We must learn the great progress that those in the past made to restore New Testament Christianity.

1. Th e R e s toration
M ove m e nt
This morning – What we have
restored
Tonight – What is yet to be
restored

2. Background
• In early America – late 1700's – many
preachers from Europe came here
• They became tired of the disagreements,
splits, arguing and fighting
• At different places – New Hampshire, North
Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio – some
began to say - “Abandon the creeds of men
and go back to the Bible only.”

3. Background
• Elias Smith, James O'Kelly, Barton W. Stone all
began a movement – independent of each
other.
• All of this took place BEFORE Alexander
Campbell came to America in 1808.
• Alexander Campbell and his father, Thomas,
became the better known leaders of the
movement.
• In the 1830's Campbell and Stone unitied

4. Background
• This movement is well documented in
America
• But it did not begin here. There were man
congregations in England who rejected the
creeds of denominations.
• Similar movements were in England, Australia,
Germany, Russia, Brazil – and many other
nations.

5. The Goal
• The goal was to urge people to abandon the
denominational creeds, doctrines of men,
customs and traditions.
• The goal was to bring people BACK to the
Bible. Do what they did. Teach what they
taught. Worship as they worshiped. Obey
what they obeyed.
• Speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where
the Bible is silent.

6. We have restored - -
• Reject creeds
• Today many denominations still have creeds –
but they are not taught or emphasized.
• Their ordained ministers must promise to be
true to the creed – but most members do not
have any knowledge of it.
• WE HAVE NO CREED BUT CHRIST, NO BOOK
BUT THE BIBLE !

7. We have restored - -
• Worship
• Sunday - 1st day of the week
• Communion each week
• Vocal singing – not instruments of music
• Free will giving
• Prayer
• Study of the Bible
• THERE ARE 5 AVENUES OF WORSHIP.

8. We have restored - -
• Doctrine
Matthew 15:8-9 8 'These people draw near to
Me with their mouth, And honor Me with
their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And
in vain they worship Me, Teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men.' "
• Don't follow the teachings of any man.
• ABANDON ALL DOCTRINES OF MEN

9. We have restored - -
• Organization
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants
of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus
who are in Philippi, with the bishops and
deacons:
• Elders – Deacons – Saints
• No clergy – No denominational structure
• Congregational autonomy
• THERE IS NO HIEARCHY IN THE CHURCH.

10. We have restored - -
• Plan of Salvation
• Believe – in Christ, the gospel, the NT
• Repent – change of mind, change of direction
• Confess – with mouth, public, open, freely
• Baptism – Burial in water
– For believers, not infants
– For the remission of sins, wash away sins
• THIS IS GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR OBEDIENCE

11. Are we through?
• Tonight I want to look at some areas where
we still have some “restoration” work to do.
• There are many things that have NOT been
restored as they were in the New Testament.
• We must not be satisfied with the work of
Campbell, Stone and others.

12. Are you restored?
• We have gone back to the Bible to restore
what the church of the 1st century did.
• Worship – Doctrine – Organization
• Plan of Salvation – Reject Creeds
• Are you part of that restored church ?
• Do you worship they way they did ? Do you
believe what they believed ?
• Have you done what they did ?