Adam had God. He walked with God in the garden. Unbroken relationship with the Creator of the universe. And God said, “It’s not good.” Wait, what? “It’s not good for man to be alone.” Some of you are thinking, “I have God. I don’t need people.” God doesn’t even think that’s okay. He said it…
We’ve been walking through some tough circumstances lately here in the Pacific Northwest and really, that has been the case across our entire country. Whether it’s a tragedy that hits close to home or a heartbreaking event in our broader community, these seasons can shake us. It’s hard not to lose heart when the world…
In our fast-paced, individualistic world, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of genuine connection within our faith communities. Yet, the heart of Christianity beats strongest when believers are truly connected – to God, to each other, and to their purpose. This interconnectedness is not just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for spiritual growth and…
Welcome to the first episode of the Church is a Team Sport Podcast with Jim Putman! As many of you know, Jim grew up in a Christian household, but walked away from the faith during his High School and College years. Sports became his God and he became an All-American 3 times as a wrestler…
It is not surprising that first-time leaders will often experience feelings of nervousness and fear when stepping up to lead a group. Even when you feel like you have some tools to navigate this new role, understanding the next steps for your group can be challenging and feel like a journey into the unknown. In…
It has been 25 years since we came to North Idaho to plant a church we called Real Life Ministries. As a young man I had determined I was never going to work in a church, let alone plant a church, but God had a different plan. This year is the 25th anniversary of Real…
When it comes to Christianity, there have been various issues that have sparked debate and disagreement throughout history. At Real Life Ministries, we divide these issues into three categories: salvation, unity and peace essentials, and preferences. The first category focuses on the core beliefs necessary for salvation. These are the beliefs that someone must…
I am often asked about the tools I use for discipleship, and our church has been working on putting together a library of some free downloadable discipleship resources on our website. As many of you know, my Dad was my main disciple maker and extremely instrumental in bringing me from atheism to belief in God. My…
As a senior pastor of Real Life Ministries and a board member with the Relational Discipleship Network, I am passionate about the importance of a relational environment to making disciples of Jesus. Small Groups are one such relational environment that works well when trying to create a culture of disciple making in your church. Because…