Church History in Plain Language Workbook (Fifth Edition)

Designed as an indispensable study companion to Bruce L. Shelley's multi-million-copy textbook classic, the Church History in Plain Language Workbook (Fifth Edition) provides students, seminar attendees, and adult education classes with an interactive guide through twenty centuries of Christian history. Updated by Marshall Shelley and Stacey Shelley Lingle, this practical workbook reinforces key historical milestones—from the persecutions of the early apostolic church and the ecumenical councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon to the Protestant Reformation, global missionary expansion, and modern digital ecclesiology. Each chapter features concise historical summaries, reading comprehension checks, thought-provoking essay questions, vocabulary definitions, and primary-source document analyses. By connecting the historical struggles, doctrinal debates, and heroic faith of past generations to contemporary church challenges, this pedagogical resource equips learners to appreciate their rich theological heritage and discern God's providential guidance across the ages.