Table of Contents
List of Figures and Tables ix
Part 1 Why We Study Church History-Purpose 1
1 The Church Strives to Be One Family 5
Welcome to Your Story: The Story of the Church 5
The One Family of Christ Jesus: The Church 6
Many Members of the One Family 8
Practicing Hospitality toward Distant Relatives 10
Conclusion: Family First 11
2 The Church Strives to Be a Holy People 15
A Holy People? 15
Holiness in the Bible 16
A List of Grievances 18
Repenting of the Unholiness of the Church 20
Conclusion: Seeking to Become Holier 23
3 The Church Strives to Be a Catholic Body 27
The Universality of the Church 29
Three Ways to Become a More Catholic Church 31
Conclusion: Embodying the Catholicity of the Church 35
4 The Church Strives to Be an Apostolic Church 39
The call toward Apostolicity 40
The Difference between Progress and Alteration 42
Insiders versus Outsiders? 44
Conclusion: Wrestling with the Past 46
Part 2 What We Study in Church History-Content 49
5 A Tomb in Italy Illumines the History of Christianity in Western Europe 53
The Story of a Tomb 54
The Catholic Church 55
The College of Bishops 58
Devotion to Relics 60
Conclusion: Still Adored after Nineteen Hundred Years 63
6 An Icon in Egypt Illumines the History of Christianity in the East 67
The Story of an Icon 68
A House Divided 69
Icons in the Orthodox Faith 73
The Monastic Movement 75
Conclusion: Christ the Almighty Reigns 77
7 A Stele in China Illumines the History of Christianity in Asia 81
The Story of a Stele 81
The Church of the East 84
The On-Again, Off-Again Church 86
The Collision between Eastern and Western Worldviews 88
Conclusion: Christianity in a Museum? 91
8 A Crucifix in the DRC Illumines the History of Christianity in Africa 95
The Story of a Crucifix 95
The Church in Africa 97
Cultural Clashes between African and European Christians 103
Conclusion: Lingering Questions 105
9 A Cloak in Mexico Illumines the History of Christianity in Latin America 109
The Story of a Cloak 110
The Social Context of Latin America 111
Devotion to the Virgin Mary 114
Bridge between European and Indigenous Cultures 117
Conclusion: What a Difference a Cloak Can Make 118
10 A Warehouse in California Illumines the History of Christianity in North America 121
The Story of a Warehouse 122
American Pentecostal Churches 123
Revivalism in America 127
An Interracial Church 129
Conclusion: From Warehouse to World 133
11 A Boot in Fiji Illumines the History of Christianity in Oceania 137
The Story of a Boot 138
Christianity in the Isles 140
Foreign and Domestic Missionaries 142
A Clash of Civilizations 144
Conclusion: The Holy Clash Continues 147
Part 3 How We Study Church History-Method 151
12 A Medieval Forgery Illumines How to Write a Paper on Church History 155
The Story of a Medieval Forgery 155
Getting Started on a Research Paper 158
Collecting Sources 159
Formulating an Argument 160
Overcoming Barriers 162
Conclusion: Becoming a Budding Church Historian 163
