Visions of Restoration: The History of Churches of Christ

by John Young

In Visions Of Restoration , historian John Young provides a highly readable, easily accessible overview of the history of Churches of Christ stretching from the early nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. The target audience is primarily members of Churches of Christ who are new to the study of their fellowship's history and, at a length of thirteen short chapters, it is designed to be used in Sunday School-type settings. Discussion questions are included with each chapter to generate conversation and reflection on each topic. Young also furnishes a bibliographic essay that offers suggestions for further reading and research.

128 pages, paperback

Published September 12, 2019

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Reviews

[Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview on the History of the Church of Christ movement

This book helped me learn so much more just all around information about the movement, if you are looking for an easy to follow history of the restorationist movement this is a great resource!

[Bill Hooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I think a little more highly than another reviewer does; but I understand the feeling. This book does not have the depth of Bill Humble's "The Story of the Restoration;" or, Enos Dowling's "The Restoration Movement; " or Foster and Holloway's "Renewing God's People;" but it does have something to offer. It is concise, and covers things that the others did not -- either because they were written to far back, or just didn't want to deal with. I believe that this would make a good introduction for junior high group; or for an adult small group that has a couple of well read people to carry the discussion. If you have never read a history of the churches of Christ, this would be a good first read. If you have read several, you will be able to pick out a few tidbits here and there, that will have made the book worthwhile.

[Russell Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for what it is, a quick run-down of the restoration history. A quick glance at the book helps you understand it was made to be: a simple and short book for a group study setting. It is 13 chapters (typical for church quarterly studies) and discussion questions at the end of the chapters. Other reviews are trying to grade it unfairly, I believe, by relating it to something it is not trying to be.

If you want a good discussion starter and overview of the Restoration Movement for a class setting, or you want a quick run down so you have some familiarity with it, then this is a fantastic read.

[Nat Medlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of the growth of The Churches of Christ from the biblical restoration movement of the early 1800s through the modern day. It discusses various topics but none of them in as great a detail as I would like to see. This was too much of an overview for my taste. I would have liked to see more depth to the story which would have given the work more depth.

[David Sanders · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would be ashamed to take money for this book. It has the amount of research in it that one might expect in an 8th grade term paper. There's absolutely nothing new in this book. I can't believe anything this shallow even exists.