History sometimes has the reputation of being dry and irrelevant. However, for Christians who believe in a sovereign God who is active in His creation bringing about His redemptive purposes, we ought to be a people who value history…and it is far from boring. Last, week I completed my Church History I class at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary taught by Dr. Michael Haykin. This course covered the time from Pentecost through the early medieval church. I grew in my appreciation for church history and I desire to share some of the highlights. The following are a few reasons to study the history of the church: History

1. Gives us roots – something does not come from nothing. Where did the church come from? Whose shoulders do we stand on? History, thus, connects us with the forbearers of the Christian faith.
2. Encourages humility – we can learn from both the successes and the failures of the past. Every era has its own blind spots. A look at history can expose our own blind spots in order to guard our hearts from the sin of pride and past mistakes.
3. Displays God’s providence – behind the names, dates, and events of history is the God who is wisely and perfectly working all things for His glory. This can give us comfort and reassurance that He is still working in us and through us as we await Jesus’ return.

If this spurs you on to dig deeper into church history, I commend the book, Rediscovering the Church Fathers: who they were and how they shaped the church. Since early church history is probably the most foreign time period to us, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to begin. This book is a brief but helpful introduction to key figures in the church whom we are deeply indebted to. You are welcome to also read my review of the book here. Let us continue to grow in our trust and obedience to the God of all history. – Pastor Matt