Church Is a Team Sport: A Championship Strategy for Doing Ministry Together (Hardcover)

by Jim Putman (Author)
Key Phrases: phrase from the phase, discipleship process, real discipleship, Real Life, Holy Spirit, Coach Owen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Church Is a Team Sport shows proven ways to push believers, new and mature, toward growth as both Christians--and leaders. Through this powerful, thought-provoking volume, ministers both in the congregation and on staff will discover how to expand the church one soul at a time. Making disciples is the crux of the Church Is a Team Sport message. The plan works. Caring for people, following up on stray sheep, and teaching what it means to love God and obey him. That's how Church Is a Team Sport transforms Christians from Monday-morning quarterbacks into dynamic players.

From the Inside Flap
To win the game, you need the whole team Pastor Jim Putman, a former wrestler and coach, helped his staff build Real Life Ministries into an army of thousands. But there was a problem. Early on too many sat on the sidelines. Not enough wanted a piece of the action. His voice was faltering from so many sermons and he teetered on the edge of burnout thanks to the mixed blessing of an enormous but needy flock. So he hit his knees. Hard. God's solution surprised him. Putman and his entire leadership team stood before the congregation and gave up. They were done carrying the whole load. There were too many spiritual babies and they needed mature believers to step up. They knew there must be some raw talent hidden in the pews. God led them to use a Bible-based strategy for ministry revitalization that can help bring your church to the next level. Whether you're a burned-out leader or someone ready to tackle an active role in your congregation, Church Is a Team Sport will lead you to both personal growth and renewed spiritual strength. If you're ready to get the whole team in the game, this is the playbook that will show you how to make it happen.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080101302X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801013027
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #241,706 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Honest Depiction, February 19, 2008

By	abe (Idaho) - See all my reviews

I am a member of Real Life Ministries (RLM) and get to see Pastor Jim preach every week. Part of what drew me to the church was its leadership's willingness to be humble and honest about their lives--after all, the church's motto is "where Jesus and real life meet." I was very excited to read this book and see if the message I hear in church is the same message I would find in its pages. 100%--it was. RLM has made an incredible difference in the life of my family and in this community in which I have lived most of my life. This book is the story of an inspiring church that God is truly using to reach the world one person at a time, so that not a single soul should be lost. It is the kind of place where you find yourself asking, what can I do to help? Where all of us, without feeling how big of a group we are, have learned that "Church Is A Team Sport!--" And we would not have it any other way!

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ministry Is A Team Sport, January 28, 2009

By	Luwayne S. Demoranville - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

great book! Got it for my husband who is preaching a sermon series in our church with it now!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Church Is a Team Sport: A Championship Strategy for Doing Ministry Together, May 26, 2008

By	Craig Rippy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jim Putman gives a testimony of his life and zeal for wrestling and his move away from God and return. His return took him to ministry. The congregation he helped to start grew tremendously. Particularly, chapter 10 on gives more details of how, attitudes they shared, and the methods used to to reach people for Christ and to grow them to be disciple makers. This book seemed to have more practical application than others I've read on this subject. I enjoyed reading the book and recommended it others.