CHURCH HISTORY: Lesson Four “the spreading flame” Those early Christians were a small minority, often situated on the periphery of public life, but they did not regard their mission as a private affair—it had to do with the transformation of the world. John W. de Gruchy, Christianity and Democracy: A Theology for a Just World Order

The Growth of the Church NUMERICALLY Acts 2:41 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 1:15 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, Acts 4:4 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

GEOGRAPHICALLY Acts 1:8 “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  A. In Jerusalem (Acts 1:1-7:60)  B. In all Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1-11:18)  C. And to the end of the earth (Acts 11:19-28:31

A. In Jerusalem B.In all Judea and Samaria Acts 8:1 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. Acts 8:40 “ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” Acts 9:31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”

C. “and to the end of the earth” Philip and the Eunuch from Ethiopia (Acts 8) Saul’s mission to persecute the believers in Damascus (Acts 9) Saul sent to Tarsus, located in Cilicia (Acts 9:30) Christians identified in Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch (Acts 11:19-26) New converts who took gospel message after the Day of Pentecost

Later missionary efforts of the Apostolic Church Paul’s 1 st Journey Acts 13:-14:28

Paul’s 2 nd Journey, Acts 15:39-18:22

Paul’s 3 rd Journey, Acts 18:23-21:25

Colossians 1:3-6 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Edward Gibbons Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire  A. zeal of the early christians  B. belief in future rewards and punishments  C. Power of miracles  D. Moral lifestyle  E. Church’s compact organization

“It helped the pagan mired in a morass of gods to find a path to meaningful faith by offering him one irrevocable choice to salvation, and it showed how the community of a Christian congregation could be an effective embrace against the bitter chill of urban loneliness felt by the peasant who had come to the city seeking work, by the lonely soldier released from the army, the freed slave, the ruined landowner, the pensioner whose fixed income was being devoured by inflation, Christian philanthropy toward strangers, its impulse toward mutual concern, its care of the dead, its acceptance of every person no matter from what tribe, city, or countryside—these were the attractions of the early church to the masses of mankind.” Chaim Potok, Wanderings, p. 289

“Remember, St. Thomas came to India when many of the countries of Europe had not yet become Christian, and so those Indians who trace their Christianity to him have a longer history and a higher ancestry that that of Christians of many of the European countries. And it is really a matter of pride to us that it so happened,” Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Pres of India, Acts of Thomas “The tradition is so ancient and the support so strong even in the normally skeptical twentieth century that it may be wise to admit that underlying some of the most improbable legends there often lies a foundation of fact.” Dr Samuel Moffett A History of Christianity in Asia

Acts of Thomas Found in Edessa ca AD 200