Early Church and the Decline of Rome

Bible: Book of Acts

Reading List:

Paul by Dan Larsen - Write narrative

Foxes' Book of Martyrs by John Foxe - Summarize information about each martyr

Resource List:

Abeka History Texts

The Timetables of History by Bernard Grun

The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia of the Bible edited by John Drane

Holman Bible Atlas

Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church by Dr. Ron Moseley

Far Above Rubies Lesson Plans by Robin Scarlata

Nelson's Quick Reference: Introduction to Church History by Howard F. Vos

Church History: Early and Medieval by Everett Ferguson

The Search for the Twelve Apostles by William Steuart McBirnie, Ph.D.

The Ultimate Guide to Christian History by Carol Smith and Roddy Smith

The Kregel Pictorial Guide to Church History by John D. Hannah

The Story of Christianity: 2000 Years of Faith by Matthew A. Price and Michael Collins (Warning! Catholic slant)

The Story of Christian Spirituality by Gordon Mursell

What Did Early Christians Believe about Instrumental Music?

What Did Early Christians Believe about Baptism?

What Did Early Christians Believe about the Day of Worship?

What Did Early Christians Believe about the Lord's Supper?

Perpetua and Felicitas

The Story of the Church Outline

The Epistolary Form in the Greco-Roman World (Letter Writing)

Early writings of the church fathers

Symbols of the Early Catacombs

Paul's Resume

Writing Assignments:

Biography on Constantine

Research paper on Marcion and his effect on the church - This Resource Site should help

Resume on Apostle Paul

Resume on Apostle Peter

Write a journal entry from the standpoint of one that was there on the day of Pentecost and witnessed the Holy Spirit's arrival. What did you see, feel, hear, and think?

Comparison/Contrast paper on Montanism and Gnosticism

Research paper on the Persecution of Christians including the fleeing from Jerusalem. Where did the Jewish believers go? Where did the Gentile believers go? What ended up coming out of these two groups? Did all worshipers of Christ really become part of the Catholic Church? What about persecution from the Catholic Church. How do the persecutions before Constantine differ from the Catholic Church persecutions? Yeshua and this resource site will prove helpful. Investigate the other resources as well. (This is a detailed research paper. I expect to see an outline, footnotes, bibliography, and note cards.)

Summary report on the Council of Nicaea - Good or bad for the Church?

Commentary on religious holidays developed by the Catholic Church is there any Biblical authority given behind them? Should we or should we not celebrate them? Why were they developed? You may wish to take one such holiday (such as Christmas or Lent) and explore it in detail when giving this review.

Write a brief history of how we got the New Testament in its present form today.

Create Jesus and the Twelve Disciples layered fold book (elementary)

Table of Contents for this unit for portfolio

Research Graphics and Worksheets:

Seven Churches of Asia

The Church

Church Worship Comparisons

Apostles of Christ

Apostolic Church Fathers

Apologists and Theologians

Notable Scientific Theologians

Christianity Divided 

Vocabulary:

Apostles, Old Testament, New Testament, church, Judaism, deacons, elders, bishops, Apostolic authority, baptism, Lord's Supper, Diotrephes, Church of Rome, catholic, Apostolic succession, Petrine theory, Pope, Arianism, Council of Nicaea, Nicene Creed, masses, sacrament, Eucharist, excommunication, persecution, Christendom, canon, Christians, Claudian emperors, Flavian emperors, Arch of Titus, five good emperors, Sassanids, policy of toleration, Edict of Milan

Art:

Explore catacombs and their artwork. After exploring the early Christian symbols, create a catacomb picture of your own.

Scrapbook page of catacombs with summary information about them.

Draw the plan of an early home church.

Architectural analysis of an Early House Church of Dura-Eurpias

Sculptural analysis of the Relief from the Arch of Titus

Art review of earliest Christian sketch of Peter and Paul

Picture timeline of the Christian church development from the earliest being a simple Roman home, through Cathedrals, to some of the modest churches today.

Divider page for Early Church section of portfolio

Music:

Listen to Gregorian chants of choirs that first replaced congregational singing. How do you think the two compare?

Videos:

The Robe

The Early Church - Answer questions that come with the video

Timeline Characters/Events:

Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter, New Testament, Constantine, Irenaeus, Marsilius, Arius, Council of Nicaea, Leo I, Gelasius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Hippolytus, Clement, Hermas, Ignatius, Polycarp, Papias, Barnabas, Cyril, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, Theodore, John Chrysostom, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian, Titus, The Capture of Jerusalem and the Temple, Domitian, Trojan, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Septimius Severus, Maximinus Thrax, Valerian, Diocletian, Maximian, Euseius, Edit of Milan, Byzantium period, German invasion, Attila, Adrianople, Alaric

History:

Read History text on the Early Church up to the Byzantium period and outline chapter

Write out questions in the reviews and answer with complete sentences.

Study how the Romans saw the Christians and make a list of reasons Christians were persecuted.

Geography:

Create map on the spread of Christianity. Make special markings of where each of the apostles ended up dying, including John's stay at Island of Patmos

Map out Paul's Missionary Trips

Culminating Activities:

Test on Early Church

Organize Notebook section on Early Church (High school level)

Create Lap book (Elementary Level)

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