Restoration Podcast - Restoration Church

This sermon, delivered by one of our elders, Adam Cawrse, focuses on Jesus' discourse in Matthew 18 which emphasizes the importance of humbling ourselves like children to be great in the Kingdom.

Matthew 17 provides an account of Christ Jesus revealing His divine glory. John and Peter both reference the event in their own writings. This profound event gives us a deeper understanding of Christ's deity and reminds us that He has been God for all eternity and will be God for all eternity.

It is a good thing to recognize our sin and thus our need for a Savior, but it is an unwise thing to ignore the joy that comes with being in Christ (see 1 John). Philippians 4:1-9, along with Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 and several other passages, gives us insight into the command to rejoice and feast as we delight in God's good gifts!

This week we will be studying Matthew 16 where Jesus affirms Peter's affirmation of His deity and talks about the Rock the Church is built upon.  This passage has been hotly debated between Roman Catholics and Protestants (and Eastern Orthodox) until recently.  Historically, Roman Catholics have seen the "rock" in Matthew 16 as being a reference to Peter as the first pope.  Orthodox and Protestants see Christ as the Head of the Church and thus view Peter differently. With this in mind, you may have heard that the new Pope (Leo XIV) has recently made statements that Jesus (not Peter) is the Rock upon which the Church is built.  In the process, he rejected papal infallibility.  This Sunday, we will endeavor to exegete the passage well while addressing Church history on the issue.  

Matthew 15 shows us that Christ Makes Us Clean, Not Tradition. Pastor Daniel Samms walks us through how the traditions of the Pharisees became an encumbrance as they acted without faith. Only Christ can make us clean by faith.

We are in a culture war that is merely a manifestation of a spiritual battle. Many Christians have found themselves ill-equipped for this fight. How does one reason with a man who pretends to be a woman? How does one win an argument with those who deny that which is universally demonstrated in nature? We have forgotten that our greatest weapon is God's Word. Living and active, it cuts to the deepest parts of a person, revealing their thoughts and intentions. This sermon is an exposition on how to use God's Word as a weapon.

Pastor Daniel addresses the theological implications of John the Baptist's beheading as well as Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water as we see the ongoing theme of Christ's Kingship demonstrated in His power and authority.

The theme of the Gospel of Matthew is that Jesus is King. Through His signs and teachings, He proves Himself to be the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Man, the Lord of the Sabbath, and God. Matthew 12 continues that theme with a focus on Jesus' role as Lord of the Sabbath. As the Pharisees reject Jesus in spite of the fact that the Holy Spirit is upon Him, Jesus warns them of the unpardonable sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and tells them that the sign they will receive is the “Sign of Jonah.” Pastor Dan walks us through Matthew 12 in this sermon preparing us for Resurrection Sunday.

The theme of the Gospel of Matthew is that Jesus is King. Through His signs and teachings, He proves Himself to be the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Man, the Lord of the Sabbath, and God. Jesus proves His authority in Matthew 9 through healing, teaching, and restoring a girl to life.

Hosea is categorized as a “Minor Prophet,” which is another word for “The Book of the Twelve.” Hosea is only minor in the sense of its length. It is no less important than any other book of Scripture. The theme of the book is Israel's unfaithfulness and God's faithfulness. The theme is seen in God's appeal to Israel in Hosea 6:6 when He says that He desires “mercy and not sacrifice,” meaning “steadfast love and not mere ceremony.” Chapters 13-14 close the prophecy and remind us that God always has a redemptive plan at work.

The relationship between the Church and Israel is important in Scripture. Sadly, many are confused between covenantal and dispensational interpretations. Genesis 3:7-29, along with a few other key passages, offers clarity. Join us as Pastor Daniel provides some clarity on the issue from Scripture.

The theme of the Gospel of Matthew is that Jesus is King. Through His signs and teachings, He proves Himself to be the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Man, the Lord of the Sabbath, and God. Jesus teaches with authority in Matthew 7 about the Kingdom of God.

Success in evangelism is simply proclaiming the Gospel. There is no need to fear when God is the Author of salvation. Additionally, Christianity is on the rise! The number of Christians in the world has nearly quadrupled in the last 100 years! Pastor Daniel takes us through Romans 1 and Acts 17 to learn from Paul's evangelism method to the pagans in Athens.

As Muslims swarm into the West, destroying what is good and true and beautiful, it does us good to remember that Christ's coming brings the destruction of oppression. He is not waiting to be King. He is king now. Isaiah 9:1-12 begins its fulfillment in Matthew 4:12-17 as Jesus begins His ministry. He is King now (Mathew 28:18), and thus, we are to conquer the nations through the proclamation of His gospel and the baptism of His people (Matthew 28:18-20). Pastor Daniel Samms teaches through Isaiah 9:1-12 and reminds us how Christ has miraculously conquered and will continue to do so.

Many Christians treat individual doctrines as stand-alone theological units. They forget that God has revealed truths about Himself, His creation, and the gospel that are interconnected in His divine design. Marriage is not merely a blessing from God, it is a picture of Christ's relationship with His Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Understanding this helps us see the eternal significance of marriage and encourages us to delight in God's gift of marriage. Romance, sex, and the roles of husband and wife are not mere functions, they teach eternal realities.

Hosea is categorized as a “Minor Prophet,” which is another word for “The Book of the Twelve.” Hosea is only minor in the sense of its length. It is no less important than any other book of Scripture. The theme of the book is Israel's unfaithfulness and God's faithfulness. The theme is seen in God's appeal to Israel in Hosea 6:6 when He says that He desires “mercy and not sacrifice,” meaning “steadfast love and not mere ceremony.” Chapter 8 explains how Israel has sown the wind and will reap the whirlwind.

Voting is a significant topic in our present era. Notably, there is tension among Christians as political candidates seldom perfectly reflect biblical values. The Democrat Party platform explicitly supports that which God calls hates (homosexuality, transgenderism, abortion, entitlement programs, etc.). However, the Republican Party regularly puts forth candidates with questionable morals and has recently removed the pro-life plank from its platform. How should Christians vote? Should Christians vote? This sermon addresses several critical passages of Scripture related to Christ's Kingship over all the nations, the call to not ally ourselves with wicked rulers, and the command to rescue the innocent being led away to death. While voting was not a part of biblical cultures, the command to rescue the innocent is clear. The choice is between a party/candidate that actively wishes to increase abortions and a party/candidate that does not. Faithful Christians must vote to stop abortion.

The theme of the Gospel of Matthew is that Jesus is King. Through His signs and teachings, He proves Himself to be the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Man, the Lord of the Sabbath, and God. Matthew 2 shows Jesus' early life parallels the history of Israel to eventually show that Jesus is Perfect Israel.

Deus Vult is Latin for "God Wills It." It was a battle cry for the Crusades, but it is here appropriated for application to Christ's Kingdom. In a time when wicked rulers seem to go from bad to worse and the effects of sin bring new crises in our culture, it behooves us to remember that God has willed and will accomplish victory over all nations. Christ is King. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor Samms addresses the Old Testament prophecies related to the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7, Psalm 2, Psalm 10, and Zechariah 14:9) as well as the New Testament teaching that Christ's Kingdom has indeed come, and of its increase, there will be no end!

Hosea is categorized as a “Minor Prophet,” which is another word for “The Book of the Twelve.” Hosea is only minor in the sense of its length. It is no less important than any other book of Scripture. The theme of the book is Israel's unfaithfulness and God's faithfulness. The theme is seen in God's appeal to Israel in Hosea 6:6 when He says that He desires “mercy and not sacrifice,” meaning “steadfast love and not mere ceremony.”

The doctrine of Creation is the foundation of God's redemptive Self-revelation. There are a multitude of theological implications from Genesis 1. In this sermon, Pastor Daniel teaches through Genesis 1:1-27 while addressing various inaccurate views as well as the biblical view of divine fiat creation. Join us at Paper Moon Vineyards (2008 State Road Vermillion, OH) at 10:30am on Sunday for this important sermon.

Christians are commanded to be unified in Christ, but how do we know who is a Christian to be unified with and who is a false believer to be evangelized or avoided (false teachers)? What about denominations? How do I know who is a faithful brother or sister? More than that, what do we need to do to build unity in the Church that Jesus has bought with His own blood? Sometimes it seems that those calling for unity are the ones pressing false doctrine, but if we are not careful, those with good doctrine will cut off faithful Christians who simply aren't mature in the faith enough to be grounded doctrinally. This sermon addresses all this and more from Ephesians 4:1-16.

As we approach June, faithful Christians brace themselves for an avalanche of propaganda affirming that which God condemns. For the last few decades, mainstream evangelicals have attempted to be nice in hopes of winning hearts. If you can't tell, nice doesn't work against attacking wolves. Kindness is a Christian virtue, but niceness is not. Loving your neighbor means crushing his idols and living in faithful defiance against the false gods of the age, all while joyfully preaching the gospel of Jesus' atoning death and resurrection. The history of the Christian faith is a history of building churches and destroying pagan idols. We don't win by being nice to abomination. We win with a gospel that offends. We win with taunts against the enemies of God. We win with axes set against pagan trees as the Odinists, Ba'al worshippers, and Sodomists bend the knee to the one true King of Kings. Join us as we preach the game plan for crushing the enemies of God with the Gospel of Christ.

The topic of Church Discipline often makes people uncomfortable at first. Most Americans have grown up in a version of Evangelicalism that sees “niceness” as an essential of the faith. Subsequently, few Christians have seen faithful church discipline applied. Either they have been a part of a body of believers that was functionally antinomian (anti-law), allowing even the most egregious sins to continue without confrontation. Here is the thing: Every Church disciplines; it is a matter of who they discipline. When a man leaves his family, refuses to repent, but is allowed to continue in fellowship with impunity, the church is effectively disciplining his wife and children out of the church. When an abuser continues to harm and the church leaders claim that it is better that he be in the church than not in the church, his victims are left unprotected. So it is with false teaching, gossip, sexual immorality, and the like. Faithful discipline is critical for the protection of the saints. However, it is not just individuals that are at risk. 1 John gives us a detailed overview of the deep fellowship (koinonia) that is to be at the center of the Body of Christ. It is this love for one another that is to be the mark of Jesus' disciples (John 13:35). We tend to think of church discipline in negative terms, but it is helpful to remember that Church discipline is not merely about punishment, it is about cultivating and protecting fellowship. The fellowship we share is not just with one another, it is with God (1 John 1:1-9). In this sermon, Pastor Daniel will talk about biblical fellowship from 1 John 1 before addressing the critical issue of church discipline.

The ordinances of the Church are baptism and the Lord's supper, and both are topics of much debate. We discussed baptism in a previous sermon. This week, Pastor Daniel addresses the command to remember the Lord's death through communion. We learn what it does and why it is important to build faith in the believers and break down the defenses of Hell through the proclamation of the Gospel. In the process, we address the various views of communion to affirm a biblical stance.

Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This command is critical to the great commission, but baptism is an oft-debated topic among Christians. What is baptism? How important is it? What is the proper mode of baptism? Pastor Daniel Samms teaches from several key passages on baptism and addresses key quotes from church history and the London Baptist Confession as we clarify the importance and function of baptism in Christianity.

Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Christ, but this event has far greater implications than many understand. This sermon gives a brief overview of how the Bible fits together in one, comprehensive metanarrative in which the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central, paradigmatic event. The Bible is understood best in four movements that together explain what we call the Gospel (Good news), the message that Jesus Christ has died to pay for our sins, rose from the dead to give us new life, and is currently making all things new. The four movements are Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. We have hope of eternal glory because of His saving work.

The headship of Christ is a neglected topic in evangelical circles. We so often forget that He is King over all (Matthew 28:18, Col 1:1-11). We see in Ephesians that Christ is the Head of the Church. The term “Head” was used to refer to Kingly authority as the king wears his crown on his head and the head controls the body. As it applies to Christ and His Church, it means that He has absolute authority. He has subsequently given us His Word (the Bible) which is authoritative and sufficient for all matters (2 Tim. 3:16-17). While God has placed pastors/elders to shepherd the Church, they do so as under shepherds submitted to Christ, Scripture being the authority for their office. This headship that Christ has is reflected in the home with husbands serving as head over the wife, loving her and sacrificing for her. In this sermon, Pastor Daniel addresses this critical doctrine of Christ's headship.

Download the sermon slides here.

The evangelical church in America is suffering from a lack of doctrine, a lack of discipleship, and now a lack of attendance. The less faithful the Church becomes, the more troubled the society grows. One of the problems at hand is the lack of understanding of the Church and its role. People don't seem to know what the Church is or what it is made to do. Even prominent leaders such as Andy Stanley fail to recognize the essential nature of the church, assuming live-streamed sermons count as “church”. But, the very nature of the biblical word for church “ekklesia” involves assembling together. We are called to gather together to display the truth of the Gospel and to partake in physical signs connected to spiritual realities. In this series, Pastor Daniel Samms takes us through what the Church is, what it does, and why it is essential. This sermon focuses on the Church's role as the displayer of Truth (1 Timothy 3). Future sermons will address the essential job of Christians to assemble as a Church, the role of serving and giving, the nature of ordinances (baptism and communion), and more.

It is common for church people to go around saying “God Told Me” without clearly understanding the implications of such a phrase. The language of “Thus saith the Lord” or “The Word of the Lord” bears the weight of biblical canon. In this sermon, Pastor Daniel Samms addresses two related topics: First, he teaches on the nature of Scripture and how we got the Bible, building our confidence in the authority and clarity of the Bible. Additionally, we discuss the role of the Holy Spirit to convict, direct, and otherwise work in a time when the biblical canon is closed. We answer questions such as “How can I know that the Bible is God's Word"?” and “How can I know that we aren't missing books of the Bible?” Additionally, we will address the question: “How do I know if God is directing/leading me?”

There is a common misconception that Biblical commands in the Old Testament were entirely limited to the nation of Israel, but the truth is that in both the Old and New Testaments, both Jews and Gentiles were held to God's moral and civil laws. As Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:8-11, the law is useful if one uses is usefully. Christians have been far too timid about bringing biblical commands into the civil arena. God designed governments to be ruled by laws (His laws), not by the whims of the populace or the pride of tyrants. The founding fathers of the United States understood the role of God's Law as the foundation for a just society. This is why they cited Deuteronomy more than any other book and why they regularly prayed in the meetings. This sermon addresses the issue of the lawful use of God's law in the civil realm. Quick Historical Review on the Relationship Between the Church and the State in the United States:There is no mention of a "separation of church and state" in the constitution. Rather, the "establishment clause" of the First Amendment to the US Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."Thomas Jefferson, in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association (Jan 1, 1802), is who referred to the establishment clause as "building a wall of separation between Church & State" to ease their fear that the state might try to take control of the church (not vice versa). The establishment clause exists to keep the state out of church business and is a separation of governments, not a separation of lawfulness or religion. Standard laws related to theft, murder, etc. still apply to the church, and Christians are still to influence the state through non-coercive means.At the drafting of the Constitution, most states had "state churches" and this was permitted. The establishment clause ensured that there would be no "national church/denomination" (like the church of England which established a single denomination of Christianity).The founding fathers presumed us to be a Christian nation, and cited Deuteronomy more than any other book as the basis for our constitution.In the majority opinion of the SCOTUS decision on Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 U.S.457 (1892) the court acknowledged that the USA is a Christian nation.The USA was established on God's Law and led to peace, prosperity, and liberty.Quick Historical Review on the Results of Atheism in the French Revolution:The French Revolution rejected Christianity and established "The Cult of Reason" as an atheistic substitute for Christianity.Three days after forcing the Christian bishop out of Notre Dame, on Nov. 10, 1793 the Christian vestments were removed from the temple, a woman was dressed as "The Goddess of Reason," statues of enlightenment thinkers were erected, and a congregation sang, ""Come, Holy Liberty, dwell in this temple; become the Goddess of the French people." The French people publicly rejected Christianity and adopted atheistic religiosity in defiance of God.The Cult of Reason spread quickly but ended quickly when it's leaders, Chaumette and Jacques Hébert, were taken to the guillotine (March 24, 1794).The French Revolution saw multiple government changes, multiple constitutions, and years of bloodshed.The atheistic French Revolution was marked by "The Reign of Terror" (5 September 1793 – 27 July 1794) in which "The Revolutionary Tribunal" killed many, including many of their own allies. The bloodshed continued until Napoleon brought 'order."The French Revolution had no objective moral law (because they rejected it) but had "inequality" as its chief enemy. Anyone who was perceived to have more could be considered an enemy of "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity."The French revolution was established on atheism and led to bloodshed, poverty, and tyranny.Quick Review of the Role and Function of the Law:We are NOT saved by obeying the Law. We are saved by grace through the saving work of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).We should obey God's law unless He specifies otherwise (Acts 10:15) just as the sacrificial and ceremonial aspects of the Law have been overridden in the New Covenant and are no longer applicable (Hebrews 1-13).The apostles believed that the moral commands of the Law were essential as a guide for right living and that the civil and punitive aspects of the Law were just as valid as ever (1 Timothy 1:5-11)

The book of Judges traces the history of God's people between Joshua's death and the ministry of Samuel. It is. an account of Israel's repeated disobedience, suffering, repentance, and restoration as Israel shows itself in need of a King. As we will see in 1 Samuel, not just any king will do. Ultimately, the account of Judges points to the need for the King of Kings. There are some parallels between Israel's Idolatry and the troubles of our present day. The Canaanite gods, Ba'al and Ashtoreth desired debaucherous worship practices involving transgenderism, sexual promiscuity, self-mutilation, and infanticide. Sadly, the Israelites compromised by not eradicating the Canaanites as God had commanded, and the idolatry of Canaan became a snare for the Israelites. Apart from Christ cultures descend into self-destruction. Secularism is merely paganism under a different name. The same gods are worshipped in the same way under different names. We are witnessing it now. We are entering this study of Judges to learn how to respond in the midst of a pagan culture. What's more, we can be reminded that the King Israel needed has already come. Let's drive out the Canaanites, brothers and sisters. https://restorationhcn.org

2 Timothy 3:10-17 reminds us that Christians who seek to live faithfully will likely face persecution. Notably, the faithless are not expected to suffer as the faithful do. In this sermon, we discuss key principles about persecution and how to remain faithful when tyrants and adversity are in the path. Notably, the power of the Word of God remains central.

There is a lack of exegetical teaching in many “evangelical” churches that leaves Christians ill-prepared to discern truth from error. Further, there is a lack of understanding related to the value of theology and Church history. Faithful Christians have been responding to error for millennia, and their shoulders are worth standing on insomuch as they stand on the Word of God. In this sermon, we outline biblical parameters related to the essentials of the faith and discerning truth from error. Additionally, we take a brief look at creeds, confessions, and statements of faith as they pertain to Christian doctrine.

God commands His people to teach their children the things of God. Deuteronomy 6 outlines the essential teaching about God and His work, the things we are to believe and teach to our children. With it comes a warning to avoid the gods of the age that tempt us to abandon the Truth. This sermon reminds us of God's commands to teach the Truth diligently to our children and provides a few practical tools for doing that very thing.

Download sermon notes here.

Jesus rose from the dead. It is the historical reality that serves as the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Despite what theological liberals and progressives claim, you cannot be a Christian and deny the bodily resurrection of Christ. Fortunately, there is profound evidence for the resurrection. This Easter Sunday, we discuss biblical and historical evidence for the resurrection, and we remember the joyful hope that we have since Jesus died to pay our sin debt and rose from the dead to give us new life. Pastor Daniel Samms teaches through 1 Corinthians and answers some recent accusations about the “pagan origins” of Easter. (Hint: there are no pagan origins of Easter).

Acts 15 provides two important accounts: One is the first church council (the Council of Jerusalem) at which the apostles and elders discuss whether or not gentiles need to become Jews and follow the law to be saved. The decision and the reasoning are foundational for the future of the faith. Also, it serves as a template for future councils. Praise God that we are saved by grace through faith, and that this salvation is confirmed by the Holy Spirit! The second account addresses how Paul and Barnabas part ways over a practical ministry disagreement. This is important as a model for faithful disagreement and even parting ways without sinning.

Scripture consistently teaches that men are to lead their homes and that godly men who lead their homes well are the ones qualified to lead in the civil arena as magistrates and in the church as elders/pastors. Ephesians 5, 1 Cor. 11, 1 Peter 3, and many other passages give us insight on this biblical patriarchy. Critical to understanding this is that these men are to oversee their homes in an understanding way, loving their wives and children. Proverbs 31 describes a woman who thrives under her husband's authority. She feeds the poor, invests in real estate, speaks wisdom, and is honored by her husband and children. Of course, this requires manly men who lead well, love God, and make disciples in their homes.

According to the StateofTheology.org survey from 2022, 65% of “evangelicals” do not believe that people are born guilty in the sight of God. This is a problem given that 1 Corinthians 15:22 says, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” The fact that the beliefs of “evangelicals” on this and many other topics seem to correlate with the culture as a whole reveals that most are getting their theology from the culture rather than from the Word of God. In this sermon, Pastor Dan teaches from Scripture on Original Sin, equipping the saints and emphasizing that just as in Adam, all die, so all who are in Christ are made alive (Romans 5:12-21). The gospel of Jesus' atoning death and resurrection is good news indeed!