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RelationShift: Five Shifts for Disciple Makers to Live and Lead from Relationship
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO RELATIONSHIPS THAT FUEL DISCIPLE MAKING
Many church leaders hear of the power of relational disciple making to transform churches, and they want in. The problem is they’re programmed to see everything as—well, a program. In the hurry to implement disciple making programs, many leave behind relationships. Jim Putman, in this follow-up to his book Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (coauthored with Bobby Harrington [Zondervan, 2013]), walks through five shifts that help you cultivate real relationships with real people. Whereas DiscipleShift charted a path to becoming a disciple making church, RelationShift maps out how to become a true friend to those you disciple. The result is relationships that fuel disciple making—and refuel you.
Jim Putman has helped thousands of church leaders rediscover disciple making methodologies. Yet he’s burdened by seeing many church leaders hurry to implement programs, bypass relationships, and wind up lonely and burnt out. Putman has been a wrestler most of his life, and RelationShift is Putman taking to the mat the forces that deplete and discourage so many church leaders.
If I could recommend one book to pastors and other church leaders, RelationShift would be the book.
Sean McDowell, Ph.D., professor of apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, author of So the Next Generation Will Know
Since disciple making churches start with disciple making pastors, this is a book I highly recommend.
Larry Osborne, pastor and author, North Coast Church
This book is a must read by all pastors who are dedicated to growing a church.
Douglas J. Crozier, President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Solomon Foundation
JIM PUTMAN is the senior pastor of Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho. He holds degrees from Boise State University and Boise Bible College and is author or coauthor of various discipleship books, including Church Is a Team Sport, Real-Life Discipleship, and DiscipleShift.
Many church leaders hear of the power of relational disciple making to transform churches, and they want in. The problem is they’re programmed to see everything as—well, a program. In the hurry to implement disciple making programs, many leave behind relationships. Jim Putman, in this follow-up to his book Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (coauthored with Bobby Harrington [Zondervan, 2013]), walks through five shifts that help you cultivate real relationships with real people. Whereas DiscipleShift charted a path to becoming a disciple making church, RelationShift maps out how to become a true friend to those you disciple. The result is relationships that fuel disciple making—and refuel you.
Jim Putman has helped thousands of church leaders rediscover disciple making methodologies. Yet he’s burdened by seeing many church leaders hurry to implement programs, bypass relationships, and wind up lonely and burnt out. Putman has been a wrestler most of his life, and RelationShift is Putman taking to the mat the forces that deplete and discourage so many church leaders.
If I could recommend one book to pastors and other church leaders, RelationShift would be the book.
Sean McDowell, Ph.D., professor of apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, author of So the Next Generation Will Know
Since disciple making churches start with disciple making pastors, this is a book I highly recommend.
Larry Osborne, pastor and author, North Coast Church
This book is a must read by all pastors who are dedicated to growing a church.
Douglas J. Crozier, President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Solomon Foundation
JIM PUTMAN is the senior pastor of Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho. He holds degrees from Boise State University and Boise Bible College and is author or coauthor of various discipleship books, including Church Is a Team Sport, Real-Life Discipleship, and DiscipleShift.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2023
10 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 22, 2024
Such an excellent overview of how essential relationships are to the Christian leader! We must lead humbly, with Christ as the head, and in service to others.
We never outgrow discipleship and have never “done our time” with relational engagement. It’s a lifelong calling and a life line for us all.
Such an excellent read!
We never outgrow discipleship and have never “done our time” with relational engagement. It’s a lifelong calling and a life line for us all.
Such an excellent read!
August 7, 2025
Shifts Every Pastor and Church Needs to Make
This book is AMAZING and practical. Jim does a fantastic job of defining discipleship and emphasizing what it looks like in relationships. He also provides practical ways to apply what he addresses, this is a must read for everyone who truly desires discipleship and wants to create a discipleship culture.
This book is AMAZING and practical. Jim does a fantastic job of defining discipleship and emphasizing what it looks like in relationships. He also provides practical ways to apply what he addresses, this is a must read for everyone who truly desires discipleship and wants to create a discipleship culture.
February 22, 2023
Some very helpful nuggets in this book. Feels like a reworking of sermons, so read it with that in mind. Take the whole message and remember the essential relationship element in the discipleship process!
July 5, 2023
Just finished going through this one with the Calvary Ministry Staff. Good book that led to lots of great discussions.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews