University Christian Church

1. Historical Development
a. Reformation Principles
1. Priesthood of all believers
2. Bible, the only authority
3. Right and duty of private judgment
b. Restoration Movement: Restore the New Testament Church (Disciples of Christ)
1. Thomas Campbell (1807) Old Light Anti Burger Seceder Presbyterian Church
2. Alexander Campbell
3. Racoon John Smith
4. Barton W. Stone
5. Walter Scott
c. Present Status (5,000,000 + members at 6,000 congregations)
1. Church of Christ (non-instrumental) 1906
2. Christian Church @ 1926
3. Disciples of Christ (denominational)
2. Basic Beliefs and Practices
a. Ancient Name: Christian
1. Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16
2. Barton W. Stone “We are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only.”
b. Ancient Book: Bible
1. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
2. Thomas Campbell “If we follow the Bible only, we will be Christians only.”
3. “Where the Bible speaks, we speak, where the Bible is silent, we are silent.”
4. “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things Love.”
5. “No Creed but Christ: No Book but the Bible.”
c. Ancient Order of Things
1. Alexander Campbell “Do things in Bible ways, call Bible things by Bible names.”
2. Polity
a. Autonomous Congregation
b. Lead by Elders (1 Timothy 3)
3. Ordinances (Sacraments)
a. Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7)
b. Baptism (by immersion) Romans 6:3-5
d. Ancient Gospel
1. Walter Scott, Evangelist
2. “No Creed but Christ”
a. Hear
b. Believe
c. Repent
d. Confess
e. Be baptized
f. Receive Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
3. Growth of the Movement
a. History of Growth
1. Between 1830-1860 members grew by 900%, population of country grew by 300%
2. 1860-1900 grew by 500%, twice the rate of population growth
3. By 1900 R.M. was 45 x’s as large as 1830
4. By 1900 new churches were started at the rate of 1,000 per year
5. Restoration was an idea whose time had come
b. History of Division of Stagnation
1. We became a monument
2. Divided 1906 from non-instrumental Church of Christ. 1926 from Disciples of Christ.
3. Changed focus from evangelism to unity and doctrinal purity.
4. Christian Church held even in the 1980’s
5. 1990’s – second fastest growing religious body in the United States.
6. 58 churches of 2,000
+ attendance: 2016


4. Bibliography
Dowling, Enos. The Restoration Movement. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing 1964
Garrison, W.E. & DeGroot, Alfred. The Disciples of Christ: A History
Murch, James DeForest. Christians Only. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, 1962
Welshimer, P.H. Concerning the Disciples. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, 1935
Welshimer, P.H. Facts Concerning the New Testament Church. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing
Director of the Ministry: A Yearbook of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.