Restoration is Ongoing
[NOTE: Today’s post is the full script of a sermon I preached at Central recently. Since it is written more in “essay” form, I thought it might encourage our readers. –Adam]
Tonight’s lesson is a little different in style. Even my notes look different. Typically, when I write a sermon, there is an introduction, body–with 3 or 4 points–and a conclusion. This lesson, though, is written more in essay style and, I hope, you will see why.
I want to say that the idea for this lesson is not original to me, but the content is. The idea comes from a small portion of a lesson that Kirk Brothers gave at PTP in 2024. After listening to it, I did a lot of thinking and praying. I may repeat some of what he said, but that is not intentional, because I did not go back and listen again. I wanted as much of this lesson as possible to be his idea, but my wording.
We often talk about the concept of restoration. There are some in this room who know vastly more than I do about what is sometimes referred to as “the Restoration Movement.” In a nutshell, that movement was meant to bring people back to the original New Testament church; in other words, to “restore” what Christ said and what the Holy Spirit inspired men like Paul and Peter to write down in the pages of the New Testament. Even if you are not familiar with that movement, you may have heard people talk about one of the mottos that was commonly used, that we are to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.
As one who has read some about the movement, I am very grateful for those who did such things. They helped people leave denominationalism, often in droves, to make certain they were simply following the pages of the New Testament. And, as you hopefully know, that is what we are still trying to do.
But notice how I worded that: that is what we are still trying to do. You see, what can happen if we are not careful is this: we can be grateful for those who helped people see more clearly again such things as baptism being for the remission of sins or that congregations are to be led by a plurality of elders that we we form a list of about a half-dozen things, make sure we do those few things, and call it good.
Tonight, though, I want us to see that restoration is ongoing. Each time there is an issue facing a congregation, a decision has to be made: are we going to go our own way, or are we going to restore the way of Jesus found in the New Testament? Sometimes, those issues are centuries old and have to be studied, taught, and restored over and over again, with each person and each generation. At other times, new issues–or, at least, old issues in new packaging–arise, and many get swept up in them. A decision has to be made: will we just go along with the current, or will we restore what the Bible tells us to do on this matter.
I will go ahead and tell you the point of this sermon and, fair warning, you are going to hear it repeated many times over the next several minutes. The point is this: unless and until a church has restored all of what God says about every matter, that church still has work to do if it wants to please God.
Quickly, let me say that I do not mean that a congregation may not struggle with some things. That is part of the point of so many of the New Testament letters. These were still congregations of the Lord’s people, and they called “the church,” but the letters–like 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and Revelation–were written to show them the way they were to follow. Unless and until they repented and restored what God told them to do, they were not fully pleasing to Him. That would be true for the congregation at the moment, but then it would also be true for new converts, young people growing up, and future generations. They had to continually restore the way of God.
Tonight, I want to remind all of us that there are more than just 4 or 5 or 6 issues that we–individually and collectively at Central–need to always be working to restore to the New Testament way of doing things. Some might seem big picture and some might seem smaller, but if Jesus is the Head of the Church, then He rules over every detail, large and small. And unless and until we are at least striving to restore what He has said about every matter, our work of restoration is not done. And, in reality, it is never done because, Lord willing, there will be new Christians and future generations to teach how to make certain the issues they face are dealt with in a way that restores what God has already revealed in the pages of the Bible.
This is not meant to be a full list tonight, but I will tell you, I spent a long time in thought and prayer and study to create this essay, and I pray it causes us all to realize our work is vast and our work is ongoing.
—
If a congregation loves people; that is, their own people, but does not show the world around them the love of Jesus. Or, if a congregation is splintered and fractured by socio-economic factors, race, or other human barriers. That church is not restored to what pleases God.
If a congregation only wishes to have its ears tickled with positive and uplifting sermons or Bible lessons and will not accept preaching that includes specific mention of sin, judgment, and hell…and that includes preaching on specific sins such as homosexuality, immodesty, alcohol, and more… OR, if a congregation boasts about how they are the only bastion of truth because they are not afraid to rail against every sin known to man, but they do not preach sermons that give people hope and joy and peace. That church is not restored to what pleases God.
If a congregation allows its preacher to be the church police, so that he becomes well-known for calling out every problem with every other congregation, but will not make certain they are doing things the way God says themselves through humble study of the Word of God…that church is not restored to what pleases God.
If a congregation decides that the qualifications for elders are mere suggestions and, instead, decides to appoint “good ol’ boys” or put men in the eldership simply because they are good businessmen or are well known in the community. OR if a congregation adds to the qualifications for elders, so that the eldership becomes more of an exclusive club than an office that the Lord has given clear guidelines to. OR if a congregation chooses to make a man a deacon in the hopes that that will help him be more faithful. OR if a congregation decides to allow women to be elders or deacons because that’s just the way the world is going, so we’d better go along to get along…
If a congregation chooses to say that it is okay to preach against “big” sins like adultery or murder, but it is not okay to go “meddling” against personal sins like bitterness or lust or undue anger…
If a congregation is not making every effort to dwell together in unity and, instead, decides that their little part of the congregation should get special treatment…that congregation has not restored what it means to be faithful to God.
If Titus 2 is considered outdated, so that the younger women will not listen to the teaching and instruction of the older women, and the old women will not teach the younger women because it’s just too hard or too time-consuming or they feel too out of touch. Or the younger men and older men have more of a hang-out boys’ club than a deeply spiritual mentoring and growth mentality…that congregation has not restored what it means to be faithful to God.
If we allow people to worship without teaching them that their worship is not acceptable if they still are holding grudges against their fellow Christian. OR if we decide the church discipline is just an idea whose time has passed and it doesn’t work anymore. OR if we decide to say that “they’ve withdrawn from us so we don’t have to withdraw from them” – a phrase that is never in the NT–we are not restored to all God has to say.
If a congregation decides that baptism is for the remission of sins, but if you weren’t baptized for that reason and you are sincere now we’ll just accept you. OR if a congregation decides that there needs to be a lengthy formal process that Jesus Himself never said in the NT before we will baptize you…
If a congregation is not willing to submit to the elders in matters of judgment, even if it goes against what I might want to do…
If a church thinks that the Lord’s Supper can be taken on any day other than the Lord’s Day. OR if a church so downplays the Lord’s Supper that it becomes mere formality even on the Lord’s Day…that church has restoring to do to be faithful to God.
If a congregation does not support marriages so that husbands and wives know they can find wise and godly counsel through ups and downs. OR if a congregation treats the unmarried as second-class citizens and does not help them find ways to be included in the life and work of the congregation…
If a congregation does not speak boldly and clearly about parents needing to discipline their children–including the remarks in Scripture about corporal punishment–but also does not support families so they can have all the resources they could want to raise their children first and foremost in the nurture and admonition of the Lord…
If a congregation does not take care of widows, especially those who do not have believing or living relatives–those who are widows indeed–and teach that one who would not take care of his widowed mother is worse than an unbeliever…
If a congregation does not seek to help the orphan and even provide ways for those young people who do not have believing parents to still know the truth and mature in the faith. That congregation is not fully restored.
If a church decides that the plight of the poor is too much to worry about. OR if a church decides that those who are rich will never want to hear the Gospel…
If a congregation, even without saying it, decides that evangelism is too much work, or is someone else’s job…
If a congregation is not thinking beyond the borders of their own town, state, country, and continent and having the same world-wide, all ethnic group encompassing view of salvation that Jesus did…then that congregation has restoring to do.
If the elders of a congregation have basically charged themselves with the role of a board of directors instead of a group of shepherds who know the flock, feed the flock, speak to the flock, listen to the flock, care for the flock…
If the deacons have very little to do because the elders are doing the tasks that deacons are Biblically set apart to do…
If the preacher preaches the Word but does not do so in both good times and bad and, instead, tailors his message just so he can “keep his job” instead of preaching what people most need to hear…that congregation is not fully restored.
If every member of a congregation is not being led by elders and other church leaders to grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ and, instead, the leaders just sort of let some people go fend for themselves and hope they’ll figure it out…
If worship to God has become routine and is not a time of reverent praise, offered in Spirit and in truth, centered not on ourselves but on God and His Son…
If the only time Christians ever see each other or interact about Scripture is on the Lord’s Day. That congregation is not fully restored to the way it would please God.
If a congregation allows minors to become majors and fumes and fusses over things that do not matter in the long run. OR if a congregation allows majors to become minors and simply decides to do whatever will draw a crowd, without looking to Scripture as the ultimate guide for every decision. That congregation is not restored.
If a congregation does not preach and teach on giving because it looks like they just want money…
If a congregation does not ward off gossip, both in person and through digital media…
If a congregation decides some sins are just part of the culture in their area–maybe gluttony or gambling or dancing–so it’s no use preaching or teaching on them and tells the elders to tell the preacher that. That church is not restored to the NT pattern yet.
If the regular preaching and teaching and counsel of elders, preachers, Bible class teachers, and other leaders does not give people a balance of the fear of sin and the hope of Christ…
If Christians in a congregation are allowed to be divided and not deal with past issues or grudges because it’s easier to just let things lie…
If people like Euodia and Synteche are not specifically told by leaders to agree in the Lord because their tiff is tearing at the fabric of church unity. That congregation is not restored to the faithfulness God requires.
If elders do not lovingly but boldly tell people that repentance involves fruits–that is, clear signs of change. OR if elders demand immediate change from everything instead of patient teaching to help someone see their sins and repent of them…
If certain people are allowed to get away with things that others would not simply because they have position or money or have a large family in the congregation or have been part of the congregation for decades…
If young people are not taught to honor their parents and, instead, are just excused in their disobedience and rebellion because “that’s how kids are these days.” That congregation is not restored to what God desires.
If prayer is not a constant…
If singing is merely ritualistic…
If sermons are motivational after-dinner speeches…
If heaven and hell are not both preached and taught with equal seriousness. Then that congregation is not fully restored.
If denominationalism is seen as normal and is not clearly preached and taught as a sin. If Christians are not taught that there really is only one church and that church is the one you read about in the NT. OR if “the way we’ve always done it” is held up as the standard for decision-making and human tradition is seen as a test of fellowship. That congregation is not restored in a way that pleases God.
If a congregation decides to raise money in a way that is not from free-will offerings, such as a bake sale or car wash. OR if church leaders are afraid to preach and teach that giving is to be sacrificial and not just an easy thing…
If a congregation is overtaken by the politics of a party and sees whoever is in the White House or the Congress or the governor’s mansion is the savior or the enemy, instead of a leader appointed by God for whom we should pray–whether we agree or disagree with that person…
If people are not reminded regularly that they are always in the presence of God and that should be both a warning when they are unfaithful and a comfort when they are walking in the light…
If “what I got out of it” becomes the grade of a good worship service instead of “what did I bring before my God.” That congregation needs to continue to be restored.
And finally,
If the clock is more crucial than the cross…
If money is more meaningful than the Master…
If popularity is more pressing than the “blessed and only Potentate”…
If the building is more binding than the Bible…
If ease is more essential than evangelism…
And if this world weighs more on our minds than the way of Jesus…
…then we have not restored what God has said in His Word.
Ladies and gentlemen, restoration is never done. It is ongoing.
Throughout life. Through every decision. For every generation. Facing every issue.
And the only–the ONLY–solution is not what we’ve always done or what will be easiest or what is popular. The only solution is to remember that Christ is the Head of the Church and, out of His love, He has given us the book that shows us how to handle each and every situation if we want to be faithful to God.
That includes how one is saved. This isn’t done just because we’ve always done it that way. This is done because a careful and honest reading of the Word of God shows exactly how Jesus saves:
Belief. Repentance. Confession. Baptism for the remission of sins.
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn