What happens when cycles of persecution halt for the Church? What new challenges does it face? Today I talk about some of the obstacles for the Church coming out of its early cycles of persecution.

God used persecution to help His Church grow, but that didn't mean they were absent of conflict during this time. As martyrdom became a sad realty for believers, some began to revere the martyrs of the faith so much that death for ones faith was seen as the most elite destination for the Christin. What resulted was a very different philosophy on how to handle persecution. Go seek it out. How does this relate to us today? Listen and find out.

Today we jump back a few years early to the martyrdom of Polycarp. Polycarp gives is an interesting perspective on some of the earliest persecution in the Church after records in Scripture. A disciple of John, Polycarp presents a chief example of how to love our enemies whole facing the worst they have to offer. His willingness to face his martyrdom also brings up a difficult question that starts to present itself to the persecuted church, is it wrong to run from your persecutor?

John Chrysostom (Golden Mouth) was the most famous preacher of his time. We take a look at John's ministry, and unpack his love for preaching. John was a man who took advantage of the political landscape to point people to the Gospel. He wasn't perfect, and had some concerning views. We discuss all of it along with his famous Easter homily.

This week we pick up the topic of persecution during Justin Martyr's time. I take a close look at some of the stories of persecution circling around the church during this period as we get a better understanding of exactly what the cost was for standing for their faith while still being respectful and praying for those persecuting them.

We are going to take a quick dive into the life of Saint Patrick. Patrick was put into an unimaginable circumstance as a young teenager. Through his struggles, his faith was made secure, and his resolve of obedience to God remains an inspiration to believers today.