Every Sunday people walk into your church and decide if they will return the following week before the preacher even opens his mouth. Many of those people don't know what to make of Jesus. They're hesitant to be in church. They're not sure they belong. But over and over in the pages of scripture, we see something extraordinary. People who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus. Shouldn't that be true of the church as well? In Going Deep & Wide, Andy Stanley lays out a blueprint and offers practical steps to help you turn up the irresistible in your church. Each section includes discussion materials that walk you deeper into the content of Deep & Wide and invites conversations about how to apply what you've learned.

Practical "you-can-do-it" steps help teens live out and grow in their faith. Stanley draws from his years of successful youth ministry to create a work that will have eternal impact.

Recognizing the pitfalls of postmodern student life, this journal gives students a real and relevant way to stay strong in their Christian faith. With thought-provoking questions, the basic "Max Q" principles, and space for journaling, this book prepares students to handle temptation and live the life of a true witness.

AM I DOING THIS RIGHT? This is a question every parent asks themselves at some point-or at multiple points-along the way. You want to get it right. Andy and Sandra Stanley are here to help. As parents of three grown children and cofounders of North Point Ministries, one of the largest church networks in the country, they are seasoned experts on faith and parenting. Together they have spent decades counseling families and mentoring moms and dads while leaning into mentors of their own. In the six-session video study Parenting: Getting It Right, Andy and Sandra combine their experience and wisdom to help viewers identify and embrace their it-their win as parents. In an inviting and conversational approach that is both informative and accessible, the Stanleys discuss: The four stages of parenting How to parent with the end in mind An approach to discipline that strengthens relationships How to help your child develop a faith of their own You don't have to constantly wonder whether you're getting it right as a parent. Start here and feel confident about raising children who will enjoy being together and with you even when they no longer have to be. This study guide includes: Individual access to six streaming video sessions A guide to best practices for leading a group Video notes and a comprehensive structure for group discussion time Personal study section with questions and biblical passages for reflection between sessions Sessions and video run times: Your North Star (21:00) The Four Stages of Parenting (21:30) The Role of Words (22:30) Marriage Matters (22:00) Establishing Rules and Consequences (20:00) Developing a Faith of Their Own (17:00) This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including: The study guide itself-with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide. An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!) Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2028. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Author and pastor Andy Stanley explains what made the earliest Christian movement so compelling and resilient...and what we need to change today to make it so again. Once upon a time there was a version of the Christian faith that was practically irresistible. After all, what could be more so than the gospel that Jesus ushered in? Why, then, isn't it the same with Christianity today? In this six-session video Bible study (DVD/video streaming not included), Pastor Andy answers questions like: What did first-century Christians know that we don't-about God's Word, about their lives, about love? What did they do that we're not doing? What makes Christianity so resistible in today's culture? What needs to change in order to repeat the growth our faith had at its beginning? Andy is deeply concerned with the present-day church and its future, and he believes that many of the solutions to our issues can be found by investigating our roots. It's time to hit pause and consider the faith modeled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and little chance of survival. It's time to embrace the version of faith that initiated-against all human odds-a chain of events resulting in the most significant and extensive cultural transformation the world has ever seen. This is a version of Christianity we must remember and re-embrace if we want to be salt and light in an increasingly savorless and dark world. Designed for use with the Irresistible Video Study (9780310100515) and the Irresistible core book (9780310536970), sold separately.

Uncover the five key questions that can change everything about your decision-making process and rewrite the story of your life...one decision at a time. Our decisions don't just affect our present circumstances; they radiate into our future. Most of the time, it's impossible to know what will come of the decisions we make. But this doesn't have to paralyze you. You can train yourself to ask well-placed, appropriately timed, thought-provoking questions that will result in stronger decisions and fewer disappointments down the road. In this six-session video study (DVD/digital download sold separately), author and pastor Andy Stanley gives you five key questions to ask when you have a decision to make and you're not sure what to do (or even if you think you do know what to do!). These five simple questions will empower you to: Pause when feeling tension over a decision Take the long view Look for the wise option Focus on the relational impact of decisions Every decision we make impacts our stories and the stories of those closest to us. It's time to start deciding with our heads instead of with our guts. Sessions Include: More Than a Decision The Integrity Question The Legacy Question The Conscience Question The Maturity Question The Relationship Question Designed for use with the Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets Video Study available on DVD or streaming video, sold separately.

Everybody wants to be happy. Everybody is on a happiness quest. For many, happiness is measured in moments. Experiences. It's elusive. Unsustainable. What about you? What makes you happy? Something comes to mind for each of us. In this six-session video Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), pastor Andy Stanley examines the ways in which we tend to define happiness and explains how that definition influences the way we pursue it. He reveals that happiness is about who, not what, and that happy people are at peace with God, with others, and with themselves. He also shows how sin undermines peace because it separates us from God, others, and ourselves by substituting pleasure for fulfillment, things for people, images for intimacy, and self-expression for self-control. We are often tempted to believe that happiness comes from acquiring things, but happiness is actually an outcome of what we sow in our lives. We can't acquire, consume, or exercise our way to happiness, but we may be able to serve and volunteer our way there. In the end, we find that if we live as if it's all about us, we will never be happy. Sessions include: Nothing Plan for It Peace with God Happy Money Shoes You're Not Enough Designed for use with the What Makes You Happy Video Study (sold separately).

"The Seven Checkpoints for Student Leaders" is more than a book; it is a ministry plan. It goes far beyond the "how to" of youth ministry and provides youth ministers, youth works, and parents with the content that students need to equip them for 'life beyond youth group." The material in this book and the companion book "The Seven Checkpoints Student Journal "reveals what Stanley calls "the irreducible minimum"--the essential principles upon which an entire youth ministry can be built. Stanley and Hall offer some unorthodox but very sensible approaches to planning and maintaining a youth group over a long period of time with a specific goal in mind. The book outlines a strategy for effectively teaching students over the course of their time in school, and this new updated edition is what every leader needs to keep up with the ever-changing challenges students face. Stanley and Hall identify seven "checkpoints" that are the most important and critical issues facing teens:

1. Authentic Faith

2. Spiritual Disciplines

3. Moral Boundaries (this section deals primarily with issues of sexual purity and dating)

4. Healthy Friendships

5. Wise Choices

6. Ultimate Authority

7. Others First

Practical application, biblical principles, and realistic approaches for facing modern challenges facilitate teaching for busy youth leaders that will make an impact for eternity.

Through this five-session small group Bible study, Hope, Faith and Luck, Andy Stanley unpacks the power of faith and the need for maintaining your confidence in Jesus Christ amid the ups and downs of daily life. Our faith in God often hinges on his activity---or inactivity---in our daily experiences. Sure, faith soars when our prayers are answered. When God s presence appears in an unmistakable way, our confidence in him is boosted. But when he doesn't come through, our confidence often wanes. It doesn't have to be that way though---and it's not supposed to be that way This five-session small group study is guaranteed to transform your thinking about FAITH. As you listen or watch you will discover the difference between faith and hope. You will be presented with a definition of FAITH that will shed new light on both the Old and New Testaments. Andy explains what we can expect of God every time we come to him with a request. In addition, he exposes the flaws in what some have labeled The Faith Movement. Faith, Hope, and Luck is not just another group study. This content is foundational for everyone who desires to be an informed, active follower of Christ. This Participant Guide is filled with helpful discussion starters, video overviews, a helpful Leader s Guide and much more. It s designed to be used with the companion Faith, Hope and Luck DVD (sold separately). When used together they provide a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth. Sessions include: 1. Better Odds 2. Betting on Hope 3. Beating the Odds 4. No Dice 5. All In"

Ever wonder what it would be like to have guardrails in other areas of your life-areas where culture baits you to the edge of disaster and then chastises you when you step across the line? Your friendships. Your finances. Your marriage. Maybe your greatest regret could have been avoided if you had established guardrails. In this five-session video-based small group Bible study (video sold separately), Andy Stanley challenges us to stop flirting with disaster and establish some personal guardrails. Sessions include: Direct and Protect Proximity Forever Yours Money Matters The Heart of the Matter Designed for use with the Guardrails Video Study (9780310095910), sold separately.

Is it possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally? The reaction of evangelicals to political and cultural shifts in recent years revealed what they value most. Lurking beneath our Bible-laced rhetoric, faith claims, books, and sermons is a relentless drive to WIN! But the church is not here to win. By every human measure, our Savior lost. On purpose. With a purpose. And we are his body. We are not in it to win anything. We are in it for something else entirely. That something else is what this book is about. You'll discover: How to take a stand the right way. You'll learn how to make your case with a posture of humility and understanding, rather than being fueled by the fear of losing something. How to view politics through the lens of faith. Learn curiously, listen intentionally, and love unconditionally. How the life of Jesus and his teaching applies to modern-day challenges in a fresh way. The "biblical" stand may not be what we've been taught. Jesus never asked his followers to agree on everything. But he did call his followers to obey a new command: to love others in the same way he has loved us. Instead of asserting our rights or fighting for power, we need to begin asking ourselves: what does love require of me?

The key to growth as a church, youth ministry, or a business is getting first-time guests to come back. And as any good manager of a hotel, a store, a restaurant, or an attraction knows, the key to getting guests to come back is not actually the rooms or the product or the food itself; it's how guests feel when they're there. It's about hospitality. No matter how much effort and time we spend on excellence--stirring worship time, inspiring sermons, a good coffee blend in the foyer--what our guests really want when they come to our churches is to feel welcome, comfortable, and understood. Written by a church consultant and a hospitality expert, The Come Back Effect shows church, ministry, and even business leaders the secret to helping a first-time guest return again and again. Through an engaging, story-driven approach, they explain how service and hospitality are two different things, show how Jesus practiced hospitality, and invite leaders to develop and implement changes that lead to repeat visits and, eventually, to sustained growth.

Uncover the five key questions that can change everything about your decision-making process and rewrite the story of your life...one decision at a time. Our decisions don't just affect our present circumstances; they radiate into our future. Most of the time, it's impossible to know what will come of the decisions we make. But this doesn't have to paralyze you. You can train yourself to ask well-placed, appropriately timed, thought-provoking questions that will result in stronger decisions and fewer disappointments down the road. In this six-session video study, author and pastor Andy Stanley gives you five key questions to ask when you have a decision to make and you're not sure what to do (or even if you think you do know what to do!). These five simple questions will empower you to: Pause when feeling tension over a decision Take the long view Look for the wise option Focus on the relational impact of decisions Every decision we make impacts our stories and the stories of those closest to us. It's time to start deciding with our heads instead of with our guts. Sessions and video run times include: More Than a Decision (16:00) The Integrity Question (19:00) The Legacy Question (17:00) The Conscience Question (23:00) The Maturity Question (19:00) The Relationship Question (20:00) This pack contains: Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets Study Guide Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets Video Study DVD (streaming video access included)

Good questions lead to better decisions. Discover five game-changing questions to ask every time you make a decision--questions that will help you in your finances, relationships, career, and more. Your decisions determine the direction and quality of your life. Your decisions create the story of your life. And while nobody plans to complicate their life with bad decisions, far too many people have no plan to make good decisions. This book will help you live differently. In Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, Andy Stanley will help you learn from experience and stop making bad decisions by integrating five questions into every decision you make, big or small. You'll discover how to: Develop a decision-making filter that reveals which choices will likely lead to positive results in your life. Avoid selling yourself on bad ideas and making quick decisions when time is short. Find truth and clarity in any tricky decision. Improve relationships and heal division through better decisions. Discover the reasons behind your decisions so you can move forward with positive changes. Consider the long-term impact of your choices so you can write a life story worth celebrating. Easily identify any red flags that signal which decisions may result in future regrets. Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets will set you up for success in every season of life, for the rest of your life. "Classic Andy--accessible to any of us wanting to change, yet deep enough to challenge you if you think you know the answers." - Max Lucado, pastor and New York Times bestselling author "This is the right book for the right time. We've got some important decisions to make, and this book will help frame the right questions to ask." - Bob Goff, Sweet Maria's husband and New York Times bestselling author "This book is not just a necessary guide to better decisions--it's a handbook for life that is sure to make a difference in yours." - Lysa TerKeurst, #1 New York Times bestselling author "Andy Stanley strikes again! This challenging, practical, and engaging book will help you make better decisions and lead the life you really want." - Ian Morgan Cron, author, The Road Back to You "Now is the time to change your choices to regret-proof your future. Andy will show you how." - Levi Lusko, pastor of Fresh Life Church and author

Why is there so little agreement on what it means to be a Christian? In this eight-session video-based Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), join pastor and bestselling author Andy Stanley as he examines the characteristics Jesus used to define those who follow him and the implications these characteristics have for believers today. In Christian: It's Not What You Think, you'll learn: The one word that should be descriptive of every Christian. How Jesus' followers should treat those who are outside the faith. Why people love Jesus but can't stand his followers. So, what does it mean to be Christian? Curiously, the term 'Christian' was a label used by outsiders to define Jesus' followers. Jesus simply used 'disciple' to describe his followers and stressed the fact that they would be known by their love-a radical concept not only in their day, but in ours as well. Throughout these eight sessions, Andy Stanley unpacks the qualities Jesus prescribes for his followers that made them unique. What if believers today embodied these traits and put them before all others? Would the non-believing world put aside its derisive definition of 'Christian' and instead know us by our love? Sessions include: Brand Recognition Quitters Insiders, Outsiders Showing Up When Gracie Met Truthy Angry Birds Loopholes Working It Out Designed for use with the Christian Video Study 9780310693352 (sold separately).

Every leader, young or old, resonates with the dead-end feeling of not being in charge. Too often, the lack of authority paralyzes leaders, believing they must wait to be in charge until they can lead. One of the greatest myths of leadership is that you must be in charge in order to lead. Great leaders don't buy it. Great leaders lead with or without the authority to lead. Because every road of leadership forks at the intersection of authority and influence, learning to cultivate influence without authority is foundational to navigate culture today. X

AM I DOING THIS RIGHT? This is a question every parent asks themselves at some point-or at multiple points-along the way. You want to get it right. Andy and Sandra Stanley are here to help. As parents of three grown children and cofounders of North Point Ministries, one of the largest church networks in the country, they are seasoned experts on faith and parenting. Together they have spent decades counseling families and mentoring moms and dads while leaning into mentors of their own. In the six-session video study Parenting: Getting It Right, Andy and Sandra combine their experience and wisdom to help viewers identify and embrace their it-their win as parents. In an inviting and conversational approach that is both informative and accessible, the Stanleys discuss: The four stages of parenting How to parent with the end in mind An approach to discipline that strengthens relationships How to help your child develop a faith of their own You don't have to constantly wonder whether you're getting it right as a parent. Start here and feel confident about raising children who will enjoy being together and with you even when they no longer have to be. This study guide includes: Individual access to six streaming video sessions A guide to best practices for leading a group Video notes and a comprehensive structure for group discussion time Personal study section with questions and biblical passages for reflection between sessions Sessions and video run times: Your North Star (21:00) The Four Stages of Parenting (21:30) The Role of Words (22:30) Marriage Matters (22:00) Establishing Rules and Consequences (20:00) Developing a Faith of Their Own (17:00) This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including: The study guide itself-with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide. An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. And the physical DVD. Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2028. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

A New Generation Church is a church with attendees whose average age is at least as young as the average age of the community in which the church exists. Any church can become a New Generation Church that reaches and continues to reach the next generation. The Psalmist writes: We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. (Psalm 78:4 NLT)No Christian would purposely hide the timeless truths of Christianity from the next generation. But often we do, not because of the substance of our church, but because of the approach of our church. For A New Generation is not about changing your church's statement of faith or core beliefs. It is about evaluating and changing, as needed, your church's programs, ministries and practices in order to more effectively connect with and stay connected with the next generation. Written for both church leaders and members, For a New Generation presents 5 practical strategies that will lay a foundation for a church to thrive for generations to come. It is based on the assumption that accepting the status quo is the greatest threat to your church's core mission and, perhaps, to the long-term survival of your church.

Surely there's more than one way to get to heaven? Bestselling author Andy Stanley addresses this popular belief held even among Christians. But believing that all good people go to heaven raises major problems, Stanley reveals. Is goodness not rewarded, then? Is Christianity not fair? Maybe not, he says. Readers will find out why Jesus taught that goodness is not even a requirement to enter heaven - and why Christianity is beyond fair. Andy Stanley leads believers and skeptics alike to a grateful awareness of God's enormous grace and mercy.
Good People Go to Heaven...Don't They?
"Sure they do. It only makes sense. "
Actually, it doesn't really make any sense at all. Smart, educated, accomplished men and women everywhere are banking their eternities on a theory that doesn't hold water. Chances are, you've never really thought it through. But you owe it to yourself to do so.
Find out now what's wrong with the most popular theory about heaven--and what it "really "takes to get there.

You had a first day of school, a first date, a first kiss, a first job. But here's something you may not have considered-faith has a starting point. Starting Point is a conversational environment where you can explore faith and experience community. It's a safe place for you to ask questions and to learn about the Bible and Christianity. You may have questions that you've always wondered about but never felt you could ask at church, legitimate questions that would make many Christians uncomfortable. Ask them. Nothing is off-limits. We want to have conversations about the stuff that really matters to you, even when it's difficult to talk about-especially when it's difficult to talk about. We believe that God loves you . . . specifically. And we believe he's big enough to handle your toughest questions, darkest moments, and deepest doubts. We want to honor him and you by creating an environment where you can be open, honest, and transparent. This study is for: SEEKERS: those who are curious about God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity STARTERS: those who have just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ RETURNERS: those who have some church experience but have been away for a while During the eight sessions, you will: Use this Starting Point Conversation Guide to reflect on central questions of faith and life. Watch the video component each week in preparation or as part of the discussion. Explore and share what you're learning with other people in a conversational environment. Come as you are and build relationships with others as you discover your starting point. Sessions Include: Start Problem Trust Rules Jesus Grace Faith Invitation Designed for use with the Starting Point Video Study (9780310817734), sold separately.

Rediscover the improbable story of Christmas. Four thousand years ago, God promised he would do something through the bloodline of Abraham. Two thousand years later, Jesus was born. And two thousand years after that, we're still talking about it. Why? The story of Jesus' birth was not what anyone expected: a baby . . . born in the armpit of the Mediterranean . . . to save us from sins that no one thought we needed saving from. This Christmas season, join Andy Stanley as he unpacks why the improbability of the Christmas story is what makes it so believable. No one could have or would have made it up. The Who Needs Christmas Study Guide includes session overviews, video teaching notes, discussion questions, personal reflection material, and a leader's guide. Sessions include: The Story Behind the Story The Author of Life The Message of Christmas Ready or Not . . . He Is Coming Designed for use with the Who Needs Christmas / Why Easter Matters Video Study (9780310121121), sold separately. Streaming video also available.

A challenging and encouraging manual for day-to-day life in ministry written specifically for couples who want to do more than survive the process of church planting and leadership-who want to actually thrive and grow in faith together as a family. Though we may feel like we can't show it, every aspect of planting a church is personal. Church planters and those in ministry leadership roles give so much to starting and growing healthy, thriving churches that when some people inevitably criticize the church, or leave altogether, it's hard not to take it personally. Brian and Amy Bloye know firsthand the emotional and relational toll that planting churches can take. In It's Personal-part of the Exponential series, inspiring and equipping next-generation church planters-the Bloye's get personal about finding the right balance of family and ministry. Planting a church is more than a ministry-it's a calling that touches every aspect of your life in very personal ways. With intimacy and wisdom, Brian and Amy discuss topics like: How to protect your marriage while planting a church. How to respond to growth and change. How to lead well while still maintaining space and time for family. How to know when it's becoming too personal. With a forward by Andy Stanley, It's Personal will challenge and encourage you to avoid some of the pitfalls of planting a church and be equipped to build both strong and prevailing ministries, and healthy marriages and families. Each chapter includes interviews with church-planting couples who share their personal joys and struggles, giving you authentic insight into the issues families face when planting a church.