Rediscover. Recover. Rebuild.

The Ancient Pattern for Rebuilding the Church

Mooresville, Indiana does not need another shallow expression of modern Christianity. We do not need another religious program built upon entertainment, personality, novelty, or the passing trends of the age. What we need is far older, deeper, stronger, and more enduring. We need to rediscover, recover, and rebuild the ancient faith once for all delivered to the saints.

To rediscover the ancient faith is not to chase nostalgia or romanticize the past. It is to return to the faith of the Scriptures, the apostles, the martyrs, the Reformers, and the faithful Church throughout the ages. Christianity is not something we invent, improve, or reshape according to the spirit of the age. It is a sacred inheritance received from Christ, guarded by the Church, and handed down from generation to generation.

Matthew Henry wrote, “We often speak of the primitive church, and appeal to it, and to the history of it; in these verses [Acts 2:41-42] we have the history of the truly primitive church, of the first days of it.” That primitive Church “kept close to holy ordinances,” was diligent in “the preaching of the word,” kept “the communion of saints,” frequently joined in “the ordinance of the Lord’s supper,” “continued in prayers,” and was “continually praising God.”

That is the ancient pattern. Word, sacrament, prayer, fellowship, thanksgiving, reverence, doctrine, and devotion. The primitive Church was not driven by performance, amusement, marketing, or the restless hunger for something new. She was formed by the appointed means of grace and ordered under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

To recover the ancient faith is to take seriously what has been neglected or lost: reverent worship, sound doctrine, biblical preaching, the communion of saints, the sacraments, prayer, discipline, catechesis, and a life ordered under Christ. The Church cannot recover what she refuses to rediscover. If we are content with shallow roots, we should not be surprised by weak branches.

To rebuild the Church is to labor together in faith, prayer, sacrifice, and holy seriousness. Henry reminds us, “Good work is God’s work, and it shall prosper.” But this does not make us passive. He also warns, “Our prayers must be seconded with our serious endeavours, else we mock God.” We do not rebuild by human strength, but neither do we honor God by praying while refusing to put our hands to the work.

The rebuilding of the Church requires more than sentiment. It requires serious engagement. As Henry wrote, “Good work is likely to go on successfully when those that labour in it thus make a business [serious engagement] of it.” The work of rebuilding cannot be treated as a hobby, an occasional interest, or a religious preference. It must become the holy business of the people of God.

And yet, we do not despair over our weakness. Henry encourages us again: “When God has work to do, he will either find or make men fit to do it.” The Lord is able to raise up faithful men, women, children, families, pastors, elders, and congregations for the work He intends to accomplish.

Here in Mooresville and the surrounding communities, we are calling families, individuals, the weary, the disillusioned, and the hungry to come and rediscover the ancient faith. Come recover what has been lost. Come rebuild what has been deconstructed.

Come worship the living God in spirit and truth. Come take your place among the people of God. Come give yourself to the apostles’ doctrine, the communion of saints, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.

Rediscover. Recover. Rebuild.