The Apostle Paul often used sporting images to illustrate aspects of the life of the Christian. He writes this:

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize?

Run in such a way that you may win it.

Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. 

So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.                                 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Preamble:

The sole reason for setting an essay task is that you come to grips more intimately with what the founders of this "Movement within the main stream church" that has become Churches of Christ in this country, were about.

The essay task:

I want you to read source documents from the founders of the movement, not later papers about what they thought. Try and get inside the founders mind set, what they were saying on the subject you choose, then comment on what that means today, how we have changed over time and whether we would even agree with them today.

You will need to take account of the context:

The society (milieu) what was the situation in life of the day, I've included a couple of papers in the reader to help you with that.

The church - What was the motivation behind the movement. Clearly Unity was a key issue and excerpts from the "Declaration and Address" by Thomas Campbell will inform you of that.

ESSAY TOPICS and some references to read and pursue:

1. Baptism

A sub theme to look at here is whether our founders thought of baptism as essential to salvation? Also- How do we handle those of infant baptism traditions, as they enter our churches?

Links to SOME possible references:

Works of Elder BW Stone  Chapter III

Alexander Campbell: The Christian System Chapter XVI

Alexander Campbell: Baptism with its antecedents and consequents This is a large paper. Maybe have a browse in Books IV, V and Chapter VIII of Book VI.

2. The Lord's Supper

Links to some possible references:

Barton Stone: The Lord's Supper (reading list)                               

Alexander Campbell: The Christian System "Breaking the Loaf"

Alexander Campbell: Weekly Communion

Alexander Campbell: The Lord's Day

3. Ministry and Ministers

A sub theme is to do with ministry titles.  Today many minister's take the title of "Pastor". What would our founders have thought about that?

Links to some possible references:

The last will and testament of the Springfield Presbytery (on the reading list)

Alexander Campbell: The Christian System Chapter XXV

Alexander Campbell: The Lord's Day

Alexander Campbell: Call to the Ministry

Walter Scott: On Teaching Christianity

4. The Word of God and Exposition (Preaching the Word)

Links to some possible references:

Thomas Campbell: The Declaration and Address  Section 16ff

Alexander Campbell: The Christian System Chapter II

Alexander Campbell: Baptism with its antecedents and consequents - Chapter III The Bible - Principles of Interpretation

Alexander Campbell: Rules on Sermon Delivery

Walter Scott: On Teaching Christianity