In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia briefly discusses the issue of canonicity, how the Christian church came to recognize which books belonged in the Bible and which books did not. Pastor Dave then introduces several apostolic fathers, those church leaders who came right after the apostles and some of whom were even taught directly by…
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia discusses the seven ecumenical councils of the early and medieval church that sought to clarify what the Bible teaches about the Trinity and the nature of Christ against various emerging heretical beliefs. In many ways, we Christians today still benefit from the pronouncements of these ancient councils, but not…
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia discusses the four main heresies affecting the Christian church before the fourth century. Pastor Dave emphasizes how the early church stood on the word handed down from the apostles to defend the faith and how we need to do the same today as we see new forms of the…
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia discusses how the situation for early Roman Christians transformed dramatically with the emperorship of Constantine. Pastor Dave explains what happened to bring Constantine to power, what Constantine’s policies were toward Christians, and how his policies—and those of his successors—had profound effects on Christianity, both positively and negatively.
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia examines the persecutions Christians suffered in the first to early fourth centuries. Specifically, Pastor Dave explains: 1. What were the persecutions? 2. Why were Christians persecuted? 3. How did Christians respond to persecution?
In this lesson, Pastor Dave Capoccia begins examining early church history by first discussing the gospel’s expansion in the first four centuries. Pastor Dave explains the extent of gospel expansion, the ways God prepared for this expansion to take place, and the chief means God used to bring about the expansion.
In Lesson 1 of our new Sunday school series on church history and the early church, Pastor Dave Capoccia tackles a fundamental question: Why Study Church History? Pastor Dave first considers what we already know about church history and why we often don’t study it. Pastor Dave then offers three main reasons why we should…
In this sermon, Pastor Dave Capoccia finishes examining the spiritual discipline of the church from the Bible. In part 4, Pastor Dave completes looking at the “how” of the discipline of the church and explains the last three of six principles from the Bible to maximize mutual upbuilding in the church. 1. Engage in the…
In this sermon, Pastor Dave Capoccia looks again at the spiritual discipline of the church from the Bible. In part 3, Pastor Dave begins looking at the “how” of the discipline of the church and explains the first three of six principles from the Bible to maximize mutual upbuilding in the church. 1. Engage in…
In this sermon, Pastor Dave Capoccia continues looking at the spiritual discipline of the church and the Bible’s four main reasons to discipline yourself for the church. In part 2, Pastor Dave reviews the first main reason and then examines the three others: 1. The Church Is God’s Precious Mystery 2. The Church Is God’s…