Restoration is a network of house churches.
We make disciples, gather together, and
equip people to minister.
This sermon is a continuation of our series on The Doctrines of Grace in which we are addressing the topic of evangelism by taking an in-depth look at the gospel. This sermon focuses on Ephesians 1 which describes God’s adoption of the believing in Christ. This adoption is unconditional and before the world began, emphasizing that it is God who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Jesus rose from the dead! Pastor Dan takes us through 1 Corinthians 15 as it address the implications of the resurrection as well as the evidence mentioned by the Apostle Paul. This chapter addresses issues related to present life, eschatology, and eternal hope. More than that, this chapter brings glory to Christ!
The most prominent theological questions I seem to be getting lately have to do with obedience or disobedience to governing authorities as they drift away from God's law. How should Christians respond if the Equality Act passes? What is a proper Christian response to gun restrictions? Is it wrong to disobey Health Department mandates in order to meet together as Christians?
You know me, so you can imagine what my opinion is on some of these matters. However, my intention this Sunday is to lay aside opinion in order to establish from Scripture a biblical framework for approaching these and other questions that we are undoubtedly going to face in the coming years.
Restoration State of The Church meeting is when we discuss the previous year, what God has done, and what He has set us to this year. We revisit our mission and celebrate what God has done.
Last time we learned how God created us in His image for His glory. This has profound implications for the sanctity of human life, for Who owns us (God), and for how we are to treat one another. However, as we mentioned last time, mankind has sinned and separated ourselves from God. The effects of sin on humanity are severe. While we are still created in God’s image, we are fallen. Humans are bent toward evil, hating God and one another, deserving of God’s wrath. Yet, God has made a way for salvation in Christ Jesus through his atoning death and resurrection. Further, God is forming us into His image! As you can imagine, this has profound effects on the image of God for good! We will be in Romans 5:12-21 primarily as we look at the effects of the first Adam and the Last Adam (Christ).
Weeks ago, I started prepping for a First Sunday sermon series on biblical anthropology. At the time I was primarily concerned with research showing that evangelicals do not hold to key beliefs about humanity being created in the image of God. Things like human sinfulness, issues of gender, and marriage roles all come together in the biblical understanding of humans being created in the image of God.
The events of recent weeks make the study all the more critical. I have been grieved to see godless men and women deny the authority of Scripture and then try to argue for what justice is as it relates to the the dignity of human beings in the futile manner we have seen. This past week is a good example of how apart from God, people will not value their fellow image bearers. Further, it is clear that apart from God's Word, there is no standard for human dignity.
So, I'm all the more eager to enter into our study of God's Word as it relates to humanity, our sinful state, and need for Christ's saving work.
In this sermon from Restoration Church, Daniel Samms does a brief overview of the Attributes of God series Restoration Church has been in before going into a study of God's Goodness, specifically His benevolence, grace, mercy, patience, and love. Special attention is given to 1 John 4 and Galatians 5 as we see that the Holy Spirit works in the believer to grow spiritual fruit not as a result of the believer working hard to do good, but as a result of abiding in Christ. It is no coincidence that the fruits of the Spirit are directly related to God’s goodness. We are formed into he image of God by the Holy Spirit as we worship God.
In this sermon from Restoration Church, Daniel Samms does a brief overview of the Attributes of God series Restoration Church has been in before going into a study of God's Righteousness and Holiness, leading to a clear understanding of how we fall short of God's glory because of our sin, but Jesus dies to satisfy the wrath and justice of God, transferring His righteousness to us. The ultimate result is that God receives glory in the Gospel, because His righteousness is revealed!
Every year, early in the year we set aside a Sunday to teach on the mission that God has given us to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. In the process, we review the last year, talk about what God has done, what He has used our church to do, and now we can be more obedient in 2020. We review last years giving and spending and look ahead to the new year as it relates to making disciples and stewarding the funds God has given us.
We are praying for more disciples to be made in 2020 by the proclamation of the Gospel, and the faithful edification and equipping of the saints! In this message, Pastor Dan goes into the details of our mission (Matthew 28:18-20), values (Hebrews 10:23-25), and how we are doing following both. Thanks for being a part of our church family!
In this sermon, Pastor Dan continues our series on the Attributes of God by talking about God's sovereign will and sovereign Power. As we know, there is a tendency in humans to elevate ourselves and diminish God. Thus, it is critical that we continually renew our focus on God as He has revealed Himself in His Word. Remembering who God is, reminds us how great He is and how much we need him. For believers, this leads us to fulfill the first and great commandment to recognize God and delight in Him with the whole of our being. For the lost, seeing the greatness of God is an opportunity to recognize that they have sinned against this great God and need Him to atone for their sins and restore them to God. In some cases, the lost rebel against God all the more. But, in every case, the glory of God is proclaimed.
Take some time to remember the Greatness of God as it relates to His sovereign will and sovereign power. Maybe follow-up by listening to the other sermons in this series as well!
In this sermon, Pastor Dan discusses the Intellectual characteristics of God. Those being Omniscience (perfect knowledge), Omnisapience (perfect wisdom), and Veracity (truth, truthfulness, faithfulness). Knowing that God has all knowledge, all wisdom, and is perfectly faithful and true is comforting for the child of God and should be sobering for the unrepentant. The child of God can rest knowing that the God of creation who knows all things has sovereignly decreed the greatest good for His children and He always fulfills His promises. The lost person should cower for this God who knows all things knows their darkest sins. And, to Him they must give account. There is good news for the sinner too! Jesus paid the sin debt for all who put their trust in Him (1 Peter 2:24, Romans 6:23). Repent and believe the gospel (Romans 10:9-10).
Church membership is an often misunderstood concept. In the early church, you were baptized into the church that would be your church home until death, Christ’s return, or until you were sent out to plant another house church. Church was then and is now supposed to be a family, a unified body, a citizenship, a temple. Now, people treat churches like retail shops, consuming a little bit from each one, seldom seeing any one church as a family to commit to. Since Jesus has given us commands as a church, and elders/overseeing have been charged by God to shepherd the church which Christ bought with HIs own blood, it is essential that we communicate what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ as a whole, part of this church specifically, and what that means as we commit to one another. In this Sermon, Pastor Dan talks about membership and asks everyone to pray about formally committing as members.
Continuing our Series on The Attributes of God, Pastor Dan teaches on the Aseity and Immutability of God, providing clarification and understanding on what both terms mean as God has revealed Himself. God is unchanging and is the source of all life. He has no need for counsel or sustenance from any other being as He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe! For a more detailed study, sign up for Underground Seminary at https://undergroundseminary.net/.
Continuing our Series on The Attributes of God, Pastor Dan teaches on the Unity and Infinity of God, providing clarification and understanding on what both terms mean as God has revealed Himself.
In this sermon Pastor Dan teaches on salvation by Grace Alone (Not Merit). Contrary to the Roman Catholic Council of Trent that teaches the need for meritorious works along with grace as well as the self-valuing merit taught by the Word Faith movement, Salvation is by Grace alone. As we discuss this topic in Ephesians 2 and other passages, we turn the focus on God’s glory for HIs mercy and grace in moving us from death into life in Christ.
This week Dan taught from Colossians 1, Genesis 3, and Romans 1 on the importance of giving glory to God alone. The first sin was disobedience related to pride. Ultimately every sin stems from a rejection of God as we commit idolatry.
This Resurrection Sunday, we gathered at Nordson Depot to worship Christ and celebrate His Resurrection. Pastor Dan taught from John 20, but not before establishing the context for the resurrection by addressing the Grand Narrative (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration). We discussed the need for atonement, what Christ did on the cross, and then discussed how the disciples (most specifically, Thomas came to believe as Jesus revealed Himself!
Despite popular opinions in both secular and “Christian” groups, salvation is exclusively in Christ alone. Religious pluralism fails the test of logical coherence and fails to pass the text of biblical accuracy. As we will see in Romans 5 as well as in the whole counsel of Scripture, Christ alone can save.
Pastor Daniel Samms teaches on the authority of Scripture as the primary authority for Christians. Addressing the biblical concepts of Scripture as God-Breathed (theopneustos) and sufficient, we point out that there is no need for further revelation (contra New Apostolic Reformation) and note that our experience, emotion, opinions, etc. must bow to the authority of Scripture (not the other way around). In the process, we address the centrality of Christ and His redeeming work as being the focus of Scripture (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration). Notably, if there were to be “new revelation” (there isn’t), it should have the same focus. Sadly, all that is elevated as authoritative outside of the Word of God turns out to focus much more on man than on Christ, a telling reality to the false teachers of our day. In the process of teaching we affirm the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture as we teach from 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Peter 1.
Pastor Dan took us through Hebrews 11 to remind us of the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. We took some time to cite “The Five Solas” of the Reformation and then proceeded to follow Hebrews 11 as the author of Hebrews traces the doctrine of salvation by faith from creation to present.
