Fan the Flame: Let Jesus Renew Your Calling and Revive Your Church

(Hardback)

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What if we modeled our churches after what Jesus intended His church to look like What if our hope for our ministries rested not on human wisdom but on God's power

Over the past few years, we've all seen how quickly circumstances can change, and many of us have experienced firsthand how church growth trends and popular models fail us. Churches across the country are struggling, and many pastors are deeply discouraged. We work hard and with great sincerity, but our efforts don't seem to be helping our churches flourish.

Jim CymbalaNew York Times best-selling author and long-time pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernaclehas been watching the pressing need for back-to-the-basics spiritual leadership among Christians, and he's seen so many churches come to defeat because so many leaders forget this one truth: Your church is not your church. It's Christ's church. In order for his church to flourish, we have to minister his way.

With this posture of humility and a refreshing return to the model of Paul's church leadership and philosophy of preaching shown in the book of Acts, Cymbala has written an urgent message for all those in ministry that:

• Identifies the many pitfalls that church leaders can fall into.
• Reasserts the need for total confidence in the Gospel.
• Preaches complete dependence on the Holy Spirit, while showing you how to see the new things that the Spirit can do through your work.
• Offers practical guidance on inevitable leadership challenges, such as money, division, and priorities.

With honesty and clarity, Jim Cymbala has written Fan the Flame to ministers, church leaders, staff members, and any Christians serious about God's church. He's written this book in order to help you face these difficult times in the name of the Lord...

He's written so that our prayer, as God's people with God's mission, might be: Lord, show us how to do your work so that in the midst of dark times we can still see you fan the flames of your power and Spirit. Lord, use us to that end. Amen.

Reviews

'Pastor Jim Cymbala is known as a man who listens to God and faithfully teaches his Word. In his book Fan the Flame, he has a powerful message for all who struggle in their ministry. If you are a church leader and feel the depths of discouragement and defeat because of the challenges you face among God's people, this book is for you. Throughout these pages, Pastor Cymbala speaks as a wise and godly mentor, confronting the pain of fruitlessness and rejection, teaching essential principles for successful ministry, and recounting his experiences of God's faithfulness. I pray that those tempted to abandon their calling will read this book, embrace Pastor Cymbala's wise counsel, and be strengthened to carry on in God's plan for their lives.' * Dr. Charles Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries and pastor emeritus of First Baptist Atlanta *
'In Fan the Flame, Jim Cymbala confronts head-on the crisis facing pastors and leaders across America. Biblically sound and spiritually inspirational!' * Dr. Tony Evans, president of the Urban Alternative and senior pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship *
'Jim Cymbala has the rare gift of being able to cut through all the clutter and get to our hearts as ministers and Christian workers. This book is written to encourage and redirect those who are weary and confused amid the increasing pressures and expectations of our culture. You will be blessed to read these pages and then be sure to pass the book along to your pastor or anyone who wants to fan the flame flickering in their hearts.' * Erwin W. Lutzer, pastor emeritus of Moody Church, Chicago *
'We are reminded that God is sovereign and in control of it all. You will find solace, practical advice, and strength to step out of the way so God can reignite passion in you so your God-given call to kingdom service will flourish once again. Follow Jim Cymbala and the apostle Paul through the pages of this powerful book as they follow Christ and show us the way to put the guardrails of the timeless truth of Jesus Christ back into the church today.' * Ron Brown, executive director/CEO of Teen Challenge of Southern California and international conference speaker for pastors and Christian leaders *

Author Bio

Jim Cymbala has been the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle for more than thirty-five years. The bestselling author of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, he lives in New York City with his wife, Carol Cymbala, who directs the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.