Church History

Historical lenses enable researchers to focus and analyze data to determine trends.  As with a magnifying glass that focuses fine detail but blurs Peripheral details, the sharp focus of a historical lens necessitates tradeoffs. 

Read the article from Stanford's encyclopedia on the subject of the philosophy of history.

The overview video below crams a great deal of dates, names, and events, into its history presentation. Please use the spreadsheet template below to record the key dates, people, events, and heresy as they are mentioned in the video.

Watch the following video describing the Gnostic heresy. Don't forget to add any key names and events to the history chart you began at the start of the course.

Watch the video on Christian Apologetics and Early Heresies. As with the previous videos, add significant names and events to your church history project as you watch the video.

Read the following articles that provide an overview of heresies

The interactions between the Church and The State: Where our previous lessons focused on a chronological look at specific aspects of Church history, this lesson takes a thematic approach. We will examine political systems within the church and political/social systems which surround the church.

There can be no greater evidence of politics in the early church than the rise of the papacy. The first video provides an overview of the rise of the papacy. The second video describes the schism that has led to the division of the Western and Eastern churches. The third video covers the relationship between the papacy and the king during the Middle Ages.

National politics rather than theological differences largely drove the split of the Christian church into the East and West.

As with siblings, Kings and Popes could be the other's best supporters or worst enemies.  The complex system that kept both institutions alive stagnated God's mission.

The Reformation changed many things in the church and in society. The following video provides an overview of the relationship between the church and state in the founding of the U.S.

As with previous assignments, be sure to add key information to your history timeline.

Read the following article on the impact of religion on the development of laws and the government in the U.S. Please note the following link will download the file to your computer.

The Reformation: The reformation was a watershed event in society and church history. While the theological focus of the reformation has been on the concepts of grace and justification, the Lutheran understanding of Sanctification, the Priesthood of All Believers, and the Church would radical alter the course of the protestant church.

Watch the video, "The Protestant Reformation" by Tommy Nelson. Add additional names and events to your church history timeline as you watch the video. You want to pay close attention to the cause and effect framework which is commonly used in reformation studies.

Watch the video titled, Lutheran Orthodoxy. In the video the presenter will highlight the tension between orthodoxy and scholasticism that defined the development of Lutheranism after the reformation. The author may provide you with a few more names to add to your timeline. You'll have to do some additional research to determine where each name fits in your timeline project.

Use the link below to navigate to the video in which Dr. Schumaker discusses American Lutheranism.

The History of Lutheranism: The content of this lesson is focused on the Lutheran church from the colonization of America to the year 2000.

This video includes an overview of the key leaders guiding the birth of the Lutheran Church in America.

This lecture provides an overview of Lutheranism during the Civil War.

Uionism divided Lutheranism in the late 19th century as some Lutherans compromised God's teachings for the sake of relevancy in the eyes of society.

The Great Awakening marks a period of revival in North America.

Lutheranism in the 20th Century

The most significant Scism that divided Lutherans was rooted in the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures. 

Bible School Movement - Concordia Seminary Walkout

Church Mergers pt. 1

The Lutheran denominations we know today are often the product of numerous mergers and splits.

Read chapter six and seven of "A History of Lutheranism: What Happened to the Movement Begun by Luther" by Eric W. Gritsch

Download the chart of Lutheran Denominations in North America using the link below.

Watch the brief summary of the history of the LCMS. You will want to add some additional dates and key events to your timeline as we focus on a very specific slice of the church history timeline.