Kids Talk Church History

When we hear the word Renaissance, we normally think of 14th and 15th-century Europe. But this word was used for other times in history. The 9th century was another important time of discovery and learning - particularly at the court of the powerful Charlemagne, king of the Franks, later known as Holy Roman Emperor. How did he get that title? Did he really have a pet elephant and a favorite cheese...

Remember Patrick of Ireland and how he left his home in England to bring the gospel to the land where he had been previously enslaved, Ireland? Well, the gospel went full circle when Irish monks traveled to England to spread the gospel in places where it had been forgotten. Some also traveled to Scotland, Iceland, other parts of Europe, and, some say, as far as North America. Join Emma, Lucas, and...

In the eighth century, when England was still considered a wild and far-off land, a local monk wrote some of the most influential books in the Middle Ages. His name was Bede. Historian, scientist, Bible translator, and poet, he preserved the story of the early church in England and the people who helped in spreading the gospel. Among these people was Hilda, abbess of the monastery of Whitby and pr...

Why would an 82-year-old man submit to torture and execution rather than denying what he believed? And why would both government and church authorities go to such lengths to make sure he was silenced? Why is it important to say that Jesus has two natures and two wills? Join Trinity, Emma, and Sophia as they find answers to these questions and more with their guest, Dr. Jordan Wood, author of The W...

Did you know that the gospel arrived in China in the seventh century and that Chinese emperor Taizong ordered the building of a monastery? Did you know that the Chinese called Christianity "the luminous religion" and that Persian monks built monasteries all along the way from modern Turkey to China? Join Emma, Trinity, Mina, and Sophia as they explore this forgotten part of church history with the...

How would Christian queens have lived in England around the seventh century? How different were their lives from the Disney princesses we see in the movies? And what was their role in bringing Christianity to England? Emma, Trinity, and Christian journey to seventh-century England and explore the captivating stories of some of these queens and their kings with the expert guidance of Dr. Eleanor Pa...

When discouraged about the state of our world, have you ever heard someone say that it feels like we are back in the Dark Ages? What actually are the Dark Ages, and were they really dark? Did the church live in ignorance and superstition until Martin Luther rediscovered the truth? Join Emma, Trinity, and Christian as they discuss these questions and the fascinating centuries we have come to call t...

Were there missionaries in the first centuries of church history? If so, what were they called? Were they ever afraid of going to unknown places? How did they learn to have patience during their long travels? Join Lucy, Lucas, and Linus, as they explore these questions and more with the help of their guest, Ed Smither, professor of intercultural studies and history of global Christianity, and dean...

With 16 episodes under their belts covering the first few centuries of church history, our hosts get together to discuss what they have learned and discovered. Find out who their favorite characters are, the episodes they like the best, and which suggestions from their guests really stood out. Then write to us and let us know what your favorites are! Write to Questions@KidsTalkChurchHistory.org . ...

Walk with Lucy, Lucas, and Linus through fifth-century Milan to discover how a meek and humble bishop resisted the impositions of an Empress and her son in what might have been the first sit-in in church history. Learn how his songs strengthened his congregation and baffled the soldiers outside. And listen to the enthralling explanations of Dr. Brian Arnold, Associate Professor of Theology and pre...

One day in the fourth century, Egeria, a woman with enough time and means, left for a three-year tour of Biblical places. Join Lucy, Lucas, and Linus as they follow Egeria's travels and discover some early church practices, thanks to their guest, Dr. Stefana Laing of Beeson Divinity School. Dr. Laing shares her invaluable knowledge, including a detailed explanation of how Christmas and Easter cele...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Join Trinity, Emma, and Christian as they look beyond the popular stories of three-leaf clovers and snakes to discover the real Saint Patrick. When did he live? Why did he return to the people who had enslaved him? And why is he so important in church history? Listen to their engaging interview with Dr. Phillip Freeman, author of St. Patrick of Ireland, and find out more a...

Heresies What are heresies and why are they so dangerous? Join Trinity, Emma, and Christian as they discuss this important topic with Dr. Justin Holcomb, a bishop-elect in the Episcopal Church and a co-host of the White Horse Inn podcast. Discover what heresies are still common today, how we can recognize them, and why we should use the word "heresies" carefully. Show Notes: Previous episodes deal...

With Valentine’s Day coming up, it seems like the perfect time for Emma, Trinity, and Linus to discuss friendships in the early church with historian Dr. Michael Haykin, professor of church history and biblical spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. How did Christians in the early centuries maintain their friendships? How long did it take for a letter to travel from one friend...

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” This famous quote by church father, Augustine of Hippo, is one of many you may have heard. But who was Saint Augustine, and why is he still important today? Why did he cry when he was appointed bishop? And how do we still have so many of his writings? Join Emma, Trinity, and Linus as they discuss al...

How did the early Christians live? Was it the same everywhere? And how is the early church similar to the church today? When did some people start praying to saints? Our hosts, Lucy, Emma, Trinity, and Christian, have many questions for our guest, Dr. Stephen Presley, professor of church history at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he has some fascinating answers.

Join Lucy, Trinity, Christian, and Emma as they talk to Colorado Christian University Professor Megan Devore about one family's huge influence during the fourth century. Meet Macrina, who convinced her mother to free all their slaves and build a community where everyone helped each other and those around them. Meet her brother Basil, who started the first hospital, their brother Gregory of Nyssa,...

As we prepare for Christmas, let's see why it's important to say that Jesus is fully God and fully man. How is that even possible? Wouldn't it be easier to say that Jesus was just similar to God? Does that make much of a difference? These questions divided the Christian world when Athanasius became the bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, in 328. Join our hosts, Lucas, Christian, Linus, and Emma, as they...

Have you ever heard of a poet named Ephrem? Few people have. He lived during the fourth century in the region we now call Turkey and used his songs to help people understand the true meaning of the Scriptures. Join Lucas, Linus, Christian, and Emma as they wonder at the beauty of Ephrem's songs, especially those describing Christ's birth and what it means for us. To help them in their discoveries...

Join Lucy, Lucas, and Linus as they continue to explore the fascinating history of the early church. In this new episode of Kids Talk Church History, they interview Fr. John Behr, an Eastern Orthodox priest and theologian and one of the foremost experts on the early church, about the subject of one of his books, Irenaeus of Lyons. Find out about the people we now call Gnostics, what were some of t...

It's almost Thanksgiving. As our hosts start planning their family gatherings, they begin to review the history of this yearly holiday and decide to learn more about why the group of settlers known as Pilgrim Fathers chose to come to America. They were not the first to arrive on this continent and definitely not the first to leave England for religious reasons. What exactly were those reasons? Whe...

On October 31, 1517, a German friar named Martin Luther nailed 95 propositions to the door of the local church. Some were questions he had been considering for a while. For example, why did some bishops sell pieces of paper that granted forgiveness of sins? He didn't mean to rebel against his authorities. He just wanted to have a discussion. But the bishops, and even the pope, refused to take him...

Join Lucas, Trinity, and Mina in exploring the history of ancient Armenia, Georgia (a nation in Europe), and Ethiopia—the first nations to officially become Christian. Hear about George the Illuminator, who survived 13 years in a grim prison thanks to a woman who fed him bread; Hripsime, who fought the king's advances for seven hours - and won; Nino, an enslaved woman who brought the Gospel to Geo...

Following the long story of Christ's church, Lucy, Lucas, and Trinity talk about the first mass persecution of Christians, the courage of Blandina and her friends, and what this meant for the church. They also discuss persecution in general and how Christ is keeping His promise of preserving His church when others try to destroy it. They share their questions with Dr. Richard Bishop, Registrar and...

Meet some of the hosts of Kids Talk Church History in this first episode. Lucy, Lucas, Trinity, Mina, and Christian discuss what sparked their interest in church history and who are some of their favorite characters. Shorter than usual, it will whet your appetite for things to come! Subscribe  to Kids Talk Church History this month, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of Simonetta's...