About Church History Made Simple with Dr. David Watts
Church History Made Simple is a weekly 15-20 minute podcast covering significant moments in church history in easy-to-understand language. Church History Made Simple is hosted by Dr. David Watts, Dean of Bible and Theology at Jimmy Swaggart Bible College.
Season 2 Finale: The Age of Reason and Revival 1648–1789
Dr. David Watts explores how Christianity navigated the Age of Reason and Revival, examining its response to a culture prioritizing human reason over divine revelation.
13 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Thirty Years War and the Birth of Denominations
Dr. David Watts explores how the Thirty Years' War shaped the birth of Christian denominations, revealing the origins of religious diversity.
2 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
Henry VIII and the English Reformation
Dr. David Watts explores how King Henry VIII's dynastic ambitions, not theological reform, ignited the English Reformation and established the Church of England.
19 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
John Calvin
Dr. David Watts explores John Calvin's life, ministry, and profound theological influence on the Protestant Reformation and Geneva's transformation.
12 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Anabaptists
Dr. David Watts explores how the Anabaptists' enduring principles of religious freedom and church-state separation shaped modern Protestantism despite historical persecution.
5 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
Martin Luther, Father of the Reformation
Dr. David Watts explores Martin Luther's pivotal role as the father of the Reformation and its profound impact on Christianity and Western civilization.
29 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Age of the Reformation, 1517-1648 Part 2
Dr. David Watts explores Martin Luther's theological critique of glory-seeking theology, emphasizing the cross as the foundation for Protestant Reformation.
22 May 2026
Season 2 Debut: The Age of the Reformation, 1517-1648 Part 1
In the Summer of 1520, a document bearing an impressive seal circulated throughout Germany in search of a remote figure. “Arise, O Lord,” the writing began, “and judge Thy cause. A wild boar has invaded Thy vineyard.” The document, a papal bull named after the seal, or bulla, took three months to reach Martin Luther, the "wild boar".
17 Apr 2026
The Formation of the Doctrine of the Trinity Part 2 *Season One Finale*
In this episode, we continue to explore the historical formation of the Doctrine of the Trinity.
10 Apr 2026
The Formation of the Doctrine of the Trinity Part 1
In this episode we explore the historical formation of the Doctrine of the Trinity.
3 Apr 2026
The Rise of the Christian Roman Empire Part 2
The rise of Constantine: The death of Galerius (https://www.google.com/search?q=Galerius&sca_esv=2d30375674e67280&rlz=1C1OPNX_en&sxsrf=ANbL-n5i_6I4UQzY3cWpbLvcfxOOKrQIIA%3A1775138263069&ei=13XOafb2A--zqtsP2aLOqAI&biw=1920&bih=919&ved=2ahUKEwjix4O2qc-TAxVQk2oFHTPaJSQQgK4QegQIARAB&uact=5&oq=The+death+of+gelarius+and+the+rise+of+Constantine&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiMVRoZSBkZWF0aCBvZiBnZWxhcml1cyBhbmQgdGhlIHJpc2Ugb2YgQ29uc3RhbnRpbmUyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FSJ4SUM8LWM8LcAF4AZABAJgBa6ABa6oBAzAuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCAqACc8ICChAAGEcY1gQYsAOYAwDiAwUSATEgQIgGAZAGCJIHAzEuMaAHhgSyBwMwLjG4B27CBwUwLjEuMcgHBYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&mstk=AUtExfBpdywxQd-tqoKtgpb_5QpM1_RQWAYN1dkkulbvKL5Snrj8pXlj_JmIa4sjNaFbeuPRVW-gPtKd-_PHLevwHlD5ip_1v_OdHE0P407j9i0a8-txb7q9FbybADjkn_AOzj8EMbAYN2BPkc6T9bVgVCvw_mCVIoM9Ws0KiRXQjNDi584zEXJEuuGypLN4DFETs9NZ&csui=3) in May 311 from a severe illness brought an end to the severe persecution of Christians (Edict of Toleration). His death created a power vacuum that allowed Constantine to eliminate rivals, starting with his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, ultimately leading to Constantine becoming the sole ruler of a reunified Roman Empire by 324.
27 Mar 2026
The Rise of the Christian Roman Empire Part 1
The Emperor Constantine is one of the major figures of Christian history. After his conversion, Christianity moved swiftly from the seclusion of the catacombs to the prestige of palaces. The movement started in the fourth century as a persecuted minority; it ended the century as the established religion of the empire.
20 Mar 2026
"The Social Impact of the Gospel"
Today, we are discussing the social impact of the gospel in the early Christian church. So we're talking about now the post-New Testament era and into the second century, and the struggle that the early Christians had.
13 Mar 2026
"Jerome and the Alexandrians: Apostles to Intellectuals"
Today, we're going to talk a little bit about the Alexandrians. We are also going to begin talking about a very famous person named Jerome. Jerome was known for his translation of the Bible into what was called the Latin Vulgate. The early church debated how much they needed secular studies, including pagan literature and philosophy. And as the Christian message spread, believers faced the spiritual and intellectual challenge of teaching people with different philosophical outlooks.
6 Mar 2026
“Wycliffe and Hus”
In today's episode, we will learn about John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, two of the most important forerunners of the Protestant Reformation. Though they lived more than a century before Martin Luther, their teachings challenged the authority and practices of the medieval church and helped prepare the ground for the Protestant Reformation.
27 Feb 2026
"The Rule of Books"
How we got the Bible.
Inside a recent episode
Season 2 Finale: The Age of Reason and Revival 1648–1789
Published 17 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] That is 1648 to 1789. If you listen to the previous podcast... We talked about the 30-year war that took place, 30 years war took place from 1618 to 1648, and that marked the beginning of the denominational idea in the church. So we're talking today about the age of reason and revival. The age of the Reformation was marked by debate among Christians about the way of salvation. The age of reason was highlighted by the denial of any supernatural religion. Respect for science and human reason began to replace the Christian faith as a cornerstone of Western culture. Many Protestants met this crisis of faith not by arguments but by the experience of supernatural conversion. […]
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