Church On Fire

Church on Fire by Fred Hartley is a study that takes churches on a thirty-one-day journey toward the manifest presence of Christ in the life of the Body. Each week includes five chapters, which require reflection, study, and prayer as well a section for pastors and discussion questions for small groups.

"This book uses a retreat format to study the four female doctors of the Church. It offers daily meditations, stories, and wisdom from lessons drawn from the lives of the Church's female visionaries"--

Eight women from eight very different backgrounds. Yet the struggles they each faced rang with eerie similarity. These courageous women from across the globe-Pakistan, India, Romania, Former Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia-shared similar experiences of hardship, subjugation, and persecution, all because of their faith in Christ. Yet all of these women have emerged from adversity as leaders and heroines. The eight modern-day pilgrims featured in Hearts of Fire are the hidden jewels in the church universal. They are worthy role models of faith and passion, and women of every age will gain new strength and hope for their own times of crisis and trial as they read these inspiring stories. Each story concludes with thoughtful self-reflection questions for the reader.

Eight women from eight very different backgrounds. Yet the struggles they each faced rang with eerie similarity. These courageous women from across the globe-Pakistan, India, Romania, Former Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia-shared similar experiences of hardship, subjugation, and persecution, all because of their faith in Christ. Yet all of these women have emerged from adversity as leaders and heroines. The eight modern-day pilgrims featured in Hearts of Fire are the hidden jewels in the church universal. They are worthy role models of faith and passion, and women of every age will gain new strength and hope for their own times of crisis and trial as they read these inspiring stories. Each story concludes with thoughtful self-reflection questions for the reader.

Church membership is not just a status, it’s an office. Leaders shouldn’t fire members from the responsibilities given to them by Jesus—they should train them! When members are trained, the church grows in holiness and love, discipleship and mission. Complacency and nominalism are diminished. Jesus gives every church member an office in the church’s government: to assume final responsibility for guarding the what and the who of the gospel in the church and its ministry. Similarly, Jesus gives leaders to the church for equipping the members to do this church-building and mission-accomplishing work. In our day, the tasks of reinvigorating congregational authority and elder authority must work together. The vision of congregationalism pictured in this book offers an integrated view of the Christian life. Congregationalism is biblical, but biblical congregationalism just might look a little different than you expect. It is nothing less than Jesus’ authorization for living out his kingdom rule among a people on mission.

We are often so far removed from persecution that it can be hard to relate to people who suffer for their faith. Journey with Greg Musselman, a former sports anchor, as he introduces you to believers he has interviewed from around the world--Christians with extraordinary stories to tell and amazing courage to impart. Whether in Ethiopia or Eritrea, North Korea or Nigeria, India or Iran, these believers have endured incredible pain and suffering, and live under constant threat and hardship. As they have stood boldly for Christ, they have discovered a vital truth: the closer you are to Jesus, the closer you are to the fires of persecution! Yet their tragic stories reveal a deeper hope and greater faith than most of us experience in our more protected lives--and they have much to teach us. Closer to the Fire helps Christians in free countries to identify with and learn from believers in the persecuted Church, as it explores the deeper truths of Scripture and provides probing questions to strengthen your personal walk. These courageous testimonies will inspire you to stand firm for the gospel, develop a greater trust in God, and draw closer to Jesus--and closer to the fire.