Prayer Starter

  If you recall our timeline, (See blue box above), today's lesson doesn't move us very far along, but it is critical to understanding how the church moved away from the pattern of living, worship, organization that we read about in the book of Acts and the letters of the Paul, Peter, James and John. The writings of the Apostolic Fathers was not inspired by the word of God and some of the writers even point that out. In addition, the main take away is that for the first 50 years after the death of the last apostle, the church still practiced a plurality of elders in each congregtion, baptism by immersion and there is no mention of Peter or Rome having any importance or power over other congregations or elders. Powerpoint - Sunday, March 24, 2024 Reference Material: Mattox, FW. The Eternal Kingdom. chapter 4. Wikipedia article on ICOC   - This is a sidenote to give the learner information on an example of how some modern day fellowships of churches of Christ moved a bit back to...

 March 10 and March 17, 2024 NS had special events. Here is some background information that if we had time, might be of interest to many of our classmates. Part I - Historical Evidence of Jesus Christ It is important for us to know the historically, at the least Jesus was a real person, who walked on this earth and interacted with people.  Often times, nay-sayers try to claim that He is a fictious character, but that just is not what history bears out. Both Pagan and Jewish records present the evidence of a historical Jesus. The most often-cited Jewish reference is from Josephus.   He was a brilliant writer of the first century, the son of Matthias. He took the name of Flavius in honor of the Flavian emperiors.  He was born around 37 or 38 A.D.  Specifically, Josephus wrote, "At that time lived Jesus, a wise man, if he may be called a man; for he perfored many wonderful works. He was a teacher of such men as received the truth with pleasure. He drew over t...

 Lesson 2 The beginning of the Lord's church. Powerpoint Presentation March 3 Teacher's Notes This is the beginning of the Lord's church.  References Mathew 28:16-20  - Jesus gives the apostles the command and they wait. Acts Chapter 2 - The Holy Spirit comes on the apostles Review of the greek word for church. It is an assembly. Not a religous word. 1 Timothy 3:14–15 Colossians 1:17–20 Ephesians 2:19–22