Christian Charity" 

Dramatization of the Trial of Anne Hutchinson

Transcript of the Trial of Anne Hutchinson

Semester II, Week 05: Faith and Reason

We finish our time in Europe discussing a time when the praises reserved for God alone were instead spent lifting up the virtues of mankind and his place in a rational universe. We will be discussing faith and reason in a time known as "The Enlightenment".

In the following weeks, we will turn our attention to America. This lesson will provide a lot of framework for understanding the movements we will be looking at. That said, please don't be alarmed that this lesson covers about 300 years in one very broad stroke, only to return to the 1600's next week. All will be revealed - just trust the process.

Teacher's Guide

Whiteboard

Lecture Recording (1:05:41; 60.1 MB)

Readings

Enlightenment 

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/enlightenment/

Dover Beach, A famous poem about, among other things, the loss of Religion's prominence in Western Europe

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172844

Proof that Faith has not died in our "enlightened age"
Devastating Arguments Against Christianity (Courtesy of the Internet)

Semester II, Week 04: The Reformations, part 2

The lesson continues the discussion about the reforming events of the 16th century. We look this time at the specific events played out in Switzerland, Great Britain, and Rome itself.

Lecture Notes

Lecture Recording (1:15:12; 68.9 MB)


Additional Resources

General

• McGrath, Alister E. "Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution-- a History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-first." 

• Gonzalez, Justo L. "The Story of Christianity. Vol. 2." 

Ulrich Zwingli

• "Ulrich Zwingli" http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ulrich_zwingli.htm

• "The beliefs of Ulrich Zwingli" http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/beliefs_zwingli.htm

• http://www.theology.edu/h373.htm

John Calvin

• http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/John_Calvin.htm

• http://www.theology.edu/h373.htm

Distinctions between Lutheran and Reformed

• http://opc.org/qa.html?question_id=31

Henry VIII

• http://video.pbs.org/video/2365444192/

The English Reformation

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/english_reformation_01.shtml

Semester II, Week 03: The Reformations, part 1

A volatile mix of theological and political aggravation was prevalent throughout western Europe in the 16th century. All that was needed was a spark to ignite it. That spark came in 1517 when a young friar named Martin Luther nailed a series of arguments to the door of a Church in Germany. 

This lesson will discuss the life of this momentous figure. We will explore the events that shaped him and how he succeeded where others before had failed.

Lecture Notes


Whiteboard 1

Whiteboard 2

Map of Europe

Map of Germany

Lecture Recording (1:10:28; 64.5 MB)


Additional Resources

PBS Documentary of Martin Luther

"Here I Stand" by Roland Bainton

"Christianity's Dangerous Idea" by Alister McGrath

"Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences: by Geisler and MacKenzie"

Semester II, Week 02: Whispers of Reform

The Reformation began well before Martin Luther. A chorus of voices had already been crying out for the reform of a corrupt medieval Church. This was a Church that reigned supreme - whose influence extended beyond the borders of the spiritual, and into the temporal realms of politics and power. This lesson will provide a better understanding of the multiple factors leading up to the Reformation. We will see how this Church influenced all aspects of medieval life, and introduce those voices calling for her reform.

Class Outline

Lecture Recording (1:16:09; 69.7 MB)

Additional Resources
Transcript of Unam Sanctam

Definition of Indulgences

Semester II, Week 01: Introduction

This class continues our exploration of church history. This semester will pick up just before the Protestant Reformation and follow the life of the church through Modern Europe and into a new country called America. The teaching portion of this class seeks to provide a sense of what motivated people in the Late Middle Ages.

Class Outline

Slide Deck

Lecture Recording (1:16:16; 69.8 MB)
Teaching begins at 0:39:43

Update: It was asked what was the unaffected country in the Black Death map. The answer: Poland. So why was this area unaffected? A potential answer can be found here.

Errata: I misspoke when explaining that the term "Dark Ages" was a 17th-century French invention. The fact is that a 14th-century Italian poet name named Petrarch first coined the phrase. More information can be found here.

Semester 1, Week 10: War! - The Crusades

In the last class for this semester, we examine some of the simple questions one might encounter when talking about the crusades. We start off by defining what the Crusades were, and what they were not. We then looked at events leading up to the first campaign in 1096 and briefly review the remaining Crusades. Finally, we ponder the impact of the Crusades on Medieval Europe and beyond - the world we will be discussing next semester.

Lesson Notes

Lecture Recording (1:15:22; 69.0 MB)

Additional Resources

Various Crusade Topics	http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/2002//issue74
Details on each Crusade	http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the_crusades.htm
Pope Urban II Speech	http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-fulcher.html
Myths about the Crusades	http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=1483
St. Augustine’s Just War Doctrine	http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/Philosophers/Augustine/augustine_justwar.html http://www.catholic.com/blog/steve-weidenkopf/were-the-crusades-just-wars
Pilgrimages	http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pilg/hd_pilg.htm http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-religion/pilgrimage.htm
Indulgences	http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/286800/indulgence
Related Recent History	Islamic State in Iraq and Syria/Levant/al-Sham https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2014/06/article_3183091.html http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/june/thousands-flee-as-terrorists-take-over-iraq-christian-mosul.html Pope backs up military action against IS http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/vatican-backs-using-force-against-is/ar-AA9Myn3

Semester 1, Week 09: All Authority on Earth

The disintegration of Rome did not mean just the loss of a culture. There were very pragmatic and dire consequences to losing governing institutions, including loss of most basic needs like food distribution, social order, law enforcement, and so on. When Rome disintegrated, the Holy Roman Empire emerged to fill the void.

This class looks at the development of that Empire. We also look at an institution that continues to this day: the Papacy.

Lesson Notes

White Board

Lecture Recording (1:16:53; 70.3 MB)

Maps of Europe from 1 - 2000 AD

Errata: During the lecture, I incorrectly referred to Pope Innocent II as the one that placed England under a Papal Interdict in 1208. The correct person was Pope Innocent III.

Postscript: Some questions came up regarding how the Pope was elected, and how his name is chosen. I found the following website that addresses some of those questions.

http://taylormarshall.com/2013/03/20-fun-facts-about-papal-elections-in.html

Semester 1, Week 08: Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo was a singular figure who stood in the gap between a dying Classical world and what would come to be called the Middle Ages. His thinking would help shape the Christian world for the next 1000 years, yet is still as vital and controversial today as ever.

He will help advance our thinking about the nature of church and salvation. He is equally celebrated by Protestants and Catholics. But his impact doesn’t stop at spirituality – it will extend into psychology and philosophy

St. Augustine may be considered the first Modern thinker. Much of Western civilization’s conception of self will be informed by him. His life is captured for us in an autobiography that pulls no punches. He sees in himself the great battle that all humanity contends with.

This lesson will be split into two segments. The first part will look at his life – the major events that helped form him. The second will look at the Theological positions he held. Looking at his life first will make clearer the positions he later took on doctrinal issues and in his writings. Remember: theology is biography.

Lesson Notes

White Board

Lecture Recording (1:12:38; 66.5 MB)


Additional Resources

Resource	URL	Description
Augustine of Hippo: A Life	Click Here	Great short biography
The Confessions of Saint Augustine	Click Here	Great autobiography

Semester 1, Week 07: The Bible

Christians have always revered the word of God, but we didn't always have it in the form we enjoy today - the Holy Bible. This class traces the events that led to the Bible in its final canonized form. We focus on the dates of the books, the languages involved, and why the Church had to begin the process of canonization. We end by briefly addressing some common objections to the authenticity of our sacred scriptures.

Teacher's Guide

Lecture Recording (1:24:47; 78 MB)

Additional Resources

Resource	URL	Description
Dates of the Books of the Bible	http://www.provethebible.net/T2-Integ/B-0402.htm
British Library	http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/index.html	Online Sacred Texts
The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts	http://www.csntm.org/Manuscripts.aspx	images of manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus	http://www.codexsinaiticus.com/en/	Codex Sinaiticus images, translations, etc
The Development of the Canon of the New Testament	http://www.ntcanon.org/index.shtml	Great resource, especially the "Cross Reference Table: Writings and Authorities"
"How We Got The Bible" by Neil Lightfoot	http://www.amazon.com/How-Got-Bible-Neil-Lightfoot/dp/0801072611/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426140299&sr=8-1&keywords=how+we+got+the+bible	An excellent book detailing the development of the Bible.
"The Story of The Bible" by Larry Stone	http://www.amazon.com/Story-Bible-Fascinating-Translation-Civilization/dp/1595551190/ref=sr_1_2_twi_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426140394&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Story+of+the+Bible	Another great book detailing the development of the Bible. This one includes pull-out copies of famous manuscripts.

Semester 1, Week 06: Monks - Rebels With a Cause

Tonight's class looks at a revolution that grew when Christianity began to enjoy the favor of the Empire. What motivated St. Anthony to leave his inheritance behind? When did monks start living together as a community? Who lived on top of a column for 30 years? And what did the Church think about these rebellious monks?

Teacher's Guide

Lecture Recording (0:55:05; 50.4 MB)

Full Picture

Semester 1, Week 05: Politics

Tonight's class examines the transition of the Church from persecuted to triumphant. Through circumstances no one could have foreseen, the Church began to enjoy favored status from the same Empire that tried to kill them off. Who or what events cause this transition? What impact did this have on the Church?

Teacher's Guide

Lecture Recording (1:15:08; 68.7 MB)

Full Picture

Detail 1

Detail 2

Detail 3

Semester 1, Week 04: Persecution - The Seeds of the Church

Tonight's class completes the series on "Becoming Christian" by looking at martyrdom and persecution in early Christianity. We examine how Romans understood the role of religion in the Empire. This knowledge helped us to understand the motivations that drove local persecutions - and eventually across the Empire itself. But how did these persecutions affect the Church beyond just loss of precious lives?

Next week, we'll look at the how early Christians dealt with their new found political favor.

Teacher's Guide

Lecture Recording (1:20:58; 74.1 MB)

Semester 1, Week 03: Heresy - The Family Feud

Tonight's class continues a series on "Becoming Christian" by looking at dangerous ideas in early Christianity. We learn what Scripture teaches about heresy before looking at four specific heretical ideas. We finish up with how the Church responded and navigated the truth in a world full of ideas. There is much to learn about our times from theirs. Thank God for the help of the Holy Spirit.

Teacher's Guide

Slide Deck

Lecture Recording (1:13:02; 66.8 MB)

Semester 1, Week 02: Becoming Christian - Culture and Missions

Tonight's class begins a series on "Becoming Christian". Luke 2:1-5 gives us a glimpse of the cultures that would help shape the faith - Jews, Greeks, and Romans. We learned a little more about these cultures and their relationship with Palestine. When the Temple is destroyed in 70 AD, Jews and Christians are forced out into those cultures. This sets up the next few lessons where we will consider how the Christians dealt with their new reality.

Teacher's Guide

Student's Guide

Slide Deck

Lecture Recording (1:00:34; 55.4 MB)

Semester I, Week 01: Introduction

In this class, the groundwork is laid for the semester. We learn how history helps us to be more passionate servants of Jesus Christ. We consider the idea of transition: not this-then-that but rather this-TO-that. We then focus our attention on the first part of a story that will cover two semesters. How did the church transition from a small, Jewish sect willing to die for its faith - into a powerful, Gentile empire willing to kill for it? The answers will set up next semester when we learn how the church is humbled and corrected.

Teacher's Guide

Student's Guide

Semester Overview Drawing

Slide Deck

Lecture Recording (1:04:38; 59.1 MB)
(note: teaching begins at 18:00 and corresponds to page 7 in the Slide Deck)