Early Church and the Decline of Rome
Bible:
Book of ActsReading List:
Paul
by Dan Larsen - Write narrativeFoxes' 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?
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
Writing Assignments:
Biography on Constantine
Research paper on Marcion and his effect on the church -
This Resource Site should helpResume 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:
Notable Scientific Theologians
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 videoTimeline 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:
Organize Notebook section on Early Church (High school level)
Create Lap book (Elementary Level)
Background from Graphic Garden