Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History
Overview
Each generation suffers from self-obsession, and we do well to keep one eye on the past, to consider not only where we wish to go, where we have been. Christianity has a long and storied past that testifies to God’s enduring grace, and even though so much of Christian history has passed away and many of its people and objects have been lost to time, a few precious relics and locations remain.
As we consider these objects with careful eyes and look at them in their historical context, we find the beginnings of a story. Through thirty-three carefully selected objects, author and pastor Tim Challies introduces readers to the history of Christianity in a unique and creative way. It’s a story that tells us what God is accomplishing in this world, whether through princes or peasants, triumph or trial. Each of these objects offers us a tangible link between the present and the past, between the Christians of the twenty-first century and the Christians who lived and died in centuries past.
In a few cases these objects are hidden away or in private collections, but more commonly they are there for all who wish to see them. Beginning with the relics of the earliest Christians, we journey through history to look at the importance of a peculiar scrawl of graffiti and the creedal significance of an otherwise unremarkable carving. We take a leap forward in time to consider the loving labor of monks and the martyrdom of Christians who called for reform long before the days of Luther. We look at pulpits and paintings and posters and pieces of machinery. And, of course, we look at books and the remains of books—for nothing has so charted and maintained the course of Christian history as its books.
The video companion Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History (Videos) is now available to Pre-Order
- Explores the history of what God is accomplishing in this world
- Introduces readers to the history of Christianity in a unique and creative way
- Offers a tangible link between the present and the past
- Title: Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History
- Author: Tim Challies
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Publication Date: 2020
- Pages: 176
- Resource Type: History
- Topic: Church History
A pastor, noted speaker, author, Tim Challies is a pioneer in the Christian blogosphere. Over 20,000 people visit Challies.com each day, making it one of the most widely read and recognized Christian blogs in the world. Tim is also the editor of DiscerningReader.com, a site dedicated to offering thoughtful reviews of books that are of interest to Christians. Tim has written The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, published by Crossway, and The Next Story, published by Zondervan. He and his family reside near Toronto, Ontario, where he serves as a pastor at Grace Fellowship Church.
Reviews
1 rating
Tim Kuhn
11/18/2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read but covered a good amount of material. The style of writing kept me reading 'just one more chapter'. I actually purchased a copy for a friend. It's a small introduction to what the believers before us endured. I think people not familiar with church history would really benefit from reading this.
