We have worked to create a community for both believers and non believers alike by sharing the timeless faith of Orthodoxy with the contemporary world through modern media. When Claudius expelled all Jews from the city of Rome, however, only the Gentile Christians remained. Christianity grew apart from Judaism, creating its own identity by an increasingly harsh rejection of Judaism and of Jewish practices. In Acts 4:2 we read the  following: “being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” As the Apostles were teaching, opposition arose from the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. Well this didn’t pay off for them because they both died instantly for their sin and because of the example the church grew in great fear of the Lord. It had a definite hierarchy – there were church elders, deacons, bishops, etc. During the thousand years of the Middle Ages, from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance, the papacy matured and established itself as the preeminent authority over the church. With each election, the Religious Right’s impact grew. In fact, it could be the rebirth of the church based on God’s movement and … After this date, however, persecutions of Christians by government became widespread and violent. Slavery, Jim Crow kept churches segregated during nation's early history; ... says the first-century Christian church grew so rapidly precisely because it was so inclusive. The Catholic Church put forth the belief that people could only get to heaven through the Church. The first Christians therefore did not meet in separate churches but continued to meet in the local Jewish synagogues. 2 The early church stressed the importance of proclaiming the  resurrection of the Lord of Glory, The  resurrection is the  driving force behind the Gospel. The article that follows explores the history of persecution of the early church, some of the reasons behind it, and two important Christian responses to persecution: the glorification of martyrdom and the writings of the apologists. We are on a mission to inspire Orthodox Christians Worldwide. This is not the  case. 2. 7. Jesus and his disciples were all Jews. Caring for the sick, widows, and orphans Everywhere Christians went the preached … What does it mean that God is not a respecter of persons? In its first three centuries, the Christian church endured persecution at the hands of Roman authorities. Athanasios and Cyril – Stay Faithful to the Teachings of Christ, The Mystery of the Church and the Phenomenon of Heresies, Four Reasons Why Early Christianity Grew So Quickly, Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States of America. A world that is under the sentence of death need a  redeemer. There are several principal reasons for the decline of the Catholic Church. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. As the Early Church expanded, the shape of the early church networks that emerged is also important to understand as we strive to get back to “the way of Christ and His Apostles.” From a careful study of the New Testament and early church research, we have attempted to map the complex network of the early churches that emerged towards the end of the apostolic age. He holds an M.Div. The I-Am's of Christ in the gospel of John, Our emotional warning systems: anger and anxiety. The first Christians therefore did not meet in separate churches but continued to meet in the local Jewish synagogues. In Acts 4:29 we read: “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,”  They  believed in the  power of prayer and  also of  answered prayer. The early church grew because they prayed « Believing Prayer, Theology trumps methodology | Gospel Progress Mission Group, 16 things you need to know about yourself, NBC author tells funny joke about the president elect, Uncomfortable problems the church needs to talk about (1), The Amazing Enduring Perseverance of the Apostle Paul. Jews were left alone for the most part; it seemed best to Rome to just confine them and leave them alone. God knows the hearts of people, and just because some people might want a church to grow because of ego does not mean all growth is bad. Describe particularly the influences from Judaism, Greek culture, and the Roman empire. But, even if it was, surely numerical growth alone isn't enough to constitute thriving. Some were dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to axletrees, and set on fire in his gardens, in order to illuminate … The handbook … St Paul was one of the main leaders in the early church and he believed that the good news of Jesus was for all … Post was not sent - check your email addresses! In their zeal, they promoted the militant reclamation of once-Christian lands—first of Iberia in the … The church was considered a religio prava, an illegal and depraved religion. Indeed, whenever the world persecutes the church, it just grows even more. Many of the  great figures  of the Old and New Testament were  people of  prayer. Describe the factors that enabled the church to grow so quickly, both in numbers and in geographical extent. As the Church grew, the bishop of Rome came to believe he had authority over all the other bishops. As Rodney Stark, a sociologist of religion who has written extensively on the topic, put it: “ How did a tiny and obscure messianic movement from the edge of the Roman Empire dislodge classical paganism and become the dominant faith of Western civilization?”. In the  3rd  chapter they had  just  healed the lame  man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. The eminent historian, Edward Gibbon, gave his assessment of five reasons for the growth of the early church saying: I. In time, the pope took on … Let’s look at the  boldness of the   apostles and seek to have that  same  kind of  boldness today. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lament… Bad preaching and bad music can kill a church, but great preaching and great music don’t automatically generate church growth. What distinguished Christians was their response to these all-too-frequent calamities. We just saw that this isn't always true. At the same time, church attendance began its slow but steady decline. There are several important and interrelated reasons for the persecution of the early church. The mission of the church at its best throughout the centuries has been an outward mission focused on sharing the love Jesus has for the world with the world. It grew because Christians constituted an intense community, able to generate the "invincible obstinacy" that so offended the younger Pliny but yielded immense religious rewards. On the top of these was the Holy spirti who helped the church to grow in spite of presecution and hard times. We are left with prayer and hope, but no concrete action. The mission of the church at its best throughout the centuries has been an outward mission focused on … 8. The spiritual factos of the rapid growth od the church in the book of Acts were the five pusposes of the church from Acts 2: worship, teaching, discipleship, ministry, evangelism and mission. The book of Acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For starters every peasant had to give up a portion of their weekly work to labour on church land for free. ©2020 Orthodox Christian Network. Dislike. The Early Church Preached the Right Message. You will also get a coupon for 25% off your next order as our thanks to you! In 1900 there were fewer than 9 million Christians in Africa. Yet a full look at the evidence reveals that much more was at play. If we can  recapture the prayer life of the  early church we can better  stimulate church growth. July 2, 2014 0. Religious life assumed new forms or reformed established ones, and missionaries expanded the geographic boundaries of the faith. For that reason, as Christianity grew, it destroyed all competition in its wake. Join us in our Media Ministry Missions! The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival during the early 19th century in the United States. Although persecution was not a willfully invited reason but rather one that was forced upon them, it is clear that despite hostility and persecution, Christianity continued to grow exponentially across the Roman Empire. Unfortunately there is an on-going war in this technological age: Technophilia vs. Technophobia. Nick Lica ----- * * * -----From the first Christianity aimed at being a world-conquering principle. Even without any knowledge of medical science, the simple act of providing food, water, and shelter to sick people vastly improved survival rates in times of widespread disease. The total number of Christians martyred in the early church is unknown. Over time, the Christian church and faith grew more organized. Christians were over-represented in cities, which made them more influential than their numbers because culture tends to flow from cities to the countryside. This section covers topics such as the Didache, Constantine’s conversion, the Council at Nicea, and the teachings of Augustine.. And, in the end, healthy things grow. Christ had died on the cross, so there was no higher honor than to imitate that death through accepting martyrdom (witness by one’s blood). Introduction. Though small … The most important one is the insistence that God loves the world He has created and that He desires those who love Him to also love their fellow man. The task it set before itself was stupendous. The book of Acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of Jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Early Church Defined. In this passage we see the boldness of the  apostles. And, yes, I have also met church leaders who want their church to grow for questionable reasons too. God has  told us to pray. Stance against adultery, abortion, and infanticide Book of Acts . Over time, the Christian church and faith grew more organized. Sociologist and historian Rodney Stark mounted a powerful argument that one of the principal reasons Christianity grew while Roman paganism waned in the 1 st-4 th centuries was because of the mercy Christians displayed toward people who physically suffered, and in particular, how Christians showed mercy during two plagues that ravaged the Roman Empire. First was the problem of identity. Tucked away in Acts there is also a beautiful little passage describing the nature of … A good church website can help your church to grow. Chapter 9 -- Opportunity and Organization. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, who then went on to baptize 3,000 people were that same day, as recounted in the Book of Acts. Four Reasons Why Early Christianity Grew So Quickly. In Jude 3 there is a  passage that fits the  situation,  “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”. Don’t wait. However, before being able to understand or grasp what the true current situation is, one must have some background. Seraphim Danckaert is Director of Mission Advancement at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary. We must proclaim  it from  our pulpits and with all we  come in contact. Doing so leads to very tangible demographic results: 40% growth per decade for hundreds of years. The early Christian Church began in Jerusalem and the surrounding area and grew out of the Jewish tradition. A church of Christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of God. It will also help us work for the unity of all believers in Christ. {1}People felt threatened by this oddball new religion. http://gospeak.org/br/give/, Also read these fine articles and reports. Before 250, persecution of Christians was mainly sporadic and local rather than the result of a well-defined policy of the Roman government. Extent of the Persecutions . And it’s not all bad. The early Christians didn’t attend church, they were the Church; an active, energized body of believers equipped to change the world. Several church leaders are yet to realize potential of a website for church growth. Everywhere  Christians went the preached the Word. If we are willing to learn from the experiences of the early church, we can have church growth. Click to signup to receive weekly newsletter. The church of the early Middle Ages. Instead of fleeing to the countryside to escape the most recent plague, they stayed to care for their own — and for others. It is a recognized leader in the Orthodox Media field and has sustained consistent growth over twenty-two years. It’s an exciting ride, from the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, to shipwrecks and imprisonments, to life changing sermons delivered by ex-fishermen. Implications | Powered by: Worship LIVE Streaming Services Around the World, Part XII – Hold Fast to Your Boundaries—Truth, Part XI—Hold Fast to Your Boundaries—Honesty, Sts. After Peter and John had been  released by the  Sanhedrin they went back to the rest of the  apostles and fellow believers to give  a report o what had transpired. If we are willing to see how the early church existed among the  Jewish, Roman, and Greek cultures, and  implement their techniques, we too, can  experience church growth. … Wave after wave of persecution was unleashed to squash it. The ancient Roman world was not kind to women and children. ° Christians were deviant in doctrine, active in evangelism, and threatening to the … In The Rise of Christianity, Stark does the math, and shows that a social movement numbering only 1,000 people in 40 A.D. could easily grow to 25 or even 35 million by the fourth century, despite all of the challenges of the ancient world — if the members of the movement lived according to the principles spelled out above. It had a definite hierarchy – there were church elders, deacons, bishops, etc. The early Christians simply out-birthed the pagans. 1st Under Nero A.D. 54-68 When Nero who had his wife and mother killed burned Rome, it lasted 9 days. Most people in the … The early Roman churches were dominated and led by Jewish disciples of Jesus. In the early history of Christianity, five cities emerged as important centers of Christianity: Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople. Jared W. LudlowThe book of Acts was written by Luke after his Gospel as the second part of a great two-volume work on Jesus Christ and the early Christians. We should declare it as  the  bedrock of the Christian faith. Sometimes people just mean that the church grows numerically under persecution (e.g. Now it’s more like the cost of doing business. James taught, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:27). The definite structure of the early Church may have been one of the reasons for its success. We would like  spend  some  time on each of the five reasons for church  growth that  we have  gleaned from this chapter. China). He considered both personal purity and serving others as essential in the church. Let the  world know what Jesus means to us. First of all, we must set aside the pietistic belief that Christianity’s early growth happened entirely because of miracles — the signs and wonders wrought by a special out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. Christianity gave much needed dignity to human … from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and is a Ph.D. candidate in theology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Otherwise, the largest … Remember, it is our  Creator that we are talking to. The Church in the Bible: The Epistles. Luke writes, “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. We  must believe that the Word of God is inerrant and  infallible. The book of Acts is a record of the growth of the early church, started by Jesus’s disciples and then expanded by the Apostle Paul.