Kitchen Table Theology
Where Coffee, Conversation, and Theology Meet. During my 40 years in ministry, I’ve developed an increasing burden for what I sense to be an increase in biblical illiteracy, not only among those in our churches, but also in the young men and women entering the ministry. Conversely, I am hopeful, because I also sense a hunger from people to learn and know biblical truth and the things of God has revealed to us in Scripture. Our Kitchen Table Theology team has developed a list of over 150 doctrinal topics which I, along with one of my cohosts, Jen Denton or Tiffany Coker, examine weekly. Our goal is to educate and share biblical truth on the same level as if we were sitting at your kitchen table with a Bible and a pot of southern pecan coffee in front of us. Welcome to the table!
Kitchen Table Theology
247 The Christian & Missionary Alliance (CMA) | An Overview of the Fourfold Gospel, Beliefs & Structure
What do A.W. Tozer, global missions, and church planting have in common? They’re all part of the story of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. In this episode, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany unpack the history, theology, and leadership structure of the CMA denomination. They explore the Alliance’s roots in 19th-century revivalism, the influence of A.B. Simpson, and why CMA churches are often more recognizable by their mission than by their name.
🎉 This is Part 3 of our series on the Christian & Missionary Alliance. If you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1-2: Our full interview with Pastor Jason Esposito of Crossway Church, and our other episodes in our denominational series covering traditions like Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, and more.
Here’s What We Discussed:
02:00 – How the CMA Began
The Christian & Missionary Alliance started as two separate societies focused on domestic and international missions, founded by A.B. Simpson in the late 1800s. It is larger internationally than in the U.S., a result of its early emphasis on global missions.
05:31 – Influential Figures: A.B. Simpson and A.W. Tozer
How these two leaders shaped CMA theology and left a legacy through teaching and writing that still influences the denomination today.
07:59 – Church Governance in the CMA
Local CMA churches operate under a district-based system, with authority structures that include district superintendents, elder boards, and national leadership.
10:46 – What a CMA Church Service Looks Like
Worship styles vary, but expect a strong emphasis on Scripture, music, prayer, and mission, whether the service is traditional or contemporary.
12:35 – The Fourfold Gospel
A summary of the CMA’s core theological framework: Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.
14:54 – Sanctification in CMA Theology
The CMA teaches both positional and progressive sanctification, rooted in the Holiness Movement and grounded in Scripture.
16:39 – The CMA View on Healing
Belief in physical healing through Christ’s atonement is a distinctive teaching, with practices like prayer and anointing with oil.
17:57 – The Second Coming and Eternal Judgment
The CMA holds a premillennial view of Christ’s return and teaches eternal life for the saved and judgment for the lost.
Key Quote:
The Fourfold Gospel is Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King—and those four distinctives have remained central to the Alliance since the beginning.” – Pastor Jeff Cranston
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Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!