Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.
When my husband and I began homeschooling, we chose a literature-rich history-laden curriculum because we strongly agree with Burke.
But what of Christian Church history? Is the history of our faith really important to study? And do our kids really need the structure of a Christian Church history timeline? Does it help to understand Church history in chronological order, and in relationship to history in general?
Christian History is Important
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), a medical missionary to French Equitorial Africa in the early 1900s, said of history:
One truth stands firm. All that happens in world history rests on something spiritual. If the spiritual is strong, it creates world history. If it is weak, it suffers world history.
We don’t always know why the Lord allows events in history to occur, but the Bible is clear that He is the Lord of History. God is sovereign over all events, kings, and nations. Studying history, and Christian history in particular, is important for our kids.
It’s the perfect companion to God’s Timeline!
Studying Christian history helps our children:
- Understand their family history–the history of the Church
- Grow in character as they learn of the way others followed Christ throughout history
- Grasp pernicious heresies that occur over and over throughout the timeline of history
- See the hand of God in the lives of individuals and in the Church
- Knit together secular and Christian history, because truly all history ‘rests on something spiritual’
- Our children will be inspired by those who loved Jesus and lived fully for Him
A Christian Church History Timeline for Kids
Studying the individual stories of Christian figures–missionaries, theologians, and even sports heroes–is a valuable way to add depth and weight to our children’s readings in literature, history, science, and music classes. It’s important, too, that we take a step back and help our kids really understand the overarching history timeline.
Finally, there is a resource (and it’s beautiful!) for kids that does this well.
I want to thank Christian Focus Publications for sending me two copies of God’s Timeline. This review is my own and is not sponsored.
A Christian Church history timeline helps our kids:
- Place important Church history events, people, and movements into the grand scheme of world history
- Understand how many important figures interacted and influenced each other
- See God’s protection of His bride, the Church
- Gain perspective on the ideas and movements that attempt to threaten the Church
- Recognize past errors the Church made so that they may be avoided going forward
God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History (Christian Focus Publications, 2018) is just the reference book you need for your elementary and middle school students. Part read-aloud and part visual reference, this book will be one worth keeping on your shelves for the grandkids.
Wonderful Resources by Linda Finlayson from Christian Focus Publications
I love all of these books–they are a fabulous addition to every home library!
Around the World with 80 Missionaries
God’s Bible Timeline: The Big Book of Biblical HistoryGod’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church HistoryGuarding the Treasure: How God’s People Preserve God’s WordWielding the Sword: Preachers and Teachers of God’s Word
God’s Timeline is divided into five sections of Church history timeline:
- The Early Church
- The Medieval Church
- The Reforming Church
- The Missionary Church
- The Modern Church
Each section of Christian history has three to four double-paged spreads of a Christian Church history timeline for that period.
The Christian history articles cover topics including:
- Paul, the first missionary
- Martyrdom
- Heresy in the Early Church
- How the Bible came to be
- The Bishop of Rome and the Papacy
- The Early Middle Ages
- The High Middle Ages
- Islam
- The Crusades
- The Late Middle Ages
- The Reforming Church
- Translating the Bible
- The Five Solas
- Protestant Denominations
- The Eastern Church
- And more…
More Great Christian History Resources
In studying Christian history, I’ve found that the context of world events is incredibly important to consider. Nothing happens in a vaccuum, and we cannot fully understand the actions and reactions of the Christian Church without first understanding the times the Church has walked through.
Purchase God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History
God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
Books Make Great Gifts!
Teach the kids about the Bible and Christian history…
…with fun books they’ll love reading!
Introduce your children to engaging stories written in an engaging narrative they’ll want to read. As they learn more about God’s Word and gain real-life heroes, they will learn to apply Scripture to their own lives. And, give yourself the gift of a book that will help your kids learn and love the Bible.
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