5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book

J.h. · January 14, 2013

If you are interested in growing your church by more than just butts in the seats, I highly recommend this book. This thoughtful and scripturally true book will revolutionize the way that you approach discipleship development in your church. I've been pastoring for the last decade and really struggled with my role in church. I found myself doing too much instead of empowering. Jim Putman has given me some practical tools to get everyone in my congregation involved. I have no interest in watching the vast majority of my people sit there and watch a handful of people walk out their faith. This book should spark something inside you that will help you to get your people out of the pews and engaged in relational life in the Kingdom. Ignore the naysayers; they already have it all figured out. This isn't some new-wave fad; this book is old-school, basic, this-is-how-Jesus-did-it stuff. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting Serious about Christianity

A.B. · June 10, 2011

So many of us are playing at church, but not living the life of Christ in the world. We know there is something more, but cannot quite grasp what it is. Real-life Discipleship is that part we have not grasped: the why and how of sharing Christ, and His great power to bring His promised peace into our lives. Christ came as a servant, and He calls and empowers us to be no less than servants of the Most High God. Real-life Discipleship is the experience of a group of devoted Christians who, taking God at His word, are experiencing the promised growth personally, unitedly, and numerically.I would recommend two additional resources to accompany this book: The Real-life Discipleship Training Manual takes us through the process of discipleship, equipping all Christians to be true disciples. Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual: Equipping Disciples Who Make Disciples and Truth that Sticks teaches how to use Bible stories to reach people Truth That Sticks: How to Communicate Velcro Truth in a Teflon World.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good

Z.V. · January 12, 2025

Good read

4.0 out of 5 stars Making disciples who make disciples, except in one area!

P.M.O. · April 5, 2011

I received this book through a promotion of Mission Frontiers and agreed to write a reveiw after reading it. Jim Putman is a man in the trenches of church life who has a passion for making disciples of followers of Christ through small groups. The church he planted and is the senior pastor of has grown from one small group, to a church of nearly eight thousand plus in just a few years in Idaho. Jim was an All-American wrestler in college and his experiences with coaches-both good and bad- has shaped his mindset concerning discipleship. Each year a good coach repeats the basics and has a definite goal in mind for his players to reach. A good coach has a reproducible process to get them there. Jim notes that discipleship is alot like coaching and a lot like parenting. We want our chidlren to grow and mature and become adults and then parents themselves. Just as parents encourage and nurture their children to mature, so we in the church should be nurtuing and encouraging believers to grow from infants into spiritual adults and then be parents, who are discipling others. The biblical basis for this is from Jesus' example and from his last command in Matthew 28.16-20 to 'make disciples of all nations.'Jim defines a disciple as 'a follower of Jesus who is experiencing life change at the head (beliefs), heart (character) and hands (behavior) level of our beings.The author notes that Jesus made disciples intentionally. He new what he was to do, and he invited people to follow him. We aren't Jesus, but in any discipling relationship, our desire is to make followers of Jesus, not ourselves! Jesus made disciples in a relational context. This includes teaching, transparency, accountability and guided practice. He spent time with people, a few in particular, and invested in them. At some point, Jesus gave them responsibilities and a task to do and then debriefed them afterwards. Jesus also had a process that he used, which Jim and his church call the SCMD process--Sharing the gospel (in deed and word) with outsiders, Connecting with people thorugh a relationship of love and respect, Minister to others, ususally with a another person, telling others what the Lord has taught you; and Disciping others who would in turn, as they mature, be disciplers of others.Mr. Putman categorizes believers by stages--infant, child, young adult and parent. As I thought about it the New Testament speaks of believers using each of these terms. He then lists suggested attitudes, actions, words that could characterize people at each of these stages of growth. We know people by their fruit, and our words and actions indicate what stage we are in. I found his characterization of the difference between a young adult and a spiritual parent especially helpful. What people need at each level to develop to the next level of maturity is also described.Overall, I thought this was an excellent book. It is written by a real hands on guy who has developed a process for forming disciples and who is real himself with his own struggles and weaknesses and isn't afraid to admit them to others. He has many practical pointers that have come from the hard knocks of one's own mistakes.After finishing the book, I have some questions. How do you teach the qualities that are needed for a spiritual infant, child or young adult to a mixed group of people in your small group who are probably at different levels of maturity? Do you offer classes for certain kinds of 'maturity levels' or how do you do it at Real Life? Maybe this is addressed in another of his books. What does it look like to be a follower of Christ in one's occupation: as a farmer, doctor, lawyer, educator, etc.? Since most of our waking hours are spent in some kind of labor, what does it mean to follow Christ in our unique callings? This area is not addressed in this book and it seems the author has a dualistic perspective on life. There is the 'sacred' side to be a Christ follower (feeding ourselves spirtually, discipling others, worshiping with other Christians, being in a small group, etc.) but what about the rest of life--like in our workplace? What does it mean to follow Jesus faithfully in one's particular calling? Isn't the Lord Jesus Lord of all of life--including our work? This topic is not discussed in the book. Since most of us spend so much time in this area of life, it is one to be explored and thought about and included when making a disciple who makes disciples of others.

Great book. Every Christians should buy one

A.C. · August 31, 2019

Highlt recommend this book for firm BELIEVer of christ.

AWESOME & Practical but OUCH!!!

B. · August 12, 2013

Great book to show exactly what Jusus expects each of us to do to further His kingdom.Church including myself is not doing the work He has called us to do.What will He say to me when I meet Him face to face?"Well done thou good and faithful servant"????

First Priority

C.S. · July 19, 2016

At last, a book detailing a ministry that prioritizes disciples making disciples which in turn creates solid and reproducible church growth.

Four Stars

B.D.H. · October 20, 2014

A real-life, practical handle for understanding the process and measuring the progress of spiritual growth.