The Church of Christ in every age, beset by change but Spirit led, must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead. Then let the servant church arise, a caring church that longs to be a partner in Christ’s sacrifice and clothed with Christ’s humility.
(Wareham)
Church History
How shall we labor with any effect to build up the Church, if we have no thorough knowledge of her history. … History is, and must ever continue to be, next to God’s Word [and Spirit], the richest foundation of wisdom, and the surest guide of all successful practical activity.
(Philip Schaff)
History is to a society or group therein, what experience and heritage is to a person. However, there is a kicker. History is never as immediate to the group as experience is to the person, thus multiplying the chance of its lessons being ignored.