The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 8

The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 8

In the early 1800s, religious life in America was in great need of revival. Many denominations had drifted into unscriptural practices, ritualism, and spiritual apathy. Men like Barton W. Stone, influenced by other reform-minded preachers, sought to abandon human creeds and return to the Bible alone. This lesson examines the lives, challenges, and contributions of these leaders who helped restore New Testament Christianity in America.

The Need for Revival in Early 1800s America
Around the year 1800, religious conditions in America were marked by widespread denominationalism, empty ritual, and indifference toward genuine faith. Churches in many areas emphasized traditions over truth, and the authority of Scripture was often overshadowed by man-made creeds. This spiritual stagnation set the stage for a revival—a movement to return to the teaching and practice of the New Testament church.

James McGready’s Challenge to Presbyterian Doctrine
One key figure in this revival spirit was James McGready, a Presbyterian preacher in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The Presbyterian Church, rooted in the Church of Scotland, adhered to the Westminster Confession of Faith, which included doctrines like “once saved, always saved” and unconditional predestination. McGready, upon comparing these doctrines to Scripture, found them wanting. He could not in good conscience preach such teachings and instead emphasized repentance, which contradicted the idea of predestination. His preaching provoked strong opposition—his pulpit was burned, and he received threats written in blood. Yet, his passion and boldness influenced future leaders, including Barton W. Stone.

Barton W. Stone’s Early Ministry and Cane Ridge
Barton W. Stone also entered the Presbyterian ministry but would not blindly affirm the Westminster Confession. When asked to approve it during his ordination, he replied, “I do, as far as it agrees with the Bible.” This mindset would define his ministry. Stone moved to Cane Ridge, Kentucky—site of a famous 1801 revival that drew between 15,000 and 25,000 people. Preachers from different denominations proclaimed repentance, but emotional excesses were common: shouting, convulsions, “holy laughter,” barking, and wild dancing were seen by many as signs of conversion. While the revival stirred interest, it also revealed a need for a clearer return to biblical teaching.

The Springfield Presbytery and the Last Will and Testament
Stone and other like-minded ministers left their regional Presbyterian bodies, forming the Springfield Presbytery in 1803. Their intent was to follow the Bible alone, but within a year they saw no biblical authority for a presbytery. In 1804 they disbanded it, publishing the “Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery.” This document called for unity in the body of Christ, abandonment of human titles, and reliance solely on the Scriptures as the guide to heaven. It urged each congregation to choose and support its own preacher, and boldly declared it better to have one Book—the Bible—than many books and lose one’s soul.

Progress Toward Biblical Christianity
These early reformers were learning and applying Scripture step by step. When biblical teaching on baptism was discussed, it led some to reject infant baptism entirely. Likewise, James O’Kelly urged the rejection of all denominational names in favor of “Christian” only, to avoid sectarianism.

John Mulkey’s Departure from Baptist Doctrine
In Tompkinsville, Kentucky, Baptist preacher John Mulkey rejected the doctrine of irresistible grace while preaching from John 10. Declaring he could no longer preach Baptist doctrine, he left the pulpit and invited any who agreed to follow. Two-thirds of the congregation did so, forming a Church of Christ. The original Baptist congregation still exists, but Mulkey’s meetinghouse—now a state park—stands as a testament to conviction. Mulkey later worked with Stone, preaching for over fifty years and seeing about 10,000 people converted.

The Christian Messenger and Strengthening the Movement
Barton Stone’s newspaper, The Christian Messenger, served as both a teaching tool and a communication link for scattered congregations striving to restore New Testament Christianity. It encouraged, informed, and helped unify the movement. Stone also taught in an academy, training students—many of whom became gospel preachers.

The Influence of Faithful Preaching
One of Stone’s students, John Cox, held a gospel meeting in Mississippi where only one person—a 13-year-old girl—was baptized. Cox thought the meeting a failure until learning that she had four sons who all became preachers, influencing countless souls.

Other Notable Figures
Another important name was John T. Johnson, author of restoration literature and brother to the ninth Vice President of the United States. His dedication to New Testament Christianity reflected the broad impact of the restoration effort.

Conclusion of This Phase of Restoration History
These accounts of Stone, McGready, Mulkey, and others show the courage required to reject human creeds and embrace the authority of the Bible. Their work prepared the way for the influence of Thomas and Alexander Campbell, which we will examine in the next lesson.

Exhaustive Sermon Outline: The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 8

• Introduction
  • Religious stagnation in early 1800s America
  • Need for revival and return to the Bible
• James McGready
  • Presbyterian preacher rejecting “once saved, always saved” and predestination
  • Opposition: pulpit burned, threats in blood
  • Influence on Barton W. Stone
• Barton W. Stone
  • Refusal to fully endorse Westminster Confession
  • Cane Ridge revival (1801) with mass attendance and emotional excesses
• Springfield Presbytery
  • Formation in 1803, dissolution in 1804
  • “Last Will and Testament” principles:
    • Unity in Christ
    • No human titles or man-made laws
    • Bible as sole guide
    • Congregational independence
    • Urging all to read the Bible carefully
• Step-by-Step Restoration
  • Rejection of infant baptism
  • Adoption of “Christian” as sole name
• John Mulkey
  • Rejection of irresistible grace
  • Departure from Baptist Church with two-thirds of congregation
  • Mulkey meetinghouse preserved
  • Fifty-year ministry, 10,000 conversions
• The Christian Messenger
  • Weekly newspaper uniting and teaching
  • Influence on isolated congregations
• Impact of Preaching
  • John Cox’s “one baptism” meeting and its long-term influence
• Other Notable Names
  • John T. Johnson’s writings and influence
• Conclusion
  • Courage of early restorers
  • Preparation for Campbell influence

Call to Action
The courage and dedication of these restoration leaders challenge us to examine our own faith and practices in the light of Scripture. They remind us that returning to the Bible alone is not merely a historical movement—it is a living responsibility for every Christian today. May we be willing to abandon any tradition, habit, or belief that is not grounded in God’s Word, and may we work with the same zeal to strengthen the Lord’s church.

Key Takeaways

• The early 1800s saw widespread denominational error and spiritual stagnation (Revelation 3:1-3)
• James McGready emphasized repentance over predestination (Acts 17:30)
• Barton W. Stone insisted on agreement with the Bible as the standard (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• The Springfield Presbytery’s “Last Will and Testament” urged unity and sole reliance on Scripture (Ephesians 4:4-6)
• John Mulkey left Baptist doctrine to follow biblical teaching (Galatians 1:8-9)
• The Christian Messenger connected and encouraged restoration congregations (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Even small beginnings can bear great fruit in God’s kingdom (Zechariah 4:10; Matthew 13:31-32)

Scripture Reference List

• Revelation 3:1-3 – Warning to spiritually dead congregations
• Acts 17:30 – Command for all men everywhere to repent
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Scripture as complete guide for faith and practice
• Ephesians 4:4-6 – Unity of the Spirit in one body
• Galatians 1:8-9 – Warning against preaching another gospel
• Hebrews 10:24-25 – Encouragement and assembly of believers
• Zechariah 4:10 – Do not despise the day of small things
• Matthew 13:31-32 – Parable of the mustard seed

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO