Burnout is a very real issue in the lives of people who work hard and devote many years of their lives to ministry, not in the least full-time ministers. Burnout can rob people of joy, hope as well as energy and leave a person depressed and anxious. This book serves as a self check for ministers and heavily involved lay people. It seeks positive change, to adopt better strategies and patterns that will help them to continue in joyful productive ministry throughout their lives.

• Link: Amazon, ChristianAudio
• Length: 208
• Difficulty: Easy-Popular
• Topic: Pastoral Care, Discipleship
• Audience: Christian Ministers
• Published: 2017

This book was offered in audio form free from Christian Audio (https://christianaudio.com/free) and should remain available through April 2018 (hint). Audio books are relatively easy to work through so I downloaded it without too much trouble and was able to listen to it in less than a week.

The author is Dr. David Murray. He is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and Pastor of the Free Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. While he is Calvinist and the book is pervaded by a Calvinist perspective, I didn’t find this too much of an issue. Especially when he addresses the area of self-identity.

This post is one of my book reviews.

Main Points

Murray begins and continues through his book recognising that everyone has limitations. He does not have a short-term focus, rather using an example of running a marathon he has the whole of life ministry in view. He gives his own testimony, which shows he knows from experience some of the things people can suffer from. Murray does not speak with a superior attitude, rather as one who has suffered he seeks to help and encourage people like himself.

His understanding of grace goes beyond recognition of Christ’s atonement and salvation to include everyday blessings such as sleep and food. I found this quite refreshing and a good reminder of all that God gives us in this life.

Early on he gives a whole chapter to self assessment. He encourages regular checks. Daily, Monthly, and Yearly. This important chapter includes a checklist of problems which if several crop up in a person’s life could show they are being burned out.

Murray then turns to what changes need to be done to last long-term. He calls many of his chapters ‘repair bays’, appropriately capturing the image of maintaining and fixing a car so it can continue performing well.

Murray’s book is very practical. He devotes several chapters on physical needs including sleep, physical exercise, food and for people suffering from depression, medication. He doesn’t simply focus on ‘spiritual’ nourishment, rather he has good balance paying attention to the physical as well.

He also recognises the value of including leisure activities (silence, reading, relationships, hobbies) for recharging.

He addresses the self talk we give ourselves, especially dealing with our identity. He addresses how we can think of ourselves as ‘sinners’ and ‘failures’. Wonderfully showing how the first is very unhelpful and unbiblical and how the second forgets that God’s plans for his kingdom do not depend on us and how failure can give the growth necessary for future success.

Some might think he is all about resting. Not true. Murray encourages organising a weeks activities with long-term ministry in mind, planning ahead and pacing one’s self. This is a discipline. Specific emphasis is put on ministers who’s workload includes unforseen issues and events that easily crop up with pastoral ministry.

One of his last chapters focuses on relationships God, family, children, church and friends. On the whole I found the book covered a broad range of areas necessary to address ministry and burnout.

Recommendation

The book is hard to fault. It’s easy to listen to and the speaker is warm, obviously caring for his listeners. As I’ve mentioned the book covers a broad range of topics and is very practical. It’s probably a good book to work through every one or two years.

The book is specifically targeted towards full-time ministers, but lay readers I’m sure can benefit from Murray’s advice. For everyday church pew sitters, the book gives a fair amount of insight into the lives of full-time ministers and hopefully will help them respect the demands of the role they bear.

I have recommended this book to my church minister. I recommend it to all others as well.

Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2018. All Rights Reserved.