Women & Church History
On this week’s episode of The About Her Podcast, I chatted with Jordan Brown. Jordan serves as the lead pastor of Hebron Church of Hope in Hebron, Connecticut, a church that first gathered in October of 1716.
Jordan is a graduate of Cedarville University located in Cedarville, Ohio. It was during his time at Cedarville that my husband and I met Jordan, and his now wife, Rachel. After graduating from Cedarville, Jordan returned to Connecticut to serve in pastoral ministry and has since graduated with his MTS in Church Revitalization from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jordan and Rachel were married in 2014 and together they have one daughter, Maeve Elisabeth.
Show Notes
How would you describe the relationship between church history and theology or scripture and tradition?
How would you respond to someone who might suggest that church history is only important for pastors or seminary students?
Is church history important for the every day female?
Could you briefly summarize some key events that you believe are of prime importance in Church history? In other words, what is your “elevator pitch” summary of church history?
In what ways might a study of church history increase our understanding of theology and the scriptures?
How has your own understanding of the Scriptures and theology increased since studying church history?
How often do you incorporate elements or events of church history into your Sunday sermons?
What advice or direction would you give to someone who wants to begin a study of church history but doesn’t quite know where to begin?
Who are a few key men in church history that you believe every believer should be familiar with?
Are there any specific works written by or about men that you recommend studying?
Who are a few key women in church history that you believe every believer should be familiar with?
Are there any specific works written by or about women that you recommend studying?
Do you have any other recommended resources on this topic?
Notable Quotations
“Church history is the story of how God’s people have continued to be faithful to His Word and what He has clearly taught through the Scripture.”
“Without good stories throughout history, we would not have a good pattern to follow in orthodoxy.”
“Church history and theology are tied together. There is a beautiful partnership that exists between the two. Church history is the story of how God’s people have worked through theology.”
“There is such an important emphasis for every Christian to know what God has done throughout the ages. It is wonderful for us to be able to go to seminary and to see the faithful teaching of other believers, but God has been in the business of making his story known from the beginning of time. Church history and what God has done through the local church and through believers is so important, not just for seminarians or pastors, but for every Christian to see how God is who he says he is in the Bible.”
“Throughout the Bible you see that God has used women in a way that has served his purposes very well.”
“Scripture is teaching us what is good, what is right, what is true according to who God is and who we are as his people. Church history shows us how people have responded to the truths of God throughout the ages. Basically, it shows us how we have stayed on the straight and narrow or how we have strayed from the truths of God.”
“Start with your own local church’s history. Know your own church’s story of how God, through the Gospel, has been faithful to make a people for himself and use those people to make disciples.”
Recommended Resources
Historical Theology for the Church by Jason G. Duesing
Eight Women of Faith by Michael A. G. Haykin
In the Year of Our Lord by Sinclair B. Ferguson
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley
Women of the Reformation by Rebecca VanDoodewaard
The ABC’s of Church History by Stephen J. Nichols
Men/Women of Faith Mentioned
Augustine
Martin Luther
John Calvin
Charles Spurgeon
Sarah Edwards (Wife of Jonathan Edwards)
Margaret Baxter (Wife of Richard Baxter)
Katharina von Bora (Wife of Martin Luther)
Queen Jeanne of Navarre
Lady Jane Grey
Susannah Spurgeon (Wife of Charles Spurgeon)
Scripture References
Luke 24:1-12
