Restoration is a network of house churches.
We make disciples, gather together, and
equip people to minister.
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.
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/.
