As 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, we’ll take a deep dive this fall into the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church. In this first session we get a general overview and introduction to this pivotal event in church history. We start by trying to clear up common misconceptions about what did and did not happen at the Council. Lecture/presentation is recorded as PB was away on the Men's Retreat.

As 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, we’ll take a deep dive this fall into the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church. We’ll explore the historical context leading up to the Council, examine the key issues it addressed, and clear up common misconceptions about its work. We’ll also study the Nicene Creed and consider its relevance for the challenges we face today. Be sure to make Pastor Bill’s Sunday class part of your fall plans—starting Sunday September 14, 9:45–10:45 am!

We focus on Eusebius' description of what lead up to the Council, Constantine's "converstion" and the beginnings and results of the Council. We unpack Arius' heretical position and the how it was countered at the Council.

Today we examine the a large number of scriptures that support the use of "only" or "only begotten" and "homoousius" (one substance or being) in the Nicene Creed.

On this day PB was gone on vacation but we watched a video caste on the Nicene Creed by the hosts of the podcast "The White Horse Inn." We wrestle with some pretty indepth vocabulary and discuss the presentation.

We go over the basic terms often used in discussions about the Trinity and Nicene Creed. Then we look at what happened after the Council of Nicaea, making it clear that the issue and story was anything but over. Arius' teaching continued to plague the church - in other words, there was no conspiracy or power of the Council to "suppress" all other views.

We look at a beautiful Hymn written by Martin Luther inspired by the Trinitarian Nicene Creed. We look at how important the Creed was to the Reformers and their conviction that note of the reforms of which they were advocating contradicted the "faith of Nicaea."

We really hone in on the expansion of the third article and its confession regarding the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Have delved into the following Council of Constantinople and what was added to the Nicene Creed about the Holy Spirit, we take a look at the later addition of the "Filioque" by the West. What does this mean? Why was it added? What was the consequences of the addition? We explore all these questions and more.

As we conclude our series on the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed, we put a bow on top of our sessions by asking a hugely important question: What is the purpose of Theology? This question arises from the Council and Creed.