History of the church -Art Clark
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class opened with a prayer and a brief recap of the Reformation study before moving into the Restoration era, concentrating on Thomas Campbell, his arrival in America in 1807, and his collaboration with his son Alexander after the latter’s 1809 immigration. Art Clark explained Campbell’s dissatisfaction with formalism, creeds, and denominational divisions, emphasizing his conviction that the church must follow only what is plainly taught in Scripture. The teacher highlighted Campbell’s Declaration and Address, especially the principle that nothing should be received into the church that is not as old as the New Testament and that silence in Scripture should lead to silence in practice. Clark then explored the concept of "approved precedent," showing how early church practices like weekly communion (referencing Acts 27), plurality of elders, immersion baptism, and vocal worship became authoritative despite not being explicit commands. He illustrated how the Campbells’ views evolved over their 45‑year ministry, demonstrating that restoration heroes refined their doctrines by returning to the New Testament. The session concluded with a handout on these precedents and a reminder of the ongoing distinction between denominational and "un‑denominational" churches.