Bible 800 – unit 6: the early churches report: the early church the church is 2000 years old. what has changed? what has remained the same? this assignment gives you a chance to find out. here is your goal for this assignment: write a report comparing and contrasting the early church and the modern church write a report of no less than 250 words describing the characteristics of the early church. emphasize both similarities and differences as compared to the church today. your report should address at least the following questions: where did the early christians meet? what were their activities and responsibilities? who were their leaders? what problems did they face? use the material in this unit, the book of acts, and the epistles of paul and peter as sources for your writing. remember to use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling when typing your report.

Early Christians were known to meet in Jerusalem where Christianity had its origins. Early apostles, teachers, and preachers of Christianity were actively travelling and spreading the word, or the "Great Commission", wherein after his resurrection Jesus instructed his followers to baptize all nations and gain new disciples.

Christianity spread orally through preaching from Jerusalem, through the Roman Empire, around the Mediterranean Sea, Greece, Africa, and Asia through practices such as baptism, keeping the Sabbath holy, communal meals, receiving Holy Communion (bread and wine, representing the memory of the body and blood of Christ). Early leaders of Christianity include Paul the Apostle, Saint Peter, and James- brother of Jesus. Many Christians faced problems such as religious persecution after complaints from neighboring pagans who were concerned with displeasing their gods.

The early church experienced the split of Christianity and Judaism and the moving of church centers to locations such as Constantinople/Byzantium, Anatolia, Rome, Antioch, and Alexandria. Jerusalem remains to be seen as "holy land". The modern church has experienced some changes such as the split of England and the creation of the Church of England, the importance of the Pope, the emergence of religious titles such as bishop, priest, and cardinal, the importance of denominations and the waxing importance of political and governmental influence.