Andy Stanley
February 7, 2003
7:15 pm
Message Summary
Andy Stanley began his message with this foundational statement: "What comes out of me reflects what’s in me. Holy behavior requires a healthy heart.” Turning to Matthew 15, Stanley focused on verse 18 where Jesus discusses the fact that what comes out of a man’s mouth is derived from the content of a man’s heart. Stanley emphasized that one’s focus should not be on guarding one’s actions, words and deeds, because what Jesus really wants is access to the heart. “The real issue is what’s in your heart,” he said. He also maintained the importance of the heart in marriage and leadership, as what is in the heart will determine the health and direction of a marriage or a leader.
In the second part of the message, Stanley focused on four specific heart problems. The first is guilt, which says, “I owe you. The second is anger, which says, “You took something from me, and you owe me.” The third is greed, which says, “I owe me. The last one is jealousy, which says, “God owes me. Stanley specifically explained how each problem ruins relationships by hindering intimacy in some way. He then shared the solution for each issue: confession for guilt, forgiveness for anger, giving for greed, and celebration for jealousy. He focused on jealousy for a moment saying that the best way to guard one’s heart against it is to publicly celebrate the things that one is most jealous of, especially in ministry. Stanley closed by saying the best test of your heart is to ask the person closest to you what they see in your heart. He finished by asking, “Is everything okay in your heart?
Student Response
Andy Stanley’s honest and humorous message caused me to really pause and consider what is motivating my actions. He challenged me to focus on what my heart is like rather than just trying to monitor my words, my actions, and my thoughts. He showed in a very practical way how heart problems affect relationships, leadership and ministry, which was very helpful. This message was an encouragement, but it was also a checkpoint for me to take time to see where I am and what my heart really does contain.
—Stephanie Frusher, Senior, Communications/Print Media major