A Survey of Church History

The ideas and events of the nineteenth century produced effects that can be felt down to this day. In this introductory lesson, Dr. Godfrey shows us why the history of the church in this century still matters and gives us five categories to analyze and understand it for ourselves.

Ideas have consequences, and the intellectual changes that were taking place in Europe would set the stage for the entire nineteenth century. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explores those ideas and how they began to expand beyond the continent of Europe and influence American religious life.

The American Revolution and the Second American Revolution will have a significant impact on the development of the church in America. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explains how these revolutions made the churches in America different from the churches in Europe and led to the Second Awakening.

The Second Great Awakening was a period of increased evangelism and social reform. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explains how the Second Great Awakening would influence society and introduces its important theologians.

Charles Finney believed revival could be broken down to a science. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey introduces Finney’s methods, his many critics, and the nature of true revival.

Cults flourished in America during the nineteenth century. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explores where these cults came from, who started them, what they taught, and why they are so dangerous.

The Presbyterian church experienced the revival that swept across America by balancing the desire for vital religion with the desire for sound theology. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explains why this was a critical process in the development of the Presbyterian church during nineteenth-century America.

The Civil War not only divided the nation, it divided the church. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey looks at the history of the Presbyterian church through the Civil War and the changing trajectory of the church in America more broadly.

The idea that Christianity is incompatible with science is false. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey exposes this falsehood by exploring the four major fields of scientific endeavor that were attacking Christianity and contributing to the growing pessimism of the nineteenth century.

Roman Catholics reacted to the mounting pressures of the nineteenth century by reasserting papal authority. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey shows how the declarations of the First Vatican Council create a dilemma for today’s Roman Catholic scholar.

Revival spread throughout Europe by men who faithfully preached the gospel. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey introduces us to these men and perhaps the most important thinker for the Christian in the modern day, Abraham Kuyper.

Abraham Kuyper did not ignore the realities that the church faced in the modern world. In this last lesson, Dr. Godfrey maps out Kuyper’s vision of a pluralistic society that would not hinder our freedom to be Christians.