Sifted: Pursuing Growth through Trials, Challenges, and Disappointments (Exponential Series) [Kindle Edition]

Wayne Cordeiro (Author), Francis Chan (Contributor), Larry Osborne (Contributor)

Book Description

Planting and leading a new church is not easy. There are the inevtiable setbacks and challenges that come with launching anything new. And the process will test and try a leader's faith, as they face discouragment, loneliness, and failure. In this book, pastor and seasoned chuch leader Wayne Cordeiro speaks the truth in love, offering wisdom and insight to prepare leaders as they face the difficulties and hardships of church planting, while providing encouragement and inspiration for the journey. 'Sifted' is based on Jesus' encouragement to Peter in Luke 22 to keep his faith and minister to others from his weakness. An experienced practitioner, Wayne shares the things he wishes he'd known when he was starting a new church. With additional stories from other prominent, seasoned leaders, each chapter includes a thought provoking, challenge question to develop a heart that is surrendered to God, focused on 'being and becoming' versus 'doing and accomplishing.' Wayne writes about a healthy integration and balance of personal care and leadership amidst the difficulties of the church planting journey. Loneliness and discouragement are normal in church planting, but God cares more about our journey of faith and who we are becoming than our worldly accomplishments and the churches we build. Church planting is an ongoing process of surrender, personal growth and character development. The book will challenge leaders to persevere and rededicate themselves to their calling, their marriage, and their family. Instead of a 'how to' book on models and methods, this is a combination of a self-assessment book that challenges leaders' scorecards of success, encourages leaders to realize that they are not alone in what they are experiencing, and provides wisdom for the long haul to position younger leaders for a life of ministry and finish strong.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wayne Cordeiro is the founding pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii, which has a weekend attendance of more than 14,500. Wayne is a church planter at heart, having planted more than 108 churches in the Pacific Rim countries of the Philippines, Japan, Australia, and Myanmar. He has also planted churches in Hawaii, California, Montana, Washington, and Nevada. He is the author of eleven books, and he and his wife, Anna, have three married children and four grandchildren. They split their time between Hawaii and Eugene, Oregon, where they have a family farm.

Francis Chan is the best-selling author of Crazy Love and the host of the BASIC.series. Francis is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California and the founder of Eternity Bible College. He also sits on the board of directors of Children's Hunger Fund and World Impact. Francis now lives in Northern California with his wife, Lisa, and their four daughters and one son. SPANISH BIO: Francis Chan es pastor principal de la Iglesia Cornerstone en Simi Valley, California. Es el fundador del Eternity Bible College y pertenece a la junta de la organizacion Children's Hunger Fund. Su primer libro, Loco Amor, vendio mas de 175,000 copias su primer ano. Francis y su familia residen en el sur de California.

Larry Osborne is a teaching pastor at North Coast Church in northern San Diego County. North Coast is widely recognized as one of the most influential and innovative churches in America. Osborne speaks extensively on the subjects of leadership and spiritual formation. His books include Sticky Teams, Sticky Church, 10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe, and Spirituality for the Rest of Us. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Oceanside, California. SPANISH BIO: Larry Osborne es autor de libros, pastor y maestro en la Iglesia North Coast, en Vista, California. Es reconocido por ser uno de los pastores mas innovadores de los Estados Unidos. Reside con su esposa Nancy en Oceanside, California.

Product Details

• File Size: 1891 KB
• Print Length: 225 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0310494478
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 23, 2012)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006FP91J0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,371 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #17 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Clergy > Church Leadership

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Those Being Sifted April 25, 2012

By Laurence T. Baxter VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Sifted is a marvelous book written by Wayne Cordeiro with the help of a few friends. If you are in ministry and haven't faced major challenges, hurts, trials and disappointments, you will. If you have, Sifted will help you process these. If you're in the middle of a season of trials and disappointments, it's a simply must-read. The authors have not only faced their share of trials, but they have helped many other pastors and ministry leaders make it through. The book will be especially encouraging to church planters.

Part one, "Heart Work", describes the process of sifting, why it is virtually inevitable for those who will eventually bear much fruit in ministry, and how to respond when you are being sifted. The writing here is compassionate, warm, challenging, and highly encouraging. Part two, "Home Work" covers some of the key areas we simply cannot ignore - our family, taking care of ourselves, and facing desperate times. You've heard this content before, but it's presented in a fresh and helpful way. Part three, "Hard Work", gives much needed balance in our approach to hard times and tough situations. The veteran authors strongly urge reliance on the Spirit but also note: "We place too much emphasis on spiritual gifts and too little on sweat and gumption." It also discusses the major role sifting plays in character development.

One of my favorite quotes from the book gives a flavor of the tone of the book and the encouragement to be found by those wondering when the pain will end, wondering if they will ever make a difference in the lives of others: "A sifted life is an influential life. Your greatest influence takes place after you have been sifted and have survived... Unsifted Christians won't have as much influence, and that's simply the way God has designed it to be." Do yourself a favor and read 'Sifted."

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Need More Bible Exposition May 28, 2012

By Mathew Sims

Format:Kindle Edition

Sifted is about wearing out and coming to the end of yourself. I've been to that place. Even as an average Joe I could relate to the feelings of siftedness that Cordeiro detailed in his book. In part one, Cordeiro deals with our hearts. He's brutally honest when assessing the success rates of pastors and the struggle innate in the position. Many don't succeed and that's mainly because their idea of success in ministry is distorted. He also challenges to not position ourselves as the one to run to but rather encourages us to point people to Christ (p. 63).

In part two, Cordeiro addresses our home and ministry. He admonishes pastors to not forsake their families (pp. 88-91). He talks about the importance of sabbath. In part three, Cordeiro ends with a discussion on the hard work of ministry. He focuses on servanthood as a necessary characteristic of leadership (pp. 149-151). He recommends knowing your strengths and stewarding your authority. He ends the book with a strong warning for pastors to deal with their own sin. In short, know yourself.

The writing was fluid and easy to digest. I found the advice practical and format interactive (lots of questions and helps). I never found myself bogged down. That's important especially if you want busy pastors who may be experiencing sifting in their own lives to read your book.

However, I also arrived at the end of the book and felt like I had received lots of good advice but very little exploration of what the Bible had to say about depression, hope, and ministry. If Sifted has a weakness it's that it needs more interaction with Scripture. More marveling at the gospel. More Jesus. In short, if you're looking for a book on dealing with depression, suffering, & trials in ministry, Sifted would be helpful as a supplement to a more brawny theological work.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Help for Church Planters Who Will Undergo Testing May 29, 2012

By Dr. Robert J. Vajko VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This book is a welcome part of the help for church planters and ministry in general. Cordeiro gives the main thrust of the book staring, "the core message of this book: sifting happens, but God is still in control, and in fact God uses this season for your good because he wants to do something in you before he does something through you" (60). What the authors want us to see is that "growth happens best in sifted soil" (87).

And the authors do challenge each church planter to think through their heart motivation (part one), their home as priority in ministry (part two), and the importance of working hard in being a servant (part three).

This book truly impacts the reader in a new way about the fact that: "church leadership is as much about being as it is about doing" (39)

In major sections throughout the book the reader is asked to take a moment to answer questions about what has been read. It is better to do this than to put questions at the end of each chapter.

It has been a challenge to me personally to think through the importance of caring properly for my heart, my home, and hard work (meaning effectiveness rather than busyness). Each of the three parts of this book has help in understanding what is happening.

First, in terms of the heart, "Why do so many leaders [and for us this means church planters] lose heart and want to quit? The heart, metaphorically speaking, can be a tricky organ" (25). How true this is for church planters.

Second, in terms of the home, the problem is explained, "Church work was all-encompassing for me, and, I hate to admit it, in many senses I viewed my family as a necessary evil" (97). Then a priority list is given putting the priority as God, self, spouse, family, and ministry (97). However, the book carefully explains that it is not always a question of priority but rather of priorities at any given more--a much more balanced approach.

Third, in terms of hard work, Cordeiro explains the importance of really working effectively rather than busily and a servant spirit.

It is impossible to truly review all the help that this book gives to those in ministry and particularly to church planters I intend to rebalance my own life better as well as the training given to church planters. I also want to get this book into the hands of new church planters as well as other involved in ministry

How I wish I would have had this help when I first started in the ministry of starting new churches. Thank you¸ three musketeers of church planting, for solid help to those with a vision of doing the great work of church planting even when (and even thanks to) the sifting that takes place.

More About the Author

Wayne Cordeiro is senior pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the most beloved churches. Pioneered by Wayne Cordeiro in 1995, it has grown to over 12,000 in weekend attendance with over 80% of the attendees being first-time Christians. New Hope has recently planted 24 satellite churches in Honolulu. Wayne is an author, songwriter, and highly sought after conference speaker. His books include Doing Church as a Team, Attitudes that Attract Success, Dream Releasers, Seven Rules of Success, Rising Above, Leading on Empty, Divine Mentor, Irresistible Church, Sifted, and Jesus-Pure and Simple. His speaking takes him around the world. He is a church planter and leadership trainer at heart and has planted over 134 churches in the Pacific Rim and around the world. Wayne is also the author of the Life Journal used by thousands of churches. He is the chancellor of New Hope Christian College with campuses in Honolulu, Oregon, Tokyo and Myanmar. He and his wife, Anna, have three children and six grandchildren. They live in Honolulu, Hawaii.