The Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History Video Study gives you what it promises: the essentials. This highly informative, broad-ranging study provides vital facts on the growth and impact of Christianity from the apostles to the present day not only in the Western world but also globally, including the development of Eastern Orthodox and Armenian Christianity, as well as Christianity in Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Baltic and Slavic states, and India. The study is organized by century, going through the major events, ideas, and personalities that have shaped Christian history around the world. Along with its accompanying book, Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History, this video study by author and scholar Stephen Backhouse covers: The main threads and issues running through each century of Christian history Explanations of key historical developments Thematic connections between centuries Focused looks at key persons, ideas, and events The final session, devoted to the present century, identifies key themes that the Christian church is presently dealing with and suggests future issues. Useful for students and lay learners alike, the Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History Video Study will help viewers to grasp the global, multifaceted story of Christians. Session Titles and Runtimes: 1 - Servants and Leaders: 1-100 (8 min) 2 - Love and Courage: 100-200 (12 min) 3 - Martyrs and Heretics: 200-300 (10 min) 4 - Establishment and Resistance: 300-400 (13 min) 5 - East and West: 400-500 (11 min) 6 - Centres and Margins: 500-600 (11 min) 7 - Soldiers and Missionaries: 600-700 (12 min) 8 - Monks and Emperors: 700-800 (13 min) 9 - Conversion and Culture: 800-900 (13 min) 10 - Green Shoots, Dead Branches: 900-1000 (12 min) 11 - Popes, Kings, and Peasants: 1000-1100 (17 min) 12 - War and Peace: 1100-1200 (17 min) 13 - Empire and Wilderness: 1200-1300 (19 min) 14 - Humility and Power: 1300-1400 (18 min) 15 - Church and State: 1400-1500 (19 min) 16 - Expansion and Consolidation: 1500-1600 (23 min) 17 - Reform and Revival: 1600-1700 (23 min) 18 - Reason and Revolution: 1700-1800 (23 min) 19 - Progress and Preservation: 1800-1900 (30 min) 20 - Sacrifice and Invention: 1900-2000 (32 min)

The Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History gives you what it promises: the essentials. This highly informative, broad-ranging book provides vital facts on the growth and impact of Christianity from the apostles to the present day not only in the Western world but also globally.

The Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History gives you what it promises: the essentials. Following a brief introduction that outlines the key events of the New Testament era, there is a chapter devoted to each century of Christian history beginning with the year 100 and ending roughly at the year 2000. Each chapter flows chronologically featuring: A brief overview, highlighting the main threads and issues running through the relevant century Key historical developments explained Thematic connections between centuries Color-coded sidebars on Persons, Ideas, or Events Persons: key figures either within or without the Church who have impacted Christian history significantly or who otherwise deserve special mention Ideas: important Christian books, as well as heresies, doctrines, or political movements Events: world-historical occurrences such as battles, natural disasters, inventions, or elections that have affected the development of Christianity in the world The final chapter, devoted to the present century concludes the companion identifying key themes that the Christian Church is presently dealing with and suggesting future issues. A select Glossary of terms is provided at the end of the book, as well as a bibliographic list of suggested reading. This highly informative, broad-ranging book provides vital facts on the growth and impact of Christianity from the apostles to the present day not only in the Western world but also globally, including the development of Eastern Orthodox and Armenian Christianity, as well as considering Christianity in Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Baltic and Slavic states, and India. The companion is organized by century, going through the major events, ideas, and personalities that have shaped Christian history around the world. Whether you are a student or a lay person, a church-goer or unacquainted with Christianity, this book will help you grasp the global, multifaceted story of Christians.

From the customs of religious life to common domestic and social practices, The Essential Companion to Life in Bible Times is your quick and reliable guide to the cultural backgrounds that formed the backdrop of biblical writings. Unlike many similar works, this Bible companion is organized thematically, making it easier to scan over broad subjects at one go. Topics include: The family—describes what the Bible says about children and childbirth, education, the different roles performed by men and women; as well as topics like sex, marriage, divorce, old age, death, and burial. The household—from house architecture and furniture to topics of everyday survival, such as food and its preparation, water access, and how illnesses were handled. Work life—discusses major Old Testament occupations and trades, from livestock and woodworking to commerce. Social life—includes explanations of population, the calendar, economics, crafts, travel and trade, dress, and music. Government—how different aspects of governance were handled in towns, larger cities, and the state, including the roles of the king, elders, and officials. Israel's religious life—from the use of high places and altars, to the importance of the tabernacle and the temple, to the role of priests and Levites. Between the brief introductions you might find in a study Bible and the overwhelming amount of detail in an exhaustive reference handbook, Essential Companion to Life in Bible Times strikes the perfect balance of manageable information, giving any student of Scripture the keys to unlock commonly misunderstood passages as well as deepen your appreciation of even the most familiar Bible stories.

People and Events Every Christian Should Know In this 12-session DVD-based study, Dr. Timothy Paul Jones takes you through the most important events in Christian history from the time of the apostles to today. He brings to life the fascinating people and events that shaped our world. This isn’t dry names and dates. It’s full of dramatic stories told with a touch of humor. This series, based on Dr. Jones’s popular award-winning book Christian History Made Easy, ties in spiritual lessons believers can glean by looking at the past, and shows how God was still working in his church despite all the ups and downs. You will learn: • The fascinating stories of people such as St. Patrick, Martin Luther, and Augustine. • People who changed history: Constantine, Charlemagne, and Francis of Assisi • How we got the Bible that we read today — John Wycliffe, William Tyndale and others. • The Middle Ages and the Reformation: Kings and Queens, Monks and Reformers • Where church doctrines and practices originated. • How the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches came to be. • Reason and Revival - How modernity and the scientific revolution affected Christianity. • How Christianity has spread around the world You don’t have to be an expert to lead this 12-session study. Perfect for small groups, Bible studies, or personal use. Ages: Young adult to adult. The Sessions The 12 sessions cover major eras and topics with plenty of stories and humor. You’ll cover the early church, monasticism, medieval conflicts, the Protestant Reformation, the Great Awakening, 19th-century missions, modernity, and postmodernism.

To Christians worldwide, the man Jesus of Nazareth is the centerpiece of history, the object of faith, hope, and worship. Even those who do not follow him admit the vast influence of his life. For anyone interested in knowing more about Jesus, study of the four biblical Gospels is essential. The second edition of Four Portraits, One Jesus has been updated throughout to meet the needs to today's students. It is a thorough yet accessible introduction to the four biblical Gospels and their subject, the life and person of Jesus. Like different artists rendering the same subject using different styles and points of view, the Gospels paint four highly distinctive portraits of the same remarkable Jesus. With clarity and insight, Mark Strauss illuminates these four books addressing the following important areas: First he addresses the nature, origin, methods for study, and historical, religious, and cultural backgrounds of the Gospels. He then moves on to closer study of each narrative and its contribution to our understanding of Jesus, investigating things such as plot, characters, and theme. Finally, he pulls it all together with a detailed examination of what the Gospels teach about Jesus' ministry, message, death, and resurrection, with excursions into the quest for the historical Jesus and the historical reliability of the Gospels. This textbook together with its workbook, video lectures, and laminated sheet gives students everything they need for a thorough and enriching study of Jesus and the Gospels.

The Apostles' Creed is a treasure trove of basic Christian beliefs and wisdom that helps ensure the integrity and orthodoxy of our faith. Sadly, modern churches have often hesitated to embrace the ancient creeds because of our "nothing but the Bible" tradition. In What Christians Ought to Believe Michael Bird will open your eyes to the possibilities of the Apostles' Creed as a way to explore and understand the essential teachings of the Christian faith. Bringing together theological commentary, tips for application, and memorable illustrations, What Christians Ought to Believe summarizes the basic tenets of the Christian faith using the Apostles' Creed as its entryway. After first emphasizing the importance of creeds for the formation of the Christian faith, each chapter, following the Creed's outline, introduces the Father, the Son, and the Spirit and the Church. An appendix includes the Apostles' Creed in the original Latin and Greek. What Christians Ought to Believe is ideally suited for both the classroom and the church setting to teach beginning students and laypersons the basics of what Christians ought to affirm if they are to be called Christians.