The March addition of the Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast was awesome! It was called “Do For One”. This lesson is helping shape the way I do ministry and work with people. I highly recommend clicking the link above and listening to it. Here is the summary of the lesson.

At a conference Andy was doing a Question and Answer and a woman asked this question: “Andy, with everything you have going on, all these goals, all these changes, creating churches, etc. How do you keep your heart from growing cold toward people? Because there are so many people, you can’t pastor all of them, how do you keep your heart soft?”

Andy’s Response:

“Do For One, What You Wish You Could Do For Everyone”

I don’t know about you, but I love people. I want to make a difference in everybody’s life! However, as I get older and gain more responsibility, I am recognizing that I can’t make a difference (the way I’d like to) in everybody’s life. I don’t have the time, energy, or resources.

When I heard that phrase from Andy, it set me free. I wish I could do for everyone what I can do for a few, but I can’t. But I realized that I can do for a few what I wish I could do for everyone.

So from now on, I’m going to do for a few, what I wish I could do for everyone. Then I am going to train my leaders and people around me to do the same. If we all do for one what we wish we could do for everyone, we will change the world.

Who is going to be your one today? This week? This month?

Go do for them today, what you wish you could do for everyone!

Thoughts?

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!

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.                                                         – Jermiah 29:11

Last Catalyst Takeaway: In Times of Uncertainty – Go Back to what God called YOU to do

Andy Stanley is amazing! He talked about leading in uncertain times … Here were my key takeaways from his talk:

Uncertainty is the Arena Where Great Leaders are Born -We all hate uncertainty, but without it we would have no need for leadership and we’d never become the people God wants us to become through the journey of trusting Him.

You don’t Learn Anything in times of Certainty - We all want certainty  in life – certainty that we’ll be a success, that we’ll know what the next step in our lives is, etc. . .  Honestly… we have certainty in the Word of God that our lives are going to be amazing if we follow Him. In times of uncertainty, we can stand on the certainty of God’s promises (His Word)

It’s Ok to be Uncertain, It’s not ok to be Unclear -You can be uncertain about what you’re supposed to do as far as the plan is concerned, but you have to be clear in knowing what God called you to do.

The Clearer You Are on What God’s Called You to, the less Uncertainty will Matter -When you know the Word and know what God has called you to do, obstacles seem so much smaller and easier to tackle.

What can you do proactively in what God has called you to do now? - Stop waiting for everything to be certain and get busy for God today. Andy always says, “You’ll never be more than 80% sure” – so step out do something!

What is the vision God put in YOUR heart? If you don’t know, spend time in prayer, think back to the beginning of your Christian walk before everything got so “complex” – what did you dream about? What do you KNOW He told you to do?