1. The Journey of The Church Continues
100 AD to 500 AD

2. Mission of the Church
In the period from 100 AD to 500 AD the church spread rapidly, and her doctrine continued to develop
Through God’s grace, evidence in the faith and life of her members, the church spread throughout the Roman empire

3. The seeds of the gospel were sewn in much of Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East
Christianity flourished in these areas

4. Christians continued to pray together and to celebrate the Eucharist, motivated by their profound love of Jesus
They were also known for their love for and service to others
In fidelity to the gospel, they reached out to the poor, the homeless and unwanted

5. Accounts of the life of the Church in the writings of the early Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church and historians attest to the great concern of the people of God for one another
They welcomed all races and nations in their midst

6. It is important to remember that, while the Church is always guided by the Holy Spirit, it is composed of imperfect human beings who can make mistakes and are capable of sinning
Therefore, conflicts, controversies, corruption and even wars are found throughout the history of the Church

7. During this era, many heresies arose
Church councils were held especially to correct these false teachings concerning Christian beliefs

8. The Council of Nicea
The Council of Nicea in 325 AD defined the Christian belief that Jesus is begotten of God, not made by God as other creatures are
Jesus therefore is not simply one of God’s creatures, but, as Gods own Son, shares in the very substance of God

9. The Council of Ephesus
The Council of Ephesus in 431 AD declared that Jesus is truly a divine person as well as fully human and that his mother is, therefore, the Mother of God

10. The Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD declared that the Son of God is one person with two natures, on human, one divine
Jesus is, therefore, true God and true man

11. Struggles and Upheavals of the Church
Persecutions continued throughout this era, because Christians would not worship false gods or obey laws
Many Christians were martyred or sent into exile during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian

12. The first emperor to become a Christian was Constantine
After his conversion, he issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD
This edict ended the persecution of the Church in the Roman empire and recognized the right of Christians to worship in accordance with their faith
As a result of this new freedom, Christianity spread throughout the Roman empire