1. The Restoration Movement 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 - 1 st 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 1 st 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 ?