Why are there so many Christian denominations?
Faith & Clarity with Dr. Mark Turman
The Formation and Milestones of Early Christianity
This chapter explores the early milestones of Christianity, focusing on key events from Pentecost that propelled believers from secrecy to public evangelism. It discusses the challenges of persecution and the church's organizational evolution, leading to theological debates and the emergence of distinct denominations.
In this episode of the Denison Forum Podcast, Dr. Mark Turman is joined by Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison for a thoughtful conversation on the history and diversity within the Christian faith. Together, they explore the key moments that shaped the church, including the Great Schism, the Protestant Reformation, and Vatican II. They also discuss the rise of non-denominational churches and what it looks like to find a faithful church home in today’s landscape.
This conversation offers both clarity and encouragement for Christians navigating differences in doctrine and tradition—and reminds us why unity in Christ still matters.
Topics
- (01:21): Personal story and introduction to denominations
- (03:43): The conclave and selection of a new pope
- (11:32): The Great Schism: East vs. West
- (20:26): The Protestant Reformation and its impact
- (26:05): Magisterial vs. Radical reformers
- (32:20): Baptism and church membership challenges
- (33:45): The impact of Vatican II
- (40:36): Modern denominational differences
- (51:25): Non-denominational churches: A new trend
- (55:17): Finding unity in diversity
- (01:04:47): Guidance for finding a new church
- (01:08:47): Conclusion
Resources
- Ask Us Anything: info@denisonforum.org
- The funeral of Pope Francis and the papal conclave to follow
- Why I hope you won’t see “Conclave”
- What is the Synod on Synodality?
- Why are there so many denominations in Christianity? • DF
- How has Denison Forum impacted your faith?
- Who Am I? Identity • Denison Forum
- Subscribe to The Daily Article by Dr. Jim Denison
About Dr. Jim Denison
Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.
About Dr. Ryan Denison
Ryan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and coauthored Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book.
About Dr. Mark Turman
Mark Turman, DMin, serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of The Denison Forum Podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries.
Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco.
Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for 35 years, including 25 years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas.
Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren.
About Denison Forum
Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.
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