Wisdom from the Ancients: 30 Forgotten Lessons from the Early Church

by Bryan M. Litfin

Overview

Old ideas. New insights. Timeless relevance for the church.

Studying the views and lifestyles of your forerunners in the faith can provide incredible guidance for how you live out your spiritual convictions today. In Wisdom from the Ancients, author and scholar Bryan Litfin paints a vivid portrait of the first five centuries of the Christian church, packed with fascinating history and applicable insights for modern believers.

As you encounter the wisdom of early Christians, you’ll be challenged to revisit the building blocks of your faith in light of ancient beliefs and spiritual practices. This book will help you reframe common evangelical ideas, including questions Christians face today, such as

• when it makes sense to read the Bible literally and when God’s truth shines through symbolism
• how the beliefs and practices of early believers should inform your worship
• whether the church should cooperate with political power or resist it

Wisdom from the Ancients reveals life-changing lessons from the early church that you can take to heart today. When you set aside your modern perspectives and approach ancient truths with an open mind, the beliefs of the early Christians will illuminate your faith in a brand-new way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736984621
Publisher:	Harvest House Publishers
Publication date:	02/22/2022
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Bryan Litfin has a ThM in historical theology from Dallas Seminary and a PhD in ancient Christianity from the University of Virginia. He is the author of several books and scholarly articles on the early church, as well as six published or forthcoming novels (three of which are set in the ancient church era). Bryan lives with his wife and two children in Wheaton, Illinois, where he is the Head of Strategy and Advancement at Clapham School, a classical Christian school. For more about him, see his website at BryanLitfin.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 5

1 The Cross of Christ Isn't Enough for Salvation 11

2 Weakness Is the Best Witness 17

3 Often, Our Biggest Threats Look a Lot like Us 25

4 It's Okay to Be Catholic 33

5 The Spirits of the Dead Should Live in Your Church 41

6 There's No Way Around It: Christianity Is for Misfits 49

7 Your Pastor Deserves to Be Put on a Pedestal 57

8 Christianity Created History's First Feminists 65

9 Sexual Abstinence Is a Good Idea for Christians-Yes, Including You 73

10 Prayer Isn't a Moment; It's a Way of Life 81

11 Invest in Your Library; It's a Christian Thing 89

12 Every Good Story Has Three Acts 97

13 The Bible Can't Be Taken Literally 105

14 What You Say Out Loud Is What You Believe 111

15 Christian Teachers Construct the Christian World 119

16 Baptism Moves You into a Whole New World 127

17 There's a Lot More Flavor to the Lord's Supper Than You Might Think 135

18 Sin Is a Sickness, But Grace Is Just What the Doctor Ordered 143

19 Mystical Union with God Wasn't Invented by "Eastern Religions," but by Jesus 151

20 You Aren't Truly Sorry Until Your Body Is Sorry 159

21 Empires Are Useful Temptations 167

22 God Refuses to Be a Helicopter Parent 175

23 Without the Trinity, Everyone Stops Short of Heaven 183

24 A Bridge Only Works When It Has Two Ends 191

25 Every Church Must Have an Elevator 199

26 Jesus' Head Needs a Lot More Oil 207

27 Every Christian is a Witness, but Not Every Christian Is a Missionary 215

28 It's Better to Shoot Than to Roll 223

29 The Land of Israel Is Calling to Your Feet 231

30 Your Passport Has a Huge Error 239

Conclusion 247