From Jesus 'til Now: A Timeline of Captivating Stories That Lead You Inside Church History

by Julie Boone, Mark Boone

This masterful overview of the Western Christian church and its contexts begins with the times into which Jesus was born and concludes in our early 21st century world.

Brief stories bring to life the people of the early church and the communities in which Christianity struggled and grew, providing remarkable perspective for the contemporary reader. Boone allows readers to put themselves into sixth century shoes and contemplate traveling as missionaries to “world’s end” to bring Christianity to England. She puts you into the home of a woman, widowed after her husband was martyred, who hides her son’s clothing so he can’t go out and do the same.She carries us through the very beginnings of Christianity in a part of the world where only 1 in 10 could read through the centuries where printing made religious ideas (and the Bible itself) easily accessible, from small groups of believers in homes through the Holy Roman Empire and the church’s post-Reformation fragmentation, from colonists intent on establishing their own beliefs as tax-supported churches in the Americas to religious revivals and the growth of new church movements in the US.

Each chapter focuses on roughly one century in the life of the Christian church, providing an even-handed view of both early Catholic and Orthodox traditions and the emerging Protestant world. The discussion questions at each chapter’s end offer opportunities to reflect on parallels to church life in more recent times, relevant considerations in a Bible passage, and opportunities for application in your own life and home church. The format makes this an excellent text for a half-year study group at church.

Some of the topics covered

The lives of missionaries and martyrs, monks, popes, priests, and ministers, as well as the ordinary Christians who lived for God across the centuries.Augustine’s City and Luther’s ReformationThe creeds that have defined (and redefined) Christian faith against divergent beliefsSpiritual revivals across the centuries, in Europe and the USSupernatural terrors, including the 400-year purge of “witches” in Europe and the USHow worship and prayer have been practiced as part of the Christian religion across the centuriesWays that Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Christianity have interacted with each other and with their surrounding communities of Muslims, Jews and pagans.Contemporary attempts to revive the church in a post-modern world.It’s easy to think churches in our own time face unique challenges never before overcome. This history of Christianity over 2,000 years makes it clear that others have faced similar challenges and have sometimes overcome them. Monasteries solved some problems and created others. The Protestant reformation solved some problems and created others. Revivals in the Americas solved some problems and created others. 21st century “haters” don’t have anything on the Crusades or the Inquisition, and Christianity has been “thinking globally” from its very beginning. Boone’s early church stories will carry you through a geography that extends far beyond the focus of your Holy Land tour book, even as she reminds you that short-term missions in the 21st century church may send ordinary Americans into the far corners of the earth.

If you think history is boring, and also think you should know more about the history of the Christian church, this book is for you.

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2023

Reviews

[Flora MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterfully written overview that connects theology, culture, and everyday life. The transitions from a largely illiterate world to the explosion of ideas through printing are especially compelling. This book helped me see how historical forces shaped Christian belief and practice in ways that still matter today.

[Lee Redmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

just what I needed on vacation

I had a conversation with a family member and realized I needed to spend some time reading church history. As I went to bed that night I had a thought it would be great if there was a book that talked about from Jesus till now. I searched and found this book with that exact title and I’m so blessed to have done so. Thank you God for your guidance, may this book open many other minds and hearts.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an exceptional and deeply compelling exploration of the Western Christian Church from the time of Jesus to the complexities of the early 21st century. Rather than presenting history as a distant timeline of events, the author brings it vividly to life through powerful storytelling, allowing readers to step directly into the experiences of believers across the centuries. The narrative skillfully weaves together the lives of missionaries, martyrs, reformers, and everyday Christians, showing how faith was lived out in real communities shaped by hardship, courage, conflict, and renewal. Readers are transported into defining historical moments—from the struggles of the early church and the spread of Christianity across unfamiliar lands, to the transformative impact of the Reformation, the rise of new movements in the Americas, and the ongoing challenges of modern church life. One of the book’s greatest strengths is its balanced and thoughtful perspective. It treats Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions with fairness, helping readers understand not only their differences but also their shared roots and interactions across history. Each chapter, focused on a single century, makes the vast scope of Christian history approachable and easy to follow. The inclusion of discussion questions adds tremendous value, encouraging reflection, personal application, and meaningful group conversation. This makes the book especially well-suited for study groups, church classes, or anyone seeking a structured yet engaging way to deepen their understanding of the faith’s historical journey. What truly stands out is how the author connects past and present. By showing that the church has always faced cultural pressures, internal struggles, and moments of renewal, the book reassures modern readers that today’s challenges are not unprecedented. Christianity’s story is one of endurance, adaptation, and continual rediscovery of purpose. For anyone who has ever found history intimidating or dull, this book is a refreshing surprise—accessible, thought-provoking, and spiritually enriching. It is both an educational resource and an inspiring reminder of how faith has shaped lives and societies for over two millennia. Highly recommended for readers who want history that informs, challenges, and ultimately encourages.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a woman in my sixties who has spent many years in church life, Bible studies and raising a family grounded in faith, I found this book to be both enlightening and deeply meaningful. It’s not just a history book, it feels like a journey alongside the generations of believers who came before us.

What I appreciated most was how the author made the past feel personal. The stories of early Christians, missionaries, widows and ordinary families reminded me that faith has always been lived out by real people facing real struggles, much like we do today. Their courage, doubts, sacrifices and perseverance were moving and often brought me to quiet reflection.

The book also helped me better understand how the church developed over the centuries and how traditions formed, how disagreements shaped denominations, and how God continued working through imperfect people and institutions. It gave me a clearer picture of why the church looks the way it does today, something I wish I had learned years ago.

I especially enjoyed the structure of the chapters and the discussion questions at the end. They made me pause, think and consider how history connects to my own walk of faith. This would be wonderful for a small group study, but it was just as rewarding to read on my own with a cup of tea and a notebook nearby.

At this stage of life, I value books that both teach and encourage and this one certainly does both. It reassured me that the challenges we see in the modern church are not new. Believers across 2,000 years have faced hardship, change and uncertainty yet, the faith has endured.

If you want a book that deepens your understanding of Christian history while also strengthening your heart, I highly recommend this one.

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone currently studying religious history at the undergraduate level, I picked up this book hoping it would serve as a helpful supplementary overview to some of the more detailed academic materials I’ve been working through. In many ways, it does provide a broad introduction to the development of the Western Christian church, particularly in its effort to connect doctrinal changes with the historical and cultural environments in which they occurred.

The century-by-century structure makes the progression of events relatively easy to follow and I appreciated the author’s attempt to include brief narratives that highlight how ordinary believers experienced these shifts in real time. That approach helps move the discussion beyond purely institutional history and into something that feels more grounded in lived experience.

That said, from a student perspective, I sometimes found the material lacking in analytical depth. Major developments such as the Reformation or the interactions between different Christian traditions are introduced in ways that feel more descriptive than critically examined. While this may be intentional given the book’s overview format, it left me wanting a more detailed exploration of the theological and social implications of these movements.

Overall, I think this text works best as an introductory resource for readers who are new to church history rather than as a primary academic reference. It offers a solid general framework, but students seeking more in-depth analysis may need to supplement it with additional sources.

[Kathy D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but Occasionally Overwhelming

This book offers a very broad overview of the development of the Western Christian church from the time of Jesus to the modern day. I appreciated the author’s effort to bring historical figures and everyday believers to life through brief narrative-style accounts. It helped me connect emotionally with people from periods that would otherwise feel very distant or abstract.

However, I did find some of the chapters to be a bit dense, especially when multiple movements or doctrinal developments were covered in a short span of pages. While the century-by-century format is helpful in terms of organization, it sometimes felt like too much information was being compressed into a limited space. That made it difficult to fully absorb everything being presented.

I do think this would be helpful for readers who are new to church history or for use in a study group setting, especially with the discussion questions included at the end of each chapter. Personally, I was hoping for a bit more depth in certain areas, but as an introductory overview, it still has value.

[Brenda Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boone’s work succeeds in presenting a comprehensive historical overview without becoming inaccessible to general readers. By integrating brief personal narratives into broader historical developments, the text maintains a sense of continuity between individual experience and institutional change. The balanced treatment of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions is especially noteworthy, as it avoids privileging any one perspective while still acknowledging the tensions and reforms that have defined Christianity’s trajectory. As an introductory survey, the book provides a useful foundation for understanding both the internal dynamics of the church and its broader cultural interactions.

[Ethan Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Homeschool Parent

I’m always searching for resources that help my children understand history in a way that feels meaningful rather than purely informational. This book does a wonderful job of presenting church history through stories and clear explanations that show how faith and historical events often intersect. The century-by-century approach made it easier to follow the progression of ideas, and the discussion questions were particularly helpful for encouraging conversation. It’s a thoughtful resource that works well for families trying to explore the history of Christianity together.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Someone Who Usually Avoids Anything Historical

I’ll be honest, history has never been my favorite subject. I tend to lose interest when books start listing dates and events, but this one completely surprised me. Instead of feeling like a textbook, it felt like stepping into the lives of real people trying to live out their faith in difficult and unfamiliar times. The storytelling made the centuries feel connected rather than distant, and I came away with a new appreciation for how the past shapes what we experience in churches today.

[Olivia Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a Practical, “How-Does-This-Apply-to-Me?” Reader


I usually read books that offer clear takeaways for daily life, so I wasn’t sure how a broad history of the church would hold my attention. What I found was incredibly relevant. Seeing how believers wrestled with challenges, disagreements, cultural pressures, and renewal across 2,000 years made today’s issues feel less overwhelming. The reflection questions were especially helpful, making it easy to connect historical moments to modern faith and personal growth.

[Layla Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a Fiction Writer

As a novelist, I picked this up less for theological study and more for historical texture and it exceeded my expectations. The way the author situates individuals within their cultural and religious landscapes provides exactly the kind of layered context storytellers crave. The personal snapshots of missionaries, widows, reformers, and ordinary believers gave me a deeper sense of how faith shaped daily life across centuries. Even beyond creative inspiration, I found it an absorbing and thoughtfully constructed overview.

[Corey Dray · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a Secular History Buff

I don’t approach this subject from a devotional standpoint, but from a historical interest in how institutions evolve over time. What impressed me most was the book’s clear effort to place Christianity within its broader political and cultural contexts. Rather than presenting a triumphalist narrative, it acknowledges reform, fragmentation, revival, and controversy as recurring features of institutional history. For readers interested in the long arc of Western civilization, this provides valuable perspective.

[David Mie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a College STEM Major

As someone studying engineering, theology is not my usual reading category. I picked this up out of curiosity and was surprised at how structured and logical the progression felt. The century-by-century format made it easier to see patterns, problems arising, reforms addressing them, and new challenges emerging. It almost reads like a case study in institutional adaptation over time. I came away with a much clearer understanding of how the modern church developed.

[Caspian Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boone has crafted a thoughtful narrative that respects the complexity of Christian history while remaining readable for a broad audience. The book does not shy away from controversial or painful chapters, yet it also highlights renewal, courage, and spiritual growth across centuries. The discussion prompts encourage readers to reflect on how historical patterns continue to shape the present-day church. This is more than a timeline. It is a lens through which readers can better understand contemporary faith communities. Without hesitation

[Harper Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel Enthusiast

As someone who enjoys visiting historical sites, especially churches and old religious landmarks across Europe, I found this book incredibly enriching. It helped place many of the places I’ve visited into a much broader historical narrative. Reading about the people, movements, and conflicts that shaped these locations gave me a deeper appreciation for their significance. It’s rare to find a historical overview that connects geography, culture, and faith so effectively.

[Stephen Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone new to church history, I found this to be a generally accessible introduction to how Christianity developed over time. The century-by-century structure helped make the material easier to follow, and the short personal stories added some helpful context.

However, some major events were covered quite briefly, which made it harder to fully understand their importance. It’s a good starting point for beginners, but I did find myself wanting a bit more depth in certain areas.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a Busy Reader Who Needs Books to Be Worth the Time

I don’t have patience for books that wander, so I value writing that is structured and purposeful. The century-by-century format made this one easy to follow and surprisingly engaging. Each chapter felt like a snapshot of a living church rather than a lecture. I could pick it up, read a section, and walk away feeling like I had learned something meaningful without having to push through dense material.

[Mia Garcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a Lifelong Science Enthusiast


My reading habits lean heavily toward science and technology, so this book was a step outside my usual interests. I appreciated how it examined Christianity almost like a long-term human story and how ideas spread, adapted, and influenced societies over time. It gave me a broader understanding of history’s cultural framework without feeling preachy, and I found the balance between narrative and explanation very well done.

[Mei Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our reading group rarely chooses religious history, but this selection sparked some of the most thoughtful discussions we’ve had. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter encouraged dialogue not only about history but about modern parallels. Even members who do not identify as particularly religious appreciated the broader cultural insights. It proved to be far more engaging than we anticipated.

[Lara Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having spent decades teaching history, I appreciate books that present complex timelines in a way that remains clear and engaging. This book strikes that balance very well. The author organizes centuries of religious development into manageable chapters while still highlighting the key individuals and movements that influenced the church. The reflection questions add an educational element that makes it particularly suitable for classroom-style discussion or study groups.

[Mia Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t pick this book up as a scholar or historian, just as someone curious about how Christianity developed over time. I was pleasantly surprised by how readable and organized it was. The personal stories helped break up the historical information and made the material feel much more relatable. It’s a great starting point for anyone who wants a broad understanding of church history without diving into dense academic texts.

[Valerie Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever thought you should know more about church history but didn’t know where to start, this is a great entry point. It’s broad in scope but still manages to provide meaningful insight into how Christianity evolved over 2,000 years. I do wish there were more maps or visuals included, but the storytelling more than makes up for it.

[GRACE · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way this book connects early church struggles with modern-day challenges really surprised me. It’s easy to assume that the issues facing churches today are unique but this historical overview shows that believers in every century have wrestled with similar tensions. The comparisons between past reform movements and the contemporary church were especially impactful. Easy five stars!!!

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the few church history books I’ve read that didn’t feel like a textbook. The short narratives made the people and events feel real rather than distant. I found myself reflecting on how much courage it must have taken for early believers to live out their faith in hostile environments. A very meaningful read.

[Samuel Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid overview of Christianity’s development from the early church to today. I liked how the author acknowledged both the positive and negative consequences of major movements like the Reformation and revivals. At times I wished certain topics were explored more deeply, but that would probably require a much longer book.

[Joana Lame · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in my twenties and had always assumed church history would feel distant and irrelevant. This book changed that perception. Seeing how believers across centuries wrestled with social change, reform movements, and cultural tensions made modern debates feel less isolated. It helped me understand that many “new” challenges are actually part of a much longer story.

[Linda Harned · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for anyone leading a Bible study or church history class. The century-by-century structure keeps things organized, and the discussion questions are thoughtful without being overly complicated. We’ve just started using it in our weekly group and the conversations have been excellent so far.

[Avery Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Church history can be intimidating, but this book makes it approachable. The stories about missionaries traveling to unfamiliar lands and ordinary believers holding onto their faith during persecution were especially powerful.

[Hank Dwayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a lot of helpful information here, but some chapters felt more like summaries than in-depth discussions. I understand that it’s meant to be an overview, but I would have loved more detail in certain areas, especially when it came to interactions with other religious groups.

[Ebby Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve taken several church history courses over the years, and this book managed to connect the dots in a way that others didn’t. Seeing how recurring challenges faced by the church have appeared in different forms throughout history was both humbling and encouraging.