Church History for Chumps

As we comb through history's ranks of church fathers, we tend to take something for granted. Many of these people had a natural desire for leadership. Augustine, Athanasius, Antony, they all had a na…

Do you know what happens when you combine the trauma of growing up as a PK (pastor's kid, of course) with the Game of Thrones-esque violence of the Roman Empire?

Well, you sort of get Julian the Apost…

We asked for Q's, and you guys delivered. So now we're back with the A's. 

Who's our favorite heretic? Are we Calvinist, Arminian, or something else? Do we have any advice for someone considering past…

We're back in the 4th century, baby. 

And it's time we finally talk about the Cappadocian Fathers. Two brothers and one lifelong friend, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus w…

This week, we're taking a short break on our early church series, mostly because Taylor put "I get to lead an episode on Baptist missions every once in a while" in his contract when he joined the sho…

Imagine you're writing a letter to the President (or Emperor, depending on what era you live in).

Point by point, you bring up each idol of that day and age, and refute it thoroughly. Then you explain…

Persecutions are tough. I think we can all agree with that. 

But an issue that doesn't get as much attention is what the church does after a time of persecution. Specifically with the Christians who m…

For the past few weeks, we've been covering the stories of the Apostles after the biblical narrative concludes. 

And...we can be honest. This series has gone over like watching a jaded old magician sp…

The lore surrounding the lives of the Apostles never ceases to amaze. People getting boiled alive (and surviving). Dudes getting thrown off the top of the Temple. Crazy stuff. 

But what if most of the…

When you think of the persecution of the Christians in the early church, it doesn't take long for the mind to naturally think of the Colosseum. 

But how involved was the Roman Colosseum in the practic…

James the Greater. James the Lesser. James the brother of Jesus. 

Three stories. Three mysteries. Three Jameses. 

Join Jay, Tay, and Tray as we uncover more of the apostolic legacies after the biblical…

Church history this, church history that. Blah blah blah. 

Let's get ready for some TRIVIA. 

Join us for a fun time of Chump Talk, where Taylor and Thomas will go head to head over some church history …

We all know how the story of the Apostles went down. They all went on missions to different regions of the world, and everyone but John was martyred. Right?

...Right?

MAYBE NOT! 

Join us as we dive into…

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PREPARE YOUR BALLOTS.

Few church fathers have a legacy as controversial as Origen of Alexandria. From rumors of self-mutilation, heresy, and crooked bishops, the story of Origen …

"Hey! I'm walkin here!"

 St. Ignatius, probably

Not much is known of the 1st Century early church father known as Ignatius of Antioch. His early life, conversion, and place of origin are steeped in mys…

"F is for friends who do stuff together"

-St. Peter, about Clement, probably

You know what we love about the early church? 

That with a couple of history books and a number 2 pencil, you can sketch a ni…

Imagine if you were a really cool guy. 

Like, a really cool guy. You helped all your friends know Jesus better. Wrote all these interesting theological ideas. Came up with all these fun words in Greek…

Imagine going to a country with one of the oldest expressions of Christian faith...as a BAPTIST?!?!?

Just kidding. But really, Taylor just got back from a week-long mission trip in Ethiopia, eastern A…

"Nice pagan temple. Be a shame if someone...Christianized it."

-Constantine, probably

The conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity was one of the most groundbreaking events to occur in the his…

The scandal of Christianity is that the Church is seldom greatest amongst the rich and powerful. Often, those rich in spirit are poor in worldly treasure. The "abundant life" promised in the Gospels …