Lay Preaching In The Early Church

Evidence collected about the early church suggests that most of the preaching in hamlets, villages, and rural areas was done by uneducated but devout lay people. The apostolic preaching, as well as the writings of the apostolic fathers of the second century that have been preserved, stand as exceptions to this overall trend. The Rock of Salvation. The symbol of Christ as the rock is based on 1 Corinthians 10:14 "For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ. " The rock is shown in several ways. When it stands alone, it represents the idea of Psalm 18:2: "The Lord is my Rock and my fortress. " When the cross is on top of the rock, as above, the symbol refers to the words: "Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation" (Ps. 95:1). Other symbolic uses of the rock include a house built upon the rock (Matt. 7:24) and a church built upon the rock (Matt. 16:18). When the rock is pictured with four rivers flowing from it, the reference is to ei…