Primal Fire: Reigniting the Church with the Five Gifts of Jesus

I've had the privilege of walking with Neil Cole and his cohorts (Phil Helfer, Ed Waken, Dezi Baker, and Paul Kaak) in varying degrees over the last 15 years. I've been an "insider" to the learning that has fleshed itself out into the work Primal Fire. Keen attention to the APEST (apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding, teaching) gifts has been part of my experience with the Church Multiplication Associates movement throughout (more at CMAResources. org ). This is the best articulation and action of a true APEST team that I've experienced on the planet.Many in mission circles are talking about the need for this APEST community of leaders, but hardly anyone really has that kind of community. What Cole and friends express in Primal Fire is the real deal. It is not merely theory, but theology, theory, principles, practice, victories and pains through real life and ministry. It is a treasure to have this snapshot as captured in Primal Fire.A word of warning: Don't merely flip to the chapter on your favorite or perceived gift (chapters 9-13) and read about what an apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd or teacher does. I was tempted to do that, but if you do (or maybe when) make sure to take the time to engage with the first 8 chapters of the book! If you don't, you will be missing some VERY important foundations from the whole of the New Testament. Most importantly, you'll skip a tremendous exegesis and exposure of Ephesians chapter 4 (which Cole appropriately dubs the "Magna Carta" of the church [primarily chapters 5-8]).In those foundational first eight chapters, you'll be challenged in your theology and your practice. For instance, Cole draws out that church leadership isn't merely to servant-hood, but to truly be servants. And beyond that leadership in Jesus' church and hierarchy have no place together! Into church practices, elders and deacons are addressed thoroughly. In fact, a revolutionary biblical proposal on deacons will have you chewing through the Scriptures again.In the portions of the book that expose and articulate the five APEST gifts that Jesus gave (chapters 9-13), I believe that the authors' hope is that these pages in Primal Fire will affirm what Jesus has given and will draw together fully functional APEST teams. In fact, as I finished this book (the first time), I left it with a missionary team in Chad (Africa) with the hopes that they would be able to capitalize on these insights to fuel a burgeoning church-planting movement there.Since this is Jesus' idea and His gifts for the maturing of the Body, I whole-heartedly encourage you to chew on the content of Primal Fire for the greater multiplication of disciples, leaders, churches and movements all over our globe.

As a former non-denominational staunchly Biblically based pastor I could prove, so I thought, that all the power in the gifts left with the Apostles did and the completion of the Bible. Well...God has done some eye opening in my house and to quote An old writer; "It's Not what ya don't know that will hurt ya; It's what ya know for sure...but it just ain't so"Both Moody and Torrey, pillars of American revival and Moody Bible Institute who loved the Word of God had a secret. The same secret and presence of God that the early church possessed and the secret Who is very much active and alive today. It's the secret power of the Holy Spirit Whom Francis Chan calls "Forgotten God". Jesus said..."I must go, so you can have Him"; He said, stay in the city and wait till you receive the power my Father promised." Our Lord dedicated much of. His teaching to the 12 on Him...a Who would be just like Jesus and now taking up residence inside every believer. Not just residence but dynamic power and gifts to turn a world upside down. He wants to turn our lives upside down but we conservatives are afraid of what He might do and what our teachers may say. He and the gifts are not gone. Just forgotten by our leaders and we have believed it. Ephesians 4:11-13 describe 4 major gifts given by Him to people who must be active in every New Testament church whether in a house or a mega building. With those gifts of people, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers are other essential Spiritual Gifts that they would embody the world was turned upside down. The people everywhere marveled at these people. This should be happening today. Why isn't it and why is the institutional church in America, the UK and all over declining? Open our eyes Church...believer...understand we have Him inside and He wants us to believe Him, wait for and receive His enabling power. He was raised up but He gave gifts to mere men (and women) so that He could build a church that the gates of hell could not prevail against. It's high time we awake from this sleep, for now the time is closer than when we first believed!

My life verse is Romans 12:2 ... Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Neil Cole fulfills that scripture with this book. Neil challenges the church to NOT conform to the world's pattern of a pastor-teacher led church. Instead Neil reminds and explains to us what is in Ephesians 4:11, e.g., each person who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord has received all 5 gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd (pastor) and teacher. On page 43 he says "Positional authority in God's Kingdom is obsolete and obstructive." The church is organized in the same fashion as General Motors. A pastor CEO, elder board of directors, deacon managers, silo ministries that don't work together well and the majority of people simply the work force.Neil also challenges Christians to not conform to traditional Christianity:1. Do NOT take spiritual gifts test. They cause us to do only one activity in the church body, not many.2. Shepherding and teaching should NOT be one person assigned to one person, the pastor.3. Christians should NOT gather in holy huddles. When performing the evangelist or apostle gifts, we need to be out and about.I guarantee this book will cause you to think and re-think what we are doing in our churches.

Provocative and biblical!y based by someone who truly practices what he preaches. The section on the Holy Spirit and the description of the role and relationship between deacons, A PEST and elders is worth the price of thebook.

Primal Fire is the best book on the fivefold ministry I have ever read! Neil Cole provides incredible insight on all 5 gifts but especially on the most misunderstood and controversial: apostles and prophets.As with all his books, Cole is oozing with a love for Jesus and for his Church. Combined with great exegetical skill, Primal Fire is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to see the Church become mature and filled to the full measure of Christ.I especially appreciate how each of the 5f gifts are defined and described in the context of ministry to the Body. I walked away with a deeper appreciation for the Church and how each gift contributes to her health.I had a eureka moment when I realized that the success of my own ministry in the past was due to the 5fold gifts present. God had sovereignty put that team together from 2000-2006 and we saw amazing things and experienced incredible impact within our own local church and in our translocal ministry to the Body of Christ.On many occasion throughout the book, Neil Cole Put into words what I have been sensing intuitively for years. From the role of apostles and prophets in laying foundations to the uneasy feeling I've had about the New Apostolic Reformation.Primal Fire is proof positive that Neil Cole himself is a gift to the Church.

Gets better as you go, the first couple chapters aren't his best, but I'm glad I stuck with it. We need the 5-fold!

Was encouraged to read this and so thankful I did. So many take aways! Looking forward to our church’s coming series on the APEST gifts.

Wow!!! a must read for every christian.