A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years

A History of Christianity, a six-part series presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, an Oxford history professor. A History of Christianity investigates the origins of Christianity and what it means to be a Christian. Diarmaid MacCulloch does a magnificent job presenting his argument that the first Christians stayed much closer to its Middle-Eastern roots as it spread east. He describes not only the main ideas and personalities of Christian history, its organization and spirituality, but how it has changed politics, sex, and human society.

This Video presentation of Church history is fast paced and creatively presents the unique spread of Christianity to the east from Jerusalem all the way into China in the seventh century. This was evident to Marco Polo when he visited China and discovered a church in hiding estimated at 700,000 or more adherents. The in depth research which is at the heart of the presentation comes though in many fascinating historic and archeological discoveries.

Diarmaid MacCulloch does everyone an immense favor as he unfolds his research in a fast paced and well told presentation. Christianity’s division into Eastern and Western branches over the issue of Christ divine and human nature is described in brief but precise detail. This serves as the launching point for the video’s unfolding tale of how the message of Good News spread east. The cultures and challenges faced as the Gospel spreads east are portrayed accurately and in a concise manner.

The influence of the early Christians on the Muslim faith as it spread west is just one of the fascinating series of insights gained. The Church’s spread east was not supported by the power of the Roman emperor and therefore was challenged to explain its faith and win people through interpersonal interaction and living out their faith in the face of many opposing religions and cultures.

This video series should be seen by every Christian from teenager to adult. It would also be useful for anyone wanting to know more about the birth and expansion of Christianity. The insights and information provide an excellent foundation from which followers of Jesus the Messiah will be able to interact more effectively with the cultures and religions around them in the world today, as well as, providing an informative fast paced and visually captivating documentation of Christianities spread from its birth place in Israel to become the world most followed faith.

You can find out more about this video series and purchase it at http://www.ambrosevideo.com/items.cfm?id=1344

SECRECY

SECRECY-By Richard Foster in 'A Year With God.' This is part of our new study at The Passionate Particpation in God Project at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=237088564302 Sign Up Today

SECRECY: Consciously refraining from having our good deeds and qualities generally known, which in turn rightly disciplines our longing for recognition.

We often long to talk about the good deeds that we do, wanting others to think well of us. The danger of this inclination is that approval will become our motivation. When we fast or pray or give in secret, as Jesus advises us in Matthew 6, we can know we are doing so for the right reasons, looking to God for approval rather than to our fellow humans. God knows all that we are and all that we do; His heavenly reward for any good that we do will far outweigh any earthly approbation (Matt 6:1). Deliberately avoiding earthly recognition, fame, and attention helps to cultivate within us humility and true love for others. It also gives us the opportunity to meditate on the nature of our God, who the Bible tells us is also “hidden” (Isa 45:15) and “in secret” (Matt 6).

That is not to say that our good qualities will never be recognized by others, just that we leave it to God to point them out, We see Jesus avoiding crowds and performing miracles in private, but the crowds invariably find Him and spread the word about Him. Jesus told us that a city set on a hill cannot be hid, and that we are to be the light of the world, not hidden under a bushel (Matt 5:14-16). Practicing the discipline of secrecy simply relinquishes to God the power to reveal our light. This submission is only appropriate, because everything in us that is good comes from God.

Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. —Matthew 6:6

Day 126 Spiritual Practice: Keeping Our Works Private
Day 127 Not Seen by Others
Day 128 The Appearance of Righteousness
Day 129 In My Secret Heart
Day 130 He Could Not Escape Notice
Day 131 The Light of the World
Day 132 God Will Judge Our Secret Thoughts
Day 133 Riches Hidden in Secret Places
Day 134 Hidden with God
Day 135 The Shelter of the Most High
Day 136 Spiritual Practice: Praying for Others’ Success
Day 137 The One Who is More Powerful Than I
Day 138 Jesus Humbled Himself
Day 139 God’s Splendor
Day 140 Let No One Boast
Day 141 Let Those Who Boast Boast in This
Day 142 Boasting in Christ Jesus
Day 143 We Boast in Our Hope of Sharing the Glory of God
Day 144 God Notices Us
Day 145 A God Who Hides

20 Days of Practicing Secrecy in Your Walk With God

20 Days of Practicing Secrecy in Your Walk With God starts today on facebook.
This daily devotional study group can be found at The Passioante Particiapation in God Project http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=237088564302

Learn to Discipline Your Spiritual Life with this Discipline of Secrecy. Jesus taught us to do our good deeds and works in private and so that we would please God not people.
Learn more by revieving this daily devotional based out of 'A Year With God', by Richard Foster

This Study is divided up into these 10 day sections.
1. Keeping Our Works Private 10 days
2. Praying for Others' Success 10 days

The passioante Participation in God project is sponsored by Abba's Glory Int @www.abbasglory.com. We are a part of the CrossFire International Alliance.