Catalyst 20 Years Later: Andy Stanley

I’m reviewing my personal notes from the 2005 Catalyst Conference and sharing them here for what it’s worth.

Andy Stanley - "When Opportunity Knocks"

Centered around a leader's integrity, Andy walked us through 1 Samuel 24:1-12.  I loved his sarcasm throughout!

1.  You leadership ability has the potential to take you further than your character can SUSTAIN you.

2.  Leaders get into trouble when their integrity doesn't keep pace with the momentum created by their GIFTEDNESS.  There is no correlation between giftedness and maturity!

3.  Our commitment to integrity can easily be eroded by our love of PROGRESS.

4.  The excuses we are most tempted to use are:  God PROMISED it or I DESERVE it.  (Ooh, that's good!)

Talking about David's opportunity to kill Saul while he relieved himself in the cave:

A.  This had all the makings of a God thing.

B.  When opportunities line up with our PRAYERS and PASSIONS, it is difficult to exercise RESTRAINT.  Emotional environments are a fog!

C.  Opportunities must be weighed against something other than the uniqueness of the circumstances surrounding them.  An open door isn't necessarily an invitation from God!

David's response:

A.  David weighed the oppurtunity against three things:

     1.  The LAW of God ("The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my MASTER..."

     2.  The PRINCIPLES of God ("...for he is the annointed of the Lord.")  Principle at work here:  You do not replace what God has put in place.  This is where I was cheering Andy on.  Seriously, serving under a senior pastor, integrity dictates that you must be 100% on board with his God-ordained vision.  Should you ever disagree, you do not have the right to usurp your senior pastor's authority (beyond just Matthew 18); you must get back on board with him asap.  I could go on a rant here, but allow me to just say that seeing too many fellow youth pastors split from churches to plant new ones in the same town is the makings of church division (see 1 Corinthians!).  It grieves God's heart and violates His principles.  There, I'll get off my soap box now...

    3.  The WISDOM of God ("And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done me...")  Wisdom:  Is this the story of how you became king that you want to share with your grandchildren one day?

B.  Everything that looks like a God thing, and feels like a God thing, and is suggested by others as a God thing isn't necessarily a God thing.

C.  The most direct route to what you want is rarely the BEST route.

Application:

A.  Weigh every opportunity against the law, principles, and wisdom of God.

B.  Decide every day that you will not sacrifice integrity for progress.

C.  Give the right people an all access pass to EVERY major leadership decision.  Being the leader does not exempt you from the need for wise counsel.  It NECESSITATES it.

4 Hacks for Easier Leadership

Leadership and responsibility can get overwhelming... i know. No one is saying that it's easy! It takes effort and dedication, but i think it's simpler than you're making it. Here are 4 tips that have helped me through overwhelming times:

4 hacks for easier leadership

1. Stay honest
- honesty isn't a standalone character trait... it's linked to your overall integrity!
-if you don't feel bad about a small lie, chances are you won't feel bad about a big lie.
-whatever you can't talk about OWNS you... stay open and stay free.

2. Do the right thing
-you always have choices in every situation.
-when it gets hard to make decisions, ask yourself and ask God, what's the right thing to do here?
-every decision might not be easy or even preferable, but you'll never regret doing the right thing.

3. Invite accountability
-accountability doesn't mean someone checks in on you, it means you check in on yourself to someone.
-people won't enforce it if you don't invite it.
-get accountability from people who you want your life to look like!

4. Stick to the golden rule
-how can anyone respect you as a a leader if you treat people badly?
-treating someone the way you'd want to be treated means not always taking the easy route.
-this simple value will not only get you in the door, but will keep you in the room. 

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I love inspiring and pouring into church leaders!

That's why I formed the Fearless Leadership Network.

Discover how you can go further, faster in 2025.

How to Deal w/Chronic Critics Online and in Your Church

This was a Facebook livecast of a Staff Meeting from 7 years ago. The content is still great so I thought I’d share it here!

6 Requirements of a Leader

While it is a great responsibility to be a leader, it is an even greater honor to be a leader in God’s house. What is required of being a Spiritual Leader? What is required of being a Pastor? In 1 Timothy 3, Paul lays out the requirements of being a leader that you can apply to any sphere of your life.

Are you a business leader? A coach? A mom? I believe wherever you are, you are still leading spiritually in your sphere of influence. 

Here are 6 requirements of a leader according to Paul: 

1 A LEADER LIVES ABOVE REPROACH

• Great leaders are marked with integrity and character - there are no asterisks or question marks regarding their integrity.

• They don’t have a sketchy reputation. As time goes on, great leaders are building trust with people.

• The behavior of someone living above reproach is someone who exhibits self-control, righteousness, and uprightness. 

2 A LEADER IS RESPECTED

• Respect is something everyone wants, but we must give respect to receive it. 

• Leaders work hard to build trust and respect.

3 A LEADER IS RESPONSIBLE WITH MONEY

• We can’t be spiritual leaders and not give to God what is His. When you take care of money appropriately, God trusts you with spiritual riches.

• Leaders don’t love money, they steward money.

4 A LEADER IS REALLY GREAT AT HOME

• Nothing reveals your leadership more than your home.

• It’s not easy, but how can we lead God’s house if we can’t lead our own home?

• A strong leader leads a home that bears good fruit. 

5 A LEADER RECOMMENDED BY OTHERS BECAUSE OF PROVEN CHARACTER

• God will always use proven character.

• As leaders, we're after proven character, not perfect character. 

• A good leader has shown others that their character is developed and persistent. 

6 A LEADER IS REPENTANT

• Paul says that a spiritual leader is “...not violent but gentle.” One of the key signs the Holy Spirit is working in your life is gentleness. Gentleness should flow out of your life. You don’t strive or earn that, you receive that. Sometimes, the hardest part of being a spiritual leader is being spiritual. 

• A strong leader allows the Holy Spirit to work in their lives through repentance.

Today as you reflect on the kind of leader that you are, and the kind of leader you want to be, identify which areas you need God to help you with.

PS: You're doing better than you think you are! 

Dealing with Church Factions That Rise Up

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

It’s hard to be meek when factions rise up within a church.  We get wrapped up in factions.

FACTIONS - When there is a pile-up of disgruntled people who build up a case that becomes a driving fantasy.  Driven by the “What If?”

Factions live their lives on something that has not happened.  It takes great skill to deal with factions, this is why we have Therapists!  Sometimes we can’t get resolution, just accept it.

• Give up the right to be treated right.

Anger is secondary to a Hurt.  Body is so hyped that it FEELS helpless, resentment, fear and anxiety.  This is Paranoia.

When there is trauma, the body becomes hypersensitive – Your body wants OUT of this!  You move from prudence to paranoia.

People will try to FOG you: Fear, Obligation, and Guilt.  You can’t drive forward when your windshield is fogged up!  If I can get you to feel one of these three feelings,  I can control and manipulate you.

Ex: Small children and parents

Students and substitute teachers

Elderly parents and adult children

Politicians and the public

To avoid being manipulated, practice DeFogging – Clarity is kindness.  “Now it’s clear.  Now I’m free.”

Clarity assigns responsibility so you can forgive.

If you can’t forgive, you’re stuck.

The goal is clarity – Learn to accept real expectations.  Live with it.  Sometimes you get validation, sometimes not.

Every feeling has a THOUGHT attached to it: “My right to be treated right is violated.”

This leads to Hostility and Harshness - the Law of the Jungle.

MEEKNESS is the opposite of Harshness.

Gentle and kind is not natural.  But it allows God’s supernatural work into your soul.

Philippians 2

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Jesus became MEEK rather than HOSTILE.

You have to give up your right to be treated right.

Rights are things you can’t control because you can’t control the other person.

REPLACE your right to be treated right with God’s Promises!

This leads to God’s power in your life – resurrection of good things out of factions.

Don’t fight for your natural rights and watch God bless through His supernatural economy.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Overcoming Rejection

Have you ever felt rejected?
Have you ever been cut out of a friendship circle?
Has a church wounded you deeply in the past?

If so, this message might be encouraging and helpful.

#FromPainToPurpose

How to Navigate a Break-Up or Betrayal

Back when we launched Life Church in 2013, I gave a message that summer on navigating a break-up or betrayal. I recently stumbled upon my message notes from that Sunday and thought I’d share them here, for what it’s worth!

- Paul and Barnabus part ways in Acts 15:35-38.  If break-up and betrayal could happen to the Gospel All-Stars, it can and will happen to you and me!

- Followers of Jesus are not promised rainbows, skittles, and unicorns.  You WILL have troubles and heartaches!

- You can't please everyone but you can keep reconciliation as your goal.

Step One in a Betrayal or Break-Up: Your REACTION determines your REACH.

- Jesus gives very practical instructions in Matthew 18:15-17 on how to deal with people who have hurt you: go to the person quickly, privately, and humbly!

- Verse 17 does NOT advocate shunning.  Who Would Jesus Shun?

- "But they deserve to be shunned."  Really?  Even if everything you say about this person is true, are you treating them the way Jesus would treat them? If someone is acting like a pagan or tax collector, how would Jesus approach them...?

- Jesus always walked TOWARD people, not AWAY!

- If someone is taking shots at your children, I'm sorry, but that is demonic.  You are never more like Satan than when you accuse and you are never more like Jesus than when you advocate and forgive!

- Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us to deal with our issues TODAY.  Don't allow "little" beefs to get bottled up over time or you will explode like a volcano.

Step Two in a Betrayal or Break-Up: Nobody wins when you trash talk.

- Have a beef?  Don't blab it on Facebook... go to the person and get it resolved!

- If you are a man or woman of God, you do NOT have permission to accuse or slander.

- If you are a son or daughter of the Most High, honor and integrity are your shield.  Even if you are accused and innocent, it is not necessary to defend yourself in the public square (I am speaking from EXPERIENCE here!!).

- Ephesians 6:12 tells us that if they have flesh and blood, they are NOT our enemy!  The Enemy is the enemy!!

Step Three in a Betrayal or Break-Up:

Moving on doesn't mean you've stopped caring; it means you can't change it.

 - Always keep the Welcome Mat out for reconciliation but never for condemnation.

LEADING THROUGH CHANGE - WHEN STAFF MEMBERS AND CHURCH MEMBERS LEAVE

WHEN STAFF MEMBERS AND CHURCH MEMBERS LEAVE

1. STAFFING IS A KEY DECISION

• 1 Timothy 5: “Do not lay hands on a man suddenly.” Any staff hire is a very important, sobering decision. Be slow to hire.

• You want to hire someone who is focused on the TOWEL, not the TITLE. You are here to SERVE.

2. HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR EVALUATING STAFF AND KEY VOLUNTEERS

You are giving people significant responsibilities; have a system for evaluating:

• Character — Not just about morality. Look at their work ethic, faithfulness, integrity.

• Competency — Are they all hat, no cattle?

• Culture — Do they fit well within your existing culture?

• Chemistry — Likeability Factor. Do you enjoy being around this guy?

• Calling — Look for the fingerprint of God on the hire of that person.

• Capacity for Leadership — Can they grow with the role and the growth of the church? Can they reproduce themself and become a multiplier, not a maintainer?

3. UNDERSTAND + ACCEPT THAT SOME STAFF + CHURCH MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO TRANSITION

• Understanding this will save you a lot of heartache.

• Think of your church like a bus with stops along the way. What happens at a bus stop? Some people get on and some people get off.

• There will be significant transition points as your church grows.

• When this happens, remind yourself that this is just all part of the process of church planting.

• Don’t lose perspective. Your “loss” may actually be a huge win!

• Some folks need to get off the bus.

• Why do people leave your church?

• Sometimes staff will leave you because the responsibilities have grown beyond their capacity to grow with the role.

• They may outgrow the responsibilities. Your job is to always make sure your staff are being challenged.

• They may lack the character / competence / chemistry required to stick with it.

• They may not want to do the spiritual and emotional work in order to grow.

• Unexpected circumstances arise in life. Think seasons. Life happens in seasons.

4. REMEMBER THAT ALL STAFF AND MEMBERS NEED TO BE HELD LOOSELY.
Anything you hold tightly you suffocate.

5. PROMOTIONS TO KEY LEADERSHIP ROLES SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THROUGH PRAYER.

• Faithful in the little before being faithful with much.

• Make sure they have been tested.

• This doesn’t always work: people fool you. Potential staff will lie to you to get a job.

• Be very careful in giving out titles… You can’t take it back.

• It doesn’t feed your ego, it fits your function.

6. CELEBRATE THE STAYS AND POSITIVELY RELEASE THE GO'S.

• For some churches the only time the Staff has a party is when someone leaves. When is the last time you had a party with the people who STAY?

• Sometimes God calls you to go but often God calls you to STAY!

• Sometimes someone goes and it’s a good thing. Sometimes someone goes and it’s painful. Sometimes people go when they shouldn’t and you can see the truck that’s about to hit them, but they won’t listen to you.

7. BE PREPARED FOR + POSITIVELY PROCESS THE EMOTIONS THAT WILL ACCOMPANY THE EXIT OF PEOPLE.

• Loss leads to Grief, which can confuse people. Be prepared for the grief. You love the person, you’ve invested in them for years.

• When you feel grief, don’t beat yourself up about it. Allow yourself to experience and feel.

8. GIVE CLEAR GUIDELINES TO DEPARTING STAFF ON YOUR EXPECTATIONS REGARDING COMMUNICATION.

• Information Void can crank up a church gossip grapevine: “What’s happening behind the scenes?”

• This happens when there is too much of time that passes between their decision and the communication.

• It is foolish to allow departing staff to announce their departure.

• Provide information to fill any potential void. SOMEBODY is going to tell ‘the story.’ You need to protect the health of your church as it continues moving forward.

9. EXPECT EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO ANY STAFF MEMBER’S DEPARTURE.

• Help them process, give them assurance.

10. LEARN LESSONS FROM DEPARTURES THAT CAN MAKE YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION BETTER.

• How can we improve for next time?

• What can I learn from this?

• How can this make me better?

11. AVOID PROLONGED DEPARTURES.

• When someone says they want to leave, let them.

• Don’t drag it out or they will drag people down with them.

• When they say they want to leave, their heart has already left.

• Be generous in their transition.

12. BE APPROPRIATELY GENEROUS TOWARD DEPARTING PEOPLE WHO LEAVE WELL.

• Err on the side of grace, not pettiness.

• Oftentimes people who leave will talk badly about you behind your back. Be gracious.

13. EXPECT A HONEYMOON PERIOD ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE DEPARTING PERSON’S NEW PLACE.

• “This new place is amazing!” Which means your place wasn’t.

• At some point real life will kick in and they’ll stop.

• Weather their honeymoon. You don’t need it in your spirit.

• If it’s getting to you, delete the app.

• Social media can feed a failure mentality.

14. DON’T GET DISCOURAGED.

• Don’t Think You’re the Only Person This Happens To.

• This is the secret: don’t get discouraged. Fight it.

• People WILL leave your church.

• Staff members WILL betray you.

• Don’t give air to fear.

• Pruning leads to better fruit and a better future.

• Get up and keep going by faith.

• Sometimes you have to wait 11 years to see someone who left in a bad way come back in repentance.

WISDOM FOR DEPARTING STAFF

• If you’re leaving a church, get planted somewhere. Don’t wander.

• When you get planted somewhere, be a son or daughter of that House.

• Be an honorable, loyal, ethical, trusting Christian. Integrity matters. Honor your former pastor. Don’t go bush-league.

• If you’re leaving a church, do not play the “God told me” game.

• Don’t run from your issues! Your next church won’t change things. Geography doesn’t fix your problems.

• Remember whose spiritual platform you have been using and you have been benefiting from. You were LOANED a platform. Never take the power and trust.

• Never steal sheep.

• Never steal staff. That is unethical behavior.

• Fulfill your commitments. Don’t cut and run. That only hurts God’s people.

• Leave your assigned area of responsibility stronger, not weaker.

• Encourage commitment and faithfulness to the House that you’re leaving.

• Watch your words, non-verbals and your actions on the way out… …because God is.