Restoration is a network of house churches.
We make disciples, gather together, and
equip people to minister.
The church at Philippi faced persecution for the gospel just as Paul did. Paul writes to admonish them to loving unity, employing both knowledge and discernment. Likewise, Paul point out that everything that happens can be used as an opportunity for the Gospel and that god has planned our trials just as He has elected us for salvation. We may hope boldly as God will finish the work in us that He started!
Paul wrote his Epistle to the Philippians while in prison to encourage the church he had planted on one of his previous missionary journeys. The book provides insight into how to build up the body of Christ and how to endure persecution and suffering. Before studying the book itself, we will study Luke’s account of the establishment of the Philippian Church in Acts 16.
Christ Jesus commanded us to make disciples, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This sermon covers the details about what baptism is and what purpose it serves. It has profound implications for the Kingdom of God.
Our fight is first spiritual and second physical. God has equipped us with the spiritual weapons necessary to stand firm and advance the gospel. This final passage of Ephesians gives us a charge to maintain unity through spiritual militancy.
We are commanded to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ. Paul explains in detail how that relates to husbands and wives, children and fathers, and slaves and masters. The practical implications here are critical.
Restoration Church will meet at 4:30 pm Christmas Eve (Dec. 24, 2025) at Paper Moon Vineyards (2008 State Road Vermillion, OH) to pray, sing carols, and hear a brief message from Scripture. Join us as we worship the King of Kings.
There is a stark contrast between the fruitfulness of the Light and the destruction of darkness. People who are filled with (led by) the Holy Spirit bear spiritual fruit. Those who live in darkness destroy what is good, true, and right. Ephesians 5:1-21 gives us instructions on being filled with the Holy Spirit and exposing that which is evil.
The unity provided to the Church by Christ brings God glory. As such, it must be preserved. Thus, God calls us to walk worthy, putting off the old life and putting on the new life in Christ. Unity is preserved by putting on the righteousness of Christ as we put off the old life.
God’s plan to save the Gentiles along with the Jews in Christ was in place all along. It was a mystery in that it was only partially known in the Old Testament. Ephesians 3 provides a clear explanation of how God has brought this plan to fruition. Pastor Daniel walks us through Ephesians 3.
Paul outlines how salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Subsequently, God has brought together Jews and Gentiles into one Body of Christ. This Church is built on the foundation of Christ and the testimony of Scripture. Pastor Dan walks us through the gospel message of Ephesians 2.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church addresses essential theological realities related to salvation by grace through faith in Christ. then, it goes on to explain basic aspects of Christian living. Pastor Daniel walks us through Chapter 1 which explains our election, unity, redemption, and inheritance in Christ.
Critical Theory in various forms has made its way into the dominant thought of western culture and sadly into much of the “evangelical church.” We live in a season in which “social justice” is esteemed over biblical justice and in which man’s feelings are valued over God’s commands. At the root of all of this is man’s rebellion against God (Romans 1:18ff).
Specifically, the atheistic theories of Marxism reformulated into social (rather than economic) terms has infused itself into culture. This system of thought propagated by Antonio Gramsci and the Frankfurt school seeks to overthrow the “hegemony” of Christendom. It’s tool for destruction is Critical Theory which exists for the expressed purpose of causing division. It sees all relationships through the lens of oppressor/oppressed and attacks “systems” of injustice rather than individual sin. It denies objective truth and implements deconstruction (a la Jaques Derrida) as a means of denying that which is plainly true. It denies the Law of God, and esteems the feelings of the “oppressed” as the authority on morality.
This short letter written by Paul to a Christian slave owner urging him to release his slave (Onessimus) is a practical example of how the gospel dissolves the societal problems caused by sin. As such, it provides believers with a model of how to redeem culture through evangelism and discipleship. Pastor Dan walks us through this short and often overlooked epistle (When was the last time you heard. sermon on Philemon?).
After emphasising that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and not by works of the law, Paul made clear that our freedom in Christ should not lead us to sin. Rather, as we walk in the Spirit we grow spiritual fruit rather than do the works of the flesh. In Chapter 6, he explains how to restore a brother who has fallen into sin and how in caring for one another we sow spiritual seed to reap a harvest of eternal life. Pastor Dan teaches through he end of Galatians 6 in this sermon.
The Apostle Paul reiterates our freedom in Christ in Chapter 4 before turning his focus on how our freedom is to be used as an opportunity to serve one another in love and not as an opportunity for the flesh. Pastor Dan walks us through Galatians 5, comparing works of the flesh to fruits of the Spirit. Ultimately, just as we are justified by grace through faith, so are we sanctified by faith as the Holy Spirit grows fruit in us.
The apostle Paul explains that just as Abraham was saved by faith apart from the Law (430 years before the Law of Moses was given), so Christians are saved by faith apart from the Law of Moses. Moreover, since Christ is the Seed of Abraham, and Christians are in Christ, we are heirs of the promises of God to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, 7)! Pastor Dan takes us through Galatians 3, showing that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile as it relates to the promises of God enjoyed by faith in Christ.
Paul explains that the gospel of salvation by faith and not works is confirmed by the other apostles. He goes on to reiterate that Christians have been crucified with Christ and thus live by faith in Christ. Pastor Dan takes us through Chapter 2 which provides a confirmation of the gospel of faith in Christ.
The Galatian church was made up of new believers that Judaizers sought to lead astray with a false gospel of Works. Paul's letter reminds them that salvation is by faith in Christ (not by our works). The New Covenant in Christ means freedom and unity as the Holy Spirit writes the Law of God on our hearts.
The Jews use political pressure and the threat of a riot to get Pilate to have Jesus crucified. Jesus pays our sin debt on the cross and rises from the dead, proving that He is God and King! Pastor Dan walks us through this critical passage of Scripture.
Jesus Christ, being truly God and truly man, is without sin. The only way to condemn a righteous man is with an unrighteous trial. The chief priests had violated Deuteronomy 16:18-21 while fulfilling Isaiah 50:6. They perverted justice to condemn Jesus to death. Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter denied Jesus, but Jesus willingly went to the cross to fulfill His divine decree, atoning for the sins of the elect. Pastor Dan walks us through the implications of Mathew 26:47-27:10.
