Welcome to the Church is a Team Sport Podcast with Lance Wigton and Jim Putman! Jump into the essential elements of leading a disciple-making church, no matter its size. Benefit from Jim's 25 years of growth-focused church leadership and his wrestling and coaching background, as they expand on his book's concepts, sharing practical tips and personal successes and failures. Each episode promises to leave you better prepared to face leadership challenges and embrace victories while molding your team into effective disciple-makers for Jesus's great commission.

In this episode of the podcast, Jim Putman and Lance Wigton talk about the importance of recruiting and developing players for the team when it comes to church leadership. Real Life Ministries began with no tangible assets other than people. This prompted the beginning leaders to have a strategic shift in perspective – they needed to recruit and harness people as their primary resource. It wasn't just about filling seats; it was about adopting a coach's mindset.

In this episode of the podcast, Lance Wigton and Jim Putman delve into some essential strategies for church leaders and senior pastors when it comes to building effective teams. They tackle the common misconception that importing trained individuals from outside is the best approach, shedding light on a more sustainable and fruitful method—raising staff from within the congregation.

In this episode of the podcast, Jim Putman and Lance Wigton talk about how we determine who we should be pouring in to as church leaders - they discuss the fact that everyone is of equal value but everyone has different giftings or talents. We need to challenge people to use their gifts and abilities in the body of Christ.

In today's episode, Lance Wigton returns to discuss recruitment and alignment with Jim Putman, emphasizing the importance of placing team members in roles where they excel.

"We've got a system, in the church in America, that does not produce disciples that make disciples - which means our systems do not produce what we say we value."

In this episode of Church is a Team Sport, Lance Wigton and Jim Putman discuss the value of Small Groups, and how they are vital to the growth of discipleship in your church. Join us as we unveil the blueprint for turning small groups into the backbone of a championship-winning team.

In this episode of "Church is a Team Sport," hosts Lance Wigton and Jim Putman delve into the critical importance of abiding in Christ for Pastors and Church leaders. They explore how abiding in Christ goes beyond mere Bible study or sermon preparation, transforming into a deep, relational experience that shapes identity and spiritual growth. Jim emphasizes that true leadership in the church requires leaders to live out what they preach, fostering a culture of authenticity, accountability, and relational discipleship.

In this episode of the podcast, Jim Putman and Lance Wigton tackle the myth that Christians must appear "perfect" and have it all together. They discuss how the fear of judgment leads many believers to hide their struggles, resulting in a church culture where vulnerability is rare, and discipleship suffers. Jim shares stories of how Real Life Ministries emphasizes authenticity, accountability, and the importance of community in growing spiritually.

Welcome back to Church is a Team Sport. In this episode, host Lance Wigdon sits down with Jim Putman, senior pastor and author of Church is a Team Sport, to discuss a crucial part of church growth and discipleship: "Connect the Unconnected." This conversation delves into the heart of discipleship and the importance of relational connection within the church community. Jim shares practical insights into how true discipleship goes beyond Sunday services, emphasizing the need for believers to not only accept Christ but to grow in a spiritual family, become disciple-makers, and thrive in purposeful relationships.

In this episode, hosts Lance Wigdon and Jim Putman  dive into one of the Seven Essentials—Shepherding Towards Maturity. They explore what spiritual maturity looks like, the role of a shepherd in leading people toward it, and how a disciple-making culture can transform churches and homes. This conversation is packed with wisdom on discipleship, leadership, and creating a culture where everyone plays a role in the mission of Christ.

In this episode, hosts Lance Wigdon and Jim Putman dive into one of the Seven Essentials—Shepherding Towards Maturity. They explore what spiritual maturity looks like, the role of a shepherd in leading people toward it, and how a disciple-making culture can transform churches and homes. This conversation is packed with wisdom on discipleship, leadership, and creating a culture where everyone plays a role in the mission of Christ.

This episode of Church as a Team Sport dives into one of the most crucial aspects of discipleship—raising up leaders. Jim Putnam and Lance Wigton discuss how to identify emerging leaders, equip them for ministry, and release them into their calling without abandoning them. Leadership development in the church isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about helping people step into their God-given purpose within the body of Christ.

This episode of Church as a Team Sport focuses on the importance of teamwork within the body of Christ. Jim Putman and Lance Wigton discuss how churches can avoid division and instead function as a unified team, where every member values one another’s unique contributions. They highlight the dangers of personal preferences overriding the mission, the need for alignment in vision, and the spiritual battle to maintain unity.

In this episode, Lance Wigton and Jim Putman discuss the critical role of eldership in the church. They explore how biblical eldership isn't about decision-making power but about living out discipleship and shepherding the church family. The conversation highlights the importance of raising up elders from within the church, ensuring alignment in vision, values, and relational discipleship.

In this episode of Church is a Team Sport, Lance and Jim dive into a crucial leadership principle: the "leadership lid." Every leader has limitations, and those limitations affect the entire team. They discuss how to assess personal leadership growth, receive constructive feedback, and build a culture of coaching and accountability within the church. This conversation is packed with practical insights on developing leaders from within, creating a culture where coaching is the norm, and ensuring that leadership growth doesn't become the limiting factor in the church’s mission.

In this episode of Church as a Team Sport, Lance Wigton and Jim Putman discuss the importance of doctrinal alignment in the local church. Many churches today face division due to differing theological views, cultural pressures, and personal preferences. Jim unpacks why a strong, biblically rooted doctrine is essential for church unity, discipleship, and spiritual maturity. Through practical examples and biblical wisdom, they explore how churches can align their people, clarify beliefs, and equip members to stand firm in truth.