Sermon Tone Analysis

A Time of Restoration

* *

*Text:* Nehemiah 8

 

*Thesis:* To gain insight to some key principles of restoration.

*Introduction*:

 

(1)    Imagine living in a day where you have to go hunting for the Word of God because it had not been taught for some time.

(2)    Imagine living in a day where you have the Word of God but you hear so many people teaching so many different things.

(3)    Let us note 3 principles of restoration from Nehemiah 8:

 

*Discussion*:

 

I.

In order to start the restoration process, one must *read* the Bible.

A.

The Israelites began the restoration process when they opened the Word of God.

B.     Likewise, we begin the process by “going back to the Bible.”

1.

During the Reformation Process, men like Martin Luther emphasized /sola scriptura/ (i.e., “Scripture Alone”).

2.      In the history of the English Bible, men such as John Wycliffe and William Tyndale gave their lives in putting the Bible in the hands of men.

3.

During the Restoration Movement, men like B. W. Stone and Alexander Campbell called people to abandon creeds and to come back to the Bible.

C.     Today, we have the Bible readily available to us and we must open it up and study it for ourselves (cf. 2 Tim.

2.15).

II.

In order to start the restoration process, one must *reverence* the Bible.

A.

The Israelites were extremely respectful at the reading of the Law.

B.     Likewise, we must be respectful to the Word of God.

1.

The Bible is the very words of God (cf. 2 Tim.

3.16).

a.

The process that brought about the Bible is inspiration in which the Holy Spirit guided men to write the Bible as God would have it

(cf. 2 Pet.

1.20-21).

b.

As David said: “The Law of the Lord is perfect …” (Psa.

19.7).

III.

In order to start the restoration process, one must *react* to the Bible.

A.

As the Israelites came across things in the Bible that they were failing to do, then they changed things and started to do them.

B.     Likewise, we must change doctrines and attitudes which we believe and practice when we come across things in the Bible (e.g., baptism, weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper, fellowship, expectancy of the Lord’s return).

*Conclusion*:

 

(1)    Restoration is an ongoing process that must continue until the Lord returns.

(2)    We must not be afraid to open anew the Word of God and study again doctrines that we have been taught all of our lives.

(3)    As the men of the Restoration Movement would say:

No creed but Christ

No law but the Lord’s

No book but the Bible

No name but the Master’s