30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity:
Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World
DETAILS:
Publisher: Baker Books
Publication Date: January 27, 2026
Format: Paperback
Length: 272 pg.
Read Date: February 15-22, 2026
This emphasis on Our People* across space and time might prompt us to question the extent to which our own national, political, and cultural identities compete with or even overshadow our most foundational (and eternal) identity as Christians. In some important ways, modern American Christians have more in common with Christians from seventh-century Nubia, Persia, and southern Arabia than with agnostic neighbors who share our national flag.
* The term that Graham uses to describe Christians.
What’s 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity About?
This is one of those that’s all in the title and subtitle. Graham, a history professor, looks at thirty moments from various parts of the world during the first millennium that proved to be turning points in Church History—he focuses on movements, teachings, and individuals to bring these “Moments” to life.
Graham’s Method
Each chapter—each “moment”—is considered in three steps:
- The Background: historical context, some background leading up to the events in focus, some description of the area/people (as a group and individuals) focused on.
- The Moment (or Moments, occasionally): this is the meat of the chapter, the events that the chapter is focusing on—what’s the point of interest in this idea/part of time/chapter.
- The Mathēma: while avoiding hagiography or romanticizing the moment, what lesson can we learn by analyzing the moment or seeing what it tells us about us today?
When Graham outlined this in his Introduction, I was sold—if this was going to be how the book went, I was in for the long haul, period. It was, and I really appreciated it. If only so it makes it easy to come back to look at one or two moments for something and get everything you need in that chapter.
The Moments Selected
I’m not overly familiar with the Early Church—and my Medieval Church history is okay. But when I looked over the Table of Contents astounded by how few of the chapter subjects rang any kind of bell for me. I found that a little embarrassing, but it also excited me—I was going to learn a lot.
For example: Constantine turning to Christianity (Chap 8); Arius at Nicea (Chap 10); Justin Martyr (Chap. 2); Perpetua’s martyrdom (Chap 4)—all of those made sense to include, and I was glad to refresh my memory and see how Graham addressed things like that. On the other hand you’ve got: the Church in the Sassanian Persian Empire (Chaps. 6, 11, 13, 19); Nubian Christians twice saving their Church in Sudan (Chap. 21), or Armenia as the first “Christian Nation” (Chap. 7)—I was utterly clueless about these things. Granted, at last 95% of what I know about Sassanian Persia comes from some Fantasy novels from a decade or so ago—so that’s not saying much. But, wow, all of these were just so fascinating. (ditto for all of the chapters not mentioned)
I’m not—by any means—claiming to be any kind of an expert on any of these moments in time now. But I’ve at least been exposed to them, and am intrigued enough to try and track down a deeper history about some of them.
So, what did I think about 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity?
It’s not a drawback—it’s a feature, but you need to know going in that these chapters are brief and you can’t get meaty history or analysis. 30 moments from 1,000 years in less than 300 pages? Yeah, depth isn’t on the menu. But, to stretch the metaphor, it’s a great tasting.
If you read this in a sitting or two—or just a chapter at a time—you’re going to get rewarded. You’re going to get a good reminder that The Church isn’t just something that happened in the New Testament and in your local congregation. Nor can the history be reduced from New Testament→Early Fathers/Councils/Creeds→long time of nothing important→Protestant Reformation→Late 20th Century Evangelicalism/today.
Our People (I’m really liking that phrase) have been around since The Garden, and we can relate to them, learn from them, and be inspired by them wherever they’re found in time or on the globe. Graham gives an accessible introduction to some outstanding examples of this from the first millennium A.D.
I really hope there’s a sequel covering the next 1,000 years or another 30 from that same period. I’d rush to get it. In the meantime, I heartily encourage you to go pick this up.
Disclaimer: I received this book as a participant in the Baker Publishing Group Nonfiction Reviewer Program. However, as always here, I read this book because it interested me, and the opinions expressed are my own.
This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
