Church History, Part One

Survey of Church History
Part One: Establishment and Spread of the Church in the First Century
Why Are There So Many Churches?
34,000 separate “Christian” groups have been identified in the world
Over 1000 “Christian” Protestant religious organizations in North America alone World Christian Encyclopedia, David Barrett et al, editors
Reasons to Know Church History
Explanation of the present
Understand uniqueness of the original church
Insight into issues we face today
Motivation for the church to be faithful
The Church Foreseen in the Old Testament
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands …
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things…
The Church Foretold in Prophecy
Isaiah 2:2-4 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say,"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
The Church Foretold in Prophecy
Daniel 2:44-45 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
The Church Foretold in Prophecy
Joel 2:28-32 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days….
All Fulfilled in New Testament …

The Fullness of Time
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Luke 2:1-2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
Luke 3:1-3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, … the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
The Kingdom Announced
Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying,'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
The Kingdom Announced
Mark 9:1 And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
Luke 10:9 And heal the sick there, and say to them,'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

The Church Promised
Matthew 16:15-19
– 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
– 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
The Day of Pentecost

Beginning of Apostasy
Acts 20:28-30 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Beginning of Apostasy
1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
Beginning of Apostasy
2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Beginning of Apostasy
2 Thessalonians 2:1-7 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God….5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
Beginning of Apostasy
2 Peter 2:1-2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
Survey of Church History
Part One: Establishment and Spread of the Church in the First Century