Forerunners of the Faith: Teacher's Guide: 13 Lessons to Understand and Appreciate the Basics of Church History

About the Author JOHN MACARTHUR is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, president of The Master's College and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Grace to You radio, video, audio, print, and website resources reach millions worldwide each day. Over four decades of ministry, John has written dozens of bestselling books, including The MacArthur Study Bible, The Gospel According to Jesus, The New Testament Commentary series, The Truth War, and The Jesus You Can't Ignore. ***NATHAN BUSENITZ is the Executive Vice President and Provost of The Master's Seminary, where he also teaches church history. Additionally, Nathan serves on the pastoral staff of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. Other books by Nathan include Long Before Luther, Reasons We Believe, Men of the Word, Right Thinking in a Church Gone Astray, and Living a Life of Hope. Enter God?s Story of Faithfulness to His PeopleThe Christian faith extends beyond our personal experiences, our individual churches, and far beyond our present age. This, for the Christian, is great news. When we become acquainted with the legacy of our Christian heritage, we connect our stories to those of the faithful believers who have come before us. This connection is precisely what Nathan Busenitz, Dean of Faculty and professor of church history at The Master's Seminary, seeks to provide. Based on the bestselling Fundamentals of the Faith, Forerunners of the Faith outlines the biblical orthodoxy that characterizes the true church. Busenitz succinctly identifies thirteen key lessons that capture the trials and triumphs of the historical Church, providing insights for how the ancient Christians responded to the problems of their day to become the pillars of faith we now consider them to be. Learn how your faith stands on the shoulders of giants like Athanasius, Augustine, and Wycliffe. As more than a didactic resource, Forerunners of the Faith serves as spiritual encouragement as we remember the legacy of God?s faithfulness to his people. From the Back Cover ?Forerunners of the Faith lifts the eyes of its readers beyond the events and figures of the past. It places the focus on the Lord Jesus-on His work, His Word, and the worship He deserves.?-John MacArthurSince 2009, Fundamentals of the Faith grounded thousands in the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Forerunners of the Faith is a new course from of Grace Community Church and The Master?s Seminary that will deepen your studies by introducing you to how God has moved sovereignly through church history.This rich and easy-to-follow curriculum traces the trials and triumphs of the historical church and provides insights into how God used ordinary men to uphold the integrity of His Word and witness to the world. These 13 lessons examine significant events of church history and how faithful servants became the pillars of faith we recognize them to be today: The Biblical FrameworkFrom Pentecost to PatmosThe Disciples of the ApostlesContending for the FaithDefending the Deity of Christ Grace and TruthControversies and CouncilsSchisms, Scholars, and SoldiersForerunners to the ReformationAfter Darkness, LightFrom Reformation to RevivalThe Gospel Goes ForthThe Battle for the Bible This teacher?s guide will make sure you?re prepared to help your students get the most out of each lesson. You?ll find thorough instructions and comprehensive notes so that you can confidently lead your class.More than a didactic resource, Forerunners of the Faith offers spiritual encouragement and reminders of God?s consistent faithfulness to his people. Bolster and enrich your faith by encountering the legacy of faithful believers on whose shoulders we stand.?A compelling and Christ-exalting journey awaits you on the pages that follow.?-John MacArthur