One of my favorite parts of teaching church history to high school students is assigning primary sources and hearing or reading their reactions. Works like Athanasius’s On the Incarnation, Augustine’s Confessions, or Eusebius’s Church History often intimidate students initially. But there’s nothing like the moment when a student opens a presentation, sometimes with a hint of surprise in their own eyes, with “I found this incredibly relatable.” I can never hide my smile. 

Get ready to explore amazing animals, lush landscapes, stunning sea life, and wondrous wilderness this summer at Vacation Bible School. During Epic Australian Adventure: An Unforgettable Journey with Jesus, children will learn what Jesus said about Himself in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Let’s journey through each of the resources that come in the Epic Australian Adventure Starter Kit.

As a part of my blog series about church history figures, I’ll be introducing Ambrose, a remarkable man who served as bishop of Milan from AD 374 to his death in AD 397. Read on to discover the hidden gems in the life of Ambrose.

The end of the year ushers in an exciting time for all ages. We join in the history of awaiting the coming Savior during the season of Advent and then celebrate His birth during Christmas. When it comes to teaching about this time, here are four accounts you can use to teach the Christmas story to children and youth in fun and interactive ways with Christmas Lessons – Enduring Faith^® Bible Curriculum.

Like any country, sometimes we are blessed with God-fearing leaders, and sometimes we are not. Sometimes our land experiences prosperity and peace, sometimes war and disaster. Sometimes churches build and grow; sometimes they struggle and close their doors. It can be difficult to find ways to explain current events to young people, especially if we struggle to understand why things happen the way they do ourselves.

Healthy youth ministry extends past the congregation and into teens’ homes. When we considered what young people need, Scripture, research, and youth leaders all pointed to parents as paramount. Parents are gifted with the role of primary instructor and example for their children in the Christian faith. In healthy youth ministry, engaged parents are seen as partners. Youth leaders communicate, support, and train parents as together they look to help young people be disciples for life.

If your experience is anything like mine, you look around the world today and see a culture increasingly hostile to Christianity. Something as simple as a trip to the local library with the kids has shifted in recent years from a pleasant morning out in the community to an aggressive confrontation with anti-Christian ideology.

As part of the Body of Christ, we experience both joy and challenges: God calls us to be united in Him, yet unique in our individuality. Within the church, we engage with people in all seasons of life, from newborns to young adults in their twenties, to those long past retirement. Although we all have the same need for salvation through faith in Jesus, each age group comes with different contexts and experiences. Read on to discover the top three materials to reach out intentionally to young adults in your congregation.  

“You have formed us for Yourself, oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.” —St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, 1.1, paraphrased 

If you enter a room of pastors, theologians, or historians and ask, “Apart from Jesus Christ and the apostles, who is the most important figure in church history?” you will likely be met with blank stares as your audience grapples with the difficulty of answering such a question. But if they decide to play along, Augustine’s name is one of the first you will hear.