Pasión sin agotamiento: Siete claves para un ministerio de sacrificio sostenible durante toda la vida

by Christopher Ash

Miles de personas abandonan el ministerio cristiano todos los meses. No es que hayan perdido su amor por Cristo ni su deseo de servirle. Pero, por una razón o por otra, están exhaustos y sencillamente no pueden seguir adelante.

Christopher Ash conoce demasiado bien esta experiencia. Como pastor de una iglesia en crecimiento, además de su trabajo formando a personas para el ministerio, en varias ocasiones se ha encontrado al borde del colapso, y ha cuidado pastoralmente a muchos ministros jóvenes que han llegado al límite de sus fuerzas. 

Su sabiduría se condensa en este libro breve y accesible, en el cual revela una verdad bíblica muy descuidada y siete claves que surgen de ella. Bien entendidas, e incorporadas a nuestras vidas como cristianos apasionados por servir al Señor, estas claves nos ayudarán a protegernos del agotamiento y a seguir trabajando por el reino y la gloria de Dios.

Genres: Christian, Leadership, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Christianity, Theology, Counselling

110 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Christopher Ash works for the Proclamation Trust in London as director of the Cornhill Training Course. He is also writer in residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, and is the author of several books, including Out of the Storm: Grappling with God in the Book of Job and Teaching Romans. He is married to Carolyn and they have three sons and one daughter.

Reviews

[Peter Krol · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding short book that challenged me deeply. "I am - and will never, this side of the resurrection, be more than - a creature of dust." Because God does not need sleep, I can sleep. Because God never stops working, I can get some rest. God doesn't need friendship with humans, but I do. And God, who needs no nourishment to keep going, provides all nourishment for me if I would but receive it.

My labors are worth it, but they are not my reward. My name is written in heaven. I am so glad for each of these reminders from this excellent little book.

Update 2023: Still outstanding. Still challenging. Terrific reminders here, well worth taking to heart.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in under an hour and a half. I couldn’t put it down. This is a fantastic little book, and I think it’s one that every 21st century Christian worker (volunteer or paid) should read. It’s mercifully short, spiritually deep, and eminently practical.

[Matt Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always read a book if Jenn gets it for you!!

[Abbay Kellum Kocsis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly encouraging. I found this especially freeing as someone working in youth ministry and teaching, but this is definitely a must read for every Christian. My favorite quote is, “When you and I surrendered to Jesus as Lord, we did not offer Him the services of a divine, or even semi-divine creature to strengthen His kingdom; we offer Him the fragile, temporary, mortal, frail life that He has first given to us. That is all we have to offer.

'For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust' (Ps. 103:14)”

What a friend we have in Jesus!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful little book on serving in ministry, and the life-giving humility of accepting human limits in life and work. A favorite nugget: "God is not asking, 'Can you do more?' He is asking, 'Do you love Me?'"

[Amanda E. (aebooksandwords) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has faced burnout, I wish I had found this book sooner. It is such an excellent resource, despite its short length. I highly recommend it!

[Catherine MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really precious balming book. Great to read for preventative help as well as in the aftermath. We are created, fragile beings who God graciously chooses to use in His plan.

[Rainer Erani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. Christopher Ash crushed this book. He provides simple pastoral wisdom for a complicated problem. He is super clear yet leaves space for nuance for people’s experiences. Ash provides incredible definitions, helpful reflections, and useful tools for both recognizing burnout and healing from it.

Without spoiling much - I’d say some of the strongest content is around unpacking burnout as a form of self-harm and developing practices of sustainable sacrifice. He also drops some sobering bars like how 1500 American ministry leaders leave the ministry each month citing burnout, leadership conflict, and moral failure as the primary causes.

For those walking with ministry leaders - read this book.
For those serving in the church - read this book.
For those curious if they’re at the early stages of burnout - read this book.
For those feeling hopeless in the midst of burnout - read this book.

This is really a quick read with lifelong applications.

I felt like this paired well with these resources - but obviously take them or leave them.
* Burnout Breakout PDF
* Burnout Breakout Presentation

[Jess Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There's always more we can do in ministry, but God is not asking 'Can you do more?' He is asking 'Do you love me?'"

If I had a required reading list for anyone involved in ministry, vocational or not, this would surely be on it. This is a short but powerful read. Christopher Ash gives his readers every reason to consider the state of their hearts and take seriously the burnout that might be looming up ahead. Our limitedness is not a weakness; it was the way God designed us and we should seek to live according to His design. I'm walking away from this book deeply encouraged!

[Avery Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

lets just say this book encouraged me to finally take a sabbath! you read that right! i had a full day of rest yesterday and truly delighted in the Lord. surely it will get easier!! anyway yeah this was a great read! i feel like alot of the middle chapters i didnt absorb much information which is what took a star away. my favorite part of this book was when the author wrote that no matter how many deep talks or one on one meet ups we have, our name is still written in the book of life! brought tears to my eyes! hoping that i can continue to learn how to slow down and fix my gaze on the Lord!

[Jessi-Leigh Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sat in a cafe and read this in an afternoon.. such an important topic for our ‘hustle culture’ age. Major takeaway? Check 👏🏼in 👏🏼on 👏🏼your 👏🏼 staff/elders/deacons 👏🏼pray for them, tell them your praying for them, ask them if they’re looking after themselves, and trust that God will do this work through his people in his timing

[Luke Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and helpful. It left me wanting more but gave me enough to do some solid self assessment. In ministry or not this book is an important read.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Ash says, it's not a comprehensive theology on the topic, but a concise and clear reminder that we're creatures of dust and need to rest and refresh while God does not. A helpful and readable book, like a concerted friend who checks in to make sure that you're *really* ok

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful little book for pastors!

[Rafael Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great compilation of insights and testimonies on the issue of burnout in the lives of believers. Ash targets mainly full-time pastors, but his advice would be helpful for any believer involved in ministry work. His main goal is prevention. Some of his advice was definitely needed for me, a Bible college student.

[Danny Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like sitting down and receiving encouragement, truth, wisdom, and care from an older, wiser friend. There were so many reminders in this short little book that were good for my soul. Here's just a few of them:

"We must not allow ourselves to slip into a false spirituality that treats our bodily existence as if it can be separated from our ‘spiritual’ life- as if our spiritual life carries on quite independently from what is happening in our bodies."

"Yes you need to be there for people in crises. But it is also important to say that love does not mean always jumping when somebody calls. For every desperate trauma there are perhaps fifty or more pastoral visits which can perfectly well wait for a later visit or meeting. In fact, it is often good to wait, so our brothers and sisters learn to depend upon God rather than upon a particular Christian!"

"If joy is to motivate us to gospel work, then joy must be rooted in something outside of the fruits of our work, something that can’t be touched by the frustrations of this life under the sun...When our joy comes from gifts and success, we will always be under pressure. For we are only as good as the last sermon, the last talk, the last spiritual conversation, the last few months of Christian service, the last success."

Every person in ministry should read this book, or a book like this.

[Charlotte Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an encouraging and convicting read! Rather than providing a comprehensive theological review, Ash offers a clear and concise view on burnout and the dangers of misdirected zeal.

The main point of the book is that burnout in Christian life/ ministry more often than not stems from pride instead of faithfulness (the need to prove ourselves to other than the dependence on God).

Today, people glorify hustle culture and frame it as diligence, when really it’s our own pride. We attempt to martyr ourselves for the cause, forgetting that God has already given us a framework for sustainable sacrifice (prayer, community, discipleship, study, etc.)

True zeal, is not performative, but steady, humble, and shaped by trust in God’s work beyond our limits. Anyways soapbox over.

[Brian Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super easy and quick read, only took me about 2.5 hours with other minor distractions and me taking notes.
Key reminders:
* God is God, we are but dust. We were formed from dust, and are returning to dust.
* God doesn’t need sleep, but we do
* God doesn’t need a sabbath, but we do
* God doesn’t need friends, but we do
* God doesn’t need inward renewing (or spiritual food), but we certainly do

Was very challenging reading about other’s stories of getting sick, experiencing burnout, and how they recovered from it. I experienced a very similar week just this year when I got sick after Easter at the end of Spring semester Junior year. I had no motivation or energy to do anything, which God used to teach me how much I was serving Him for the works, and not for the Grace that He’s extended to us.

Good read!

[Carolyn Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is a must read. I look forward to revisiting this book over the years. If you are in vocational ministry or even if you aren’t but have a desire to serve a lifetime of sustainable kingdom ministry, this book will add value to your life.

also…. this: “when you and I surrendered to Jesus as Lord, we did not offer him the services of a divine, or even semi-divine creature to strengthen his kingdom; we offer him the fragile, temporary, mortal, frail life that he has first given to us. This is all we have to offer. God knows that.” (pg. 40-41)

There are so many quotes I want to include on this review, but I would rather you read this book! That’s all!

[Nathan Pettit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ministry is hard. Sometimes ministers don’t want to do ministry. Other times ministers don’t realize the physical, emotional, or spiritual toll that ministry takes on their lives.

This book will root your life and something far greater than ministry. It will root your life in the knowledge that your name is written in the book of book of life.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but purposeful read on burn out. Helpful in reframing and refocusing and reiterated to me the importance of a sabbath and adequate rest

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet, highly practical for anyone involved in ministry. Will definitely be referring back to the principles laid out in this book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I suppose a book on burnout needs to be short, since the target audience is exhausted, or busy, or both. But I did feel this was a little cursory.

Christopher Ash writes really gently about basic principles like good sleep, good Sabbaths and good friendship. It’s a timely reminder. Beware that if you don’t take days of rest regularly, you’ll eventually have to take them all at once, in arrears, and probably at the least convenient moment.

There could’ve been more about how we’re a body, crafted with different giftings and designed to bear each other’s burdens.

“The Lord builds the house” - Psalm 127.

[Anthony Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, but helpful, book to remind us that we are weak and fragile, made from dust, and that we are not God (this is humbling, yet wonderful news because God is strong on our behalf).
Even in the midst of specific ministry work, we are still humans and therefore need rest/breaks. Thankful for these reminders that Ash digs into within these pages!

[Brandon Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

a helpful read. we are not the LORD. that is a good thing. but many times i act as if i too have no limitations like he.

[Tim Sandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful book.

[Alireza Ghazi-Torbati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm thankful for Christopher Ash's short work Zeal Without Burnout, which is a helpful challenge to those who are prone to take too much on. So important.

I commend this book to anyone feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do for the Lord.

Remember that His grace is sufficient, so focus on Him, rather than the gifts He gives.

May this book be a blessing to you.

[Bob O'Bannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

No astonishing new insights here -- just helpful reminders that a person needs to pace himself/herself to avoid reaching a place where you just shut down and quit. Often that perilous condition sneaks up on us unaware, so the time to pay attention is now.

Most helpful for me was the simple reminder that while it is a privilege to be in ministry, it is a greater privilege to be a recipient of grace (106). If a person is driven more by gifts than grace, he will find himself "only as good as the last sermon, the last youth talk, the last spiritual conversation..." 105). That is an endless treadmill that will inevitably lead to at least the beginning of burnout.

The drive for "success" is also an occasion for possible burnout. Thankfully, God in his mercy doesn't give us too much of it. As J.C. Ryle once wrote, "Most of Christ's laborers have as much success as their souls can bear."

[Lauren Fee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so needed to re-read this book that I had picked up in 2017. I just hadn’t suffered enough when I read this book before and I had to unfortunately learn some lessons the hard way, but the Lord brought this book into my life and sanctification journey just when I needed to revisit the ideas again and I am so grateful! Highly recommend.

[Eric Durso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful and brief. Reading with my elders.

Read again December 2024.