The Guide for the Week September 15-21st 2024
Bible Passage for the Week
Proverbs 26:1-10
2 Corinthians 13
1 Samuel 29
Psalm 143
Verse to Memorize
Acts 17:30-31
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Who to pray for
Church: Immanuel Baptist Church
Pastor Ryan Fullerton
Ministry: Michael Foster Missionary to Romania
Civil Magistrate: Jeffersonville City Council
Evan Stoner
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 26:1-10
Proverbs 26:4-5 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
These ten proverbs hammer home one clear point: the nature of a fool. In Scripture, a fool isn’t merely ignorant; he’s defiant. He rejects the instruction of God and refuses to honor Him. Psalm 14:1 sums it up: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” A fool doesn’t fear God, doesn’t listen to God, and, in his arrogance, thinks he knows better. He may be highly educated, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s truly foolish—stupid even. He isn’t fit for honor. He’s useless for anything productive. And let’s be real—there are a lot of fools in this world. Don’t be one of them.
Scripture lays out how we ought to deal with fools. Proverbs 26:4-5 seems to give us two contradictory commands: don’t answer a fool, then answer a fool. This isn’t a contradiction—it’s wisdom. Knowing how to deal with a fool requires discernment. You need to know when to engage and when to walk away. This passage reminds us to lean on God’s understanding. Without wisdom, you’ll end up getting dragged into the muck right alongside the fool.
Think of it like wrestling with a pig. You’ll both end up dirty, but the pig enjoys it. Engaging a fool according to his folly is no different. You get dragged down to his level. Consider the first 2024 presidential debates between former president Donald Trump and president Joe Biden. At one point, they were arguing about who had a better golf handicap—while the country was in economic turmoil. Both men looked foolish, bickering over something trivial while real problems were ignored. That’s what happens when you stoop to a fool’s level. You end up looking just as ridiculous.
This principle is especially critical when discussing the gospel with an unbeliever. They’ll often try to derail the conversation, bringing up side issues like the flood or challenging the morality of God. You need to recognize these tactics for what they are—distractions. It takes wisdom to discern when to address these points and when to stay focused on the gospel. Don’t take the bait and start wrestling in the mud. Stay on course. Keep the conversation centered on the truth of Christ.
And don’t let the unbeliever posture as if his denial of God is legitimate. When someone says they don’t believe in God, they’re lying. God has made His existence evident to all (Romans 1:19-20). You don’t have to act as if their disbelief is credible. That doesn’t mean you should be abrasive or refuse to present evidence for God’s existence, but understand what’s really going on: you’re exposing the foolishness of their denial.
This is how we answer the fool. We respond when wisdom dictates, to shut down their arrogance and prevent them from being “wise in their own eyes.” Matthew Henry puts it well: there are times when answering a fool is necessary—when silence would make it appear that the fool has truly made an argument that is true. In those moments, you answer him on his own terms, using wisdom to reveal the weakness of his position and to prevent further damage to himself or others.
Knowing when to speak and when to remain silent is a mark of true wisdom, and that wisdom comes from a fear of the Lord. Ask God to give you control over your tongue and protect you from getting caught up in the folly of fools. The wise man speaks when necessary and holds his peace when it’s prudent. Learn to do the same, and you’ll avoid the traps that ensnare the foolish.
2 Corinthians 13
Verse 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
The Apostle Paul, in this chapter, delivers a blunt, no-nonsense warning to the church in Corinth. Some there were tempted to ignore his commands, to continue stumbling in the darkness, thinking Paul was all talk. But Paul isn't bluffing. This upcoming trip would be his third visit. Twice, he had already warned them to flee from sin, to turn away from false teachers. Still, some doubted. So Paul draws a hard line: when he returns, anyone who persists in this rebellion will face the consequences. He will spare no one.
Paul wasn’t coming to make empty threats. As an Apostle, he wielded real authority. He was coming to bring church discipline, and for those who refused to listen, it would be devastating. In the days of the Apostles, this discipline was backed by the power of God, often demonstrated through signs and wonders. Think of Ananias and Sapphira. They lied to the Holy Spirit, and the Apostle Peter called them out for their deceit. God didn’t just issue a warning. He struck them down on the spot. This is what rebellion against the authority of God’s servants looked like.
So when Paul talked about discipline, it wasn’t a matter of words. He was coming with the power of the Holy Spirit. Whatever Paul bound on earth would be bound in heaven. Jesus promised His disciples that whenever two or more were gathered, He would be there in their midst. He was talking about church discipline.
Now, while we don’t have Apostles in the church today, the church still exercises its God-given authority and discipline. The church doesn’t wield the physical sword, but don’t think that makes it any less serious. Being rebuked and removed from membership isn’t just a procedural action. It’s a weighty thing. When the church acts in the name of Christ and with His authority, it places someone not just out of the church but under the discipline of God Himself. God may not strike a person dead on the spot, but His judgment is real, and the consequences are inevitable. Unrepentant sin will catch up to you.
We have known people who decided to resist the instruction of the church. They decided not to heed the warnings and exhortations of pastors. They stopped going to church, and before long, things in their lives were headed in a terrible direction. God doesn’t necessarily need to strike them dead; He merely allows them to continue down the path of sin, and that sin has consequences in their lives. Their marriages crumble. Their relationships with their children break down. Their health suffers. Sin is a slow, destructive poison. Ask any pastor, and he’ll tell you about those who rejected the church’s discipline and ended up in ruin.
This is why we must take the discipline of the church seriously. And more than that, we must fear the discipline of God. Paul urges us to examine ourselves, to test whether we are truly in the faith. Are we truly following Christ? Has His grace changed us, shaped our desires, altered our motivations? Do we walk the walk, or is our profession of faith just empty words? Are we eager to learn from the Word of God, or do we resist correction?
Those who are self-disciplined, who regularly test their hearts, have no need to fear the church’s discipline. They know that they are approved by God and therefore the work of the church is for their good and not their harm. They can rest assuredly in the mercy of God and handle the exhortations, reproofs, and rebukes of their shepherds with faith and humility. But to those who don’t heed the warnings of scripture, they shouldn’t fool themselves into a false confidence. God will not be mocked and he won’t let his disciples be mocked either.
Psalm 143
Psalm 143:5-6 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land.
David was no stranger to being hunted down for his righteousness. He knew what it was like to watch enemies thrive, to feel the heat of pursuit. He had to run. He had to hide. When David says he dwelled in dark places, he's not exaggerating. He probably means those caves where he took refuge, fleeing from Saul or when his own son tried to rip the throne out from under him. Darkness. Isolation. Betrayal. These were his companions.
But even in that suffocating blackness, David's heart wasn’t fixated on his enemies. He craved one thing—the presence of the Lord. In the dead of night, when the weight of everything should have crushed him, his soul reached for God. David got up each morning and turned his eyes to the Lord. He meditated on God’s word. He remembered how God had delivered him before, and that sharpened his faith for what was ahead. David didn’t just sit in the shadows. He cried out for God to lead him, to show him the way forward.
We live in dark times. The enemies are out there, and they are real. It’s easy to feel like the weight of it all is pressing down on you. It's easy to look around, see the wicked thriving, and wonder where God is. But here's the deal: David longed for the Lord.. Take a lesson from him—seek the Lord's face, no matter how dark it gets.
Get serious about meditating on God's works. Let your heart burn with a desire to be in His presence. Get into His word. Pray for wisdom, for the Holy Spirit to guide you. You don’t have time to waste. Each morning, you need to hear of His lovingkindness. Don’t skip it. Don’t make excuses. The battle is real, and you need to be in the fight. Seek His face, cry out to Him, and He will answer.
Example Prayer for Weekly Prayer Concerns
Adoration: O Lord Jesus Christ, we come before You, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You are the eternal Word, who was with God and who is God. Through You, all things were made, and by Your powerful Word, You sustain the universe. You are our Redeemer, the Lamb who was slain and the Lion of Judah who reigns. Your love never fails, and Your truth endures forever. We bow in awe before Your majesty and sovereignty, worshiping You as our Savior, our Rock, and our Refuge.
Confession: Holy and righteous God, we confess our sins before You. We acknowledge that we have fallen short of Your glory and turned from Your commands. Our hearts are prone to wander, and our lives often fail to reflect the holiness to which You have called us. We have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. But we place our trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ, who has paid the full penalty for our sins by His death on the cross. In Him, we find forgiveness, and by His blood, we are cleansed. We cling to Christ, the One who is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness. Strengthen our faith and help us to walk in new obedience.
Prayer Requests: Father, we lift up to You the needs of Your people. We pray for the expectant mothers in our congregation—Gabby Fluhr, Emily Leupp, Christina Puryear, Vivian Tocci, and Danyelle Gehlbach. Protect both mother and child during this time, and may their homes be filled with the joy of new life. Grant these women peace and trust in You, knowing that every good gift comes from Your hand.
We also pray for Pastor Ryan Fullerton and Immanuel Baptist Church. Grant him wisdom, holy zeal, and strength as he leads the flock entrusted to his care. Protect him from temptation, discouragement, or discontentment. Keep his heart steadfast and joyful in his calling. We pray for the families and children of Immanuel, that they would grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, and that their love for You would deepen.
Lord, we lift up Michael Foster, who is laboring in Romania. Strengthen his hands as he preaches the gospel and plants a reformed Baptist church in the midst of spiritual darkness. Grant him both zeal and wisdom as he contends with the false teachings and superstitions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. We pray for softened hearts in Romania, that many would come to know the truth of Christ and be set free from idolatry. May Your gospel shine forth in power through his ministry.
We also pray for Councilmember Jacky Evan Stoner in Jeffersonville. As Your Word commands, we lift up those in authority. We ask that You give him wisdom and a deep reverence for Your law. Convict him of his sin and bring him to repentance, that he may find mercy in Christ alone. Guide him to lead in a way that reflects Your righteousness and justice, and may he seek the submission of the city to the kingship of Christ.
Lastly, we bring before You Seth Puryear, who has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We thank You for the good prognosis and the high survival rate after surgery, but we ask for Your hand of healing and comfort over him. Guide the doctors as they perform the CT scan and surgery, and may they find no further spread of cancer. Give Seth and his family peace, knowing that You are the Great Physician who holds all things in Your hands.
We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Church History Spotlight:
Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury (19 September 690)
Bible Passage:
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10 NASB1995)
The Life and Work of Theodore of Tarsus:
Theodore of Tarsus was a pivotal figure in the history of the English church, serving as the Archbishop of Canterbury during a crucial period of growth and unity. Born in the city of Tarsus, the same city as the Apostle Paul, Theodore was a learned monk living in Rome when Pope Vitalian selected him to fill the vacant position of Archbishop of Canterbury in 668 AD. Despite being 65 years old and relatively unknown in the British Isles, Theodore’s appointment turned out to be one of the most successful in the church’s history.
When Theodore arrived in England, the church was divided between Celtic Christian traditions in the north and Roman practices in the south, particularly over the method of calculating the date of Easter. Though this may seem minor today, the division represented deeper cultural and theological tensions. Theodore worked diligently to bring unity. His leadership was so effective that Bede, the great historian of the early church, wrote that he was “the first archbishop whom all the English obeyed.”
One of Theodore’s most lasting contributions was organizing the English church into a more structured body. He convened the Synod of Hertford in 672 AD, the first council of the entire English church, which established territorial boundaries for dioceses and set down a framework of canon law that endured for centuries. His efforts ensured that the church in England became a unified province of the wider Christian church, which would survive through periods of future turmoil, including the Reformation.
Theodore also founded a school at Canterbury, headed by his associate Adrian, where students from both Celtic and Roman Christian backgrounds could learn together. This school was renowned for its instruction in theology, Latin, Greek, and other subjects, serving as a model of how education and faith could bridge cultural divides.
Theodore's Legacy: Theodore’s life stands as a testament to how Christian leadership, rooted in the desire for unity and faithfulness, can transform a fractured church into a strong and united body. His work not only unified the Anglo-Saxon Christians but also created an enduring legacy for the English church.
Study Questions:
Proverbs 26:1-10
2 Corinthians 13
1 Samuel 29
Psalm 143
Verse to Memorize
Acts 17:30-31
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Who to pray for
Church: Immanuel Baptist Church
Pastor Ryan Fullerton
Ministry: Michael Foster Missionary to Romania
Civil Magistrate: Jeffersonville City Council
Evan Stoner
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 26:1-10
Proverbs 26:4-5 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
These ten proverbs hammer home one clear point: the nature of a fool. In Scripture, a fool isn’t merely ignorant; he’s defiant. He rejects the instruction of God and refuses to honor Him. Psalm 14:1 sums it up: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” A fool doesn’t fear God, doesn’t listen to God, and, in his arrogance, thinks he knows better. He may be highly educated, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s truly foolish—stupid even. He isn’t fit for honor. He’s useless for anything productive. And let’s be real—there are a lot of fools in this world. Don’t be one of them.
Scripture lays out how we ought to deal with fools. Proverbs 26:4-5 seems to give us two contradictory commands: don’t answer a fool, then answer a fool. This isn’t a contradiction—it’s wisdom. Knowing how to deal with a fool requires discernment. You need to know when to engage and when to walk away. This passage reminds us to lean on God’s understanding. Without wisdom, you’ll end up getting dragged into the muck right alongside the fool.
Think of it like wrestling with a pig. You’ll both end up dirty, but the pig enjoys it. Engaging a fool according to his folly is no different. You get dragged down to his level. Consider the first 2024 presidential debates between former president Donald Trump and president Joe Biden. At one point, they were arguing about who had a better golf handicap—while the country was in economic turmoil. Both men looked foolish, bickering over something trivial while real problems were ignored. That’s what happens when you stoop to a fool’s level. You end up looking just as ridiculous.
This principle is especially critical when discussing the gospel with an unbeliever. They’ll often try to derail the conversation, bringing up side issues like the flood or challenging the morality of God. You need to recognize these tactics for what they are—distractions. It takes wisdom to discern when to address these points and when to stay focused on the gospel. Don’t take the bait and start wrestling in the mud. Stay on course. Keep the conversation centered on the truth of Christ.
And don’t let the unbeliever posture as if his denial of God is legitimate. When someone says they don’t believe in God, they’re lying. God has made His existence evident to all (Romans 1:19-20). You don’t have to act as if their disbelief is credible. That doesn’t mean you should be abrasive or refuse to present evidence for God’s existence, but understand what’s really going on: you’re exposing the foolishness of their denial.
This is how we answer the fool. We respond when wisdom dictates, to shut down their arrogance and prevent them from being “wise in their own eyes.” Matthew Henry puts it well: there are times when answering a fool is necessary—when silence would make it appear that the fool has truly made an argument that is true. In those moments, you answer him on his own terms, using wisdom to reveal the weakness of his position and to prevent further damage to himself or others.
Knowing when to speak and when to remain silent is a mark of true wisdom, and that wisdom comes from a fear of the Lord. Ask God to give you control over your tongue and protect you from getting caught up in the folly of fools. The wise man speaks when necessary and holds his peace when it’s prudent. Learn to do the same, and you’ll avoid the traps that ensnare the foolish.
2 Corinthians 13
Verse 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
The Apostle Paul, in this chapter, delivers a blunt, no-nonsense warning to the church in Corinth. Some there were tempted to ignore his commands, to continue stumbling in the darkness, thinking Paul was all talk. But Paul isn't bluffing. This upcoming trip would be his third visit. Twice, he had already warned them to flee from sin, to turn away from false teachers. Still, some doubted. So Paul draws a hard line: when he returns, anyone who persists in this rebellion will face the consequences. He will spare no one.
Paul wasn’t coming to make empty threats. As an Apostle, he wielded real authority. He was coming to bring church discipline, and for those who refused to listen, it would be devastating. In the days of the Apostles, this discipline was backed by the power of God, often demonstrated through signs and wonders. Think of Ananias and Sapphira. They lied to the Holy Spirit, and the Apostle Peter called them out for their deceit. God didn’t just issue a warning. He struck them down on the spot. This is what rebellion against the authority of God’s servants looked like.
So when Paul talked about discipline, it wasn’t a matter of words. He was coming with the power of the Holy Spirit. Whatever Paul bound on earth would be bound in heaven. Jesus promised His disciples that whenever two or more were gathered, He would be there in their midst. He was talking about church discipline.
Now, while we don’t have Apostles in the church today, the church still exercises its God-given authority and discipline. The church doesn’t wield the physical sword, but don’t think that makes it any less serious. Being rebuked and removed from membership isn’t just a procedural action. It’s a weighty thing. When the church acts in the name of Christ and with His authority, it places someone not just out of the church but under the discipline of God Himself. God may not strike a person dead on the spot, but His judgment is real, and the consequences are inevitable. Unrepentant sin will catch up to you.
We have known people who decided to resist the instruction of the church. They decided not to heed the warnings and exhortations of pastors. They stopped going to church, and before long, things in their lives were headed in a terrible direction. God doesn’t necessarily need to strike them dead; He merely allows them to continue down the path of sin, and that sin has consequences in their lives. Their marriages crumble. Their relationships with their children break down. Their health suffers. Sin is a slow, destructive poison. Ask any pastor, and he’ll tell you about those who rejected the church’s discipline and ended up in ruin.
This is why we must take the discipline of the church seriously. And more than that, we must fear the discipline of God. Paul urges us to examine ourselves, to test whether we are truly in the faith. Are we truly following Christ? Has His grace changed us, shaped our desires, altered our motivations? Do we walk the walk, or is our profession of faith just empty words? Are we eager to learn from the Word of God, or do we resist correction?
Those who are self-disciplined, who regularly test their hearts, have no need to fear the church’s discipline. They know that they are approved by God and therefore the work of the church is for their good and not their harm. They can rest assuredly in the mercy of God and handle the exhortations, reproofs, and rebukes of their shepherds with faith and humility. But to those who don’t heed the warnings of scripture, they shouldn’t fool themselves into a false confidence. God will not be mocked and he won’t let his disciples be mocked either.
Psalm 143
Psalm 143:5-6 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land.
David was no stranger to being hunted down for his righteousness. He knew what it was like to watch enemies thrive, to feel the heat of pursuit. He had to run. He had to hide. When David says he dwelled in dark places, he's not exaggerating. He probably means those caves where he took refuge, fleeing from Saul or when his own son tried to rip the throne out from under him. Darkness. Isolation. Betrayal. These were his companions.
But even in that suffocating blackness, David's heart wasn’t fixated on his enemies. He craved one thing—the presence of the Lord. In the dead of night, when the weight of everything should have crushed him, his soul reached for God. David got up each morning and turned his eyes to the Lord. He meditated on God’s word. He remembered how God had delivered him before, and that sharpened his faith for what was ahead. David didn’t just sit in the shadows. He cried out for God to lead him, to show him the way forward.
We live in dark times. The enemies are out there, and they are real. It’s easy to feel like the weight of it all is pressing down on you. It's easy to look around, see the wicked thriving, and wonder where God is. But here's the deal: David longed for the Lord.. Take a lesson from him—seek the Lord's face, no matter how dark it gets.
Get serious about meditating on God's works. Let your heart burn with a desire to be in His presence. Get into His word. Pray for wisdom, for the Holy Spirit to guide you. You don’t have time to waste. Each morning, you need to hear of His lovingkindness. Don’t skip it. Don’t make excuses. The battle is real, and you need to be in the fight. Seek His face, cry out to Him, and He will answer.
Example Prayer for Weekly Prayer Concerns
Adoration: O Lord Jesus Christ, we come before You, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You are the eternal Word, who was with God and who is God. Through You, all things were made, and by Your powerful Word, You sustain the universe. You are our Redeemer, the Lamb who was slain and the Lion of Judah who reigns. Your love never fails, and Your truth endures forever. We bow in awe before Your majesty and sovereignty, worshiping You as our Savior, our Rock, and our Refuge.
Confession: Holy and righteous God, we confess our sins before You. We acknowledge that we have fallen short of Your glory and turned from Your commands. Our hearts are prone to wander, and our lives often fail to reflect the holiness to which You have called us. We have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. But we place our trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ, who has paid the full penalty for our sins by His death on the cross. In Him, we find forgiveness, and by His blood, we are cleansed. We cling to Christ, the One who is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness. Strengthen our faith and help us to walk in new obedience.
Prayer Requests: Father, we lift up to You the needs of Your people. We pray for the expectant mothers in our congregation—Gabby Fluhr, Emily Leupp, Christina Puryear, Vivian Tocci, and Danyelle Gehlbach. Protect both mother and child during this time, and may their homes be filled with the joy of new life. Grant these women peace and trust in You, knowing that every good gift comes from Your hand.
We also pray for Pastor Ryan Fullerton and Immanuel Baptist Church. Grant him wisdom, holy zeal, and strength as he leads the flock entrusted to his care. Protect him from temptation, discouragement, or discontentment. Keep his heart steadfast and joyful in his calling. We pray for the families and children of Immanuel, that they would grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, and that their love for You would deepen.
Lord, we lift up Michael Foster, who is laboring in Romania. Strengthen his hands as he preaches the gospel and plants a reformed Baptist church in the midst of spiritual darkness. Grant him both zeal and wisdom as he contends with the false teachings and superstitions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. We pray for softened hearts in Romania, that many would come to know the truth of Christ and be set free from idolatry. May Your gospel shine forth in power through his ministry.
We also pray for Councilmember Jacky Evan Stoner in Jeffersonville. As Your Word commands, we lift up those in authority. We ask that You give him wisdom and a deep reverence for Your law. Convict him of his sin and bring him to repentance, that he may find mercy in Christ alone. Guide him to lead in a way that reflects Your righteousness and justice, and may he seek the submission of the city to the kingship of Christ.
Lastly, we bring before You Seth Puryear, who has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We thank You for the good prognosis and the high survival rate after surgery, but we ask for Your hand of healing and comfort over him. Guide the doctors as they perform the CT scan and surgery, and may they find no further spread of cancer. Give Seth and his family peace, knowing that You are the Great Physician who holds all things in Your hands.
We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Church History Spotlight:
Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury (19 September 690)
Bible Passage:
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10 NASB1995)
The Life and Work of Theodore of Tarsus:
Theodore of Tarsus was a pivotal figure in the history of the English church, serving as the Archbishop of Canterbury during a crucial period of growth and unity. Born in the city of Tarsus, the same city as the Apostle Paul, Theodore was a learned monk living in Rome when Pope Vitalian selected him to fill the vacant position of Archbishop of Canterbury in 668 AD. Despite being 65 years old and relatively unknown in the British Isles, Theodore’s appointment turned out to be one of the most successful in the church’s history.
When Theodore arrived in England, the church was divided between Celtic Christian traditions in the north and Roman practices in the south, particularly over the method of calculating the date of Easter. Though this may seem minor today, the division represented deeper cultural and theological tensions. Theodore worked diligently to bring unity. His leadership was so effective that Bede, the great historian of the early church, wrote that he was “the first archbishop whom all the English obeyed.”
One of Theodore’s most lasting contributions was organizing the English church into a more structured body. He convened the Synod of Hertford in 672 AD, the first council of the entire English church, which established territorial boundaries for dioceses and set down a framework of canon law that endured for centuries. His efforts ensured that the church in England became a unified province of the wider Christian church, which would survive through periods of future turmoil, including the Reformation.
Theodore also founded a school at Canterbury, headed by his associate Adrian, where students from both Celtic and Roman Christian backgrounds could learn together. This school was renowned for its instruction in theology, Latin, Greek, and other subjects, serving as a model of how education and faith could bridge cultural divides.
Theodore's Legacy: Theodore’s life stands as a testament to how Christian leadership, rooted in the desire for unity and faithfulness, can transform a fractured church into a strong and united body. His work not only unified the Anglo-Saxon Christians but also created an enduring legacy for the English church.
Study Questions:
- Theodore worked to bring unity to a divided church. In what ways can the church today seek unity without compromising the truth of the gospel?
- How does Theodore's leadership reflect Paul's admonition to the church in 1 Corinthians 1:10 to "be united in the same mind and the same judgment"?