CP Huddle - Session 1

Jordan Thomas - "Walking in Memphis"
Church Planter in downtown Memphis, TN

Reasons for CP in Memphis:
- 65% have no church connection

What is the biggest problem in CP today? Methodology. Because our theology informs our methodology.

"We don't have a lot, but we have Christ. The bottom line is not how much charmisma do you have, how energetic you are, how extroverted you are, BUT are you and I fascinated with the God man JESUS?"

There needs to be TANGIBLE evidences that JESUS CHRIST is the central figure in your church and ministries. How is your ministry revolving around the person of Jesus Christ?

7 TANGIBLE, VISIBLE EVIDENCES IN MEMPHIS:

1) Prayer. It demonstrates that Christ is supreme.

PRACTICES: prayer meeting before every corporate gathering

2) Preaching. Preaching shows the supremacy of Christ. It's the climax of worship.

3) Teaching. Teaching informs and preaching moves. Teaching demonstrates the supremacy of JESUS through biblical maturity.

4) Fellowship. Not about fried chicken and coffee. Fellowship is the supremacy of JESUS in biblical community. If Jesus is the most fascinating figure in your life, then it is going to bleed out in your conversations.

5) Evangelism. Why are we not sharing the gospel? We're not so convinced ourselves that we are first hand witnesses of the resurrection itself. If we don't love Jesus like we should, we won't have to tell anybody...they'll know already. EVANGELISM demonstrates the supremacy of JESUS in commending HIM locally.

6) Missions. Missions carry an avoidable burden that there are 2 billion people on the planet who haven't heard about Jesus. The supremacy of JESUS in commending HIM globally. Are we personally viewing ourselves as missionaries to the community?

7) Church Planting. There are many reasons that it should be a hotter topic. God has ONE strategy for reaching the world: CHURCH PLANTING. There is no plan B for reaching the lost and edifying believers.

"I can't read the NT, books involving churches being planted, I can't help but want to be involved in Church Planting"

3 FACTORS:
- biblical compulsion
- circumstances
- personal confirmation

ONE that will protect you from more CP errors:

Plurality of Elders (Every church in the NT had a plurality of elders)
Not being able to call all the shots is the best favor you can give yourself.

"One sentence God gave us: WE WANT TO BE A CHURCH PLANTING CHURCH in downtown MEMPHIS"