Partakers Christian Podcasts

Church History Part 19 Church in the Middle Ages 2 During this time, there was a growing restlessness. Some people were starting to think about separating the church from institutional monarchies – particularly with England. The Scholastics - The papal reforms in the 11th - 13th centuries saw a rise in interest in education. The Cathedral schools surpassed the monastic schools by the 12th century. The universities rose from the Cathedral schools. Oxford, Cambridge & Paris Universities date back to this period. All education was in the hands of the Church. The great thinkers were monks or clergy. There was great debate over theology & philosophy with many attempts to harmonise the thinking of Greek philosophers such as Aristotle with theology. Anselm (1033-1109) – Anselm was born in Italy and raised in Normandy. Prior to becoming the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093, he was a Benedictine monk, teacher, and abbot before continuing his church career in England. He is renowned as a great philosophe

Psalm 87 A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains. Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah. I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: “This one was born there.” Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her”; the Most High himself will establish her. Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah. Those who sing as well as those who dance say,“All my springs are in you.” Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3.  

Church History - Part 18 Church in the Middle Ages 1 Today we look briefly at a monastic revival in the Middle Ages! As we saw last time, under the leadership of Hildebrande and Innocent III, there was a revival of monastic orders. Let us look briefly at some of the prime people from this period of our Church History. Cistercians This order of monks was founded in 1097 in France, the village we know now as Cîteaux, by a group of Benedictine Monks including Robert of Molesme, Alberic of Citeaux and Stephen Harding. The Cistericans are also known as the White Monks due to the colour of their clothing over which a black head-dress is worn. The Cistercians lifestyle emphasizes a manual labour rather than scholarship, an ascetic lifestyle and self-sufficiency. Many Cistercian abbeys supported themselves through brewing ales and from agriculture. One man who helped them spread rapidly throughout Europe was the next person we will learn about – Bernard of Clairvaux, who entered the monastery in the early 1100s wit

HAHA Part 17 The Papacy at its Height Today we look at the papacy at the height of its power… After Charlemagne, the church declined rapidly into its lowest point - immorality, corruption, simony (buying positions in the Church). However that was soon to change! Throughout Europe, civil authorities sought power over the church and endeavoured to limit the power of the Pope. However, reform was coming and the church started to get its own house in order. The Cluniac Monastic Movement -  This as a reform movement started by Duke William 1 in the year 910, in a monastery in Cluny, France to purify the monastic movement. Most of the needed reforms were undertaken by Odo and quickly spread throughout France, England, Spain and Italy. The catalyst for this reform was the large scale corruption with the church. Simony and concubinage were rife and resulted from secular interference and the Church’s strict integration with the ruling systems. The reforms set in place, quickly spread quickly, to over 350 hou

Psalm 90 90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. 90:3 You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.” 90:4 For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past, like a watch in the night. 90:5 You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass. 90:6 In the morning it sprouts and springs up. By evening, it is withered and dry. 90:7 For we are consumed in your anger. We are troubled in your wrath. 90:8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 90:9 For all our days have passed away in your wrath. We bring our years to an end as a sigh. 90:10 The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away. 90:11 Who knows the po

Church Part 16 Debates! Decretals! Donation! Doctrinal Disputes G’day and welcome to Partakers and to our series, HAHA – Heroes and Heretics Abound. Together we are looking at the story of the church from its origins to the Age of Reasoning in the 18th century. Today we will look very briefly at debates, decretals, a donation and doctrinal disputes! All of which help to make up what makes Church History so fascinating! Debates! Use of images and pictures - During the 8th century, there was intense debate over the use of images and pictures to aid in worship. Pope Gregory 1 had allowed them to stimulate worship, but was very clear in that they were not to be objects of worship or adoration. However, they quickly became objects of worship and adoration, with the Eastern Church eventually allowed salutation and honorific worship of images, which in turn led to the strong use of images. This practise is still alive in the Orthodox churches today. The Roman Church however, have resisted their use. The False

Church History Part 15 United We Fall? In Europe, various barbarian factions ruled yet many held the unity of the Roman Empire in their imagination. The barbarous factions were often at war with one another, yet there was an underlying yearning that one day Europe would once again be united under a new Roman Empire! In all of this there came a time when a new centre of power arose from within the landlord aristocracy, as power was greedily gobbled up and transferred to them. Amidst this, one central figure arose the “mayor of the palace.”  The first of these we will look at is Charles Martel. Charles Martel: The family of Charles Martel were a rising political force in France and Europe in the 8th & 9th centuries. Charles Martel had been successive in his battles against the invading Islamists, form which he got the name “Martel”, which means “The hammer”. He had hammered the Islamists from central Europe back to the Iberian peninsula. Charles Martel had performed as well as allowed great acts of vio

Church History Part 14 Amidst Times of Trouble Today we return to Europe and go back this week to the year 590 and to the work of Gregory the Great – such is his influence upon the Church and its history as well as being an supreme example of a Godly leader! At the time, the end of the 6th century, the Roman world is an utter mess. The city of Rome itself was in peril of extinction from floods, plagues and siege. The glories of the expanse of the Roman Empire were long gone since its collapse 300 years hence. But they were not totally forgotten. Many still dreamed of its revival, particular with the role of the Church at the centre. For a period of 6 months there was no central leader or Pope. What was happening in Rome, was symbolic of continental Europe. Europe itself was also seemingly on the path of destruction. What was to be the catalyst for change? It was, however unlikely, to be the Church. A new age of Christian Europe beckoned. Enter a man who was not comfortable leading but was thrust into th

  Milly's Story    "I am healed and an overcomer" Today on Partakers we have Milly sharing her story about how she became a Christian and the influence and affect that Jesus Christ has had on her life - helping her overcome depression, heal her and set her aright... Come and hear the story of Milly and how Jesus is being glorified in her life! For more to think about please do ask yourself the following questions and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together. Q1. What were the events leading up to my choosing to be a Christian disciple which symbolize God running after me? Q2. How am I, as a Christian Disciple, continuing to listen to God's voice? Q3. Will I be ready to give my testimony the next time somebody asks me as to why I am a Christian? Tap or Right mouse click to save/download this testimony as a MP3 file   You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do clic

Church History Part 13 Re-evangelization of Europe from Britain Today we will discover the church in Britain reaching out into Europe! We are now in the year 597AD of our journey through Church history! Augustine has returned to Britain! Here is an example of how Augustine helped establish Christianity in England. We take this excerpt from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of England. Some days after, Ethelbert, the king of Kent, came into the island of Thanet, and sitting in the open air, ordered Augustine and his companions to come and hold a conference with him. They came endued with Divine, not with magic power, bearing a silver cross for their banner, and the image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a board; and chanting litanies, they offered up their prayers to the Lord for the eternal salvation both of themselves and of those to whom and for whom they had come. When they had sat down, in obedience to the king’s commands, and preached to him and his attendants there present the Word of life, the k

Church History Part 12 The Birth of Islam Today we see a new religion, some would say threat, coming towards Christianity – Islam!  Islam is a religion strictly following one God. The adherents of Islam, Muslims, follow their book, the Koran (the verbatim words of Allah) and the Sunnah (teachings and examples give by Mohammed, the last prophet of God.)  Background In Arabia at the time, the religious background was like this: There was a strong belief held by many people in one supreme God, in the Arabic language - Allah.  There was however some worshipping of other gods & goddesses. Prime in their thinking at the time, was a form of fatalism - that everything that occurred was determined by fate or time. Nothing could be done to change things that were happening.  There was some Jewish and Christian influence but it was largely negated. Mohammed 570-632 Into this comes the main man and founder of Islam – Mohammed. He was born in Mecca in 570. It was while he was seeking solitude within the Ara

PulpTheology Book "Read this book to learn more about Jesus Christ"   Jesus Christ is the man who splits history. His birth is what the world celebrates at Christmas. His death & resurrection we celebrate at Easter. He is the most important figure in human history. Almost everybody has an opinion about him - whether positive, negative or indifferent. He has, claims Christians, changed and transformed millions of people down through history who have found him to fulfil their every desire and their search for God. So many people today, dismiss the claims of Jesus, regard it all as fairy-tales and that he never existed. All the while, relying on hearsay, without exploring documents regarding this most amazing man, Jesus Christ. Come inside and let us explore together this figure of history, Jesus Christ. We will be looking primarily at the Gospel accounts of his life but also looking at the accounts written from those outside the Bible. "Read this book if you want to learn more about Jesus Christ" ava

Church History Part 11 Christianity Comes To Britain Today we will look at some of the leading figures in the growth of Christianity in Britain. ~ Ninian Ninian was the Bishop of Galloway in South West Scotland by the end of the 4th Century. He is known to have carried out extensive missionary work in South Scotland. Hence there are many churches named after him in that area. He was born about 360 and is widely regarded as being the first Gospel preacher in a part of Britain which was not under Roman rule. Touring widely away from Galloway, Ninian preached at various missions. Much of Celtic Christianity is thought to have formed from this man’s ministry. Bede in Ecclesiastical History of England refers to him thus “For the southern Picts, who dwell on this side of those mountains, had, it is said, long before forsaken the errors of idolatry, and received the true faith by the preaching of Bishop Ninias, a most reverend and holy man of the British nation, who had been regularly instructed at Rome in t

Church History Part 10 Christianity Comes To Britain Origins In the 1st century AD, the island of Britain contained various religious practices based on both pagan and Roman gods. The Roman Empire was well established and Britain was the westernmost point of the Roman Empire. ~ Christianity was first bought to England, part of Britain, by travellers and traders using well known routes through the Roman Empire. As they travelled, they came with stories from pagan mythology, as well as the story of Jesus. However, nobody knows when Christianity first arrived in Britain, although one particular story purports that Joseph of Arimithea built a church in Somerset. Joseph, you may remember was put in charge of Jesus’ body. ~ Sources Here are 4 quotes from ancient texts about Christianity being in Britain ~ Clement or Rome 96AD - “Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity… After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due t

Church History Part 9 Monastic Leaders Last time we looked at the rise of Monasticism and the decline of the Roman Empire! Today we will look at some of the early leaders of the Monastic movement. ~ Early leaders in the Monastic movement. Anthony 251-356. Born into a Christian family, and at the age of 18, he adopted the solitary ascetic life in the deserts of Egypt for 20 years. Many others followed his example. Anthony experienced extreme temptations of a demonic nature and often was unable to escape lustful thoughts. ~ Pachomius 292-346. Developed corporate monasticism, gathering ascetics into a community and imposing a code of discipline. These communities were self-supporting with crafts and growing food. Within the community, all personal wealth from individuals was placed into a common fund. These monastic communities were known for teaching basic literacy, reading & writing as well as Scripture memorisation. ~ Basil the Great 330-379. Bishop of Caesarea (Cappadocia). He is quite possibl

Church History Part 08 Fall of Rome & Rise of Monasticism Last time we looked at some of the critical thinkers including both heroes and heretics! We also looked very briefly the councils as the church formulated its thinking in regards to what the Gospel is and for true doctrine in a bid to counteract the indefatigable rise of heretical teaching such as Gnosticism and Arianism.  All Emperors of the Roman Empire following the death of Constantine were nominally Christian. In the last half of the 4th Century, the northern borders of the Roman Empire were under intense pressure from invading forces - Vandals, Huns & Goths. Eventually the great city of Rome, the centre of the Roman Empire, was plundered in 410 & 455, before finally falling in 476.  Some of the major reasons for this to occur include: Strong pressures from Northern tribes. Within the Roman Government there was a great love and passion for luxury & corruption was rife. There was weak leadership, as the Christians tended to avoid

Church History Part 7 4th & 5th Century - Leading Thinkers and Councils ~ G’day and welcome to Partakers and to our series, HAHA – Heroes and Heretics Abound. Together we will look at the story of the church from its origins to the Age of Reasoning in the 18th century. Last time we looked at the change for Christianity under Constantine – the church changed from being persecuted to being, as some would, compromised with its new found freedom. During this time as well, Christian thinking was being developed and clarified. There were several Councils called over the next 100 years which served that purpose. But let us look firstly at some of the leading Christian thinkers of the time, who helped formulate what we believe as 21st century Christians. Leading Christian thinkers of the 4th & 5th Centuries Athanasius 296-373. Deacon of the church in Alexandria, opposed Arius in the Council of Nicea. Became Bishop of Alexandria in 328. Athanasius was exiled 5 times because of his opposition to Arianism! Ath

Part 6 All Change Under Constantine! Last time we looked briefly at two main enemies from within the church: systemic disorganization and chaos within leadership and structure of churches and false and heretical teaching which was creeping in surreptitiously. We move on today to a landmark period in the life of the church. Remember that one of the main persecutors of the Church was the Roman Empire. Now we come to the Emperor Constantine. This period is described by Diarmaid MacCulloch as “crucial for the Christian Church” (A History of Christianity). Constantine was pronounced as Emperor by the Army in 306AD following the death of his father, Constantius 1. Under the rule of Diocletian, the Empire had been reorganized into a team of 4 emperors under his leadership. However civil war soon re-commenced. During this time at the battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, Constantine overthrew his rival, Maxentius, and became the Emperor of the Western Empire. He had been a worshipper of the 'Unconquered Sun', but befo

Part 5 Lets Get Organized and Remain One! Last time we looked at the expansion of the early church in spite of the endemic persecution by the Roman empire. They were the ‘enemy from outside the church’. But there was also another enemy lurking, two main enemies from within the church! Our first enemy was the systemic disorganization and chaos within leadership and structure of churches. If there is no organization then chaos would rule supreme. That was partly why during this time the Apostle Paul helped form the leadership and organizational structure of the church. We see from his writings that 1st century Church government consisted of a 2 fold order of leadership. ~ Elders - Presbyteros (Presbyter) - Elder - Jewish background referring to the character & spiritual maturity of the leaders. Episcopos - Bishop - Greek background referring to the role of the elders as overseers or shepherds. These 2 words are used interchangeably in the N.T. (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7; Phil. 1:1). There

Church History Part 4 Church Persecution and Growth ~ Today in Part 4, we look briefly at the scattering of the church and the church’s relationship with the governing force which was the Roman Empire! The church at the time seems to be in a bit of a rut. They still haven’t spread far and wide from the centre, Jerusalem. They still did not understand that the Gospel message of Jesus Christ was for all of humanity, ultimately including the Gentiles! So God brings out his plan. Enter Saul the Persecutor (Acts 8:1-4)! God used the persecution upon the church by Saul to scatter the Church! As they went out eluding persecution, they preached the Gospel effectively! ~ We read in the book of Acts how the Gospel had spread to: Samaria - Peter, Philip and John evangelised. Gentiles - Peter and Cornelius evangelised. The Gospel message also spread out to Antioch, Phoenicia & Cyprus - part of the uttermost (Acts 11:19-30) Within 10 years of its birth, the Church was thriving in Antioch. Missionaries from Cyprus