Scroll down for older lessons in this study. Need the Zoom link or the CCS video login information? Contact Deanna to have it sent to you.
Link to printable Lesson 9 Handout
If you miss class, you can watch Video "Module 10" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login).
Link to printable Lesson 8 Handout
You can read Luther's 95 Theses here: https://www.luther.de/en/95the...
You can read Luther's "Preface" to his Latin works here: https://www.bluffton.edu/cours...
If you missed class, watch Video "Module 9" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login) when indicated in the video discussion above.
You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
Link to printable Lesson 7 Handout
If you missed class, watch Video "Module 8" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login) when indicated in the video discussion above.
You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
Link to printable Lesson 6 Handout (no blanks this lesson)
See the video on the spread of many world religions at https://youtu.be/AvFl6UBZLv4.
You can read the following texts mentioned in the videos:
If you missed class, watch Video "Modules 6" and "Module 7" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login) when indicated in the video discussion above.
You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
Link to printable Lesson 5 Handout
Lesson 5 Handout with the Blanks filled in
The creeds for additional reading are included in the handouts. A further additional reading is a series of letters from Arius and from another Bishop about Arius. Find it from the CCS website or here.
If you missed class, watch Video "Module 5" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login) when indicated in the video discussion above.
You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
Link to printable Lesson 4 Handout.
Lesson 4 Handout with answers filled in
The additional reading is Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Preface; Book I ch. 8 paragraph 1; Book I.10:1-2; Book III chapters 3-4. All sections available at https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103.htm.
If you missed class, watch Video "Module 4" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login) when indicated in the video discussion above.
You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
Link to printable Lesson 3 Handout.
Lesson 3 Handout with answers filled in
Read Ignatius' Letter to Rome here
If you missed class, watch Video "Module 3" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login) when indicated in the video discussion above.
You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
Link to printable Lesson 2 Handout
Lesson 2 Handout with answers filled in
Read Didache here
If you missed class, watch Video "Module 2" on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login) when indicated in the video discussion above.
You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
Link to printable Lesson 1 Handout
Lesson 1 Handout with answers filled in
If you missed class, Watch Video Module 1 on the CCS page (contact Deanna if you need the login info), then watch the video discussion linked above. You can also watch The Tuesday video here.
This semester we’ll be studying The Church’s Story: A Survey of Church History, a video series produced by the Center for Christian Studies and taught by Dr. Keith Stanglin, a professor of historical theology and an excellent teacher.
Plus there will be live, guided class discussion for each lesson.
Choose between in-person on Tuesdays at 10:30am Central in the UA Chapel in downtown Austin, Tx (Zoom also available) or online via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7pm Central.
Although we usually study a Biblical text, there are some great benefits to studying the history of the church.
First, understanding how the church progressed and matured helps us understand church doctrine. Often, the church had to wrestle with the meaning of the Scriptures to address a particular heresy. Understanding the problems they were addressing helps us understand the resulting doctrine.
Second, we know from looking around at the many types of Christian churches today that the church divided into multiple traditions - from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox to the huge numbers of Protestant churches. Church history helps us know why and how that happened.
Third, there were early church writers who wrote about many beneficial subjects. For example, there are texts about the worship practices of the earliest church, the reasons Christians shouldn't be persecuted by Rome, and the way to interpret Scripture in light of Jesus. Knowing who these writers were and when they wrote helps make their writings more accessible.
Finally, studying church history helps us focus on the strong elements that every Christian tradition holds in common, such as our worship of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the lordship of Jesus Christ.
As a professor of historical theology, Dr. Keith Stanglin is an expert source for this very large subject. Deanna took his two-semester graduate class on this subject and it was excellent! Although we won't cover as much in just these 12 sessions, we'll have all the benefits of Dr. Stanglin's expertise at a survey level.
Dr. Stanglin is also a good teacher who makes a big subject accessible, even if you're new to the material.
In addition, we'll have the benefits of class discussion as we engage together after every video.
Each week, you can prepare for class with some readings and questions on this page.
In class, we'll watch the video together (videos vary from 19-38 minutes). Zoom participants will be able to see and hear the video too! Then we'll all participate in a guided discussion.
All class members will have login information to watch the videos on the Center for Christian Studies website any time. There are several different video courses you'll also have access to, so feel free to watch any of them!
The discussion portion of the class will be viewable on YouTube so that you can watch the discussion after you've watched the video.
Spring 2023 Schedule
Date | Lesson | The Church’s Story: A Survey of Church History |
Jan. 10/11 | 1 | The Importance of Studying Church History |
Jan. 17/18 | 2 | Apostolic Fathers |
Jan. 24/25 | 3 | Trouble from Without: Persecution |
Jan. 31 / Feb. 1 – Service Day | ||
Feb. 7/8 | 4 | Trouble from Within: Heresy |
Feb. 14/15 | 5 | Christology: The Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople |
Feb. 21/22 | 6 | Rise of Islam & Crusades |
Feb. 28 / Mar. 1 – Service Day | ||
Mar. 7/8 | 7 | Monasticism |
Mar. 14/15 – Off for Spring Break | ||
Mar. 21/22 | 8 | Reformations |
Mar. 28/29 – Service Day | ||
Apr. 4/5 | 9 | Arminian Controversy |
Apr. 11/12 | 10 | Enlightenment and Skepticism |
Apr. 18/19 | 11 | Pietist Revival* |
Apr. 25/26 – Service Day | ||
May. 2/3 | 12 | 20th Century Developments |
May. 9 – Planning Session *Although we won’t have time to cover it in class, an additional video, “American Restoration Movement (Churches of Christ, Christian Church, Disciples of Christ)” will be available to watch outside of class. |
Stanglin, Keith. "The Church's Story: A Survey of Church History." Center for Christian Studies, Austin, Tx. Accessed Dec. 1, 2022 - May 23, 2023. https://www.christian-studies.org/churchs-story.
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