1. Jude 3-4

2. Reformation & the Restoration

3. What happened in the reformation?
1. Men wanted to change the churches that were in error to “near” Bible standards. 2. Martin Luther is known for his 95 theses or complaints against the Catholic church. 3. We today, need to be known for having a similar zeal, but a zeal for the whole truth not only part of it as with Luther.

4. Why we need a restoration?
1. Because many have departed from the pattern. 2. We do not wish to restore just any church, but the Lord’s church. 3. The reformation movement reformed the church (changed it), we seek to restore not reform. 4. We seek to restore the church which Christ bought and paid for with His own blood.

5. Why we need a restoration?
…to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28b

6. Restoration means getting back to the Bible.

7. The WORD must be preached.
12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 2 Peter 1:12

8. The WORD must be preached.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

9. The WORD must be obeyed.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, Hebrews 10:23-24

10. The WORD must be obeyed.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

11. Restoration means Remembering Who We Are

12. Jesus did NOT build a denomination.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

13. Jesus did NOT build a denomination.
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:20-21

14. Jesus did NOT build a denomination.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

15. What about Campbell & Stone?
We honor and respect men like Campbell & Stone but the church did NOT begin with them.
Even Campbell & Stone did not want mean to merely follow their beliefs about what God has said. On Jan 1, 1832 the two groups following Stone and Campbell had a meeting and agreed to no longer continue having these two separate groups but one group of God’s people who were determined to follow God & His Word.

16. Who are We?
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26-27

17. Who are We?
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

18. Who are We?
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Ephesians 5:25

19. Lessons for Us Today

20. Why denominations are declining.
From the protestant denominations declined by almost 10%.
Many denominational groups are on the decline or have stalled in growth.

21. Why the church is positioned to grow.
Today, there are those who have grown tired of the lights and smoke of denominationalism and are looking for more.
We can take those opportunities to reach out to them in various ways.
We can show these individuals that the truth of God’s word has more to offer than any denomination.

22. Conclusion
1. Today, we should not look to reform the church, but to restore it. 2. Let us always be looking to restore Bible truths or the Lord’s church will turn into something less than the church of the Bible.