Thoughts From My Reading on The Early Church

I just knocked out 10 chapters of Church History reading through about the fourth century. Good stuff. I've really enjoyed it. As I read, a lot is hopping out at me and getting my wheels turning. I'll try and summarize as much as I can.

• There is much to be said of the boldness recorded of the early martyrs. In fact, it appears they were killed, not so much for their religous belief as much as their stubborness with their beliefs. Many of them were eager to die for their faith and considered it a blessing! I loved reading the account of Polycarp's martyrdom. He is brought before the proconsul who repeatedly gives him the option of recanting his faith due to him being 86 years old. His response to them was finally "For 86 years I have served him, and he has done me no evil. How could I curse my king who saved me?" He then asked to be burned and told them they would not need to nail him to the post so he wouldn't jump out of the fire. 
• Whereas church centers on preaching today, the early church had communion as the centerpiece of their time together. Communion wasn't a time of repentance and grief. It was a celebration! Only baptized believers (who had been through three years of discipling) were allowed to partake. They also fasted on Wednesdays and had time of repentance on Friday. There is something about that that fascinates me. We have changed things.
• Creeds were not witty little poems whipped together to make people feel good. They were bold, in your face declarations of beliefs in resistance to cultic sects of the day. These were often used in a persons baptism. I really like that idea! Instead of "Have you received Jesus as Savior?", they catchumen is asked if they believe the different statements in the creed. WOW!
• The early apologists were awesome! I loved reading some of the statements of Justin Martyr, Tatian and Minucius Felix. They were in your face to the philosophers of the day. We need more of that type today.
• The early church understood it would be rejected by society. They knew it so well, they didn't try to make people happy. They stood on truth and refused to be politically correct. The modern church has clearly stopped this. We are concerned about not offending others. We are great at loving people to hell. 

I'm really enjoying reading this stuff. It makes me wonder...what should the church look like? I'm also looking at discipleship in this. Conversion wasn't something lightly taken and to top it, before a person was baptized, they went through teaching of doctrine. This in and of itself is a great divider of aunthentic faith and easy believism. Most of our churches are rushing people into the baptismal pool. Many of them leave the faith. Why the rush?