Primal Fire

Neil Cole

Discussion Guide

The following discussion guide is designed for a four-week group study of Primal Fire. Questions within each week are divided up by chapter so you can adjust for a shorter or longer study. Focus on the questions or ideas that resonate most with your group; this guide is intended to be a starting point for deeper conversations and building community. Use this discussion guide as a base, and let God guide your time together.

Week One: Read Introduction and Chapters 1–3

Introduction: A Fire That Does Not Consume

1. Neil Cole distinguishes between a destructive fire that burns everything in its path and a fire that does not consume. He also notes that God’s nonconsuming fire comes only when we are walking within His will. Describe a time when you knew you were outside of God’s will and you experienced the fire of destruction. On the flip side, have you ever felt ignited by God’s holy fire? How did this confirm that you were walking within His will—and what was the outcome?

2. The primal fire of God is still with us today. What do you think it means that God’s fire is still alive? How do you think that affects the way we live our lives as Christians?

3. The author believes that the perfect conditions are coming together for another firestorm like the one described in the early chapters of Acts. What conditions do you see coming together in our world that might spark a movement of God? How do you think the current state of the world resembles the state of affairs in Acts?

4. What does it mean that the gifts are intended to equip others? It’s easy to see the teaching gift as an equipping gift, but how does the same goal apply to the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, and shepherding gifts?

Chapter 1: Discovering the Primal Fire Within

1. The idea of larger-than-life heroes is embedded in our human culture, reflecting our desire to be more than we are and to change the world for the better. What hero stories resonate with you, and why do you think they are so special to you? How do you think those stories are a reflection of your desire for something larger than life?

2. Describe what you think daily life was like before the Fall. What changed—and more important, what did not change—with the Fall?

3. Neil Cole identifies five “assignments” given to Adam that reflect our creation in God’s image. How, if at all, were these assignments affected by the Fall? How do you see yourself living out some of these assignments in your everyday life?

4. Even though Adam failed and the image of God was obscured, when Jesus came He embodied God’s uncorrupted image and unveiled Him to us once again. What does it mean that God has already invested Himself in us? In what ways do you see God’s image in people today? How do you think we can go about learning to reflect God’s image more clearly?

Chapter 2: The Eternal Pilot Light

1. What do you think it means to be the body of Christ? How does the metaphor of a body make room for diversity in the church? How is diversity encouraged or celebrated in your church, ministry, or small group?

2. Do you agree that if all the Christians in the world were taken away except one child, he or she would have all the spiritual DNA necessary to spur a movement and restore the Kingdom of God? What are the implications of this for you?

3. Jesus is the archetypal model of the five gifts depicted in Ephesians 4:11. How does His example affect your perception and opinion of these gifts? How does the living presence of Christ affect your understanding of the gifts in our day and age?

4. The author clearly establishes that the gifts are all about Jesus. How have you seen the gifts discussed in a way that makes them all about us? As you and your discussion group read this book, how can you make sure that your conversations keep Jesus at the center? How does keeping Christ at the center affect your perspective on the gifts?

5. No gift is better than any other gift, as all gifts equally reflect Jesus. Have you ever thought one gift was better than the others, or have you ever wanted a gift other than your own? How does the idea that all gifts are equal in Jesus shape how you value yourself and those around you?

Chapter 3: Refining Leadership with the Heat of the Primal Fire

1. The sign of a true learner is not just what ideas he or she has accumulated, but also what ideas have been jettisoned. Looking back on your life, what new ideas have you adopted? What ideas have you jettisoned?

2. What do you think of Neil Cole’s assertion that the hierarchical church structure we see today is a result of the corruption of God’s design? What questions and new ideas does this argument raise for you?

3. What do you think of Jesus’ framework for leadership for His body and Kingdom? Do you think an expression of His Kingdom devoid of hierarchy is possible in our day and age? What do you think it means that to become great, we must be servants? How might this work in your local church and community?

4. Instead of being delegated, Christ’s authority is distributed. What does this look like practically? Have you ever encountered a leader who distributed Christ’s authority? How did this work?

5. Do you agree with the discussion about elders and deacons/deaconesses in the church? Which arguments of his are most compelling? Are there any points he makes that you want to study further?

6. Do you agree with the author’s discussion about women in the Ephesians 4:11 roles? Which of his arguments do you find most compelling? Which ideas of his do you want to research further?

Week Two: Read Chapters 4–8

Chapter 4: Renewed Legitimacy for Ancient Flames

1. Neil Cole maintains that the roles of apostle and prophet still exist today and should be functioning in the church. Explain why you agree or disagree with his position.

2. How does the author’s description of the apostles today compare or conflict with your understanding of the apostolic gift?

3. Why do you think there is so much opposition to the apostolic and prophetic gifts in the church today? How does your own church, ministry, or small group treat these gifts? Based on your reading of this chapter, how have your views changed or been reinforced?

Chapter 5: Light from a Stolen Fire

1. What do you think it means to live a life worthy of our high calling? How does the fact that we did nothing to deserve that calling affect our pursuit of it? How does our calling influence how we read the list of gifts in Ephesians 4:11?

2. The key to unity is not doctrine or agreement, but humility. Have you ever been in a situation where people tried to foster unity through doctrine or agreement? What was the result? How do you think humility would have influenced that result?

3. What do you think it means to submit to someone who is different from you? What does it not mean? How can you disagree with someone but still submit to him or her with humility?

4. Relationships between Christians should be about more than one person’s agenda or desires. How can we nurture relationships without imposing an agenda? What agendas do you need to weed out of some of your relationships?

5. Neil Cole states that instead of trying to put things into believers, the church should focus on drawing things out. What do you think is the difference between these two actions? How can we go about drawing out other people’s unique giftedness?

6. Why do you think all five gifts working together is so vital to the health of the church? Do you agree with the author that it might be a “silver bullet” for the church? Why or why not?

Chapter 6: Wind Channels to Accelerate the Primal Fire

1. The Ephesians gifts seek to equip others for doing the work of Christ. Why do you think Paul emphasizes equipping so much? Why do those who are mature in the gifts focus on equipping others to do the work, rather than on doing the work themselves?

2. What do you think it means to become a gift? Are there any people in your life whom you would consider to be gifts, either to yourself or your church?

3. After reading about the phases of becoming a mature equipper, which phase do you think you are in right now? What steps can you take toward the next phase of maturity?

4. Neil Cole says he will consider himself a success when he can fade from the stage and let others step up to continue his ministry. Do you agree about the dangers of megachurches and the irreplaceability of some pastors? Why do you think it is hard for some pastors to let others take their place?

5. Every person is unique, and their expression of the gifts is affected by a variety of things. What are some factors that would make any two people who have the same gift radically different?

Chapter 7: The Wind That Fans the Flames

1. What have you been taught about the Holy Spirit? How has your view of the Spirit changed?

2. Do you think we have lowered the bar for what we say is miraculous? Why or why not? On the flip side, why do you think people believe God must perform miracles? What does it mean that the Bible comes from God, but is not over Him?

3. Why is it so important that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an ethereal force? How does that shape our perception of the Spirit?

4. Do you agree that to be filled with the Spirit is to yield all things to Him? How do you think a person goes about doing this?

5. What difference does it make that being immersed in the Spirit is a perpetual reality and not a one-time event?

6. Do you agree that there is more to God’s words than the Scriptures? Are you convinced that the Spirit speaks to us even outside the Bible? Have you ever heard the Spirit’s voice? Describe your experience.

Chapter 8: Where There’s Smoke . . .

1. In Ephesians 4–6, Paul lists seven ways to put off our old selves and put on our new selves. Which of the seven ways look most challenging? Paul also lists four qualities of those who are filled with the Spirit. Which of the four do you have a hard time living out? Write down a few ways you can confront these challenges this week.

2. Of the examples of the Holy Spirit being noticed (or not noticed) in Acts, which example best resembles how you have or have not noticed the Spirit in your life, church, ministry, or small group?

3. What signs of the Holy Spirit do you find in your church, ministry, small group, or your own life? What signs do you not find? How reflective of the Spirit’s presence do you think your experience is?

4. Why do you think it is so important that authority comes from the fruit of the Spirit, not from the gifts?

5. Love is more important than all of the gifts; without love, the gifts mean nothing. How do you think that affects the way we see our gifts and the way we express them? Write down two examples: one of a gift expressed without love, and one of a gift expressed with love.

Week Three: Read Chapters 9–13

Chapter 9: The Apostolic Gift: Contagious Empowerment

1. Apostles are “sent ones,” who probably intend to leave a church and start a new one after a time. How have you heard the term apostle used in the past? How does that compare to Neil Cole’s use of the term? Have you ever met or heard of someone who embodied this quality of being sent?

2. What do you think makes the foundation laid by the apostle so important? Why might a foundation laid by a teacher or evangelist not be as effective?

3. What do you think it means that an apostle is a custodian of the church’s DNA—the gospel? How might an apostle guard that DNA more than other gifts?

4. Why do you think apostles especially get a reputation for being the scum of the earth? Why might the apostolic gift be predisposed to intense persecution?

5. How would a mature apostle equip younger apostles? In your own experience, how have you seen this equipping in action? How can a mature apostle help to equip the other four roles—prophet, evangelist, shepherd, teacher—as well?

6. Based on the description of the apostolic role, what other shadows do you think the apostle might cast? Have you experienced firsthand any of these shadows?

Chapter 10: The Prophetic Gift: Contagious Insight

1. What did you think of the prophetic gift before reading this book? Did you imagine something like the wild-eyed prophets in the Old Testament? How do you think the role of the prophet as it exists today helps form the foundation of the church?

2. Why do you think a prophet’s passion for truth might isolate him or her from the mainstream church? Have you ever seen a situation like this play out in a church or ministry you’ve been a part of? What was the outcome?

3. Prophets have insight into spiritual warfare that other roles might not have. Why do you think this is? Have you ever met someone who had this kind of spiritual intelligence? How was the prophetic gift used within the ministry of the church?

4. What does it mean that a prophet’s authority comes from the message and its source? What do you think a prophet whose authority derives from his or her message might look like, as opposed to a prophet who seeks to derive authority from position?

5. How would a mature prophet equip younger prophets? In your own experience, how have you seen this equipping in action? How can a mature prophet help to equip the other four roles—apostle, evangelist, shepherd, teacher—as well?

6. Based on the description of the prophetic role, what other shadows do you think the prophet might cast? Have you experienced firsthand any of these shadows?

Chapter 11: The Evangelistic Gift: Contagious Compassion

1. How do you think evangelists are the “conscience” of the church? How do they ensure that the church continues pursuing its mission?

2. Why would a foundation of evangelism lead to addition rather than multiplication?

3. Evangelists have spiritual insight into how close people are to accepting Christ. Why do you think this is? Have you ever met someone who has this quality?

4. What do you think it means that the evangelist’s authority is relational? How would an evangelist with relational authority function differently than an evangelist whose authority derives from position?

5. How would a mature evangelist equip younger evangelists? In your own experience, how have you seen this equipping in action? How can a mature evangelist help to equip the other four roles—apostle, prophet, shepherd, teacher—as well?

6. Based on the description of the evangelistic role, what other shadows do you think the evangelist might cast? Have you experienced firsthand any of these shadows?

Chapter 12: The Shepherding Gift: Contagious Unity

1. Why do you think Neil Cole surmises that the best examples of shepherds probably died in anonymity? Why would a good shepherd likely not be famous? How does this affect the shepherd’s impact?

2. What do you think is the difference between feeding and tending sheep, and why is this distinction significant when discussing the shepherding role?

3. Why are shepherds typically the best kind of team builders? Have you ever met someone who embodied this aspect of being a shepherd? How were you affected by this person’s gifts?

4. What do you think it means that a shepherd’s authority is relational? How would a shepherd with relational authority function differently than a shepherd who derives authority from his or her position?

5. How would a mature shepherd equip younger shepherds? In your own experience, how have you seen this equipping in action? How can a mature shepherd help to equip the other four roles—apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher—as well?

6. Based on the description of the shepherding role, what other shadows do you think the shepherd might cast? Have you experienced firsthand any of these shadows?

Chapter 13: The Teaching Gift: Contagious Learning

1. A teacher facilitates the learning of others. Who are the best teachers you’ve ever had, within the church or outside of it? How did they facilitate learning in others?

2. Why do you think it’s important that a teacher is also a learner? What do you think this looks like in a teacher’s everyday life?

3. Teachers should not only facilitate the learning of others, but facilitate the teaching of others. Why do you think this distinction is so important? Have you known any teachers who did this effectively?

4. What do you think it means that a teacher’s authority is in the Word of God? How does a teacher whose authority is in the Word of God function differently than a teacher who derives his or her authority from position?

5. How would a mature teacher equip younger teachers? In your own experience, how have you seen this equipping in action? How can a mature teacher help to equip the other four roles—apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd—as well?

6. Based on the description of the teaching role, what other shadows do you think the teacher might cast? Have you experienced firsthand any of these shadows?

Week Four: Read Chapters 14–18 and Conclusion

Chapter 14: The Spark Becomes a Fire

1. Even though the apostolic and prophetic gifts may repel each other in some ways, they are necessary together to lay the proper foundation for the church. Why do you think God would engineer two very different gifts to work so closely together? Have you seen times when these two gifts have worked well together, or have clashed? What was the outcome?

2. What do you think Neil Cole means when he says that relationships between prophets and apostles must be grounded in more than the presence of the gifts or the necessity of the mission? Do you tend to form relationships based on mission strategy? How do those relationships compare to other, more organic relationships?

3. The author emphasizes that none of the gifts should be fused together or excluded from the body. Why do you think having all five distinct gifts is so important to the body of Christ? How is your church, ministry, or small group doing in this area?

4. Where is there competition between the gifts in your church, ministry, or small group? How would your church or ministry operate differently if the gifts stopped competing and started cooperating? How can you take steps toward cooperation?

5. Based on the summary of the gifts at the end of this chapter, and on what you’ve read so far, which gifts are underrepresented in your church or ministry? How can you foster development of all five APEST gifts?

Chapter 15: All the Gifts Aflame Together

1. What do you think of Neil Cole’s illustration of the systems of the body? Is there anything you would change in his illustration based on your understanding of the gifts? What does this illustration say about the necessity of each gift?

2. Does the illustration of fingers help you to better understand the gifts in Ephesians 4? What does this illustration say about the necessity of each gift?

3. Think of another illustration that you could use to describe the gifts of Ephesians 4 to someone. Write or draw the illustration on a piece of paper to share with your group.

Chapter 16: Kindling for the Coming Firestorm

1. How do your church’s current structure and goals energize or impede the development of the APEST gifts? What do you think would have to change for the gifts to emerge effectively?

2. Neil Cole argues that what we today consider church is an artificial construct not necessarily of God’s making. What kind of church structure or organization do you think Jesus intended to carry out His work? What do you think that church would look like?

3. Have you ever taken a spiritual gift inventory? What gifts emerged for you? Did you feel those gifts accurately reflected you, or did you encounter some of the difficulties the author talks about?

4. Regarding the five confirmations of a gift, have you experienced any of these about a gift in your life?

5. We become gifts through hard work, practice, and God’s calling. How does this process differ from what you’ve heard elsewhere about spiritual gifts? How does this process affect the way you see the gifts and yourself?

Chapter 17: Recovering from an Identity Crisis

1. What do you think is a scriptural definition of leadership? Describe a leader you think exemplifies that definition.

2. Neil Cole emphasizes that no role is more important than any other. Are there are any roles that are exalted above others in your church, ministry, or small group? Why do you think this is? What can be done to restore balance?

3. We should avoid viewing the gifts as static or comparing ourselves to other gifts, because both of these views are egocentric, not Jesus-centric. How do you think we can talk about the spiritual gifts while being careful to keep them centered on Jesus? Why do you think it’s so easy to get that wrong?

4. Many of the tools the devil uses to hinder the gifts involve dividing Christians into camps against one another. Have you experienced this? How do you think we can go about erasing these dividing lines?

5. Have you ever had a falling-out with others in the body of Christ? Did you employ some of the tools the author suggests for reconnecting? How important do you think it is to join with others in the body of Christ?

6. To be united, we must all realize we are in the same family. Does your church, ministry, or small group feel like a family? What can you change in yourself today to make your community more like a family?

Chapter 18: Avoiding Counterfeits

1. From your own experience, what do you think is the effect of counterfeit expressions of the gifts? Have you seen these counterfeit roles in practice? What was the result of their works?

2. What is it about a super apostle that makes him or her a counterfeit? How can you avoid the line of thinking that elevates an apostle to that place?

3. What is it that makes false prophets false? What is at the heart of the issue, and how can you protect your heart from falseness?

3. What is it that makes Judaizers counterfeits? What do you think is at the heart of their behavior? How can you avoid adopting that heart?

4. What is it that makes hirelings counterfeits? What spurs them to act as they do? How can you avoid being motivated by those things?

5. What makes false teachers false? What heart is behind their false teachings, and how can you steer clear of that motivation?

Conclusion: Letting the Light Shine

1. The light of Jesus is a light of many colors. How has this book affected your view of the five gifts in Ephesians 4:11 and their representation of Christ? What ideas have surprised or challenged you?

2. At the beginning of the book, Neil Cole talked about how we are all in the process of learning—the process of accepting and rejecting various ideas. Has this book jettisoned any ideas for you? Has it convinced you of other ideas?

3. This book stresses the diversity of gifts in the church, where diversity is not always appreciated. What steps can you or your small group take to steer your church, ministry, or small group toward diversity and a fuller representation of Christ?