Part 4 of 12 / Restoring The True Church To Christ-Centered Truth

The Objective

To explore practical, biblically grounded steps for restoring the Church to a Christ-centered, Scripture-driven Faith, emphasizing obedience, discernment, and active discipleship.

Introduction: The Call To Restoration

Throughout history, the Church has faced periods of deviation, corruption, and compromise. Sound familiar today? Yet God's promise remains steadfast: His Church will endure when Christ is the foundation. Isaiah 60:1 says, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." Restoration begins with recognizing where the Church has strayed and returning to the unchanging truth of Scripture and the person of Christ.

Restoring the Church is not merely a theological exercise - it is a spiritual imperative. Revelation 2:4-5 tells us through Christ's admonition to the church in Ephesus, "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place." True restoration begins with repentance, recommitment to Christ, and alignment with Biblical principles in every aspect of Church life.

Returning To Christ As The Center

The first step in restoration is ensuring that Christ Himself is at the center of every teaching, practice, and decision. Many deviations occur when churches place human leadership, traditions, or programs above Christ's authority. Colossians 1:18 says, "He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy." Christ's supremacy is non-negotiable; all church life must flow from His Lordship.

Practical Steps That Can Be Taken Are As Follows:

• Scripture-Centered Worship: every sermon, program, and activity should reinforce Christ's teaching. Avoid human-centered narratives that distract from God's Word.

  
  

• Spirit-Led Ministry: Ministry decisions and leadership should be guided by prayer and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and the Flock.

  • Acts 13:2-3, "While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.' Then, when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

  
  

• Christ-Focused Fellowship: relationships, outreach, and service should model Christ's love, humility, and servant-heartedness.

  • John 13:14-15, "So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you."

Recommitment To Scripture

Scripture is the Church's ultimate authority. Restoration requires examining all doctrines, traditions, and practices against God's Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 clearly states this saying,

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of god may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Restoration Steps Include The Following:

• Teaching & Preach The Word: leaders and members ust prioritize Biblical literacy over human opinion or preference.

  
  

• Discernment In Practice: compare traditions and teachings with Scripture; eliminate anything that contradicts God's truth.

  • Acts 17:11, "Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."

  
  

• Personal Study & Obedience: every believer should be actively engaged in reading, understanding, and obeying Scripture.

Restoring Unity & Fellowship

The Apostolic Church emphasized fellowship as a cornerstone of community life. Acts 2:44-47 records this saying, "And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Restoration begins when believers commit to genuine fellowship, where love, accountability, and mutual support flourish. Modern churches today struggle with division, cliques, or passive participation, but true restoration emphasizes shared responsibility and relational unity.

Ephesians 4:1-6 says, "Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

Unity is not optional; it is a mark of the restored, Christ-centered Church. Ways that unity can be restored based on Scripture and not just what churches say is creating small groups or home gatherings for prayer, study, and accountability, fostering transparency among members, and prioritizing love and humility over status or hierarchy. The early Church's generosity, communal support, and daily devotion serve as a model for believers in the church today.

Restoring Evangelism & Mission

A restored Church must also be outward-looking, committed to the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Evangelism is not optional; it is the heartbeat of the Church. When Christ is central, every believer becomes a witness, and the Church becomes a living testimony to God's Glory.

Restoration also involves encouraging members to actively engage in sharing the Gospel, supporting Missions, and demonstrating Christ's love through service. It also requires boldness in truth, speaking against false teachings and practices that under mind Biblical Faith, as Paul exhorted in Ephesians 6:18-20, "With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

Personal & Corporate Discernment

Restoration of the Church cannot occur without Biblical Discernment. 1 John 4:1 warns, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Church and individuals must constantly evaluate teachings, traditions, and practices against Scripture. This involves prayerful examiniation, wise counsel, and accountability within the Body of Christ. Restoration requires courage to correct errors, humility to admit when human tradition has superseded God's Word, and perseverance to implement Biblical changes in community life.

Practical Steps For Discernment Include The Following:

• Scriptural Testing: evaluate every teaching, sermon, or practice against the Word.

  • Acts 17:11, "Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."

  
  

• Prayer & Wisdom: seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to recognize deviations and to discern God's direction.

  • James 1:5, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

  
  

• Accountable Leadership: church leaders should serve as shepherds, equipping the Body of Christ rather than exercising authoritarian control over them.

  • 1 Peter 5:1-3, "Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock."

Obedience & Holiness As The Hallmarks Of Restoration

True restoration is not only structural or doctrinal, it is spiritual. The restored Church cultivates holiness and obedience in the lives of its members. 1 Peter 1:15-16 commands, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I Am holy.'" Personal holiness reflects Christ's lordship, strengthens fellowship, and ensures that the Church's witness is credible.

Obedience is also a form of worship. John 14:15 reminds us, "If you love me, keep my commands." A restored Church encourages every member to live in obedience to Christ, integrating prayer, study, service, and evangelism into daily life. When obedience is prioritized, traditions, programs, or hierarchies naturally fall into alignment with God's Word rather than supplanting it.

Application & Reflection

This week, consider both personal and corporate areas of restoration. Commit yourself to being an agent of restoration through humility, service, and boldness for truth in Christ Jesus.

• What areas of my church life are most influenced by tradition rather than Scripture?

• How can I personally contribute to the restoration Christ-centered practices in my community?

• What steps can I take to promote unity, obedience, and evangelism?

Discussion Questions

• Are Christ and Scripture truly at the Center of your Faith and daily life?

• Which habits or traditions need adjustment to align with God's Word?

• How can you encourage Christ-centered teaching, fellwoship, and evangelism in your church?

• Are there practices that need prayer reform?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, we acknowledge that You are the Head of the Church and the Foundation of all Truth. Forgive us for the ways we have allowed tradition, culture, or human authority to overshadow Your Word. Restore our hearts, our communities, and our churches to be Christ-centered, Scripture-driven, and Holy Spirit-led. Empower us to discern truth, practice Biblical obedience, love one another, and boldly proclaim Your Gospel. May our lives and our churches reflect Your Glory and bring Honor to Your Name.

In Jesus' Name, we pray, Amen.

Week 4 Preview | Today: February 2, 2026

Next week, we will study, "Standing Firm In Biblical Truth In A Modern Church". We will explore practical ways believers can uphold Christ-centered principles, navigate cultural pressures, resist false teachings, and actively contribute to a Church that Honors Scripture and Glorifies Christ.