Church history: is it relevant? Is it useful? What I say to sceptical theological students

I have the privilege of teaching church history to theological students.

And though they are almost always too polite to say so outright, a fair few of their number come to the study of the past with a bit of scepticism. Is this relevant? Is this useful? Is this actually helping me to ‘grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’ (2 Pet. 3:18)?

Among the many good answers one might give to these, not unreasonable, questions, one of my favourites is this: the study of church history reminds us of life’s brief duration and challenges us to build today on that which really matters.