The first generation of Christians may have lived 2,000 years ago, but they faced many of the same situations that we face today. People were skeptical of their newfound faith. Some people were openly hostile. They faced disruption in the church from followers of Jesus who went off the rails and caused massive problems. They wrestled with figuring out what Jesus wanted them to do in new situations and struggled with welcoming people who were unlike them into the church. They had to navigate a government that was not always sympathetic to their beliefs and at times sponsored efforts to suppress and persecute them. Yet in the midst of all this, they learned to love and serve even their enemies, and to share the Gospel with anyone they encountered. As a result, the world was transformed, and millions upon millions of people became followers of Jesus over the centuries since. The early church offers much for us to learn about faithfully following Jesus and seeing the Gospel change lives.

Class dates:

August 18, 25

September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

October 6, 20, 27

November 3, 10, 17

December 1, 8, 15