While different in context, the challenges facing the church are essentially the same today as they have always been. The Church, the Falling Away, and the Restoration by J. W. Shepherd (1851-1948) was first published in 1929. Each of the divisions of the book provides an in-depth study. The section on "The Church" looks at such timely topics as membership, fellowship, worship, baptism, organization and names. "The Falling Away" studies heresies, historical figures and historical events as they altered the faithfulness of the church. "The Restoration" examines the various influences from the European Reformation through the 19th century American Restoration that contributed to the church as it exists today.