This book is a must read for anybody who communicates for a living, especially pastors. Andy Stanley literally goes through all of the principles he uses while constructing and preaching a sermon. This is every pastors dream book! The first half of the book is actually a story written by Lane Jones, one of Andy’s campus directors, about a pastor who connects with a communication mentor who runs him through some great communication principles. The second half of the book was written by Andy and consists of all of the practical things that communicators need to do before and during a speaking engagement.

I think the last paragraph sums up the importance of learning to be a great communicator:

“The church needs your voice and your insight. As does your community and the woorld. For that reason, never stop growing and developing as a communicator. Find what works. Find what works for you. And everytime you have an opportunity to communicate God’s Word, communicate for a change!”

Here were some of my key takeaways:

• You’ve got to care more for the people in the audience than the person on the platform. Then our presentations will take on real significance. Until we do, communication is really all about us.

• Determine your goal, pick a point, create a map, internalize the message, engage your audience, find your voice. start all over.

• Our goal as communicators should be life change.
  

• We need one point messages – the biggest challenge won’t be finding the one idea, but eliminating the other three

• You need to have your message internalized to the point where you could do a 5 minute version from memory
  

• The goal isn’t to cover everything in your notes, it is to take your audience on a journey with you

• Having too much to say has almost the same effect as saying nothing

• Presentation trumps information… Presentation matters. A lot.
  

• Your first responsibility is to pose a question your audience wants answered, create tension that needs resolved, or point to a mystery that they have been unable to solve.

• “Being who you are” is not an excuse for poor communication.

• Clarity will trump style every time

Final Grade: A+ (Must read)    Buy it here!

¹²Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.                                                                                         I Tim. 4:12

Practical Success

Yesterday we covered some success principles . . . today I want to focus on things the I believe are critical to a successful youth ministry.

Small Groups - They empower your leaders to be “youth pastors” over the students in their group. They are a catalyst for building authentic relationships. As you grow bigger, you must become smaller (still be able to connect with everybody) and the only way to effectively do this is through small groups.

Discipleship – You have to have some kind of process in which students can grow up spiritually. Every youth group will be different – maybe you have classes on a consistent basis, a discipleship program, or some other avenue.

The Right People in the Right Place - You have to have great leaders in coordinator positions – let them own and dream for their areas. Let them schedule, train, and grow their areas!

Student Leadership - If you don’t have some way for students to lead as they get older, you’ll never keep your Jr.’s and Sr.’s… too often we offer the same thing for everyone for their 5 years in youth group and expect them to love it . . .they won’t. We need to empower them, train them, and expect big things from them.

Opportunities to Serve – I think it’s critical for your youth ministry to serve your community. Start an outreach team and have monthly or quarterly outreaches. It allows students to forget about themselves and be a part of something much bigger than themselves.

Follow – Up - You have to have a way to follow-up with students who comes to your youth group on a weekly basis, follow-up with first time guests, and follow up on salvations.

What practical factors do you believe are necessary for a successful youth ministry?

¹²Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.                                                                                         I Tim. 4:12

What is Success in Youth Ministry?

Over the past several years I’ve been to several conferences on youth ministry and met a lot of youth pastors. I often laugh because I hear the same things over and over and over again – “If only we had a bigger budget” “If we had your youth center we could do something big” “If, when, if, when, but . . . etc.” I like what John Maxwell says, “If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas.” 

Personally, I think all of that stuff has VERY LITTLE to do with having a successful youth ministry. You may say, “Yea, Bubba, but you have a nice youth budget, a big staff, and your own youth center… it’s easy for you to say.” But I can tell you that just because we have that stuff does not mean we’re successful… it depends on how you measure success.

If you were to ask me what I think makes a successful youth ministry after 6 years of serving in a sweet one, I’d tell you this:

A Leader with a Vision – The youth pastor MUST believe in the youth ministry. He/She must believe in it where it is and must believe in what it could become. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Without a vision, people perish – it’s no different in youth ministry.

A Leader that Walks with God – Where your students are at spiritually will be a direct result of where your relationship is with God (I recognize it’s not the only factor, but it’s a huge one). Disappointed with your students spirituality? Look in the mirror…

Measuring Spirituality over Numbers: Numbers are VERY important, But Can’t be the Only Measuring Stick. Anyone can get a room filled with hundred of students if they really wanted to…. but are they giving their lives to God? Are they walking with Him? Growing spiritually? If not, I don’t care how many students fill your room, you’re missing it.

A Culture where Students can Encounter God – Buildings, Budgets, etc. are Nice, but mean very little when it comes to success – while these things might bring students in the door, it certainly won’t keep them there. What will? An experience with God, and they can do that without a youth center, a big budget, etc.. You must create an environment where students can encounter God.

Authentic Relationships – Show me a successful youth ministry and I’ll show you one where students and leaders all around have great relationships. Brad Cooper once told me that, “As we get bigger, we must become smaller.” As your youth group grows – you must find more and more ways (small groups work great) for students to find and build authentic relationships.

This is getting a little long… Tomorrow I’ll go over some more things that make up a successful youth ministry…

What do you think contributes to a successful ministry?