There are some fantastic online resources and websites available for learning about the Christian Church—especially those with a focus on Restoration history, which often refers to the Restoration Movement (including the Stone-Campbell tradition). Here’s a categorized list of some of the best:
🕊️ Restoration Movement Specific Resources
These focus on the Restoration Movement (Churches of Christ, Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ):
1. The Restoration Movement
- Website: therestorationmovement.com
- Description: Extensive archive of biographies, sermons, church history documents, and cemetery records related to early leaders like Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and others.
- Strengths: Detailed, historical, and deeply rooted in Restoration figures.
2. The Disciples of Christ Historical Society
- Website: discipleshistory.org
- Description: Rich archive and research center for the Disciples of Christ, a major branch of the Restoration Movement.
- Strengths: Academic but accessible, with a focus on historical documents, artifacts, and scholarship.
3. The Center for Restoration Studies at Abilene Christian University
- Website: acu.edu
- Description: Home to the largest known collection of Restoration literature, books, and historical documents.
- Strengths: Scholarly, great for research, often includes digitized materials.
📚 General Christian Church History
These are broader in scope but still useful:
4. Christian History Institute
- Website: christianhistoryinstitute.org
- Description: Offers free articles, magazines, and resources on Christian history from the early church to modern times.
- Strengths: Easy to read, thematic issues (e.g., Reformation, Church Fathers, etc.).
5. Early Christian Writings
- Website: earlychristianwritings.com
- Description: Collection of early church texts (pre-Nicene) including writings of the Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, and more.
- Strengths: Great for seeing the historical context and beliefs before institutional denominationalism.
🎧 Podcasts and Media
For more audio-visual learners:
6. The Christian Chronicle
- Website: christianchronicle.org
- Description: News source for Churches of Christ. Includes stories, interviews, global church growth, and Restoration Movement commentary.
- Strengths: Current events, community stories, and movement updates.
7. “Unashamed with Phil & Jase Robertson” (Duck Dynasty)
- Podcast: Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
- Description: Biblically grounded discussions with Restoration Movement influence, especially from a non-denominational perspective.
- Strengths: Down-to-earth, scripture-heavy, with real-life Restoration-style application.
📖 Scripture and Study Tools (KJV Focused)
If you’re diving into doctrine along with Restoration principles:
8. Blue Letter Bible
- Website: blueletterbible.org
- Description: Study tools, lexicons, commentaries, and KJV with Greek/Hebrew.
- Strengths: Great for deep personal Bible study—especially with a Restoration-style sola scriptura focus.
9. StudyLight
- Website: studylight.org
- Description: Bible study tools, devotionals, commentaries, sermons, and historical church tools.
- Strengths: Access to historical theology and Restoration-like approach to scripture.
Additional Church and Restoration History Links