The Up the Middle Church: ...playing the game of ministry one yard at a time... (Paperback)

~ Matt Keller (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In the Up The Middle Church, Matt Keller offers an on-the-field playbook for pastors and leaders who need to know how to win their Super Bowl one yard at a time!The church world today is inundated with stories of Overnight Success. The one percent of churches who have a long bomb story seem to make the headlines, but what about the other ninety-nine percent? Are we destined for failure? Are we left without options? Will we ever see our dream of doing something great for God come true?In The Up the Middle Church, Matt Keller unpacks the myth that just because a church isn't big, fast, doesn't mean it isn't successful. When Next Level Church began in 2002, it was anything but an overnight success story. However, by learning and implementing the principles that are in this book, that same church has grown from four people to nearly a thousand every week!There is a new normal in the church world today, and it's The Up the Middle Church. It's possible to win in your church, but maybe God wants to show you how...one yard at a time!

About the Author

MATT KELLER is the lead pastor of Next Level Church in Fort Myers, Florida. Matt is a passionate communicator who uses humor and storytelling to captivate audiences in the weekly services of Next Level Church and across the country. Since its humble beginnings in 2002, Next Level Church has grown from four people to nearly 1,000 attendees in their weekend experiences. Matt has a heart to help the little guy in the church world and frequently travels and consults with pastors of up-the-middle churches across the United States. With a heart for church planting, pastoring, leadership development, and consulting, Matt is a leading voice in the next generation of leaders in the church world today. Matt and his wife, Sarah, have two boys, Will and Drew.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (December 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1438935749
• ISBN-13: 978-1438935744
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #931,882 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, an amazing book that every church planter, church pastor, and leader must read, February 11, 2009

By	Stephen P. Wulf "Steve Wulf" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Matt Keller knocked it out of the park with this one. If you're a church planter, church pastor, or church leader, this book is a must read. Filled with simple and effective principles, I can see "The Up The Middle Church" becoming a handbook for growing small churches into significant places of influence in their communities.

You'll laugh, you'll be challenged, but most of all, you'll have hope instilled in your heart that you can do it too!

4.0 out of 5 stars Up-The Middle REVIEW, October 2, 2009

By	D. McDaniel "MickeyDisin" (Florida, BABY!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

FIRST of all, let me say that I KNOW MATT KELLER...WHAT A MANIAC! He is crazy, wild, passionate, excited, un-bridled energy, AND an amazing communicator. BUT AN AUTHOR!?!

Yes, and a wonderful book that focuses on the practical and reality that is church planting today.

Most church planters have dreams, visions, and goals of becoming the "NEXT BIG WHATEVER" Church, only to be slapped up-side-the-head with slow growth, unmet expectations, and REALITY! Am I CALLED to lead THIS church? If so-and-so could DO it, WHY CAN'T I?

Welcome to "Up The Middle Church", an amazing step by step to REALITY that is church planting.

NO, you won't become like ANY OTHER church that is doing big things and changing the world.
You WILL become how God has CALLED you to be, with the COMMUNITY that you are planted in, with the TALENT AND GIFTS you possess within yourself and your team.

The book prvides questions, stories, principles, and challenges to the notion that growth is a one-size fits all program. Keller tells his own story and seeks to remind the church that CHRIST has given us talent, passion, and creativity to be USED within the context of the world we live in today.

What does that mean? Easy. Stop being ANYTHING but YOU.
READ the book.
Answer and wrestle with the questions.
Make the changes GOD is calling you to be.

And DOG-GONE-IT, enjoy the ride God has for you.

I promise, you'll be screaming at the top of your lungs like Matt: "C'MON!! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?"

4.0 out of 5 stars No-nonsense Approach to a Life-Giving Church, March 12, 2009

By	Daniel Mitchell "Independent Author" (Fort Myers, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"The Up The Middle Church" is a no-nonsense approach to building a life-giving church from the ground up.

Through this step-by-step action plan - a compelling story emerges - of how a young man with a vision to serve God marched up the field yard-by-yard and scored big!

This is a great read for anyone in ministry of any type.