God’s Prevailing Work Scope & Sequence for Volume 1: AD 30–1517 Chapter Objectives Notable Points • Demonstrate continuity between the early and modern • The Apostles church • Papias 1. Life in the Early • Emphasize the love and unity central to biblical descriptions • Tertullian Church of the church • Discuss the priorities of the early church, comparing them with Christian activity today • Explore the basis for Christian persecution, along with • Polycarp examples in the early church • The Early 2. The Persecuted • Discuss common responses to persecution, as well as the Persecutions Church view encouraged by Scripture • Note ways that God can turn the evils of persecution toward good • Discuss ways Christians have related with the world • St. Anthony • Discern appropriate ways to respond to opposition from • The Apologists 3. Living in the unbelievers World • Challenge students to develop an answer for their hope in Christ • Explain how Christianity became a legal religion in the • Constantine Roman Empire • Eusebius of 4. From Persecution • Discuss the benefits of religious freedom Nicomedia to Privilege • Examine some dangers of religious privilege • The Edicts of Milan and Thessalonica • Describe some of the heresies faced by the early church • The Ecumenical • Review biblical teaching on heresies and false teachers Councils 5. Heresies • Briefly note major ecumenical councils • The Nicene Creed • Discuss the response to major heresies, including God-given opportunities to clarify truth • Introduce the life and work of Augustine • Augustine • Note the distinctions between what Augustine called earthly • The Sack of Rome 6. No Earthly City and heavenly cities • Discuss Augustine’s later controversies • Introduce several early Christian missionaries, including the • Patrick 7. To the Regions ministry of Patrick • Boniface Beyond • Note the importance of the Great Commission • Cyril and • Discuss the nature and goals of biblical discipleship Methodius 1 Chapter Objectives Notable Points • Note God’s use of monasteries to preserve His Word • Alcuin • Introduce the split between the Eastern and Western • Charlemagne 8. Light for the Churches Dark Ages • John Asser • Explain the foundations of the Holy Roman Empire • Emphasize God’s sovereignty over governments and leaders • Note the causes and catalyst for the Great Schism • Pope Leo IX 9. Christendom • Review attitudes that lead to conflict in the church • Humbert Divided • Discuss essential points of agreement for Christian unity • Kassia • Note the origin and early expansion of Islam • Pope Urban II • Define a crusade • Pope Innocent III 10. The Crusades • Review biblical teaching on Christians and warfare • Outline several crusades and their impact • Note the growing divisions between clergy and laity in the • Dominic de 11. Out of the Middle Ages Guzmán Cloister • Explain the rise and mission of mendicant orders • Francis of Assisi • Discuss the importance of service to the Christian life • Note the difficulties of fourteenth-century Europe • The Avignon • Explain the origin and course of the Western Schism Papacy 12. A Turbulent • Catherine of Siena Darkness • Discuss the impact of the Council of Constance • Introduce the teachings of John Wycliffe and John Hus • John Wycliffe • John Hus • Describe the state of the Roman Catholic Church at the Briefly introduces . beginning of the sixteenth century • Pope Leo X • Discuss the centrality of Scripture to the dawning • The Council of 13. The Light of the Reformation Trent Word • Note a few significant figures of the early Reformation • Erasmus • Ulrich Zwingli • Martin Luther 2.