Since the time we followed the Lord’s leading to commit ourselves to Fanning the Flame, it has been our intent to make it a priority. Our coach, Joe Weatherly, is a pastor himself and has coached over 70 churches through this process, helping them carefully evaluate themselves, put together a plan for the future, and provide a model for putting that plan into action. He has been a blessing to our Fanning the Flame team and a great help to me personally. Fanning the Flame has impacted several sermon series that I’ve tackled, especially this latest series on Learning from the Psalms how to walk with God. The idea behind the series, specifically, is to learn how God’s people prayed by looking at their prayer book and tool for learning to pray—which is the Psalms. Fanning the Flame has also impacted my meetings with people as I’ve met with many of the small groups to talk to them pointedly about Fanning the Flame and what we are currently doing as a team and hope to do in the future. These are ways it has become my priority.

What I want to do with this article is share with you ways that you too can make it a priority, depending on your particular role within Cornerstone.

Church members:

1. Be diligent in prayer:
• For God to “fan into flame” our zeal for the gospel and His church.
• For the peace and unity of our congregation. That God would protect us from the arrows of the enemy who would plant doubt and discouragement among our people.
• For the FTF team to prosper in their work.
• For the elders to be strengthened in their leading.
2. Take the initiative to talk with a FTF team member about FTF. (FTF team members are: Carter Sanger, Nathan Carico, Jonathan Tucker, Kent Saugier, Gene Cover, Kathy Jorgensen, Lynn Weatherly, Becky Yuvancic, Johnny Tassin, Don Russell, Janette Cogliandro, Trey Harper, Justin O’Shay)
3. Encourage each other by looking for ways God is at work and sharing those testimonies of grace with others.

Fanning the Flame team:

1. In addition to the prayers above, be diligent in praying for each other.
2. Invest yourself into the work that we are doing by:
• Carefully reading the materials assigned and noting “take aways” that can benefit our congregation.
• Intentionally talking with people in the congregation about the things you are reading and the direction we are going.
• Looking for ways God is (or has been) at work among our church AND sharing those things with others. (This is part of our Remembering strategy)
• Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He convicts you of attitudes, faithlessness, pride, as well as sins of omission and repent.
• Be an encourager and not a discourager. Remember, God is in charge!

Elders:

1. Commit to the prayers listed above.
2. Continue to be in close communication with the FTF team.
3. Continue to evaluate ministry opportunities in light of our vision as well as our time and resource commitment to Fanning the Flame. Be ready to say “no” and lead people toward FTF priorities.

For His Kingdom,

Carter