The Rise of the Jesus Movement

Explore the origins of the term "Christian" and the early days of the Jesus Movement in this episode of The Church History Project. From Stephen's martyrdom to the establishment of the church in Antioch, discover how persecution led to the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem.

Episode Overview

• The formation of the early church in Jerusalem
• Stephen's martyrdom and its impact
• The scattering of believers due to persecution
• Philip's ministry in Samaria and Cornelius' conversion
• The establishment of the church in Antioch
• The first use of the term "Christian" and its adoption by believers

Discussion Questions

• How can we draw inspiration from the early believers' courage in the face of persecution?
• In what ways can we, like the early Christians, transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries to share the gospel?
• How might our response to opposition or mockery of our faith reflect Stephen's example of forgiveness?
• How can we live up to our identity of being a "Christian" in our daily lives?
• How can we apply the lessons from the early church's growth to our own efforts in spreading the gospel today?

For other questions and comments, feel free to reach out to Jared at [email protected]. For more content, visit the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or wherever you find your podcasts.

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