Re-Discovering E-DNA | 2025 National Disciple Making Forum (Jason Shepperd)

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Church Project Track Session 1: Re-Discovering E-DNA

Jesus started this beautiful thing called "church," not man. And, He and His followers led and modeled how he intended for church to be lived out. Rather than the latest church growth book or contextually-based model, it is time to return to the ways Jesus intended for His Church to be lived out as seen in the example of the Early Church.

Rethinking Church: From Traditional to Transformative - A Journey of Rediscovery

In this session, the speaker shares his 15-year journey of founding and developing Church Project. Growing up in a small fundamental Southern Baptist church in Tyler, Texas, he initially misunderstood the gospel's breadth. Through years of college, internships, and pastoral work, he grappled with his frustrations and God's calling. After leaving traditional church settings, he started Church Project with a mission to return to the church's original intent. The session dives into the importance of decentralizing from primary places and priests, distributing pastoral leadership, and fostering diverse discipleship communities. Through biblical references, especially Titus chapter one, the speaker explains the foundational elements needed to create effective and healthy church communities. Join this transformative discussion that challenges conventional ecclesiology and aims to shape a more inclusive, decentralized, and dynamic church model.

Key Takeaways 
00:00 The Beginnings of Church Product
00:45 Discovering the True Gospel
00:54 From Pre-Med to Ministry
01:46 A Frustrated Calling
03:46 The Birth of Church Product
04:29 Rethinking Church
05:12 Understanding Ecclesiology
05:59 Paul's Instructions to Titus
18:22 Distributed Pastoral Leadership
23:22 Diverse Discipleship Communities
26:46 Q&A Session
27:50 Introduction to the Sessions
28:10 The Role of the Building
29:11 Centralization vs. Decentralization
29:53 Gathering Spaces and Their Use
33:41 House Churches and Accountability
38:16 Challenges and Solutions in House Churches
49:43 The Importance of Corporate Gatherings
57:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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