Andy Stanley Quotes

My high school science teacher once told me that much of Genesis is false. But since my high school teacher did not prove he was God by rising from the dead, I'm going to believe Jesus instead.

You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision on what to do with the burden God put in your heart.

If we want to reach the people that no one else is reaching, we've got to do things that no one else is doing.

Acknowledging weakness doesn't make a leader less effective. On the contrary, in most cases it is simply a way of expressing that he understands what everyone else has known for some time. When you acknowledge your weaknesses to the rest of your team, it is never new information.

There will be very few occasions when you are absolutely certain about anything. You will consistently be called upon to make decisions with limited information. That being the case, your goal should not be to eliminate uncertainty. Instead, you must develop the art of being clear in the face of uncertainty.

Rebellion never goes without consequences.

The Church must stop expecting outsiders to act like insiders while insiders act like outsiders.

If you're not looking forward to church this morning perhaps it's time to look for a church.

The primary reason we do too much is that we have never taken the time to discover that portion of what we do that makes the biggest difference.

Forgiveness is simply a decision to cancel a debt.

Personal Vision is often the catalyst for wise decisions.

A good coach always coaches to a leader's potential, not his current level of performance. A good leadership coach will see the potential in you and inspire you accordingly.

Every time I stand to communicate, I want to take one simple truth and lodge it in the heart of the listener. I want them to know that one thing and know what to do with it.

Greed is the assumption that it is all for my consumption.

People are not on a truth quest; they are on a happiness quest. They will continue to attend your church - even if they don't share your beliefs - as long as they find the content engaging and helpful.

Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.

When you make giving a priority, something happens inside of you. Especially when it's financially challenging to do so. It's like you loosen your grip on a value system whose motto says, "Money is the key to life and happiness and safety."

People are far more interested in what works than what's true.

The health of your marriage tomorrow will be determined by the decisions you make today.

My kids think you are always supposed to be in a small group and lead one.

Here's something to think about: If God appeared to you and asked, "Why should I let you into heaven?" how would you answer?

Preacher's kids need another consistent voice in their lives over the years.

Vision rarely require immediate action. It requires patience.

Asking doesn't mean you lack wisdom - it's evidence of wisdom.

Jesus is the hope of the world and the local church is the vehicle of expressing that hope to the world.

One never accomplishes the will of God by breaking the law of God, violating the principles of God, or ignoring the wisdom of God.

If you don't conquer your fear, you are going to miss out on some great things in life.

Leaders who carry unresolved guilt are forced to hide a part of themselves from those to whom they are closest. They have a secret. They are forced to expend time and energy to ensure that no one finds them out. They know they are not completely trustworthy. Often they assume no one else is either. Guilty leaders have a difficult time trusting. Consequently, guilty leaders have a difficult time building teams.

Jesus did not come to be right. He came to make disciples.

People pray in one direction but they walk in a different direction, and direction always determines where we end up.

Leaders are made one response at a time.

Loyalty publicly results in leverage privately.

My hope is not in riches but in him who richly provides.

As a pastor I've spent 30 years talking to people and heard every kind of story imaginable.

...often, stepping outside your comfort zone is not careless irresponsibility, but a necessary act of obedience.

One of the most difficult tasks of visioneering is distinguishing between good ideas and God ideas.

..the best strategy for giving is a two-fold approach: a basic plan combined with a willingness to consider spontaneous giving when unique opportunities arise.

It is when our hearts are stirred that we become most aware of what they contain.

80% of your problems are not PEOPLE problems ... they are SYSTEM problems, because systems create the behaviors of people.

One of the exciting things about being a believer is watching God unveil His plan for our lives.

Success is an intoxicant, and intoxicated people seldom have a firm grasp on reality.

Success means your options multiply. Size increases complexity, and complexity can confuse vision.

A leader is someone who has the courage to say publicly what everybody else is whispering privately. It is not his insight that sets the leader apart from the crowd. It is his courage to act and speak up when everyone else is silent....are those who would rather challenge what needs to change and pay the price than remain silent and die on the inside.

Knowledge alone makes Christians haughty. Application makes us holy.

What would bring about a revival of epic proportion?

If you don't clarify your goal, you'll never identify the best approach.

Jesus doesn’t take sides; He takes over.

If you capture someone's heart, you will eventually get his hands and feet as well.