Chip Ingram - Good to Great in Gods Eyes: 10 Practices Great Christians Have in Common

What makes someone great? What does it take? How do you measure it?

Perhaps more important, who measures true greatness?

These are the kind of questions Ive been asking myself the last few decades.

I have written and thought much about the journey from success to significance. My book Half Time seemed to strike a chord in the hearts of many who were longing to move beyond success and make a difference in the lives of others. My passion, quite simply, has been to help people discover their Core (the best they have to offer), to create Capacity (make time and money available to fulfill their God-given calling and design), and to discover the Context (the unique role and place they fit to make the greatest difference) for the glory of God.

A few years ago God sent Chip Ingram to our Leadership Institute to explore the answers to those pivotal questions of Core, Capacity, and Context. I knew of Chip and had heard his teaching, but I didnt know the man, the passion, or the heart behind his vision. Thanks to twenty-six solid hours together and some help from a handful of men, we launched a relationship that changed the course of Chips life and allowed me to do what God called me to dogrow fruit on other peoples trees. My life mission is to grow 100X fruit on trees that God has designed to grow 100X fruit!

As Chip and I have partnered together weve seen God produce 100X fruit in the context he has been called to as a local church pastor and the president of Living on the Edge. Since our time together Ive watched God place him in a context where he thrives. As a result, teaching resources and discipleship tools have been created that are now being used in millions of lives and thousands of churches across the country as well as around the world.

From my view, Chips unique ability is to get people in the game. He helps us discover those God-given dreams deeply embedded in our hearts and then gives us practical, biblical, and inspiring tools to turn those dreams into reality. In an evangelical world filled with material designed for beginners, Chips sweet spot is motivating and equipping high-capacity leaders and mature believers who really want to make a difference.

As Ive worked with leaders over the years and men and women with great and godly ambition, Im still amazed at how many start well and finish poorly. Whether its the hubris of wealth, pride, or fame, or the discouragement that comes as dreams are refined and the souls of visionaries are molded by God, there seems to be a woefully high rate of attrition. This book provides the practices, not the theory, that great Christians have in common. This book is not for the slow of heart or weak of soul. It is not for the casual believer who wants a quick fix. It is for those who thirst for more, who want to go deep, who long to become even more than they want to accomplish .

This book provides a spiritual challenge thats covered in grace. It provides a mentoring pathway for growth but no cheap formulas for success. Chip provides hope and help for those who are weary of spiritual light and long to turn their passion to make a difference into reality.

On the last night of Jesuss life on earth an argument arose among his closest followers. The argument was about who was the greatest among them. Far from reproving them for their desire to be great, Jesus gave them a new paradigm and metrics for achieving greatnessgreatness that would not be measured by fame, money, position, or intellect... but greatness in the eyes of God.

Oh that God would raise up a generation of young and old alike who would pray as George Whitfield did: Oh God, make me a great Christian! If your heart resonates with his, this books for you. I highly recommend it.

Bob Buford
author of Half Time