1. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16

2. God Prepared ~~~~~~~~ God Presented Man Departed ~~~~~~~~~ Man Returned

3. “Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” 1 Peter 4:11 “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;” WEB “If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God.” Utterance, Words

4. Early Years ~~~ Infant Baptism Joseph Bryant - sprinkled as a baby Alexander Campbell & Margaret - new baby ??? Should they sprinkle? - Studied Bible Col. 2:12 - “Buried with him in baptism” No authority for infant baptism They had been sprinkled as a baby June 12, 1812 - baptized by immersion

5. Early Years ~~~ Infant Baptism Col. 2:12 - “Buried with him in baptism” Romans 6:4 - “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:.” Mark 16:15-16 - baptism was for believers

6. Early Years ~~~ Infant Baptism Campbell: “If infant baptism be not found in the scriptures, we can have nothing to do with it.” Alexander Campbell

7. Early Years ~~~ Infant Baptism  Worship  Plan of Salvation  Organization  Work  Name What does the Bible teach ?

8. Two groups merged “ Let us, then, my brethren, be no longer Campbellites, or Stoneites, New Lights, or any kind of lights, but let us all come to the Bible and the Bible alone, as the only book in the world that can give us all the light we need.” Alexander Campbell Barton W. Stone Jan. 1, 1832

9. They wanted to walk in “the old paths” of the Bible.  Forget doctrines of men  Go back to the Bible Restoration Principle  Return to a standard  Progress made by going backwards  Go back to the Bible as voice of authority

10. Did God intend for the N.T. to be a Standard ? “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 1:13 “…I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3 asv 1 Cor. 4:6 ESV “…that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written,…”

11. 1849 - American Christian Missionary Society 1859 - L.L. Pinkerton - instrumental music Problems for those trying to follow old paths No Bible authority for these things Churches Divided

12. “We can do anything unless it is prohibited in Scripture” … “We cannot do anything unless it is authorized”? “Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.”

13. Luther (Germany, 1483-1546) said we may do what the Bible does not forbid. Zwingli (Switzerland, 1484-1531) said what the Bible does not command we may not do, and on that account he gave up images, and crosses in churches...Organs in church also were given up”

14. 1849 - American Christian Missionary Society 1859 - L.L. Pinkerton - instrumental music Argued that they could do this because they were not forbidden in the N.T. Caused a Division: “Christian Church” - 1906

15. Beginning of many departures…  Lord’s Supper on Thursday  Women preachers and elders  Selling merchandise to raise money  Pageants for entertainment  Dedication of Babies  Open Membership  Acceptance of Darwin's theory of evolution

16. Beginning of many departures… caused a division Christian Church Conservative Christian Church Disciples of Christ Have abandoned the concept of restoring the N.T. Church.

17. We can do anything unless it is prohibited in Scripture What is wrong with this attitude ? Murder - by shooting with a gun “Thou shalt not take a gun and shoot someone” “Thou shalt not kill” Rom. 13:9 Robbery - Use a gun to rob a bank “Thou shalt not rob a bank with a gun.” “Thou shalt not steal” Rom. 13:9

18. Some do not like the idea of a pattern or example Reasoning: If it is not specifically condemned then we can do it ! OPEN MEMBERSHIP WOMEN PREACHERS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

19. The Only Authority We need in religion

20. Many plead for a new Religion today ! 21 st Century Space Age Computer Age Need a modern church God provided for our physical needs Sun Air Water God provided for our spiritual needs Christ His Church

21.  We don’t need a new religion !  We need the old time religion, the Gospel !  We need the religion revealed to us in the Bible ! “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16

22. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening September 11, 2011