Reformation vs. Restoration

Text: Matthew 16:18-19

Thesis: To distinguish between the Reformation and Restoration Movements.

Introduction:

1. What do you know about the beginning of Christ’s church?

2. How much history do you know?

Discussion:

Let us consider…

I. There was an American Restoration Movement.

A. It differed from the Reformation Movement.

B. It began in different parts of American by different leaders.

1. James O’Kelly

2. Abner Jones

3. Elias Smith

4. Barton W. Stone

II. That several principles emerged.

A. “Speak where the Bible speaks; be silent where the Bible is silent.”

B. “Do Bible things in Bible ways; call Bible things by Bible names.”

C. “Moving forward by going back to the Bible.”

D. “Churches of Christ are nondenominational in that we are not affiliated with any

denomination” (1 Cor. 1:12-13).

E. “Churches of Christ are undenominational in that we are free from

denominationalism and doctrines of men” (Mt. 15:8-9).

F. “We denounce the use of creeds and use the Bible alone as our guidebook” (2 Pet.

1:3).

III. That some misunderstand the church.

A. Pioneer Christians in the American Restoration Movement were called

“Campbellites” by outsiders.

B. Alexander Campbell did not start the church of Christ.

IV. Restoration ideas pre-date the American Restoration Movement & Alexander

Campbell.

A. Reformers strived to bring certain reforms to the main religion—the Roman Catholic

Church.

1. Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli are three leaders.

2. They added new doctrines by changing existing doctrines.

B. Restorers desired to restore religion by using the Bible to bring restoration.

1. They rejected orthodox teaching such as infant baptism, Purgatory, clergy-laity,

indulgences, holy water, etc.

2. One of the fanatic statements against doctrines of established religion was that

“infant baptism is not baptism at all.”

3. They were persecuted for their beliefs.

C. One such example is the Hilcliffe church of Christ in Warrington, England. A date

of 1414 marks the date this church met illegally.

1. This congregation was autonomous, or self-governing, and did not belong to any

denomination.

2. This congregation practiced baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.

3. This congregation met prior to the continental Anabaptists who date their

appearance to January 21, 1525.

4. This congregation existed before the Reformation Movement began in 1517.

5. This congregation existed before the English separation in 1596.

6. This congregation saw themselves as the true church of Christ, not a

denomination.

V. The church began on Pentecost in AD 33.

A. Peter said that Joel’s prophesy was being filled (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-17).

B. 3,000 Jewish men were added to the church, and more were added daily (Acts 2:41,

47).

C. Jesus taught that the seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Lk. 8:11), and

wherever the gospel seed is sown, one can expect to witness the growth of the

kingdom, the church of Christ.

“Hat-rack” Apps

1. We learn truth by knowing our Bibles.

2. We learn facts by reading history.

3. We grow in faith by having conviction.

Conclusion:

1. We want to please God; we want to follow the Bible in its simple form.

2. Scripture reveals truth; history validates truth.