How did the church grow from a small, persecuted movement into a defining force of the ancient world—and what challenges reshaped it along the way?
In this episode, we begin with the first-century church recorded in Acts of the Apostles—a Spirit-formed community led by apostles like Peter the Apostle and Paul the Apostle. We explore how this early movement developed into the broader “catholic” (universal) church, a term first used by Ignatius of Antioch, and how doctrine was clarified through centuries of debate and growth.
Moving into the 600s and 700s AD, we examine the rise of Islam under Muhammad and the sweeping expansion of Muslim rule across former Christian territories. We also discuss the pivotal leadership of Charles Martel—“Charles the Hammer”—and his role in the Battle of Tours (732 AD), a moment that significantly impacted the future of Western Europe.
Join us as we trace the church’s story from its apostolic foundations to a rapidly changing world that would shape the medieval era.