Forerunners of the Faith Teacher's Guide: 13 Lessons to Understand and Appreciate the Basics of Church History

By Nathan Busenitz and John F. MacArthur

Enter God’s Story of Faithfulness to His People

The Christian faith extends beyond our personal experiences, our individual churches, and far beyond our present age. This, for the Christian, is great news. When we become acquainted with the legacy of our Christian heritage, we connect our stories to those of the faithful believers who have come before us.

This connection is precisely what Nathan Busenitz, Dean of Faculty and professor of church history at The Master's Seminary, seeks to provide. Based on the bestselling Fundamentals of the Faith, Forerunners of the Faith outlines the biblical orthodoxy that characterizes the true church. Busenitz succinctly identifies thirteen key lessons that capture the trials and triumphs of the historical Church, providing insights for how the ancient Christians responded to the problems of their day to become the pillars of faith we now consider them to be. Learn how your faith stands on the shoulders of giants like Athanasius, Augustine, and Wycliffe. As more than a didactic resource, Forerunners of the Faith serves as spiritual encouragement as we remember the legacy of God’s faithfulness to his people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Release date: Jul 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9780802498700

Nathan Busenitz

Nathan Busenitz (PhD, The Master's Seminary) is assistant professor of theology at the Master's Seminary. He previously served on the pastoral staff of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. He is the author of numerous books and a regular contributor to the blog Preacher & Preaching.

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© 2020 by

NATHAN BUSENITZ

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All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-0-8024-1977-4

eBook ISBN: 978-0-8024-9870-0

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CONTENTS

Foreword

How to Use This Manual

Introduction

Part I: The Apostolic Age (1st Century)

1. The Biblical Framework: Identifying the Pillars of the Faith

2. From Pentecost to Patmos: Peter, Paul, and the First-Century Church

Part II: The Patristic Period (2nd–5th Centuries)

3. The Disciples of the Apostles: Clement, Polycarp, and the Early Church Fathers

4. Contending for the Faith: Justin, Irenaeus, and the Pre-Nicene Church

5. Defending the Deity of Christ: Athanasius and the Council of Nicaea

6. Grace and Truth: Augustine, Chrysostom, and the Post-Nicene Church

Part III: The Middle Ages (6th–15th Centuries)

7. Controversies and Councils: Doctrinal Debates in the Late Patristic Period and Early Middle Ages

8. Schisms, Scholars, and Soldiers: Anselm, Bernard, and the Crusades

9. Forerunners to the Reformation: Waldo, Wycliffe, and the Pre-Reformers

Part IV: The Reformation and Modern Period (16th–20th Centuries)

10. After Darkness, Light: Luther, Calvin, and the Protestant Reformers

11. From Reformation to Revival: Edwards, Whitefield, and the Great Awakening

12. The Gospel Goes Forth: Carey, Judson, and the Modern Missions Movement

13. The Battle for the Bible: Faithful Believers in the Face of Modernism

Notes

FOREWORD

By John MacArthur

Church history begins and ends with Jesus Christ. From start to finish, the church age is bookended by His first and second comings. Our Lord’s ascension to heaven and the sending of His Spirit at Pentecost mark the beginnings of church history; His return for His bride will bring the church age to a close.

The Lord Jesus not only defines the scope of church history, but He is the supreme focus of every part of it. Christ is the Head of the church and the Lord of history. Thus, both the church and its history exist to magnify His glory. One day, the church on earth will be gathered in heaven, and time itself will be wrapped up in eternity. Church history will be no more. But the doxological purpose for which it was ordained will endure forever, as glorified saints from every tribe and tongue lift their voices in endless praise to the Lamb.

A survey of church history, properly framed, fixes the focus on the Lord Jesus. It puts our eyes on Him (Heb. 12:2). History bears witness to both His work and His Word, and it generates genuine worship as a result. We see the truth of Christ’s saving work, in generation after generation, radically transform lives through the power of the gospel. We see the authority of His Word repeatedly triumph over heretical errors and empty philosophies, as it governs the belief and practice of the redeemed. We also see the resounding response, as His people rejoin in praise and thanksgiving. The halls of church history reverberate with the worship of the redeemed, from the days of the apostles to the present.

Forerunners of the Faith provides an engaging and accessible introduction to church history. But it does far more than merely present information in a clear and simple way. Armed with a biblical lens, Forerunners lifts the eyes of its readers beyond the events and figures of the past. It places the focus on the Lord Jesus—on His work, His Word, and the worship He deserves. Whether you embark on this journey of discovery by yourself or as part of a group, you are sure to come away with a greater sense of awe and wonder for all the Lord has done through the centuries to build His church.

Far too many believers today remain ignorant about their history as members of the body of Christ. Some may be indifferent, unaware of the faithful examples and important lessons waiting to be discovered. Others are intimidated, fearful that the subject may expose them to error and confusion. Forerunners of the Faith cuts through the fog with biblical clarity and practical relevance. Whether you are new to the subject or simply eager to refresh your appreciation for the richness of your Christian heritage, you’ve come to the right place. A compelling and Christ-exalting journey awaits you on the pages that follow.

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HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

Tips for Preparing and Presenting the Material

FOR THE TEACHER 

Forerunners of the Faith is a curriculum designed to introduce believers to the rich heritage of the historical church. It is designed to focus on key figures in church history while also providing a basic framework for understanding significant events and developments.

Students are expected to fill out their Student Workbook while listening to you present the material to them. The material they need to complete their workbook is found in this Teacher’s Edition manual.

Being an effective teacher involves both careful preparation and clear presentation. Here are some helpful tips for maximizing your effectiveness in both of those areas.

Careful Preparation

Proper planning and preparation are critical to effective teaching. The Teacher’s Edition of this workbook provides you with a clear lesson plan to follow. The curriculum is designed for a single lesson to be completed each week.

Start by downloading and listening to the corresponding lecture from www.tms.edu/forerunners. These audio lessons will go into much more detail and nuance than can be accomplished in the limited format of this workbook. Follow along in this Teacher’s Edition manual, and take notes as needed.

Read the discussion questions. Use your Bible to formulate an answer. It is important to show your students throughout these lessons that the Bible, not church history, is the believer’s ultimate authority.

Come to class with a firm grasp of the material. You will use the material in this Teacher’s Edition manual as your lecture notes. It is intended to provide you with the structure and talking points needed to present the material. It also corresponds to the workbooks your students will use during the class.

Clear Presentation

Manage your time well. Each lesson is designed for an hour-long class period, but can be adapted for other lengths of time. It is important for you, the teacher, to manage the time carefully so the lesson is paced appropriately.

Be familiar with the material. This familiarity will enable you to maintain eye contact and exhibit freedom in presenting the content.

Expand on the notes. The printed notes are not intended merely to be read verbatim. Rather, they are designed as talking points. By listening to the lecture and preparing carefully for your lesson, you will be able to expand beyond what is printed in this manual.

Engage with student questions. Allow your students to ask questions, and be willing to dialogue with them about the material. If you do not know the answer to a question, be honest and let them know you will investigate their question and try to answer it at a later time. (You can also encourage them to investigate and report on their findings at the next class.)

For questions that involve theological or moral issues, be sure to use God’s Word in your answer. As noted above, it is important to demonstrate that Scripture, not church history, is the believer’s authority.

Have fun. Your students’ attitudes toward the material will likely reflect your own. If you demonstrate enthusiasm for church history, that excitement will be contagious. It will also make your class time far more effective.

Going Above and Beyond

Some teachers may want to dig deeper into their study of church history, beyond what is included in this concise manual. While resources on the internet are abundant and often free, they are not always trustworthy. Here are a few recommended resources:

Nick Needham, 2000 Years of Christ’s Power, 4 vols. (Christian Focus)

Sinclair Ferguson, In the Year of Our Lord (Reformation Trust)

Earl Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries (Zondervan)

Stephen Nichols, Five Minutes in Church History Podcast https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/

Robert Godfrey, A Survey of Church History (Ligonier Ministries)

INTRODUCTION

WHY STUDY CHURCH HISTORY?

Reasons Every Christian Should Care about the Past

I. INTRODUCTION

As a church history professor, I routinely face the challenge of engaging students in a subject that may initially seem either unfamiliar or uninteresting. Despite the misconceptions, church history is neither boring nor irrelevant. It is so much more than names, dates, timelines, and charts.

Some students start out thinking, I hate history. Maybe so, but the study of church history is not primarily about history. It’s about the church, the bride of Christ, the most precious institution on earth. It’s about what God has been doing in the world for the last two thousand years. And that means it should matter to every believer.

Others might wonder why they should study church history if our primary focus ought to be on studying the Bible. Without question, the Christian’s daily spiritual diet should consist of the pure milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:1–3). Nonetheless, the study of church history is a rich and profitable exercise. It can never replace the study of Scripture, but it can enrich it, as you learn from prior generations of believers who faithfully studied and applied biblical truth.

To be clear, the Word of God is the final authority over church history. But the study of church history, when evaluated through the lens of Scripture, is a faith-affirming exercise. I have experienced that reality firsthand. The deeper I’ve investigated the history of the church, the more I have grown to appreciate the power and authority of God’s Word—because I’ve seen that power vividly illustrated in the testimonies of past generations of believers.

It is the teacher’s responsibility to convince the student of the importance and relevance of the subject being taught. When asked why church history is so important, if I only have a minute or two to answer, I usually highlight the following three points, using the acronym ABC.

A is for Apologetics. Believers today should take an interest in church history because it will help them guard against false teaching. The study of church history helps us understand how false movements arose and how believers in the past have refuted them.

B is for Biography. The halls of church history are filled with compelling accounts of faithful men and women who made great sacrifices to follow Christ. Their examples motivate us to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel.

C is for Curiosity. The study of church history answers many questions and shows us important connections. It explains how broader Christendom came to be what it is today. How did certain practices or movements develop? Why are things the way they are? Church history helps us find answers to those lines of inquiry.

II. TEN REASONS TO STUDY CHURCH HISTORY¹

When given a bit more time to answer the question, Why is church history important?, we can list ten reasons. These represent an expansion of the three points listed above.

1. Studying church history is important because most contemporary Christians don’t know much about it. But they should.

Sadly, most contemporary evangelicals know very little about the history of Christianity. Even in Reformed circles, an understanding of church history often goes back to only the Reformation. But the history of the gospel spans all the way back to the New Testament.

If your knowledge of church history jumps from the apostle John (on Patmos) to Martin Luther (in Wittenberg), with little to nothing in between, you ought to consider filling in the gaps. The 1,500 years between Pentecost and the Reformation include many significant people—fellow believers and faithful leaders—whom God used in strategic ways to advance His kingdom purposes.

Evangelical church history—all 2,000 years of it—is a goldmine of theological treasure. In their attempts to juvenilize the church, many evangelical congregations spurn history as if it were outdated and unimportant. We do ourselves a great disservice if we choose to remain ignorant.

Does God consider history to be important? Certainly He does. Though it is not church history, God used Israel’s history to teach them spiritual truths throughout the Old Testament (see Deut. 6:21–25). And in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit saw fit to inspire a book of church history, starting from the Day of Pentecost and running through Paul’s first Roman imprisonment.

While the inspired record of church history ends with the book of Acts, Christians are blessed to have wonderful resources that detail the history of the church from the first century to the present. Those who ignore the profound riches of their own spiritual heritage don’t know what they are missing—namely, the life-changing opportunity to be challenged, instructed, and encouraged in the faith by those who’ve gone before us.

2. Because God is at work in history. Equally, history is a testimony to God’s sovereign providence.

Pardon the cliché, but it really is His story. Everything is working according to His plans, and He is orchestrating all of it for His eternal glory (see 1 Cor. 15:20–28). God declares Himself to be the Lord of history:

Isaiah 46:9–10—Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’

Studying church history reminds