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The Well-Played Life: Why Pleasing God Doesn't Have to Be Such Hard Work
Do you secretly think that the harder you work, the more God is pleased with you? You can live like that―for a while. But imagine what it might mean instead to unclench your teeth, loosen your grip, and actually experience God’s pleasure in you ―not just in everything you are doing for Him? The Well-Played Life is a journey of a life filled with richness, fruitfulness, and creativity of living in God’s pleasure. Renowned author Leonard Sweet explores what it means to please God in the nitty-gritty of life; how that changes from the time we are 5 to the time we are 50; and how in every age of our lives, in everything we do, we can experience God’s gift of play. The Well-Played Life offers a new spiritual direction of enjoying (and being enjoyed by) God. Discover how a Sabbath way of Christian joy is not only possible, but also how we were designed . . . and a core part of God’s plan for our lives.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2014
About the author
Leonard Sweet
148 books138 followersLeonard I. Sweet is an author, preacher, scholar, and ordained United Methodist clergyman currently serving as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School, in Madison, New Jersey; and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 25, 2018
The theology & argumentation seemed a bit sketchy, but there were some fascinating ideas in this!
January 25, 2015
This book rocked my world, not because it was a new “song” but because I finally found someone with the same “song” stuck in their head as mine. For years, I have been forming some ideas. Hints of the theme appear in every one of my books. But here was a book that laid out the entire song—a song giving us permission, no admonishing us, to dance with Jesus from now until heaven.
Leonard Sweet’s book establishes a “play ethic” for Christians, who have earned a reputation for being negative, critical, condemning, and worse. It’s time to lighten up, folks!
I don’t usually mark up a book (so I can pass it on) but I underlined something on nearly every page and made a few notes in the margins. This is one book I will not be passing on (so get your own copy!.
Sweet spends time explaining why playing is not just for children and he loads the text with fun references to children’s games. We became immediate kin when I noticed how often he uses wordplay in his text. Although his style of wordplay is different from mine, I appreciated it all the same (although in a couple places it obscured the meaning and caused me to re-read).
The author breaks the Christian life into three ages and describes how our playing with God will look in each of those phases of life. To me, this seemed like an unnecessary convention to superimpose over the theme and the talk about First Agers, Second Agers, and Third Agers was distracting. I was so engrossed in the idea of playing with God that I wanted to stay on that focus.
Still, The Well-Played Life is the best book I’ve read in a decade. This certainly won’t be the last you hear me speak of it. I’ll be sharing quotes and ideas from the book here and on Twitter. Oh, and you can follow Leonard Sweet on Twitter or check out his website.
Leonard Sweet’s book establishes a “play ethic” for Christians, who have earned a reputation for being negative, critical, condemning, and worse. It’s time to lighten up, folks!
I don’t usually mark up a book (so I can pass it on) but I underlined something on nearly every page and made a few notes in the margins. This is one book I will not be passing on (so get your own copy!.
Sweet spends time explaining why playing is not just for children and he loads the text with fun references to children’s games. We became immediate kin when I noticed how often he uses wordplay in his text. Although his style of wordplay is different from mine, I appreciated it all the same (although in a couple places it obscured the meaning and caused me to re-read).
The author breaks the Christian life into three ages and describes how our playing with God will look in each of those phases of life. To me, this seemed like an unnecessary convention to superimpose over the theme and the talk about First Agers, Second Agers, and Third Agers was distracting. I was so engrossed in the idea of playing with God that I wanted to stay on that focus.
Still, The Well-Played Life is the best book I’ve read in a decade. This certainly won’t be the last you hear me speak of it. I’ll be sharing quotes and ideas from the book here and on Twitter. Oh, and you can follow Leonard Sweet on Twitter or check out his website.
July 26, 2026
Leonard Sweet tries in this book to introduce the term "Godplay". He does this by dividing our life into three stages, or age groups, where he then approaches this idea of Godplay within. For me, the idea is good, but it falls flat as he loses focus on Godplay, either by losing focus on God or on Play. The best example I can remember is when he lists a few inventors of stuff in their older age. It does not show that they have "play" in their older age; it is just cherry-picking of people and their achievements in old age. Neither does he show that these people were specially God-driven either. It becomes just an example of what one can achieve in old age. Each age, then, often becomes just this - a "type" that needs to be explained - and examples he has a lot of - but not all are connected with either God, Play, or, as it turns out, one theology. The examples are of all kinds of Christians from all kinds of denominations. I'm not saying this mix necessarily is wrong, but it does make the book a bit all over the place.
You may be the person this book is meant for, who needs more God and more Play in your life. It is lacking, so there is a good happy core here worth getting - the book is just too long for doing it effectively.
You may be the person this book is meant for, who needs more God and more Play in your life. It is lacking, so there is a good happy core here worth getting - the book is just too long for doing it effectively.
May 13, 2025
IS IT TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO ‘START MAKING THINGS FUN’?
Leonard Sweet is an ordained Methodist minister, and is Professor Emeritus at Drew Theological School. He has also taught at various other institutions.
He wrote in the Acknowledgments section of this 2014 book, “The fact that I am writing a book on ‘play ethic’ when I am known for my WORK ethic may strike some as the height of hypocrisy---or, like Groucho, keep them laughing… I used to believe that the quality of life depended on the quality of our work. This book posits the opposite belief: The quality of life depends on the quality of our PLAY. It’s time I repented of my workaholic ways… All of life is being AT play. At certain times, we need to be IN play, the body of Christ with one mind in mission. This book is the fruit of testing whether being IN play and being AT play might be a distinction without a difference.”
He adds in the Introduction, “We were created to be a risen people. Christians are not those who ‘make life work.’ We are those who make life fun. It’s time to abolish work. It’s time for a theology of play. After 500 years, the Protestant work ethic has not made us better disciples, only weary and cranky human beings struggling in vain to snag the unattainable dangling carrot we have named ‘assurance’…” (Pg. 1-2)
He explains, “Living a ‘well-played’ life means experiencing the fullness of joy that comes from being in deep with the divine, cleaving close to the covenant, living in sync with the Spirit, and yoked to Christ to the point of surrendered trust in God’s providences and promises… out of our relational joy in loving God, we find ourselves obedient.” (Pg. 20)
He states, “Christians don’t work toward the pleasure and acceptance of God. We live from it and play in it. Anytime we approach life with the joy of a child, it is Godplay. Any time we praise and worship God, it is Godplay… The sync of a missional, relational, and incarnational life brings instantaneous and spontaneous joy: Godplay. The world doesn’t need more work and more workers, but more play, more God, more Godplay and Godplayers.” (Pg. 22)
He argues, “Another reason why we need to move to a play ethic and away from a work ethic is that the victory has already been won, on the cross… Our ‘labor’ is part of the deceptive work of Satan, who wants us to believe that the outcome has yet to be determined…” (Pg. 43-44)
He suggests, “There is no PLAN. God didn’t give us a plan, but a purpose; not a map, but a mission; not a blueprint for tracing, but a blue sky for exploring. God’s PLAN is for us to spend our lives doing whatever unlocks our tear ducts, makes our throats deep with song, keeps the gales of laughter surging in our souls, and turns our feet to dancing.” (Pg. 86) He adds, “What’s better than a divine PLAN? Divine providence, divine protection, and divine promises.” (Pg. 90)
He explains, “In a work paradigm, we go through life learning lessons. In a play paradigm, we go through life ripening our souls. In a work paradigm, we acquire a worldview. In a play paradigm, we author a life story. In a work paradigm, we aim to please God. In a play paradigm, we savor God’s pleasure… In a work paradigm, we hold on to control. In a play paradigm, we live in the flow.” (Pg. 143)
He proposes, “When we celebrate the Lord, when we celebrate life, God does not want us to sit motionless and solemn as if at a funeral, but to celebrate and dance, because every time of feasting is a remembrance of the sacred wedding feast that celebrates our blessed covenant with the Lord. The Lord of the dance invites us to SING our lives and DANCE with the divine. Holiness is a dance of joy, and a time of PLAYING in God’s presence.” (Pg. 149)
He says, “Jesus didn’t ‘find time’ to pray amidst a bustling base of preaching, teaching, and healing; rather, his foundation of prayer sent him out to preach, teach, and heal… Jesus revolutionizes the practice of prayer, not by introducing new forms of prayer, but a new FOCUS for praying. Prayer for Jesus is not about techniques, but trust.” (Pg. 185)
He notes, “One might even make the case that the Christian faith is the most complex, and at the same time the simplest of all religions… The paradoxical ‘logic’ of the Trinity may seem hard to wrap our heads around. But where fuzzy logic fails, simple faith flourishes… The older I get, the more complex my theology becomes, but the more SIMPLE my faith is… I mature with age, and I immature with age. I call this ‘simplexity.’ Simplexity is a systemic combination of both complexity and simplicity. The Holy Spirit reveals the God of simplexity.” (Pg. 193)
He observes, “The church used to give the best parties… Now it seems many Christians are allergic to parties, if not outright opposed to them. I come from a tradition that was so opposed to any form of levity that it refused to condone even fund-raising that was fun. No bazaars, grab bags, fairs, festivals, carnivals, or anything that might appeal to ‘vanity or the love of pleasure.’” (Pg. 220-221)
He concludes, “[This book] envisions a … different ‘master plan’: to turn every house, and every soul, into a park and playground, a park for God to play in, a playground for the abundant life of Godplay… Don’t ‘follow your bliss.’ Follow God’s pleasure. We’ve had 500 years of ‘making things work.’ Maybe it’s time to start making things fun. And never leave the playground.” (Pg. 243-244)
Leonard Sweet’s books will be of keen interest to Christians seeking a ‘postmodern’ approach to the faith.
Leonard Sweet is an ordained Methodist minister, and is Professor Emeritus at Drew Theological School. He has also taught at various other institutions.
He wrote in the Acknowledgments section of this 2014 book, “The fact that I am writing a book on ‘play ethic’ when I am known for my WORK ethic may strike some as the height of hypocrisy---or, like Groucho, keep them laughing… I used to believe that the quality of life depended on the quality of our work. This book posits the opposite belief: The quality of life depends on the quality of our PLAY. It’s time I repented of my workaholic ways… All of life is being AT play. At certain times, we need to be IN play, the body of Christ with one mind in mission. This book is the fruit of testing whether being IN play and being AT play might be a distinction without a difference.”
He adds in the Introduction, “We were created to be a risen people. Christians are not those who ‘make life work.’ We are those who make life fun. It’s time to abolish work. It’s time for a theology of play. After 500 years, the Protestant work ethic has not made us better disciples, only weary and cranky human beings struggling in vain to snag the unattainable dangling carrot we have named ‘assurance’…” (Pg. 1-2)
He explains, “Living a ‘well-played’ life means experiencing the fullness of joy that comes from being in deep with the divine, cleaving close to the covenant, living in sync with the Spirit, and yoked to Christ to the point of surrendered trust in God’s providences and promises… out of our relational joy in loving God, we find ourselves obedient.” (Pg. 20)
He states, “Christians don’t work toward the pleasure and acceptance of God. We live from it and play in it. Anytime we approach life with the joy of a child, it is Godplay. Any time we praise and worship God, it is Godplay… The sync of a missional, relational, and incarnational life brings instantaneous and spontaneous joy: Godplay. The world doesn’t need more work and more workers, but more play, more God, more Godplay and Godplayers.” (Pg. 22)
He argues, “Another reason why we need to move to a play ethic and away from a work ethic is that the victory has already been won, on the cross… Our ‘labor’ is part of the deceptive work of Satan, who wants us to believe that the outcome has yet to be determined…” (Pg. 43-44)
He suggests, “There is no PLAN. God didn’t give us a plan, but a purpose; not a map, but a mission; not a blueprint for tracing, but a blue sky for exploring. God’s PLAN is for us to spend our lives doing whatever unlocks our tear ducts, makes our throats deep with song, keeps the gales of laughter surging in our souls, and turns our feet to dancing.” (Pg. 86) He adds, “What’s better than a divine PLAN? Divine providence, divine protection, and divine promises.” (Pg. 90)
He explains, “In a work paradigm, we go through life learning lessons. In a play paradigm, we go through life ripening our souls. In a work paradigm, we acquire a worldview. In a play paradigm, we author a life story. In a work paradigm, we aim to please God. In a play paradigm, we savor God’s pleasure… In a work paradigm, we hold on to control. In a play paradigm, we live in the flow.” (Pg. 143)
He proposes, “When we celebrate the Lord, when we celebrate life, God does not want us to sit motionless and solemn as if at a funeral, but to celebrate and dance, because every time of feasting is a remembrance of the sacred wedding feast that celebrates our blessed covenant with the Lord. The Lord of the dance invites us to SING our lives and DANCE with the divine. Holiness is a dance of joy, and a time of PLAYING in God’s presence.” (Pg. 149)
He says, “Jesus didn’t ‘find time’ to pray amidst a bustling base of preaching, teaching, and healing; rather, his foundation of prayer sent him out to preach, teach, and heal… Jesus revolutionizes the practice of prayer, not by introducing new forms of prayer, but a new FOCUS for praying. Prayer for Jesus is not about techniques, but trust.” (Pg. 185)
He notes, “One might even make the case that the Christian faith is the most complex, and at the same time the simplest of all religions… The paradoxical ‘logic’ of the Trinity may seem hard to wrap our heads around. But where fuzzy logic fails, simple faith flourishes… The older I get, the more complex my theology becomes, but the more SIMPLE my faith is… I mature with age, and I immature with age. I call this ‘simplexity.’ Simplexity is a systemic combination of both complexity and simplicity. The Holy Spirit reveals the God of simplexity.” (Pg. 193)
He observes, “The church used to give the best parties… Now it seems many Christians are allergic to parties, if not outright opposed to them. I come from a tradition that was so opposed to any form of levity that it refused to condone even fund-raising that was fun. No bazaars, grab bags, fairs, festivals, carnivals, or anything that might appeal to ‘vanity or the love of pleasure.’” (Pg. 220-221)
He concludes, “[This book] envisions a … different ‘master plan’: to turn every house, and every soul, into a park and playground, a park for God to play in, a playground for the abundant life of Godplay… Don’t ‘follow your bliss.’ Follow God’s pleasure. We’ve had 500 years of ‘making things work.’ Maybe it’s time to start making things fun. And never leave the playground.” (Pg. 243-244)
Leonard Sweet’s books will be of keen interest to Christians seeking a ‘postmodern’ approach to the faith.
November 10, 2017
I’m using this book for a Church class I teach. I have enjoyed it.
So far there has been ONE dud chapter. Cave Dwellers seemed to be missing some stories and not as fleshed out as it could have been. The study questions were not much help for that chapter either.
A fine addition to the library and a solid entry point for a Church class interested in looking beyond what we have always done.
So far there has been ONE dud chapter. Cave Dwellers seemed to be missing some stories and not as fleshed out as it could have been. The study questions were not much help for that chapter either.
A fine addition to the library and a solid entry point for a Church class interested in looking beyond what we have always done.
April 16, 2018
Sweet’s ideas seem fresh, too many people might be afraid to write this in regard to the implications of possible freedom. I wish Sweet would have pushed further, but he’s writing to an audience that’s either relieved because they know, or people that carry torches and pitchforks because they will never know, so I’m that regard, what he wrote is enough and it’s good.
May 26, 2020
This book says what I’ve been thinking for many years. You don’t get to Heaven by your deeds.
July 21, 2021
This is a good book about how generations can impact the Kingdom of God.
August 28, 2014
This is an excellent book on how to make the most of your Christian life so your children will want not only to be Christians, but also make Christianity their identity. By doing so they’ll be happier and have a strong Christian identity. Although Jews are only 2% of the world’s population, they receive 25% of the Nobel Prizes. In the home they’re reminded of their Jewish inheritance and told constantly the stories of famous Jewish leaders. But in Christian homes children aren’t reminded constantly of their heritage or given images of great Christians to help them see what great Christians have done. They have to forge their own identity. Evil is radical alienation from God, but Jesus overcame that. We need stories of Jesus as well as great Christians so we can stay close to God. We also need to play. We’ve forgotten the power of playing and how it results in both mental and physical power. Instead, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, less parental involvement, cigarette and alcohol abuse, obesity, and especially less playing in the dirt has made it difficult to for us to see life as an adventure with God. Music, coloring, playing in the dirt, praying, confessing to God when we fail and ask for forgiveness, hearing stories about when we were born, having fun and adventures with family, experiencing love and feeling God’s pleasure, eating healthy food, and avoiding bad images, movies, and things that don’t lead to God are all ways we can enjoy the love of Jesus, the fun of walking with Jesus, and the adventure of playing as we discover God’s purpose and mission for us. All this and so much more you will discover in this book that you should read on walking and partying with Jesus. Celebrating life and partying are encouraged in God’s adventure story.
April 7, 2016
Bravo, Dr. Leonard Sweet, you've done it again! As an acclaimed church futurist, in his new book, The Well-Played Life, Sweet explores a spiritual truth which has been until now largely undiscovered. That is, God wants His children to enjoy their time on this Earth, and to be joyously engaged with life at every moment and in every season.
At first glance, Sweet's stories seem as heartwarming as a country boy at play. Yet his narrative and research prove to be as thought-provokingly complex as the brilliant academic and semiotician that he truly is. This is a good, challenging read for anyone in ministry as it will enable you to better understand and motivate those you lead at whatever chronological stage they are in. It might also assist you in avoiding the dangerous pitfalls of ministry burn-out yourself.
In addition, it is a must read for all spiritually thirsty believers. Although this book might make you realize that you don't know as much about God as you thought. Without employing sloppy grace, Sweet rips away at the terrifying image of a Creator who is all legalistic rules and regulations, replacing that image with a loving Savior who wants to set His children free to reach for the stars, or at least to dance with them.
An excerpt from The Well-Played Life explains it best, "...for those in love with Jesus, those engaged in Godplay, life is more like swimming in a sea of living water. Fresh and clean, you can drink as you ride the waves. And when you are surfing the waves of the Spirit, all of life is a party. In the same way that Jesus can make all of life a mission trip—not just one outing—he can make a vocation and vacation one and the same. Jesus can make all of life a grand adventure."
Caution: If you do choose to read it, you will be changed!
At first glance, Sweet's stories seem as heartwarming as a country boy at play. Yet his narrative and research prove to be as thought-provokingly complex as the brilliant academic and semiotician that he truly is. This is a good, challenging read for anyone in ministry as it will enable you to better understand and motivate those you lead at whatever chronological stage they are in. It might also assist you in avoiding the dangerous pitfalls of ministry burn-out yourself.
In addition, it is a must read for all spiritually thirsty believers. Although this book might make you realize that you don't know as much about God as you thought. Without employing sloppy grace, Sweet rips away at the terrifying image of a Creator who is all legalistic rules and regulations, replacing that image with a loving Savior who wants to set His children free to reach for the stars, or at least to dance with them.
An excerpt from The Well-Played Life explains it best, "...for those in love with Jesus, those engaged in Godplay, life is more like swimming in a sea of living water. Fresh and clean, you can drink as you ride the waves. And when you are surfing the waves of the Spirit, all of life is a party. In the same way that Jesus can make all of life a mission trip—not just one outing—he can make a vocation and vacation one and the same. Jesus can make all of life a grand adventure."
Caution: If you do choose to read it, you will be changed!
February 15, 2014
Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author, asking only that I write a review in exchange. What follows is the same review I would have written, had I not received a complimentary copy. That said, I have to say that I did appreciate this book very much. Dr. Sweet has a gift for framing his thoughts into relatable metaphors, or "narraphors" (narratives+metaphors), as he prefers to call them.
Many of the chapters deal with the result of the "Protestant work ethic," and how it has left behind a great deal of unfulfilled believers. I believe that this is a result of the fact that "work" as we have come to understand it, is really a part of the curse. This means that what we were truly meant to do is to "enjoy" God's presence, not dread it, or consider it a drudgery to serve Him. Dr. Sweet makes this point by using children's games (such as cat's cradle, hide and seek and rock, paper scissors) as illustrations for our fallen nature and the gospel message. In addition, he also points out that we were made to live in a relationship with God that resembles the best relationship between a parent and child, and that by living outside of this playful attitude is actually a sign that we have lost our true identity as humans.
The introductory chapters, where Dr. Sweet lays out his case and theme of the book, are perhaps the most difficult to get through. This brings down my overall score somewhat, but in the end, perseverance pays off and makes this a fascinating read.
Many of the chapters deal with the result of the "Protestant work ethic," and how it has left behind a great deal of unfulfilled believers. I believe that this is a result of the fact that "work" as we have come to understand it, is really a part of the curse. This means that what we were truly meant to do is to "enjoy" God's presence, not dread it, or consider it a drudgery to serve Him. Dr. Sweet makes this point by using children's games (such as cat's cradle, hide and seek and rock, paper scissors) as illustrations for our fallen nature and the gospel message. In addition, he also points out that we were made to live in a relationship with God that resembles the best relationship between a parent and child, and that by living outside of this playful attitude is actually a sign that we have lost our true identity as humans.
The introductory chapters, where Dr. Sweet lays out his case and theme of the book, are perhaps the most difficult to get through. This brings down my overall score somewhat, but in the end, perseverance pays off and makes this a fascinating read.
August 26, 2014
I liked the book the Well-Played Life because its message is so relevant to not only my life, but that of many Christians. Many Christians do not live a life of joy because our culture pushes us to succeed and to follow all these rules in order to get everything that is considered important accomplished. All this busyness, however, makes a huge negative impact on a person’s life and causes them to forget how to live and to take time just to rest and enjoy the life that God has given. The author uses a lot of Bible verses to show readers why our culture’s push for success is so wrong from God’s eyes and what we need to do in order to live the life a Christian was meant to live. The author teaches that most Christians make living by faith to be hard work so that they do not become poor, lazy disciples. Instead, the author explains that instead of making following Christ hard work, we should focus on worshiping Him both inside and out and that is the key to finding joy in life. I thought that this book had a powerful message and I have seen the effects of trying to work out faith not only in my life, but also those I care about too. This is a must read for every Christian especially those who are spiritually tired.
June 4, 2014
Another awesome book from Leonard Sweet. The idea of life is play and not work is one that resonates with my soul. Not an excuse from the work of life, but rather a challenge to rise to the occasion the meet responsibility with laughter, work with play. To see in the play the deep transformation of work into Godplay, into living life with God in the midst of joy and laughter, and sorrow and grief. That in each and every moment of our lives is the presence of the risen Jesus who loves us beyond our wildest imaginations. And it is by this love that we have the space and freedom to truly live, to take risk, to play with and for the fire of the Holy Spirit to catch the rest of the world on fire with God's love and spirit.
This book reminds us that God takes great pleasure in us, that God actually rejoices over us, plays with us. Or as Zephaniah (3:17) tells the story:
"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
This book reminds us that God takes great pleasure in us, that God actually rejoices over us, plays with us. Or as Zephaniah (3:17) tells the story:
"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
July 28, 2014
The Well-Played Life by Leonard Sweet was a huge disappointment. After reading 40 pages of the 262 page book, I was finally through the introduction. Sweet’s book is overly-complicated and confusing. The quotes by famous people that are put in sidebars don’t flow well with kindle format, sometimes going over 3 pages with ordinary text alongside it. The author throws around Latin (I think) & coined words from another book he wrote. I got this book because I was excited about its premise, but I returned it because it was a difficult & slow read.
September 25, 2014
This is okay but not great -- creative and theologically sensitive in a few lovely parts, but it didn't blow my mind or anything. His ideas (although too many, and too cluttered in their layering) are better than his writing itself, which is very full of cutesy metaphors that lean a little too close to "bumper sticker Christianity" for my taste. And his (mis)use of data to "prove" or present some of his arguments is troubling at best.
March 5, 2014
I think perhaps the highest praise I can give a book is to say: "read it! It will do your soul well". Read this book and find joy (again) in playing with God.
Read
April 21, 2014Great book!
April 22, 2014
An awesome, paradigm shifting presentation of what it means to truly LIVE your life adundantly.
I am going to read it again and take careful notes this time.
I am going to read it again and take careful notes this time.
June 23, 2014
Sweet's best, IMHO. if you don't have time to read the whole book, turn to the last page. I must've read the words there a dozen times or more. "Never leave the playground."
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews