The Nicene Church
The Nicene Church Age was a time of growing pains in the history of the Church. From the Arian Controversy to the Nicene Creed, the Great Cappodocians and early theologians like Augustine of Hippo, to the schism between the Eastern and Western Church, there was both strife and growth. Invite your older students to travel the Cobblestone Path of Church history. A path filled with individual lives, theological debates, and political intrigue.
Homeschool History Notebook Journey
Invite your older students to travel the Cobblestone Path™ of Church history. It is a path filled with individual lives, theological debates, and political intrigue.
Cobblestone Path™ Church History Research Journals are designed to help middle school and high school students develop a solid understanding of Christian history one “age” at a time.
They will also help young adults develop and strengthen skills in:
- pre-writing (notetaking and organization)
- handwriting
- reading comprehension
- research
While much of the research for the journals will be done using the internet, you’ll want to have a good Christian history overview text (or two) and you may wish to supply your students with some great biographies or literature pertaining to the time period.
Each journal covers a period of time (or “age”) in Church History. There’s no clear agreement on the divisions of Church ages, so I have divided these ages thematically and have tried to name them appropriately.
Cobblestone Path™ is designed to look at the major aspects of each age from a global view. Students will find people and movements that stood in opposition to the Christian Church, as well as those who claimed the name of Christ, yet espoused a different gospel.
This Church history research journal series is compiled from a Protestant viewpoint. There is not a complete list of the bishops and popes of Rome or of world leaders, however, at every point where the individual popes or world leaders are important to understanding Church history, they are included.
Nicene Church History Resources
While much of the research for Cobblestone Path™ may be done online, there are wonderful recommended and supplemental resources suggested for use with the journals.
This is a list of great resources for studying the Christian Church from the Ascension of Jesus until 325 AD.
This list is designed to coordinate with Cobblestone Path™ Church History Research Journal: The Apostolic and Church Ages, but can also be used on their own just to study the history of the Church.
Following is a list of recommended resources and suggested supplements. Because I know you may have younger children as well, I will also recommend some great books from The Apostolic and Early Church Ages as well. You can include them in your Church history studies with a few well-chosen read-alouds. No notebooking or research required!
Christian History Resources from Danika Cooley
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin LutherThe 5 Solas: Signs to Follow on the Narrow Path, A 7 Day Family Bible StudyWho was Martin Luther? (Who What Why)What was the Gutenberg Bible? (Who What Why)Why did the Reformation Happen? (Who What Why)Who Were the Abolitionists? (Who, What, Why)What Was the Underground Railroad? (Who, What, Why)Why Did Slavery End? (Who, What, Why)
Recommended Church History Overviews
For middle and high school students undertaking the study of Church history, I recommend choosing a good overview text (or two), and then allowing students to use the internet to do additional research. Following are several good choices. You’ll want to read reviews and make a decision based on your needs.
Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of ChristianityChurch History in Plain Language: Fourth EditionThe Church in HistoryThe Story of Christianity, Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the ReformationThe Story of Christianity, Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present DayFoxe’s Book of Martyrs (Pure Gold Classics)
c.30-1350 AD ~ The Early and Nicene Church for Middle School
Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church (History Lives series)Monks and Mystics: Chronicles of the Medieval Church (History Lives series)Hostage Lands (Heroes & History)Hand of Vengeance (Heroes & History Book 2)The Accidental Voyage: Discovering Hymns of the Early Centuries (Mr. Pipes Books)Morning Star of the ReformationAugustine: The Truth Seeker (Trailblazers)John Chrysostom: The Preacher in the Emperor’s Court (Trail Blazers)Patrick of Ireland: The Boy Who Forgave (Trail Blazers)John Chrysostom (Bitesize Biographies Book 3)
c.30-1350 AD ~ The Early and Nicene Church for High School
The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph and Diversity, A.D. 200-1000Josephus: The Essential WorksEusebius: The Church HistoryAugustine of Hippo: A BiographyJohn Chrysostom (Bitesize Biographies Book 3)Basil of Caesarea: His Life and Impact (Biography)Patrick of Ireland: His Life and Impact (Early Church Fathers)
c.30-1350 AD ~ The Early and Nicene Church for Preschool to Second Grade
Polycarp of Smyrna (Heroes of the Faith)Irenaeus of Lyons (Heroes of the Faith)Ignatius of Antioch (Heroes of the Faith)Bible History ABCs: God’s Story from A to ZBoys Just Like Me: Bible Men who Trusted God (Daily Readings)Girls Just Like You: Bible Women who Trusted God (Daily Readings)Follow Jesus With Peter: His Letter in 25 Readings
c.30-1350 AD ~ The Early and Nicene Church for Third to Fifth Grade
Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church (History Lives series)Monks and Mystics: Chronicles of the Medieval Church (History Lives series)The Accidental Voyage: Discovering Hymns of the Early Centuries (Mr. Pipes Books)Augustine of Hippo (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Irenaeus (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Athanasius (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Who Was Joan of Arc?
How to Notebook (and What is Notebooking?)
Notebooking Resources for Your Kids!
Bible Road Trip™ Year One Notebooking JournalsBuy HereBible Road Trip™ Year Two Notebooking JournalsBuy HereBible Road Trip™ Year Three Notebooking JournalsBuy HereMy Timeline NotebookBuy HereMy Book LogBuy HereMy Field Trip and Travel JournalBuy HereMy Sermon NotebookBuy HereCobblestone Path™ Church History Research JournalsBuy Here
Books Make Great Gifts!
Teach Your Kids the Bible with Bible Road Trip™
Bible Road Trip™ is a three-year Bible survey curriculum. Take your family through the Bible five times from preschool to high school.
To help you get the most out of your studies, Bible Road Trip™ has an array of coordinating weekly activities:
- Researching the section of the Bible you’re studying
- Reading and discussing the Bible
- Memorizing Scripture
- Notebooking about your studies
- Praying for the nations
- Suggestions for further study
- Crafting about what you’ve learned
- For your older students: A project to share what they’ve learned
- Bible Road Trip™ also has some great tools you can use along with it, such as:
- Notebooking Journals for grades 1-9. Want a structured notebooking journal for high school? Don’t hesitate to use the Dialectic journal (grades 7-9).
- Bible Memory Card Sets for all five levels of study, preschool to high school. These are available in both ESV and KJV.
Grab your Bible Road Trip™ Year One Sample Pack. You’ll get:
- The Bible Road Trip™ Parent / Teacher Guide.
- The first three weeks of the curriculum for all five learning levels. Week Three is where we really dive into the Bible and begin to our systematic study. Week Three will give you a good feel for the rest of the curriculum.
- The first three weeks of the Bible Memory Card sets for all five levels, in ESV and KJV.
- The first three weeks of each of the three leveled Notebooking Journals.
Grab the Sample Pack for FREE:
Disciple your kids by taking your family through the Bible together in a meaningful way!
Bible Road Trip™ Curriculum
Take a look inside the Bible Road Trip™ curriculum! Let me show you around:
Bible Resources for Your Kids
Learn More HereLearn More HereLearn More HereLearn More HereLearn More HereLearn More Here
More Thinking Kids Posts You’ll Love
Join the newsletter
Get the Family Prayer Box Project FREE!
Teach your children to pray with this fun project that includes 7 printable sets!