Many Christians believe that church history belongs in the past. Pastor Dayton Hartman disagrees. He argues that church history is not old news, but a tradition that brings depth and vitality to today’s ministry.
In Church History for Modern Ministry, Hartman explores the importance of church history and its relevance for addressing contemporary church issues. He discusses the impact of the early church fathers and the value of incorporating the creeds into weekly worship.
Today’s believers have much to gain from learning the history of the church. Their faithfulness, discipleship, and perseverance have built a strong foundation from which we can take the message of the gospel into the future.
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Church History for Modern Ministry reminds us that to fully embrace our future we must first understand our past. One of the most useful features of this book are the theological and historical call-outs scattered through the text. These reference tools make this book one to which you will continually return. Hartman's primer allows the reader to quickly and astutely grasp an overview of Church history upon which to build a foundation of ministry.
—Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, author of I Am a Church Member
Hartman gives us an enjoyable, readable, and trustworthy book that helps us see the theological and ministerial value of studying our history. If you’re a pastor, you need to know church history—not just for doctrinal clarity and sermon illustrations, but also for your own spiritual nourishment. I will be pointing pastors and aspiring pastors to this book for years to come.
—Tony Merida, PhD; Johnny Hunt Chair of Biblical Preaching, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
For many evangelicals, church history jumps from the book of Acts, has a brief stopover in the Protestant Reformation, and picks up in the present day. In Church History for Modern Ministry, Hartman corrects our dangerous a-historical view by mining the rich history of our faith. I’ll be recommending this to pastors and parishioners alike. It’s a great way for them to meet the family they never knew they had!
—Drew Dyck, managing editor, Leadership Journal; author, Yawning at Tigers: You Can’t Tame God, So Stop Trying
“How can you put the creeds into practice as guardrails? First, you should familiarize yourself with the ecumenical creeds. Second, you should find creative ways to mention the creeds and their value in your sermons or Bible studies. Third, you should periodically recite creeds during worship.” (Page 17)
“others conflated his divine and human natures (Eutychianism).” (Page 4) |
“Through Christ, the church is unified, but it is not uniform.” (Page 7)
“Biblical orthodoxy matters because God calls us to know and worship him as he has revealed himself through Scripture” (Page 16)
“Second, introducing creeds into worship has matured our church body’s theological literacy—a basic desire of all pastors” (Page 18)
3 ratings
David Karow
5/7/2019
Corky Chavers
1/2/2018
Glenn Crouch
3/17/2016