On Sunday, January 8th Andy Stanley was forced to deal with a heckler at Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, GA during a morning service. To read about this incident and the masterful way Andy and his staff dealt with the issue, read Casey Graham’s article by clicking here.
As pastors and church leaders, we want to create safe environments where attenders can hear a life-changing message. We can’t have hecklers causing unnecessary distractions and disrupting our services. We must proactively address this issue.
The following are 15 proven ways you can eliminate heckling in your church services:
- Never mention the name of Jesus.
- Never do anything memorable. Embrace the gift of being average.
- Never care about people.
- Never make people care.
- Never move people to action.
- Never do anything creative.
- Never risk.
- Never raise the bar of excellence.
- Never change.
- Never challenge the status quo.
- Never expect much from those in your congregation.
- Never reach out to the thousands in your city who are far from God.
- Never serve those who live in your community asking nothing in return.
- Never discuss sin.
- Never do anything that shines light into the kingdom of darkness and makes Satan and his demons nervous.
If you never do these things, you will never have to deal with hecklers. And you will also never have a prevailing ministry that is healthy, grows, has a sense of wonder or awe, and changes your community.
I am so grateful for churches like Northpoint Community Church that are “heckler-worthy”.
Pastors and church leaders, are you playing it too safe in your ministry?
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