I grew up in the church. For 40+ years I've called one church or another home. Yet I'm not certain I could pass even the most basic church history quiz. Furthermore, I don't have a pressing interest in reading the church fathers. I try from time to time, but their language is antiquated and those book are often l-o-n-g (sorry guys and gals). 

Why is church history important? It's similar reasoning to why we study any history:

• That we might know our roots
• We realize church has always been made up of very different people with very different beliefs
• There are opportunities to learn both good and bad responses to our present-day church
• We feel an inspiring connection to the faithful who have gone before us
• Helps us develop sound theology
• A commentary of sorts on various interpretations of Scripture
• God was there 

So I went to Twitter. I asked for book suggestions for those of us who would like to know more church history but are really, truly beginners. Here's what they had to offer:

Eusebius: The Church History (book from Kregel Academic)

5 Minutes In Church History: an Introduction to the Stories of God's Faithfulness in the History of the Church (book based on the podcast by the same name - Reformation Trust Publishing)

Christian History Made Easy (book from Rose Publishing)

Church History in Plain English (book from Zondervan Academic)

Pocket History of the Church (book by IVP Academic)

A Nearly Infallible History of Christianity (book by Hodder & Stouten Ltd)

History Lives Box Set: Chronicles of the Church (kids' series by CF4Kids)

The Story of Christianity (Volume 1): The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation (book by HarperOne)

The Story of Christianity (Volume 2): The Reformation to the Present Day (book by HarperOne)

Anno Domini: The First Five Hundred Years of the Church (workbook from If: Gathering)

Anno Domini: The Middle Ages & Reformation (workbook from If: Gathering)

A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of The Story (book by HarperOne)

A Multitude of All Peoples (book by IVP Academic)