NewSpring Leadership Conference- Andy Stanley

Recently, several members of our church staff attended the NewSpring Leadership Conference at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. In several upcoming posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.

Andy Stanley is the Founding Pastor of North Point Ministries in Alpharetta, GA. Stanley's session was titled, "Five Guidelines for Preaching with Unchurched People in the Room".

1. Let them know you know they're there and that you're happy about it

2. Choose a passage of Scripture and stay there. Make it so interesting that they will go home and read it again. Make it so clear that when they read it, they understand it and keep reading. Bring your energy to the text and uncover the energy in the text. Don't skimp on the text; we want people to fall in love with the Author of the text. Slow down, assume nothing.

3. Give them permission not to believe or obey (let the Holy Spirit work). When you give unchurched people an out, they respond by leaning in.

4. Avoid the phrase "the Bible says". Cite authors. Use the phrase "New Testament marriage, not Biblical marriage".

5. Acknowledge the odd as odd. Tie stories back to Jesus. The foundation of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus. Remove every obstacle except the offense of the cross.