challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Super good overview of church history from the very beginning up to today. I loved the author’s decision to sprinkle in some “profiles of faith” for lesser known believers throughout the ages whose testimonies were powerful despite not necessarily changing the course of history. Having those stories sprinkled in among the twists and turns of each chapter helped ground the overall story and reminded me that there were real believers doing their best to faithfully follow Jesus even in the midst of whatever crazy controversy was currently raging.

Best church history material I've come across. Well organized, informative, detailed, and written in a way that won't put you to sleep. Love this books. Highly reccomend.

Fascinating highlights from many different eras.
informative slow-paced

I love this book! It has really shaped my faith in ways I didn’t even know were possible. The panoramic view of the church throughout history has given me so much perspective. I would highly recommend this to all millennial believers.

How do you capture 2,000 years of church history in one book? Shelley does a good job – he touches on highlights from world history and connects them to the history, growth, development, and change of the church. He starts with the disciples in the book of Acts and brings us up to the 1980/90s (I read the third edition; the fourth edition may continue past that). You’ll follow the rise and fall of powers, wars, and world leaders of secular history and how that all ties into the rise and fall of powers, wars, and world leaders of the church. It’s a comprehensive overview, and he even provides sources for additional reading at the end of each chapter.

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This reads like a textbook (which it is), so it is as dense as you might expect a book trying to encompass 2,000 years of church history to be. However, it easy to read and gives enough information on various figures and movements of church history that make you want to dig in further and learn more.

Great primer on church history that is interesting and keeps your attention!

Excellent history of Christendom from the time of Christ through the early church fathers, the rise of Roman Catholicism, the age of the "Christian Roman Empire", the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Renaissance, the great revivals of England and New England, the Industrial Revolution, Marxism/Communism, the rise of the evangelical right, and modern trends such as mega-churches. Whether or not we agree that much of historic "Christendom" has actually been true Biblical Christianity is beside the point - this is well-done in clarity of language and organization for laymen as well as leaders.
informative reflective medium-paced