Page 9 - Heros of the Faith - Textbook w videos short

Maximinus the Thracian AD 235 – Attacked the heads of the churches.

Decius AD 248-251 The fiercest of all the persecutions…Decius issued an edict requiring all citizens to sacrifice to
the emperor in the presence of a Roman official and obtain a certification proving they had done so. Refusal
meant immediate death. There was such a slaughter of Christians that they could not be numbered. The
bishops of most churches were martyred by Decius. Persecution ceased just before his death in 251.

Valerian AD 253-258 Continued the edits of Decius and attacked leaders of the churches.

Diocletian and Galerius AD 303 – 313 Constantius (father of Constantine) resisted the edits of persecution and
in 306, Constantine assumed the imperial office, and restored properties to persecuted Christians. In 313,
Constantine and Licinius, signed the “Edict of Milan” which offered a comprehensive acceptance of Christianity

Julian the Apostate AD 361 – 363 was the last pagan emperor of the Roman Empire.

The Early Church – the Growth and Struggle Years

As the church began to grow, various “wolves” in sheep’s clothing began to appear among the believers. They
began to strongly promote their “false doctrines” as early as the opening of the 2 century (AD 100-200) Paul
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and Peter wrote their epistles to various churches to condemn and combat some of these teachings, but they
seemed to proliferate throughout Asia Minor.

So in looking back at the lives of great men and women who have made a difference in the flow of history, we
will see that most will have stood up against their culture and proclaimed God’s Word to their world. Many paid
the price with martyrdom. Many were hated and rejected. They often became discouraged but pressed on.
And as each was faithful to God’s calling in their lives, people around them noticed that they were different.
They were lights in a dark world. As a result of their faithfulness, thousands came to Christ and were blessed.
They literally changed the course of history. We are blessed today by their willingness to lay their lives down as
a sacrifice to the Savior. Let’s begin a study of the lives of our “heroes of the faith.”

1.4 Let’s Practice…

1. Write out the definition of faith:
2. What chapter in the Bible lists the faithful servants of God from the Old Testament?
3. What was the central characteristic of the early church that set them apart from their culture?

4. List at least five reasons why the early Christians were persecuted by Rome
5. What emperor was responsible for killing Peter and Paul?

6. Which emperor was the fiercest of all the Roman persecutors?
7. In looking at great men and women in church history, what was the price they had to pay to be faithful?

1.5 Let’s Personalize this Lesson…

Have you ever been persecuted for your faithfulness? Write out the situation and what happened:

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