In this video, Christian Barrett explores the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament — The Shepherd of Hermas, The Apostles’ Creed, and The Didache. Each of these ancient texts reveals what the early church believed about repentance, baptism, discipleship, and the nature of faith. Learn how early Christians practiced believer’s baptism, confessed their faith through creeds, and sought holiness in a pagan world. Perfect for anyone studying early church history, patristics, Christian doctrine, or Protestant theology. Lastly, Christian highlights why Protestants should rediscover the wisdom and devotion of the early churchDiscussion Questions:1. How could the early church’s writings help believers remain unified as the gospel spread across the Roman Empire?2. Tertullian said that the “Rule of Faith” came directly from the Apostles. What does this say about the continuity of the Christian faith?3. What stood out to you about the early Christian practices of baptism, fasting, or communion?4. What does the “Two Ways” (the way of life and the way of death) teach us about discipleship today?5. What do these three writings together teach us about what the early church valued most? Recommended Reading:The Shepherd of Hermas — a powerful call to repentance and purity within the churchThe Apostles’ Creed — a later summary of what the earliest Christians believedThe Didache — a first-century manual for discipleship, baptism, fasting, and the Lord’s Supper.00:05 – Why Early Christians Started Writing: The Birth of Church Tradition03:38 – The Shepherd of Hermas: The Most Influential Book You’ve Never Read06:19 – Explaining the Shepherd of Hermas: Visions, Commands, and Parables08:01 – Early Christian Teaching on Repentance and Forgiveness11:59 – The Apostles’ Creed: What the First Christians Believed13:15 – The Rule of Faith: How the Church Protected Truth After the Apostles13:30 – Tertullian and the Rule of Faith: Defending the Core of Christianity18:58 – The Didache Explained: The First Christian Discipleship Manual24:00 – Believer’s Baptism in the Early Church: What the Didache Reveals29:00 – Why Protestants Should Study the Early Church and Her WritingsSupport Emet Ministries, so we can continue to provide content and resources to help disciples become disciplers: https://veritas-ministry-415223.churchcenter.com/givingFor more resources, visit emetministry.org#churchhistory #EarlyChurch #Christianity #Theology #ChristianApologetics #Protestant #BibleHistory #TheDidache #ApostlesCreed #ShepherdOfHermas #AncientFaith #ChristianDoctrine