Evangelism in the Early Church (CH361) addresses evangelism in the early church. It begins by examining the astounding and amazing growth of the church in its early years. The course covers the growth from the book of Acts to the conversion of the emperor Constantine. The course focuses on both the advantages and challenges encountered by the early church because of its location within the Roman Empire. It looks at the matter of persecution of the early church and addresses the misperception that it was continual and universal until the time of Constantine by examining the four principal eras and locations of persecution.
The course also addresses the evangelistic methods of the early church and lists modern church evangelistic methods that were seldom, if ever, used by the early church. It concludes with an examination of the process of conversion of pagan inquirers and their incorporation into the early church.
Introduction
Introduction
Introducing the Speaker and Course
4m
Growth of the Early Church: Significant and Nuanced
Numeric Growth of the Early Church: Starting and End Points
8m
Numeric Growth of the Early Church: Midpoints
8m
Evangelism in the Roman Empire
Advantages
7m
Challenges
8m
The First and Second Waves of Persecution
11m
The Third and Fourth Waves of Persecution
10m
Evangelistic Methods: Not What You Might Expect
Lifestyle and Actions: A Primary Evangelistic Method of the Early Church—Care for Others
5m
Lifestyle and Actions: A Primary Evangelistic Method of the Early Church—Supernatural Works
9m
Five Evangelistic Methods Rarely Used in the Early Church
8m
Conversion Journey: The Experience of the Early Church Convert to Christianity
Introduction to the Process of Early Church Evangelism
4m
Step 1: Evangelism: Encountering Christians, Finding a Sponsor
8m
Step 2: Catechumenate: Hearing the Word
6m
Step 3: Baptismal Preparation: Hearing the Gospel; Step 4: Baptism, Church Membership, and Eucharist