A sermon dealing with restoring the Biblical Church. To be the church of the First Century we must turn back to the Bible and see what it was like.

1. Restoring First Century Christianity
Jeremiah 6:16

2. In order to restore 1st Century Christianity we
must go back and examine the Biblical
model.
Many people confuse “Churchanity” with
“Christianity”.
Mistakes are made when we stray from the
“Old Paths”.
Let’s see what the Bible says about 1st
Century Christianity.
Introductory Thoughts

3. Man’s reasoning was not involved in its
development.
1 Corinthians 1:19-24 – Romans 1:21-22
1 Corinthians 2:9
Christianity is a walk of faith after God.
2 Corinthians 5:7 – Romans 10:17 – Romans 5:1-2
Excludes pure emotionalism and creeds of man
Not a Product of
Man’s Ingenuity

4. Propelled by the Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20 – Mark 16:15-16 - Acts 8:4-5
Concern for lost souls also compelled them.
Ezekiel 33:8 – Acts 5:42
The book of Acts reveals the details of
Christians going.
Was a Religion of
Going

5. Old Testament religion was full of sacrifices.
Christianity speaks to the greatest sacrifice
of all.
Christ – Philippians 2:6-11 – Hebrews 2:9
Christ’s disciples – Romans 12:1-2 – 1 Peter 2:5
Was a Religion of
Sacrifice

6. The Christian’s sacrifice is seen in his
activity.
Sacrificing that which is his
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 – Acts 4:32-37
Sacrificing that which he could have had
Philippians 3:7-8
Sacrificing his will to the will of Christ
Philippians 1:21 – Galatians 2:20
Was a Religion of
Sacrifice

7. The founder of Christianity had a most
positive disposition.
Bold, but not arrogant
John 14:1-6 – John 11:25
Revelation 1:8, 18 – Matthew 16:18
Faith in His disciples coupled with complete trust
Matthew 10:16 – Matthew 28:18
Was a Religion of
Optimism

8. His disciples manifested the same positive
spirit.
Acts 4:13-20 – Philippians 4:13
Through this attitude, the world was changed.
Opposite of today – Look what has come to the
world, not what the world has come to.
Was a Religion of
Optimism

9. Lack of knowledge was a pitfall of Judaism.
Hosea 4:6 – Jeremiah 2:32
Isaiah 1:3 – Romans 10:1-3
Christianity is a law of the mind.
Hebrews 8:10 – Hebrews 10:16
Romans 7:23 - 1 Thessalonians 4:13
Other references to knowledge
2 Timothy 2:15 – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – 2 Peter 1:3
Was a Religion of
Knowledge

10. Stephen
Acts 6:9-7:60
Epaphroditus
Philippians 2:25-30
Paul
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Was a Religion of
Conviction

11. The elect, the called of God
Called according to His purpose
Romans 8:28
Chosen in Him
Ephesians 1:4 – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
Not of the world – In Christ
John 17:16 – John 15:19 – Philippians 3:20
Was a Religion of
Exclusiveness

12. A distinct and unique people
Titus 2:11-14 – 1 Peter 2:9-10
We must be distinct, or we need to become extinct.
If we feel that others are not lost, we need to cease
trying to convert them and join them where they are.
Areas to be unique
Holiness – Purity – Worship – Service
Name - Doctrine
Was a Religion of
Exclusiveness

13. Not in doctrine only, but evident in our
activity in life
2 Corinthians 3:2 – Matthew 5:13-16
Philippians 2:14-16 – 1 Timothy 4:12-16
We must walk in that way.
Philippians 3:17 – Philippians 4:9
1 Corinthians 11:1
Was a Religion of
Reflection & Example

14. A religion to live by, a religion to die for.
Revelation 2:10 – John 11:16
Supreme example set by Christ on the cross
Matthew 27:27-37
Other examples
Revelation 2:13 – Revelation 6:9
Philippians 1:21 – 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Was a Religion of
Fatalism

15. Born again to live forever
Romans 6:3-5
Now have life in promise
John 11:25 – 1 John 2:25
Revelation 2 & 3
Crown of life in eternity
2 Timothy 4:8 – Revelation 2:10
Was a Religion of
Eternalness

16. May we ever strive to walk in the “Old Paths”.
Jeremiah 6:16
Those who have never walked in the paths must
begin that walk.
Those who have drifted away from those paths need
to come home.
Christ came and gave His life so that you can
have eternal life.
Concluding Thoughts