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Church History

There is no branch of history as diverse as the story of the Christian Church. It spans two millennia, every continent, and factors into just about every major event in some form or another, but it's not just an interesting tale or adventure story that happens to be true. The history of the Church is the history of God's people and His direct dealings with mankind.

It's also not just an academic discipline. That's not to say we don't need scholars willing to devote their lives and talents to studying it as such, because we do. It's only to say that it's not merely academic, that the study of Church history is as much for our spiritual benefit and growth as for our intellectual knowledge and maturity.

One of the best ways to engage the subject is as a story. The lives of godly men and women make a great starting place, and provide context for things like the Great Schism, the Protestant Reformation, and the birth of Neo-orthodoxy. Contrary to popular opinion, making the study of history personal isn't an impediment; this is especially true when learning about the Church and past saints, who are our spiritual forebears.

Spiritual forebears, that is, who had an immense impact on the secular as well as the spiritual realm. The printing of books was realized through the work of Johannes Gutenberg, who built his printing press to make Bibles; David Livingstone explored much of unknown Africa in order to share the Gospel with unreached tribes; Hudson Taylor made inroads into China as a missionary long before the West was generally admitted. (For locals, the Pacific Northwest was largely settled through missionary activity.)

There are plenty of lowlights, too. Persecution and hardship are common themes in the story of God's people, and while we usually look back to the Roman holocausts, the 20th century saw more Christian martyrdoms than any previous century and the 21st century is already shaping up to be much worse. And that's not even addressing the damage done in the name of Christ.

Some might suppose Church history should be less distinctly human, but that's to confuse Christ Himself with His Body. In His ineffable wisdom, God ordained fallen humans to comprise His people; our sins are forgiven, not expelled, and perfection is something only enjoyed once we pass from this life into the eternal one.

Still, God's hand is present and active in all of history, not least in the history of the Church. It's a story we neglect at our own peril as followers of Christ—we cannot imagine our generation is the first to encounter attacks from secularism, or to have discovered orthodox doctrine, or to successfully identify the marks of a healthy congregation.

The past is our measure for most things. What Christians have always believed, how they have always worshipped, how they have always prayed: these are our standards for thought and practice. That's not to say there's no room for progress, but it's only progress if it doesn't counter or depart from the historically established truths of the faith.

Church history is a cornerstone of Christian education. We think it's just as important as science, English, math, or social studies, and in many ways more so. That doesn't mean those disciplines should be neglected, but that they should be contextualized within the story of God's people. As you study, revel in the grace of a God whose will is accomplished even through the chief of sinners and the weakest of men.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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102 Items found Print
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Active Filters: 8th grade (Ages 13-14), Trade Paperback, In-Stock Books & Materials
101 More Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$19.99
Accidental Voyage
Mr. Pipes Series #4
by Doug Bond
from P&R Publishing
for 5th-8th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$15.99
Against All Odds
by Jim Stier
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
Beggars' Bible
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$13.99 $8.50 (1 in stock)
Beggars' Victory
Struggle for Freedom Series #3
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Smuggler
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$13.99
Bring Your Eyes and See
International Adventures
by Steve Goode, Mary Goode
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$12.00
Cathedral
by David Macaulay
from Houghton Mifflin
Architecture for 4th-8th grade
1974 Caldecott Honor Book
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$12.99
Cell 58
International Adventures
by Dan Baumann
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$12.50
Chance to Die
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Revell Publishing
Biography for 8th-12th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$22.99
Charles Mulli
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
Courage and Conviction
History Lives Volume 3
by Mindy & Brandon Withrow
from Christian Focus Publications
for 5th-9th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
D. L. Moody
by Kevin Belmonte
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 7th-Adult
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$8.40
D. L. Moody
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
Daniel Webster
Sowers Series
by Robert Allen
from Mott Media
Biography for 6th-8th grade
in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW)
$8.99
David Livingstone
by C. Silvester Horne
from Christian Liberty Press
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$8.23
Dayuma
by Ethel Emily Wallis
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $7.50 (2 in stock)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
by Geoff Benge, Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Dispelling the Tyranny
Struggle for Freedom Series #2
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.95 $7.00 (2 in stock)
Early Church Fathers
Legends of Faith
by Marilyn Boyer
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$10.39
Fair Margaret
by H. Rider Haggard
from Great Light Publications
for 8th-10th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$13.99
Famous Preachers and Evangelists
Legends of Faith
by Marilyn Boyer
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$10.39
For Christ's Crown
by Richard Hannula
1st edition from Canon Press
for 5th-Adult
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$16.00
For God and Country
by John Riddle
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
For the Heart of Holland
Struggle for Freedom Series #4
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
God's Adventurer
by Phyllis Thompson
from OMF
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.00 (3 in stock)
God's Smuggler
by Brother Andrew
from Chosen Books
Biography for 7th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$18.99
Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day
by Scott O'Dell
from Bob Jones University Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$8.99
Heart Strangely Warmed
by Louise A. Vernon
from Herald Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$9.99
Here I Stand
by Roland H. Bainton
from Meridian Book
Biography for 8th-12th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$24.00
Heroes of the Faith
by Gene Fedele
from Bridge-Logos
for 8th-10th grade
in Church History Overviews (Location: XCH-OVE)
$16.99 $9.00 (2 in stock)
Hiding Place
by Corrie Ten Boom
35th Anniversary Edition from Chosen Books
Biography for 6th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$17.99 $9.00 (2 in stock)
If I Perish
by Esther Ahn Kim
from Moody Press
Biography for 8th-12th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$15.99
Ink on His Fingers
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$13.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Jason Lee
Sowers Series
by Charles Ludwig
from Mott Media
Biography for 7th-9th grade
in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
John Bunyan
by William Deal
from Christian Liberty Press
Biography for 6th-9th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$11.75
John Calvin, Genius of Geneva
Reformation Trail Series #07
by Lawrence Penning
from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 6th-9th grade
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$13.97
John Flynn
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
John Newton
by Janet & Geoff Benge
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
John Wesley
Men of Faith
by Basil Miller
from Bethany House
Biography for 6th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Kitty, My Rib
by E. Jane Mall
from Concordia Publishing House
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$9.80 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Kregel Pictorial Guide to Church History Volume 2
by John D. Hannah
from Kregel Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$11.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Kregel Pictorial Guide to Church History Volume 3
by John D. Hannah
from Kregel Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$11.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Kregel Pictorial Guide to Church History Volume 4
by John D. Hannah
from Kregel Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$11.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Kregel Pictorial Guide to Church History Volume 5
by John D. Hannah
from Kregel Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$11.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Kregel Pictorial Guide to Church History Volume 6
by John D. Hannah
from Kregel Publications
for 8th-12th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$11.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Leofwine the Monk: Or, the Curse of the Ericsons
Emma Leslie Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
from Salem Ridge Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$14.95
Lights in a Dark Place
Hidden Heroes #5
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Lights in the Northwest
by Richard M. Hannula
from Sound Summit Books
Biographies for 4th-8th grade
in Pacific States (Location: HISV-PNW)
$19.95
Lights in the Northwest - Teacher's Supplement CD-ROM
by Richard M. Hannula
from Sound Summit Books
Biographies for 4th-8th grade
in Pacific States (Location: HISV-PNW)
$15.95
Living on the Devil's Doorstep
International Adventures
by Floyd McClung
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $7.50 (2 in stock)
Living Water in the Desert
Hidden Heroes #6
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Luther the Leader
by Virgil Robinson
from A. B. Publishing, Inc.
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$9.95 $4.00 (2 in stock)
Man Who Laid the Egg
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$15.99
Martin Luther
by J. A. Morrison
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Martin Luther
by J. A. Morrison
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$11.75 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Martyr's Victory
Emma Leslie Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
from Salem Ridge Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$14.95
Michael Faraday
by Charles Ludwig
from Herald Press
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$14.99
Mildred Cable
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
Mission to Cathay
by Madeleine Polland
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
for 6th-9th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$7.50 (3 in stock)
Morning Star of the Reformation
by Andy Thomson
from CreateSpace
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.99
Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation
Mr. Pipes Series #2
by Doug Bond
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th-8th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$15.60
Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers
Mr. Pipes Series #1
by Doug Bond
from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th-8th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$15.60
Mr. Pipes Comes to America
Mr. Pipes Series #3
by Doug Bond
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 5th-8th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$15.60
Norman Grubb
by Janet & Geoff Benge
from YWAM Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
On Call
Jaffray Collection of Missionary Portraits
by David C. Thompson, MD
from Christian Publications, Inc.
Biography for 8th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Passion for the Impossible
by Miriam Huffman Rockness
from Discovery House Publishers
for 8th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Pearl Maiden
by H. Rider Haggard
from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 8th-Adult
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$16.75 $7.00 (2 in stock)
Pigtail and Chopsticks Man
by Jim Cromarty
2010 Printing from Evangelical Press
for 8th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Richard Wurmbrand
by Janet and Geoff Benge
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
River of Grace
by Joyce McPherson
2nd edition from Greenleaf Press
Biography for 5th-9th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$12.95
Sagebrush Surgeon
by Florence Crannell Means
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 7th-10th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Saint Patrick
by Jonathan Rogers
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 7th-Adult
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$8.40
Samuel Morris
Men of Faith
by Lindley Baldwin
from Bethany House
Biography for 6th-12th grade
in Men & Women of Faith (Location: BIO-FAITH)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Sergeant York and the Great War
by Alvin C. York
from My Father's World
Autobiography for 7th-Adult
in World War I (1914-1919) (Location: HISA-20WW1)
$22.00 $10.00 (2 in stock)
Servant of Slaves
by Grace Irwin
from Paideia Press
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Seven Men
by Eric Metaxas
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 8th-Adult
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$19.99
Seven Women
by Eric Metaxas
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 8th-Adult
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$19.99
Spurgeon
by Ernest Bacon
from Christian Liberty Press
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$8.23 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Stories of the Hymns
by Glenn J. Rawson, Jean Tonioli, and Jason Tonioli
from Unknown Publisher
for 6th-Adult
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Christianity
by Michael Collins, Matthew A. Price
1st edition from DK Publishing
for 8th-Adult
in Church History Overviews (Location: XCH-OVE)
$15.00 (3 in stock)
Susanna Wesley
Sowers Series
by Charles Ludwig
from Mott Media
Biography for 6th-8th grade
in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW)
$5.00 (3 in stock)
Taking the High Places
International Adventures
by Jemimah Wright, Terry Snow
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Tales of Persia
by William Miller
from P&R Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$13.99 $7.00 (3 in stock)
This Was John Calvin
by Thea Van Halsema
from IDEA Ministries
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$8.00 $5.00 (3 in stock)
This Was John Calvin
by Thea Van Halsema
2010th edition from Inheritance Publications
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$13.95
Through Gates of Splendor
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Tyndale House
Biography for 8th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$18.99
Thunderstorm in Church
by Louise Vernon
from Herald Press
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$13.99
Tommorow You Die
International Adventures
by Reona Peterson Joly
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Tortured for Christ
by Richard Wurmbrand
30th Anniversary from Living Sacrifice Book Co.
Autobiography for 6th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Totally Surrounded
by Christina Davis
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
Trial and Triumph
by Richard Hannula
from Canon Press
Biography for 5th-9th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$21.99
Trust God, Keep the Faith
by Bartha Hill
from Inheritance Publications
for 7th-10th grade
in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03)
$9.95
Under Calvin's Spell
Reformation Trail Series #08
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade
in Reformation Trail Series (Location: FIC-WH06)
$14.95
Walking Miracle
by Art Sanborn
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
Way Beyond Death
International Adventures
by Jemimah Wright
from YWAM Publishing
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$9.00
When the Morning Came
Struggle for Freedom Series #1
by Piet Prins
from Inheritance Publications
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.95 $7.00 (2 in stock)
William Bradford
by Gary D. Schmidt
from Eerdmans
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$12.00
William Bradford
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Heroes of History (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
William Carey
Heroes of the Faith
by Sam Wellman
from Barbour Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
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