Interview with Dan Stanley

Best-selling author, speaker and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland, best-selling author and apologist Dylan burrow together bringing you the truth for a new generation. This is TMG radio in Matthew 16 verse 18 Jesus said I will build my church and dates of Hill will not prevail against it with ever so welcome you to TMG radio Alex and tear and so excited for the person that I want to introduce you to these Dan Stanley Dr. Dan Stanley, author of the great book transforming growth.

God's design for personal and church growth.

But when I think of Dan Stanley, I didn't think of that incredible promise makes a promise from the lips of Jesus and he will build the church and while there's carnality and deadness within the body of Christ. Sometimes their threats from without persecution and that the darkness of the world at times.

The fact is God is on his throne. He is the head of the body, he is the Lord of the church. He is the risen Savior, and in spite of the trajectory of the world and even the disappointments and failures of those who name the name of Christ. At times the church triumphant will prevail and Dan Stanley is the founder of international growth Institute. He has a PhD in Christian counseling psychology and church growth is marriage and family therapist and on and on. I could go. He's also the author of transforming growth about spiritual growth personally and in the church but I'll tell you this. He's a colleague and a friend in somebody, for whom I'm most grateful for being our guest today on TMG radio Dan. It's good to see you again and I welcome back.

Thanks for making time for us why really appreciate being here and really thank you for those kind words and sounds sound kinda bigger than I am and I think one of the pockets.

My heart cries listed. If we do build the church gates of hell will prevail matter what happens to me no matter what happens anyone person the church to grow on it should go, and it should thrive. Otherwise we didn't build it as a plant or bullet not with the Holy Spirit will bill it was a man's name or something like that so that's kind of my heart. My heart is listless, make the name of Jesus spectacular's bacon and eggs we can Christian should stand out, and we should be the ones that stand out in the crowd of all the distractions that are going on all the verbiage all the stuff you see we should be standing out. We should be able to crush evil modified Jesus tells us know in the in his kingdom will rule and reign completely and God will soon crush Satan under our feet, a man we should be victorious that you remind me of Genesis 315 where it says and and this is often called the Proto even gallium, the first gospel that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent and that's a reference to the virgin birth that United kids were often called the seed of the man, but that the the child born of Mary would crush the head of the serpent. That's Jesus but you're saying that one day the serpent's head will be crushed under the feet of the believer. That's what it says and that important thing noting that the Bible says it please God to crush his son to pay the price for us to be adopted into his family that we would be victorious and crush Satan's head under our feet and a dozen through the church is the head, but is thus the body to crush the enemy Dan out. I remember as a young believer on 21 and I accepted Christ in reading through the Bible and I came to that Isaiah 53 passage mention that it said yet it please the father to bruise him okay Christ was rejected. He was falsely accused. He was arrested and beaten crown of thorns nailed to a cross, the son of God, the precious son of God was subjected to unimaginable pain-and-suffering.

Why would that have pleased the father. I believe the result on the tail inside the. The cost was paid brought about what God's always wanted from the very beginning he didn't need us wanted us the fact that the father wanted children. That's what he's always wanted.

He gave his only begotten that he might receive many sons and daughters in his kingdom through adoption to the process of the gospel to be born again.

The blood was paid at the cross.

That's the beauty of the gospel and may affect the gospel is the key to everything in life may affect the book that I wrote has to do with this idea that it is the gospel which is the power of God so not information transfer but actually transformation of the human heart is in church, we can transfer a lot of information, but until hearts are transformed our powers not seen clearly in the world is my heart. Speaking of transformation.

Is it fair to say that a change in outward behavior has to first be precipitated by a change on the inside reason is that I'm counseling the family this week and and they've got an adult son is gotten in trouble with the law for drugs for the umpteenth time enemy which we been watching a kid destroy his future by habitual not only destroying himself but breaking the law and his parents are crying out to me.

Is there anything that can make our son change. I believe one step further, the Bible teaches us in first Corinthians 13 that unless we do what we do because of the love of Christ, because the love of God.

It means absolutely nothing. Even the good stuff.

Not alone. The bad stuff.

The power of leading the love of Christ control us internally from the inside out. If the love of Christ could control us then our behavior will show exactly what God wants us to do but just the behavior in and of itself.

So, this useless unity prophesy. Even if you speak with all times and all knowledge, have not love, nothing your noisy gong so even that good stuff not, let alone the bad stuff like he is always heart transformation transplant is always about being born of the new King.

How can people find Dan Stanley and rockfish church very simple rockfish church.com rockfish church is awesome, stating TMG radio with author Pastor leader Dan Stanley after the spring from I am a watchman ministries.

Here's today's I am a watchman minute Bible prophecy is perfect and precise understanding prophecy not only provides insight into what is going to happen tomorrow, it positions us to be better witnesses today. For example, Daniel the prophet declared that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem and then be cut off or killed precisely 483 years after a particular proclamation was made about 100 years after that prophecy was written. The proclamation was made in exactly 483 years later Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and what we now call the triumphal entry and then was crucified, all exactly as foretold, the study of Bible prophecy is amazing and exciting.

I am a watchman resources will help you know what God has done and is going to do.

People be faithful, a watchman, I am a watchman.com first Peter 315 tells us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope we have were instructed to be prepared to defend our faith. This is Alex McFarland for the life he answers teams students we train at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in South Carolina. The life answers. Teams are made up of students who will inspire and equip your congregation. These apologetics teams. We train speaking churches to youth groups and train Christians of all ages to address key issues of our times.

From a biblical perspective like is there a God is the Bible true. What about gender and moral issues. Call me at 864977 2008 and we will arrange for the life answers team to come to your church and give a presentation that will benefit your people for years to come. 864-977-2000 eight and always be ready. You know, Romans 116 says for.

I'm not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. That's what your kids need before they go to college. That's the theme for the 2019 TMG Christian apologetics youth camp July 29 through August 2 at Camp Caleb North Carolina speakers include of course, Alex McFarland, along with Daniel Ritchie, Andy Lawrenson and Vicki Addison exciting worship every night, and rocksolid teaching every day. And yes, it's a summer camp with all the summer camp activities. Your kids would expect the TMG Christian apologetics youth camp July 29 through August 2 at Camp Caleb to learn more and to register, call 800. Yes, God, one 800 yes God in the number one or email info and truth for a new generation.com the love of his creative and the highest rates as low as well connect radio Alex McFarland here I were in compensation with Dan Stanley. He's the author of transforming God's design for personal and church growth and a Dan before we continue our conversation find this book, you can actually access it from rockfish church.com or go directly to the website international great Institute.com. Also, you can go to Amazon and punching Dan Stanley transforming growth and pick another one of one of the areas were God's gift to you is in leadership there still saying it's been attributive to a lot of people. Everything rises or falls on leadership and I think it's everybody can see the effects of an absence of leadership to ask you this. How did God make you a leader wow we're talking about a lot of history here.

Alex and primarily adding Robin church and I came to know Christ was about 19 working in a factory.

International Harvester Indianapolis, Indiana but I will say is that home for you last Indianapolis current. I think for me the majority of my Christian maturity happen absolutely after salvation experience because you walk through this thing called Christianity and you kinda get this idea that well I am. I'm going to heaven will mature to read my Bible.

I do all these things having to work and then you have a disruption in your life and studying cut psychology. I understand to be a cognitive dissonance type, probably around art sin just in so I believe that the follower can be following Jesus and try to do the right thing is a lesson to be learned that God sometimes has to take you all the way to the bottom and I went to the bottom got him alcohol became alcoholic from the pastorate servicing how to deal with those things. And it wasn't until literally had a gun to my head, literally, and I was going and in the Lord's presence Internet ring that day and he said these words so I thought all your here to tell me how will I am.

What a piece of junk I am because I know better, follower of Christ.

Yet here I got a gun in my hand. I'm an alcoholic. You are contemplating suicide absolutely have 38 revolver to my head and the voice said this so clearly which transformed everything in everything I do. He said this, I thought you could tell me how bad I see in hell just a minute so I hate to sign on.

He said this Dan I love you right where you are talk about something that breaks down all the works in the after performance. Performance of trying to be a Christian. According to the standard whatever and I was in the charismatic movement.

So I was, big standard in that moment something happened to me.

From that moment on I wanted to chase hard after that. Love that love the lobby right where I was, you know what he love enough.leave me there.

That's what I best part of the gospel. I think people miss you lately Mrs. idea that God, God loves you rightly are you forgives all your signature white as snow.

But he loves you, absolutely enough not to leave you there somewhere into an inheritance. He causes you to walk into. You can't perform your way in and that you have to be loved and I want to get deep here for minute and folks think that John 10 verse 10 one of the first verses I learned as a new believer. Jesus said, the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. As John 1010.

I want you to really take that verse to heart the thief that Satan he comes to steal to kill to destroy in-house that it would be if the story ended there.

However, Jesus said on the flip side, I have come.

Jesus came to give you life and life abundantly to circle back to that verse, but dimly I see this when somebody has hit bottom. Maybe through decisions they've made circumstances. It is so much of our problem is an amalgam of RN bad decisions, and then other things to do you think we almost want God to be mad at us. Sometimes it is what we don't have a good view of who God is with what God you pray evil anyway. God, you're probably a bad guy anyway so just go ahead and snuff me out because we know you want to anyway is and is not terrible thinking. I believe what happens in the human heart is as a whole and so big that just desires to be loved. Won't somebody just let me and we think even the negative terms that if we did something wrong and God would spank us our hits across the head. At least we would get some attention and sometimes I think that negative attention that we want God to do is because we are so so we need to that love of God and men.

When he says something like I love you where you are. You like, you can't. It's not right and he says you're right it's not. I love you because my mercy and I can't take my eyes off of you. I love you where you are and I want to take you further beyond what you could ever think or imagine. And because of that, I think the human heart needs to hear that resounding call of the gospel that changes the inside of the heart that says I am loved. I am incredibly loved by this passionate God wants me right where I am and wants to take me to a place of what I'm into. Whether it's a sin or a habit or just negative thinking. He wants to move us on beyond that is why says in Romans 12 there to be transformed by renewing your mind's abundant life comes from not just saying a prayer doesn't come from going to church or just reading your Bible. It is an internal thing where Jesus said the greatest commandment is this loving God with all your heart, your mind, your soul and marks as your strength which is your physicality, your ability God wants all of us not 1/10 of us not 1/7 of us and wants 24 seven of us all the way through everything we are. That's why think he says if you love me.

That way you will love your neighbor like you love yourself and that will make a difference.

So everything that I think of right now is in terms of how can I be healthy in my mind and my heart and my soul in my body.

It all belongs to him on the temple of the Holy Spirit which scares me is like.

Think about it everywhere I go I have the indwelling presence of the spirit of the living God is made this old stony heart into a new heart enter new creatures have a new creature in me that is is coming from another world, and that that when you think about is kind of freaky. How important is it that we have an accurate view of God and what what suffers if we have a flawed view of God's always been shown by scientists that if your view of God is this negative going to beat you up kind of a God that literally the part of your brain that controls empathy for other people shrinks physically shrinks and when you see God is a loving, compassionate father, full of grace and mercy ready to forgive and ready to empower that person.

The situs of the actual party your brain that controls empathy grows which your view of God directly affects how you see other people while hate. We got to take a brief break. TMG radio with Dan Stanley, author of transforming growth great book. I highly encourage you to read it. TMG radio is back as we take a break, let me tell you about 310 three books that will answer questions that come your way from others or even yourself about the Christian faith.

Number 110 answers for skeptics today. Skeptics are looking for authenticity, integrity, and straightforward faith in this book you will learn how to answer intimidating questions. Identify the roof issues behind those questions and dismantled the spiritual bombshell dropped by nonbelievers.

Those usually end up just being a puff of smoke, number 210 answers for atheists were Alex looks at the philosophical assumptions at the root of atheism and agnosticism exposing logical historical and conceptual fallacy. Alex shares clear explanations of beliefs and biblical answers to those questions that often leave you stumped, but no more in number three.

The 10 most common objections to Christianity and how to answer the know many Christians hear these objections and have a crisis of faith, but Alex and Dylan have been around. They visited many places and talked with many people through the years and could offer straight answers that will give you confidence and understanding about your beliefs, so the 310s once again 10 answers for skeptics 10 answers for atheists and the 10 most common objections to Christianity and how to answer find them wherever Christian books are sold for Alex McFarland.com at liberty University you earn more than a degree in the satisfaction of seeing what you can accomplish and what God can accomplish more than 600° options from associate 100% online more discover God's truth through every degree at liberty University where we train champions for Christ good at liberty\exploit liberty\exploit abundant life. John 10 verse 10 Jesus came to give us eternal life and abundant life here on earth and continue talking about that with Dan Stanley to remind you got some exciting things coming up folks so many great things and I do know where you are in America, but if you would go to the website truth for a new generation.com truth for truth for a new generation.com. We've got our camp coming up the youth apologetics camp July 29 to August 2. It's going to be amazing. Got people signed up from Ohio and last year we had teenagers from nine states and will be in Columbus Ohio this fall will be in Salt Lake City will be in Richmond Virginia. So wherever you are, you know book a ticket get a ride hop in the car.

We believe God has a great vision for your life, and we believe a big part of that is getting equipped. First of all to know Christ to grow in Christ to know what you believe and why you believe it to know what it is to pray with power to know how God can give you victory over those habits and those those parts of your life that you just need victory in and said that a true furniture.com got an app with got a daily devotional but we just want to come alongside to be a resource to encourage you in your walk and witnessed in the church throughout North America were talking right now with somebody's given his life to do that he and his wife Jan are just amazing Christian leaders that I've got such respect for Dan Stanley Pastor of rockfish church and to you during the break. You never talk about the fact that you never graduate from the cross.

You never graduate from the gospel and you and I both you know we love good content and information but just as simplicity of of God so loving the world that he sent his only begotten son in a John 316. That's something we we never get over is it I believe we don't and I don't think God gets over. He said in this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come. So God's trigger is the gospel which is part of the reason why I wrote this book because I believe that growing people grow churches and growing churches expand the gospel. That's what God's after what I thought about that. I thought about the tremendous amount of energy it will take to take this gospel to the whole world and availability.

I think one of the biggest issues I have discovered as a pastor and the counselor is that people are so trapped up in the worldliness and they're so distracted there entangled. If you will, in the affairs of everyday life that they are not useful to God to fulfill the great commission or they're not useful or available to God to do kingdom operational work because are so tied up in worldliness and what it says in Revelation 18 it says come out of her my people so this idea of abundant life. I don't think it's just knowing Jesus and going to church. I think it is a holistic approach, body, soul, spirit 24 hours a day seven days a week.

How can we back up out of the trap of the world, the lust of the eyes, a lust of flesh part of life kind of thing and become God's call is to be because this gospel of the kingdom will be preached around the world. What you just said is profound that growing churches are led by growing people now out of the percentages. Some say 80%, but many many many American churches are plateaued or declining in and I think a plateau is kind of really a misnomer anyway because if you plateau that last about five minutes and then you really begin to go downward so talk to us little bit. For instance, rockfish, and I've of been acquainted with this church. I do know seven or eight years seems like rockfish is been in perpetual revival seems very alive, very vibrant people are getting saved. So how can a church that feels like they've sort of hit a brick wall and you know they're there coasting and out of gas. How can they reverse that and get back to being the vibrant living church that is participating in the fulfillment of Christ's great commission will, I believe we have to go back to the very basics of Christianity and may affect the book a talk about the acronym of growth which is basically everything centers on the gospel God which the gospel is a centerpiece, it has to be your orbit around it. It is the centerpiece of what God calls us to do knowing that we'll get called repentance. Too often anymore, nor called to repent, repent, and in the vision of what God called us to do his. I called the Omega optics the way we see God like we talked about earlier is is a profound influence on the spiritual health of the church so all of these mechanisms. Not only that structures of churches, how the decisions are made at that local church level will determine the success or failure of that church because politics get involved in our place.

If you don't build it. I called around my call it a theocracy. I think we should be built on the theocracy which is is is a big subject, but not only godly knowing that worship we worshiping God. Are we only putting our lives in that in the hands of God is bigger than what we can see and are we living a healthy life. A healthy lifestyle because our society, no matter how you cut it, slice it or bake it. We are living on the edge of the major health catastrophe and that will take out followers that cannot take the gospel to where it needs to go.

That's a big issue in your book you ties sustainability to repentance. I'm glad you mention repentance now is repentance a one and done kind of thing you know, we turn to Christ, and we we accept Christ and are born again does a believer have things to repent about Dan.

I believe there's two things almost like walking two steps to legs if you will 2 feet.

Repentance and faith, repentance and faith.

The Bible is very clear.

Walk the same way you received Christ. How do you do that repentance and faith is an ongoing thing.

While repentance from even the sins, may we commit repentance from hey look I think this is my body all do with it what I will ask the temple of the Holy Spirit is all about stewardship within six we are not in our back plate so everything in our lives is a stewardship operation. What we eat and drink what we spend our money on how we invest our time, our treasure all those things are turning to repentance on a daily basis and I'm so thrilled. He said that one of our core values and if you listen this program much. You've heard me say view all of life in terms of stewardship gives web settlement on the rockfish church.com is a church website and international growth Institute.com is for the Alex McFarland Dr. Dan Stanley TMG radio hey you're looking for that abundant life will find it in Jesus truth in association with Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries exists to equip Christians with a local worldview through conferences and camps for information about upcoming events visit for a new generation.com or give us a call at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries PO Box 102310 NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, North Carolina 27404. Give online@alexmcfarland.com or truth for a new generation.com. Thanks for listening and join us again next day as we bring you more true for a new generation on TMG radio