Erwin McManus returns to the podcast to talk about the future of the church, how to have more effective evangelism with people who don’t believe in Jesus and why it’s so hard for Christians to be authentic. Erwin also reflects on a lifetime of being labeled a heretic and outsider in the church he so deeply believes in.
Welcome to Episode 452 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
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Conversation Links
The Genius of Jesus by Erwin McManus
The Genius Of Podcast on Apple Podcasts
The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus
Battle Ready Podcast with Erwin and Aaron McManus
The Genius Of Podcast: Ed Mylett
Lewis Howes: A Spiritual Path for Success with Erwin McManus
The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes
At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof
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Insights From Erwin
1. Influence is here to stay, sometimes
Ten or 20 years ago, influence was gained through achieving something significant and was based on word of mouth. Now with social media, we have a new type of celebrity influence that is short-term and usually a “firework,” where people are drawn in but are quickly pulled away to the next idea or celebrity. Lasting, sustainable influence does still stand the test of time and is built on commitment, ideas that impact, culture and carving a path for the future. Erwin calls this “multilayered influence.”
2. We need a community of people not perfection
Some people are of the opinion that the time of large gatherings (whether in or outside the Church) is a thing of the past. Erwin disagrees saying, “Humans don’t need perfect experiences. They need authentic transparent human experiences.”
We long for that communal dynamic where we chant and cheer together for the home team, worship with hundreds of others who are singing the same words, or experience live music with thousands of other people who feel the same emotions we do in that moment. The desire to celebrate and bond over shared experiences is knit into us by God.
3. Evangelism isn’t an IQ tug-of-war, it’s loving and listening
When it comes to talking about Jesus, you shouldn’t be trying to outsmart the other person with your wits (if you are, you’re going about evangelism the wrong way). Erwin clarifies, “I really believe that all the material to come to believe already exists inside of that person that you don’t need to bring something to that person as much as you need to pull something out of that person.”
People open up when we are real and authentic with them, when we don’t have an agenda and don’t try to convert everyone as soon as we walk into a room. “Walk into a room trying to understand someone, to truly care about that person, to know their life and their story, and then to pay attention to where you can see the fingerprint of God all over their life,” Erwin encourages.
Do you want to show people God’s love for them? Then listen, learn and care.
Quotes from Episode 452
To be a futurist in the church, you only need to see the present. @erwinmcmanus Share on XI'm here to violate your view of reality. @erwinmcmanus Share on XToday's heresy is tomorrow's orthodoxy. @erwinmcmanus Share on XThere is no new without God. @erwinmcmanus Share on XIf you're going to do evangelism in this new world, you better learn how to inhabit this new world. @erwinmcmanus Share on XIf churches spent all their energy trying to get back what they've lost, they're not going to be postured for the future. @erwinmcmanus Share on XEvil tends to have a proactivity, and good tends to have a passivity. @erwinmcmanus Share on XCommunity is the greatest solution to violence. @erwinmcmanus Share on XI'm actually for the church, but I'm not for mutually accepted delusion. @erwinmcmanus Share on XThis idea that our most committed people are coming every week is actually an illusion that makes us feel like what we're doing is really valid. @erwinmcmanus Share on XHumans don't need perfect experiences. They need authentic, transparent human experiences. @erwinmcmanus Share on XWe underestimate how open people are, and they just want to know you're real. @erwinmcmanus Share on XI never walk into a room trying to convert someone. I walk into a room trying to understand someone. @erwinmcmanus Share on XJesus would never be accepted by the orthodoxy of modern Christianity. @erwinmcmanus Share on XIf the highest form of intelligence is creativity, then curiosity becomes the fuel of our genius. @erwinmcmanus Share on XOur curiosity is essential to unlocking our genius. @erwinmcmanus Share on XTo disagree with me at least means you gave me some consideration. @erwinmcmanus Share on XThe dumbest choices you will ever make will not cost you money. It will cost you people. @erwinmcmanus Share on XWhat we have to reclaim is the ability to create safe environments for people to be imperfect. @erwinmcmanus Share on XRight and wrong gets you into a moralistic dilemma. @erwinmcmanus Share on XI'm so frustrated that we've made Jesus a moralistic narrative of how to get out of trouble because you've done bad things. @erwinmcmanus Share on XRead or Download the Transcript for Episode 452
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Next Episode: John Ruhlin
John Ruhlin, founder of Giftology, specializes in helping leaders give gifts to top clients, donors and colleagues that they’ll remember for years to come. He explains why most leaders get gift-giving wrong, what not to give, and how to give gifts that build relationships and open doors, even on a small budget.
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