Restoration is a network of house churches.
We make disciples, gather together, and
equip people to minister.
Paul writes Romans 7 to answer the question about the nature of the Law and our relationship to it now that we have been crucified with Christ. The question at hand is related to how we are to battle sin. The believer should rejoice in the fact that they fight sin as the struggle is a sign that they are redeemed. “Be killing sin” knowing that we have the victory 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.
Many opportunities to defend the biblical case for the abolition of abortion are likely to arise in the wake of the upcoming Supreme Court Decision: Dobbs v. Jackson. The decision could overturn both Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. Pastor Daniel Samms teaches on the biblical case for life (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 9, Matthew 28:18-20) and how to respond to challenges from the anti-life culture. Central to our response is the gospel message. Do you want to know how to respond to the abortion debate? This sermon is designed to equip you for that.
The Holy Spirit is often misrepresented in modern Christianity. We often neglect the fact that He indwells believers and grows spiritual fruit in us (Galatians 5). This sermon addresses the work of God to make us more like Christ.
Every year we celebrate Christ’s victory over death. This year we talked about 1 Corinthians 15 (as usual) and also mentioned the pre-textual creed Paul refers to in verses 3-7 (“what I received”) as a reminder of the simplicity and power of the Gospel message.
In this sermon, Pastor Dan discusses the full divinity and personhood of the Holy Spirit, addressing HIs action in the Old Testament and the promise in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 that He would indwell believers in the New Testament. We then discuss the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament and new as it relates to believers obeying God and preaching the gospel.
Pastor Dan teaches on worshipping God with our resources, including time and finances. In the process, he answers questions about whether tithing is a principle for the Church or just Old Testament Israel. We also discuss key principles related to tithing related to caring for family and those in need.
Daniel Samms (Pastor) takes us through several key principles of worship as it relates to Lord’s Day (Corporate) gatherings. He builds on the series’ key passage, John 4, in which Jesus reminds us that worship must be in spirit (devoted worship from regenerated believers, not lip service from the unredeemed) and in truth (in accordance with how God has revealed Himself and commanded us to worship). Dan then takes us through 1 Peter 2, Hebrews 10, 1 Cor. 11, 14, and other key passages to point out key commands related to worship. We address philosophies of worship (Normative Principle vs. Regulative Principle), the idea of Coram Deo (living “before the face of God”), and what it does it mean to enjoy “the means of grace” in a reformed, protestant, biblical sense.
Pastor Daniel walks us through key biblical principles related to worship, noting that everyone worships. The issue is Who or what they worship. Romans 1 serves our primary text, though we address several other texts, especially John 4 in which Jesus reminds us what is seen in Scripture as a whole: that truth and spirit are both critical to faithful worship.
This sermon is about the command to make disciples. Pastor Dan addresses Matthew 28:18-20 and talks about how discipleship is comprehensive. We are to make disciples, not just converts. However, disciple-making begins with repentance and faith. We are to proclaim the gospel and call unbelievers to repentance and faith (Acts 2). Further, we address biblical methodology related to evangelism. When we delight in God and honor Christ as Lord, the fear of men decreases and boldness for the gospel abounds (Acts 4:20)!
Pastor Daniel teaches on Romans 8 and addresses how in trial, persecution, and struggles with sin, God is the one who helps us in our weakness, intercedes for us in prayer, and has saved us by His eternal decree. We address foreknowledge, predestination, calling, election, justification, sanctification, and glorification. We also talk about how the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us on our behalf.
Regeneration is spiritual birth. It is what Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3. You are born dead in sin, and you cannot respond positively to God until God brings about the miracle of regeneration in you. When he does, you repent and believe the gospel, and you begin your new life in Christ. In this sermon, Pastor Dan discusses the distinction between people who have not been regenerated and those who have. The result is that the faithful get edified by knowing they are saved, the lost will hopefully be convicted to repent and believe, and it all this God receives glory. We are primarily in Ephesians 2 and 1 John 3 for this sermon.
The doctrine of the atonement is central to the Gospel. Jesus paid our sin debt, restoring us back to God. This doctrine has been under attack from liberals and “progressives” for years. However, the truth of the Gospel as it relates to Christ’s substitutionary atonement stands strong. In this sermon, we address several key passages to define the doctrine and understand how it relates to our salvation and to our evangelism efforts.
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.
