Zeal Without Burnout: Seven Keys to a Lifelong Ministry of Sustainable Sacrifice

by Christopher Ash

Overview

Lots of people who are involved in Christian ministry (whether paid or unpaid) find themselves having to step back from it. They have not lost their love for Christ, or their desire to serve him. But for one reason or another, they are exhausted and simply cannot carry on.

Christopher Ash knows this experience all too well. As a pastor of a growing church, and then in his role training people for ministry, he has found himself on the edge of burnout a number of times, and has pastored many younger ministers who have reached the end of their tether.

His wisdom has been distilled into this short, accessible book, in which he reveals a neglected biblical truth and seven keys that flow from it. This practical and biblical guidance will help enthusiastic Christians gain the mindset and lifestyle to protect themselves from burnout and serve Jesus for the long term in a sustainable way.

Who is this book for?
Here is Christopher's answer from the introduction:
"I write for all zealous followers of Jesus. Perhaps especially for pastors and Christian leaders ~ to those entrusted with pastoral oversight under God. Some of us have the privilege of being set free from other jobs to devote ourselves to this work; others combine pastoral leadership with “normal” secular work. But I write also for the many keen Christian men and women who, in addition to “normal” life ~ busy jobs, parenthood, and so on ~ labor sacrificially to serve in their local churches."

From the foreword by Alistair Begg
"Christopher brings to this important subject, not just a personal experience of burnout, but a keen eye to the Bible, and wise pastoral insight into the pressures many of us face as we live for Jesus."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784980214
Publisher:	Good Book Co
Publication date:	02/29/2016
Sales rank:	270,232
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Christopher Ash has been a pastor, and is now an author and writer-in-residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge. He was Director of the Proclamation Trust’s Cornhill Training Course from 2004-2015. He is married to Carolyn and they have four children and seven grandchildren.

Table of Contents

Foreword Alistair Begg 9

Stories from the Edge 15

A Crucial Distinction 25

A Neglected Truth 35

Seven Keys 47

1 We Need Sleep 49

2 We Need Sabbath Rests 59

3 We Need Friends 67

4 We Need Inward Renewal 75

5 A Warning 87

6 An Encouragement 97

7 A Delight 105

Conclusion 109

What Exactly is Burnout? 115

Further Reading 125

Editorial Reviews

This is a wonderfully helpful book. Not complicated or comprehensive, but wise, personal, and based soundly on Scripture. If you’re feeling stressed out, burnt out, or discouraged in your ministry—God may well use this book to correct and encourage you to stay the course. Warmly recommended.

Kyle Johnston

I would recommend this book to each and every pastor out there. In fact, I would recommend it to each and every Christian, for the temptations and problems it highlights in pastoral ministry have their counterparts elsewhere and could be faced by any Christian at any time.

Carl Trueman (From his review at www.mortificationofspin.org)

My regular Monday morning 'meeting' is a 2 hour stint in Cafe Nero with my Bible (for the first hour) and a book or an article to read for the second hour. I've just read Zeal without Burnout from cover to cover... and I cannot stress how clear, faithful and helpful it is. It spoke encouragement and challenge to me, and spoke into the situations of countless people I know, both in ministry and friends near and far alike. I would go so far to say that I think this book needs to find its way into the hands of everyone who has a heart for serving the LORD vocationally but also as volunteers.

Alan Witchells (Associate Pastor

I need this book, and I suspect I'm not alone. As a friend and former colleague of Christopher, I have seen first hand his zeal for the Lord. And I have also seen how that can lead to near burnout. Full of biblical and applied wisdom, this book will rescue many a minister and ministry.

Robin Weekes (Minister

This is a brutally honest but profoundly joyful little book. Packed with personal testimony and Biblical insight we are gently reminded of the dangers of behaving like we are God. It is humbling, refreshing and will be a great help to many who want to keep going to the finish line.

Jonty Allcock (Author and lead pastor at The Globe Church

I’m so grateful (and relieved!) that someone of Christopher’s experience has written so candidly about burnout. Interspersed with several others’ testimonies, this is a very real, down-to-earth but always wise book. There’s straight-talking but a soft heart, compassion for the broken alongside a desire for healthier expectations for normal ministry. My only frustration: it left me wanting more!

Mark Meynell (Associate Director (Europe)

This book is blessedly humbling and helpful. It's full of honest testimony concerning this thing called burnout. I'm grateful to learn from this testimony and from the biblical wisdom that enfolds it. Christopher Ash has given us a call to zeal without burnout - but rather with humility to trust our all-sufficient God who has provided for us in his Son.

Kathleen Nielson (Author

This book will not require much of your time investment cover to cover, but careful digestion of its biblical wisdom will reap dividends a hundred fold and then some. Whatever your temperament, I don't think any Christian worker can afford not to read it.

Adrian Reynolds (Director of Ministry

What shocked me about some of the testimonies of burn-out in this book was how suddenly it had descended. A pastor goes to bed one night feeling buoyant and strong. The next day he is mentally incapable of facing work again, a condition which lasts for months. That is sobering. It made me take notice.

Carl Trueman

It's something we all want - zeal without burnout - and here is a book to help us. Christopher explores the dynamic between a life given to Christ and serving Him in a ministry job. The personal stories make it accessible, practical and at times touching. A great read for any team even before you go through busy times.

Nat Schluter (Principal

In this marvellous and much-needed book, Christopher Ash manages to warn, encourage, expose and comfort in equal measure. Every page is humane, penetrating, rich, wise and above all, gospel-saturated. This book came to me as a word in season from a humble brother (and the other brothers and sisters who shared their stories), and I am sure God will use it to do the same for many, many others.

Gary Millar (Principal

Books like this are a needed resource for the weary pastor. Christopher Ash draws on years of personal experience and rich biblical wisdom to provide ministers with a tremendously encouraging resource to persevere and thrive in the ministry. This is a book all pastors need to read and take to heart for the sake of their church and for the sake of the fruitfulness of their ministry.

R Albert Mohler Jr (President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)

Christopher's exposition of the simple truth that "God is God and we are dust" liberates, humbles and strengthens with practical and pastoral wisdom. Read this if you are feeling weary and be refreshed in God's grace. Read this even if you are feeling energetic because prevention is better than cure!

Denesh Divyanathan (Founding Pastor of The Crossing Church (Singapore) & President of Project Timoth

A terrific little book you can read in under an hour. Ash's personal story is fascinating and instructive and his counsel is thoughtful and wise. At some point in ministry, every Christian leader is going to need a book like this.

This book is for everyone not just people in ministry because we all live very busy lives and are susceptible to burnout. In Zeal without Burnout, Christopher Ash speaks plainly, wisely and encouragingly. He does so because he has been there. If you want to take a first step by asking whether you are on your way towards or in the midst of burnout, this book will help you.  His advice is grounded in a basic understanding of our humanity and our limitations. He then gives practical guidance in light of those limitations. As I read through this easy to read book, I found myself evaluating my own life and found comfort as I recognized my limitations and took to heart his advice. I will be recommending this book to everyone!

Timothy S Lane (Author and President of the Institute for Pastoral Care)

As a pastor of 12 years and no longer young, I praise God for Christopher Ash’s self-disclosing cry that we are but dust! We live moment by moment as frail beings given health and strength by our sovereign Father, but those are limited by his grace so that we never forget that he is God, not us, and that we are constructed so as to need him rather than to replace him. May this book help us end the corporate church conspiracy to seem stronger than we are, even omnipotent, and leave us content to keep being wisely weak and daily dependent until Jesus returns.

Dr Andrew Nicholls (Medical Doctor and Church Pastor)

Many pastors are familiar with the weariness that accompanies ministry. Like a wise and gentle friend, Christopher Ash provides us with encouragement and practical help so we can sustain zeal and avoid burnout. While this book is a gift to pastors in particular, everyone who reads it will benefit.

C.J. Mahaney (Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville)

Exceptionally wise, practical, and important. Pastors aren't the only ones who are prone to burnout. Women's ministry leaders, pastor's wives, and cross-cultural workers, take up and read! Sit down with a friend so you can discuss "Zeal Without Burnout" together. It will give you a whole new appreciation for who our great God is, and who he has designed us to be.

Gloria Furman (pastor's wife