At this moment, about one-third of the world’s population makes some sort of claim to be a follower of Christ.  That means that the group Jesus launched with just a few, has spread and grown more dynamically than any other movement in history. How did this happen? In Episode 18 of One Hundred Plus, Mike is going to leverage the impact of Saint Columba, a 6th century Irish missionary, to provide an overview of the history of mission.  He will back up to show Jesus commissioning his simple and unimpressive followers to launch the church, and then trace how it grows to become, what is now, the oldest, largest, longest-lasting, most geographically-dispersed and ethnically-diverse organization in history.  

On today’s episode we look at Gregory the Great, a remarkable figure who shaped the church and impacted the world at a fragile moment in Western History.  It is hard to imagine how different our lives would be without this man. Mike is going to give you an overview of his life, talk about how he changed the trajectory of the West and suggest that we all look to raise our game in light of his example. 

Today, we continue our slide into the Middle Ages with a look at Monasticism in general and St. Benedict in particular. Not that long ago, monks were viewed as odd and quirky. Today, they are often celebrated for their wines and cheeses, and their monasteries have gained quite a bit of cultural cache as exactly the kind of place to go to detox from this crazy world.  Neither view is particularly accurate, so in this episode, Mike will be exploring the origins of monasticism as well as tracing its development, paying particular attention to the Father of Monasticism himself, Saint Benedict. 

In the last episode, Mike discussed the fall of Rome and offered a quick summary of the arch of Western Civilization.  In today’s podcast we pick up 125 years after Nicaea. The barbarians now control growing sections of the West – which hopes that the East will come to their rescue. But they do not, in part because the emperor there – a man named Theodosius - is trying to stay on top of a religious dispute. One that deals yet again with our understanding of Christ, and one that will be addressed in the topic today, the Council of Chalcedon.

The man we study in today’s episode was a cranky curmudgeon that few could get along with, but he was a thoughtful scholar and a man determined to chase after God. And in the end, God used him in very important ways.  His name is Jerome, and among the many works he produced was a translation of the Bible that shaped the west for more than 1,000 years.

Today we look at Augustine, who is the most important figure to date – A post-Nicaean Father, A doctor of the Church. A philosopher, a writer, a pastor, a bishop and someone who is so big that in some ways he bridges the divide between antiquity and theMiddle Ages.

As a theologian, writer, thinker and church leader, he has shaped your thinking whether you know it or not.