We all love our Christmas traditions, but how many of them are biblically and historically accurate? In this special podcast, we'll take a look at the history of Christmas. We'll see how the Church added many traditions that clouded and obscured the real truths about the First Advent. We'll then synthesize a complete biblical picture using the accounts found in Matthew and Luke. Merry Christmas!

Present Perfect: An Applied Church History Podcast

Christmas Special 2020 (The History of Christmas)

Resuming our survey of AD 32 through AD 40, we see the very early church tackle an administrative problem by appointing the first deacons. Amongst these is Stephen, the Church's first martyr. We'll explore the circumstances that led to his death and meet the man who went from heartily approving it to becoming one of the Church's greatest apostles. We'll also examine the Samaritans and Philip's ministry to them.

Podcast #217 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

In this podcast, we wrap up our detour survey of first-century Israel's core leadership. We examine the Pharisees and determine whether or not they were as bad as is commonly believed. Were they all hypocrites, or were there a few good ones? We'll answer this question by seeing what the entire New Testament has to say about this controversial group.

Podcast #216 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

Israel's leadership of the first century was complicated, fragmented, and factional. Understanding it makes the world of the very early church much more intelligible. In this podcast, we'll sort it out by taking a look at the priests, Sadducees, Pharisees, scribes, lawyers, and rabbis. We'll explore each group's origins, their beliefs, and how they interacted with each other.

Podcast #215 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

The narrative of Ananias and Sapphira seems a bit disturbing and out of place in the Church Age. But as this podcast demonstrates, that incident served to establish several important concepts that were highly necessary for the very early church to understand. Amongst these was the nature of God, as well as the principle of apostolic authority. We'll examine apostolic authority, catalog its qualities, and explore why it was necessary. We'll also discover why it was temporary and no longer exists today.

Podcast #214 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

In this podcast, we begin to examine the Church's first decade--AD 32 to AD 40. We'll examine the very early church's practices, leadership, and the people who made it up. Since the Book of Acts is our sole source for this time period, we'll take a look at that book and its writer, Luke. Finally, after being curiously quiet for a while, Israel's leadership will react to a miracle encouraging the nation to reconsider its path.

Podcast #213 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

As we begin our trek through the early church's history, with its parallel Jewish and Gentile paths, we'll lay out our methodology. We're going to work through the remainder of the first century decade by decade. In this podcast, I'll deal with a few practical issues, including our historical sources and philosophy of church history. I'll wrap up by explaining the reason that today's church cannot truly replicate the early church.

Podcast #212 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

Traditionally, the Church began with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost. The reality is a bit more complex. In this podcast, we'll see that God was doing TWO things on Pentecost, inaugurating the Church, and giving Israel a second chance to embrace the Kingdom through its Messiah. And a brief examination of Israel's seven Feasts of the Lord reveals something even more significant.

Podcast #211 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

With Jesus' resurrection, we reach a fork in the road. For nearly four decades, Israel and the Church will travel parallel paths through history, with God reaching out to Israel as He simultaneously reveals the Church to the world. We'll explore these concepts and then take a look at what the disciples did as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Podcast #210 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

In this podcast we explore how Israel reached a crucial inflection point in its history. Although many ordinary people were willing to accept Jesus as Israel's Messiah, the religious leaders, the official voice of the nation, rejected Him. We'll examine the ramifications of their actions, as well as Israel's future relationship with God. We'll also look at the tantalizing possibility that the Millennial Kingdom could have started in the first century had Israel reacted differently.

Podcast #209 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

Jesus' ministry on earth is far too large to cover in just a few podcasts. So we'll restrict ourselves to examining His main purpose for coming to earth: to offer the Kingdom to Israel. We'll see where His miracles and His redeeming mankind fit in this plan. We'll also see how a crucial part of Israel opposed the coming Kingdom.

Podcast #208 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

John the Baptist is a puzzling figure who appears at the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry. Clearly, he was the prophesied Forerunner whose task it was to announce the coming of the Messiah. But was he also the Elijah, whose coming God promised as He closed the Old Testament? In this podcast, we'll see what the Scripture has to say.

Podcast #207 (Present Perfect: An Applied Church History Podcast)

While Israel at the beginning of the first century was spiritually pretty bleak, there were a number of faithful "watchful waiters" who eagerly desired the coming of the Messiah. In this podcast, we'll take a look at several of them, including a group of very unusual men.

Podcast #206 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

The path to the Kingdom began right at the start of time. Through various historical events and prophecies, God orchestrated the coming of the Messiah, even going so far as to specify exactly when He would ride into Jerusalem and offer Himself as King. This podcast explores those prophecies and events as we get ready to study the history of this crucial century. 

Podcast #205 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

Today, we develop the idea that much of the first century was a time of transition between two dispensations (Israel and the Church). We also explore the parallel idea that Israel stood at an inflection point during this same time period. We then examine the advantages that this dual perspective gives us in developing a clear and harmonious New Testament interpretation.

Podcast #204 (Inflection Point: The Church of the First Century)

Welcome to Present Perfect. No grammar, but plenty of history This podcast takes an innovative approach to church history. We won't just slog through names and dates. Instead, we'll apply history to answer your questions about the past and to inform your decisions in the present. Curious about the Church, the Bible, and how it all got the way it is today? Subscribe to this podcast and learn more!

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Present Perfect: An Applied Church History Podcast

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