BRADWHITE.TV

Myths that Mangle Church Planters: Part 1

I believe in church planting and I love church planters!! I believe with all of my heart that it is the front lines of advancing the Kingdom of God.  Nine years ago my wife and I planted Lifepoint Church, and its been the ride of a lifetime! As church planters, we are constantly asking questions, because you live one week from extinction. We are hungry for ideas and helpful information, which can inspire you to take it to the next level in your leadership. Along with all the good, there are myths that sound so sexy and spiritual but they will MANGLE AND ENTANGLE YOUR MINISTRY!

THE MYTH OF FINANCIAL HINTS: We are planning a financial debt relief series and I will hint about tithing. Here's the upside, people won't give me pushback and they will begin to tithe.  WRONG!!!!  People don't get hints!!!! I bought this myth hook, line and sinker, and then one day I realized why Jesus taught about money so much...People don't get hints! If you want people to learn how to bring the tithe to God, you have to teach it clearly and consitently.

Pacifiers

All 3 of my kids loved their pacifiers, and it was like pulling teeth to break the habit as they got older. It was tough on them (and their parents!!) The pacifier was momentarily soothing for them and for Stephanie and I as well.  We were glad it calmed them down. The rugged reality was that we had the responsibility of breaking them from it, or they would never grow up.

Whether you are a parent or a pastor, the people you lead must be broken from spiritual pacifiers or they will never grow up! I was thinking this morning, what are my pacifiers(my way, my comfort, etc.)?  In Mark 15:15, Pilate gave into what the crowd wanted: "So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them..."  It was Barabbas or Jesus, and the crowd chose Barabbas to be set free and Jesus to be crucified.

Personally, I'm glad they chose Jesus because He died for my sins, but there is also a valuable lesson to learn: THE CROWD(MAJORITY) RARELY CHOOSES WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH!!! If the opposite was true, we wouldn't need leaders. As leaders, we must resolve to live in the uncomfortable reality of removing pacifiers from those we love so they can become all God made them to be.

"F" Words that destroy! Part 2

    FAMILIARITY!  Have you become so familiar with your surroundings that you begin to take for granted their greatness? When something is new we tend to care for it and be more thankful that it’s in our lives, but the more familiar we are the less we appreciate what we have. Have you become too familiar with your spouse? Kids? Job? Your church?  The Fact that Jesus has Saved your soul and made you brand new inside?

 

It happens to all of us, and it happened to the neighbors of Jesus. They took for granted that Jesus, the Son of God, was from their town. They had seen him play as a child and work as a carpenter. Now Jesus was performing these amazing miracles, and they just laughed it off. Look at what Jesus said:

 

 Mark 6:4(NLT) "...A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family."

 

Here is the question that we need to ask ourselves, "Where have I become too familiar?" Has Jesus blessed your life with people and relationships, and you’re starting to laugh it off and explain it away?

 

Lets live today with a sense of wonder of how good Jesus is too us!!

 

 

 

 

"F" words that destroy! Part 1

   FIXATING! This one word has ruined a lot of potentially great moments in my life! My perspective, and yours, determines our focus, our passion, our decisions, etc. When I Fixate on things other than what Jesus called me to do, I get distracted and defeated. Here are a few of the things I have fixated on in my life:

 

1. How I compare as a Pastor to other Pastors.

2. How LifePoint compares to other churches.

3. Beating myself up for past decisions.

4. The approval of others.

 

There are many more, but I think you get the point. Satan loves it when I fixate on the wrong things!  I am to FIXATE ON FOLLOWING JESUS!! He gives me what I need to know for this moment and that's all I need. Jesus will lead you to a life of an "Open Hand", and His way will push against the places and people I fixate on! If your grip is tight, there is a good chance you’re FIXATING on the wrong things.

 

Psalms 145:15-16(NLT) ¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.  ¹⁶ When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

 

 Let's live in this moment with our hands open!

Being a kid again

Kids have it made, would you agree? At least my kids do, they don't worry about mortgages or bills. They are loved and protected.  I have looked at them when they are playing a video game or watching a movie and had this thought, It would be cool to just be a kid again for a day!  Today, I realized I get to be a kid for the rest of my life.  Not just one day, but everyday!!  On top of that, Jesus said if I don't go back to being a kid I will never discover what life in the Kingdom of God is all about.  In Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus says that you and I are to live today with childlike simplicity.  If you have little kids, watch them today and ask yourself, "What can I learn from them about me and Jesus?"

Sin Management

Managing sin is how most Christians have been taught to deal with what they do that's wrong.  Avoid this, stop doing that, look this way, dress this way, etc.  This way of thinking is so not Jesus!! If I live my life this way, attempting to manage sin, Sin manages me!!  You and I will never know true freedom that Jesus promises in living and thinking this way.  Truthfully, living in sin management mode has made me so frustrated at times.  I asked myself, why am I inviting people into this so called life of truth and freedom in Jesus?  Join me, invite Jesus into your life, and live totally frustrated and guilty! 

    Jesus gave us the key to overcoming sin and finding freedom, Pursue loving me(Jesus) and Pursue loving others.  What does growing in Jesus look like?  I am learning more how to love. Try this today, and ask Jesus, Who should I show more love to today?  How can I love my wife/husband in ways they've never been loved? Galatians 5:13,"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love."  Francis Chan in his new book, "Crazy Love"(which is awesome), says, "We cannot truly love and sin at the same time."  Pursue being a lover of Jesus and People today and watch how your habits change!!