Episode 122: Does the Restoration Movement need to be restored? (Matt Dabbs)

The Christian Chronicle Podcast

"The Restoration Movement" refers to the 19th and 20th century stream of events, people and thinking from which the Church of Christ emerged. Church of Christ folks of a certain age imagine that they are restoring the first century church as they find it in the New Testament.

But does restoration itself sometimes need to be restored?

If so, how do Christians restore restoration?

Matt Dabbs, a Church of Christ minister and scholar, offers his answers in his book, Restoring a Movement: A Hopeful Future for Churches of Christ.

In this episode, Matt talks about the powerful trends that fed the rise of the Church of Christ in its 1950s "golden age" in the United States. He also explores the powerful trends that worked against the Church of Christ and led to its decline in U.S. congregations and members in recent decades. Most important, he testifies to the power and work of God that is already making a future for emerging generations...if they choose it.

Links:

Restoring a Movement: A Hopeful Future for Churches of Christ by Matt Dabbs

Home Church Resources (Matt Dabbs's ministry to Christians and congregations who want to explore planting home churches)

The Christian Chronicle's report on Matt Dabbs's "backyard church" that formed during COVID isolation

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Chapters

1. Episode 122: Does the Restoration Movement need to be restored? (Matt Dabbs) (00:00:00)

2. Welcome to the Christian Chronicle Podcast (00:01:09)

3. The Decline of Church Buildings (00:04:37)

4. Matt Dabbs' Journey to House Church (00:09:39)

5. Backyard Church Success Stories (00:18:26)

6. Challenges of Buildings vs. Kingdom Focus (00:24:04)

7. Discipleship in House Churches (00:34:50)

8. Reaching Younger Generations Authentically (00:42:41)

9. Congregational Discernment and Prayer (00:51:06)

10. Closing Thoughts and Resources (00:56:54)