The Church Sent Out v2

Introduction

Good morning, my name is Aron White. I am grateful for Pastor __ for inviting me to speak with you today.

This morning, I want to share three things:

My story - how God has led me

What the Bible teaches about sending and church planting

How you can join in what God is doing in Leoti

Titus 10 - Which Biblical Character?

Over the past several months, I’ve been meeting with Pastor Jim from Immanuel Baptist Church of Scott City. We had gone through a book called, ‘Titus 10.” The books about “Foundations for Godly Manhood.” One of the first questions asked in the book was “Which biblical character do you identify with? This stuck with me as there are so many incredible characters. Obviosity I did not want to pick Jonah.

Jonah tried to run from God and ended up in the worst Airbnb in history - three nights, no windows, and defiantly no room service or at least nothing good.

First was Peter

At first, I thought of Peter - bold, impulsive, quick to act. i can relate to that.

Father of Faith - Abraham

But as I reflected deeper. Another name came to mind. This character was known for being the “Father of Faith.” Does anyone have a guess? Abraham. Abraham’s story is found in the “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11.

Before we dig in, lets pray to the Father.

Prayer

Message

Faith Requirement - Abraham's Journey Map

Faith requires us to trust God, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Read Hebrews 11:8-10

Hebrews 11:8–10 CSB

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Did not know where he was going

In verse 8, Abraham was told to go… but didn’t know where. He was told to pack up his family and start walking. I’d take a guess, for none of us here this doesn’t make sense. Abraham was promised a place in which he would have a great inheritance.

Atlas and MapQuest)

These kids today will never understand the struggles of planning for a trip like the good old days. Bringing out the old Atlas maps. Laying them out on a table and charting your course. Then comes the trick of folding the map just right so you could look at it when you are driving. I didn’t start taking trips on my own until MapQuest. MapQuest allowed you to go online, plot where you were going, and then you had to print off turn-by turn instructions, as well as a small map that you could never read.

Wouldn’t it been nice to be given a turn-by-turn instructions from God for our lives? I am confident that Abraham would have appreciated a roadmap, even a paper one, of what laid ahead of him.

Abraham’s Roadmap

We can see Abraham's Journey Map now. However, when Abraham was told to go he did not get a map, no GPS, no plan. Just “follow me.”

This type of trust teaches us that faith is more about who we are following then where we are going.

God’s purpose for Abraham wasn’t reaching the land; it was about becoming a person God wanted Abraham to be. The process shaped his character, his relationship with God, and his legacy.

My Roadmap So Far

As I look back over my own life, I see God has been shaping my character, building a stronger relationship with Him and its been more about following him then where I was going.

At 16, I felt called to ministry. I attended Midwestern Baptist College in Kansas City, served as a youth pastor, and began my masters degree. Life was on track. Then everything changed.

Aron Roadmap

After a difficult ministry season, God ultimately redirected me into law enforcement and brough me to Leoti. For eight years, I’ve served as a deputy sheriff.

And I’ll be honest - I questioned God. “Why take me out of full time ministry?” But now I see it clearly:

God never changed my calling - He was preparing me.

Through the badge, I stepped into people’s darkest moments; Addiction, broken families, and crisis.

In rural town like Leoti, many are: disconnected from church, searching for purpose, and walking through brokenness. A recent statistic from the ministerial alliance showed that only 25% of Wichita County attend regularly at a local church. They are largely unreached.

MOVE BIBLICAL CONIVICTION BEFORE TALKING ABOUT NEW LIFE LEOTIgo

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