History of the Church

1.  The Apostolic Church
     a.  Formed on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)
     b.  Organized into local fellowships for instruction, edification, and promotion of the gospel
     c.  Gifted for service
     d.  Was completely independent and autonomous
     e.  Was shepherded by a number of men called variously elders, pastors, bishops,
          presbyters, and deacons

2.  The Roman Catholic Church
     a.  The main pastor came to be called the "Bishop" and the others "Presbyters"
     b.  Gradually the jurisdiction of this main Bishop came to include neighboring towns
     c.  By 325 AD an ecclesiastical hierarchy had developed with its center in Rome
     d.  Under Emperor Constantine the church and state were united
     e.  Membership in the church became compulsory and religious freedom ended
     f.   A pagan element entered the church through this system
     g.  Dissenters were severely persecuted (Waldenses, Huguenots, and others)
     h.  The church became corrupt

3.  The Reformation Church
     a.  Widespread clamor for reform of the Roman Church came early in the 15^th century
     b.  John Huss and John Wycliffe were among the first advocates of reform
     c.  The Reformation movement itself began with Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli
     d.  Denominations had their origin as followers of these great men organized around their leaders (Lutheran
          followed Martin Luther, Presbyterians--John Calvin, etc.)
     e.  Baptists seem to have come from Menno Simons and the Anabaptists. The Methodist Church came much
          later, in 1791, following the death of John Wesley

4.  The Bible Church
     a.  Historically antedates the denominational church
     b.  Has, therefore, a definite place in the history of the Christian Church
     c.  Is completely independent and autonomous
     d.  Is patterned after the Apostolic Church
     e.  Traces its roots to the pre-Reformation era
     f.  Stands in the historic tradition of the Christian Church