Holy Ambition: What it Takes to Make a Difference for God

by Chip Ingram

When God speaks, how close to the edge do you get?God wants us sitting on the edge of our 'life seats,' leaning forward to pay attention to His word. To really live this Christian life 'on the edge,' Pastor Chip Ingram teaches that we must be eagerly anticipating what God will do next, ready and willing to fully participate. Drawing wisdom from the life of Nehemiah, Pastor Ingram masterfully leads readers through six key components to achieving a life lived with a biblical perspective and an eternal purpose: 1.Developing a dislocated heart 2.Experiencing a broken spirit 3.Practicing a radical faith 4.Creating a strategic plan 5.Exercising personal commitment 6.Growing a courageous soul

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Faith, Christian Non Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Chip Ingram is the teaching pastor and CEO of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry. A pastor for over thirty years, Chip is the author of many books, including Culture Shock, The Real Heaven, The Real God, The Invisible War, and Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships. Chip and his wife, Theresa, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren and live in California.

Reviews

[Reid]

I am becoming a bigger Chip Ingram fan. This book is about 'getting it together' to make a significant difference where God directs. This is a book about leadership and personal alignment to the character of God



Lessons taken from the book of Nehemiah are well developed and thought-out. I don't think he 'spiritualizes' or overreaches to make his points and I found the book very practical.



The theme verse of the book is 2 Chron 16:9a: "For the eyes of the Lord look to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."



The main six points of the first 4 chapters of Nehemiah that teach one how to have a heart that is completely the Lord's are........:

1. Developing a dislocated heart

2. Experiencing a broken spirit

3. Practicing a radical faith

4. Creating a strategic plan

5. Exercising a personal commitment

6. Growing a courageous soul



I especially liked what he had to say about faith and what it may take to 'step out in faith' once the Lord speaks to you or gives you an idea of what He wants you to do. Such a situation may cause fear but radical faith like Nehemiah's requires one to act in spite of the fear, at the risk of comfort and cost.



Ingram includes many leadership insights and thoughts about discouragement and the importance of pressing ahead when discouraged.



This is one of the books that I will continue to re-read in order to apply as much as I can in my situation

[Josh Broccolo]

Chip gives an overview of the story of Nehemiah, focusing on personal application. Generally good, but I think the title can be misleading.

[Brent Soderstrum]

Ingram uses Nehimiah and a 6 pillar analysis to set out what is the best way to be used by God for His kingdom. I got the feeling this is geared more for church leaders to move their churches and not for individuals. Ingram says this can be used individually but things such as strategic plans seem geared more for committees. Quick informative read however.

[Courtney]

Our small group used this book as a bible study last year--it's based around the story of Nehemiah, and how God gave him vision, a specific calling, and broke his heart enough to give him a solid plan of action to rebuild the walls of Jersusalem. Ingram had many good points, my favorite being: if you had a blank check, and infinite time and resources, what would you do for the kingdom of God?

[Jo]

I thought this book had some really good content. I felt like the author tried a little too hard to use a conversational, hip writing style, and he used quite a few megachurch examples that I couldn't always relate to, but overall it had some very convicting challenges.

[Charity]

I first read this book when I was 16 and it made me realize I could do anything I felt like God was calling me to do - no matter what others thought. It lines up both spiritual and pastoral authority with the God-given ambition each of us have. Love. It!

[Amy Gentry]

I just love Chip Ingram.

[Jt]

This was a great and practical book on the life of Nehemiah.