The joyful and powerful Christian life you long for is closer than you think None of us is lovable all of the time--and no one can make us feel worse than those closest to us. So we keep others at arm's length to protect ourselves rather than reaching out for relationship. But think of who Jesus invited into his life and ministry. They weren't always lovable. Yet he modeled perfect love for us and showed how the mark of a spiritually mature believer is engaging with others in meaningful relationships. This in-depth, biblical look at the critical importance of "doing life" in close fellowship with other believers will draw you closer to your spiritual family--and to Jesus--than ever before. " Ubuntu is a popular phrase in South Africa that means 'We are, therefore I am.' Jim Putman gets this profound truth about our design by God as relational beings and provides a path for us to discover it with power in our 'all about me' culture.

"-- Randy Frazee , senior minister of Oak Hills Church; author of The Connecting Church 2.0 "Jim Putman helpfully shows us that the 'Just Jesus and me' attitude of so many Christians is not only unbiblical but soul destroying and faith killing. Discipleship happens in relationships, period. This book not only paints a positive, compelling vision for Christian community, it charts the way forward." -- J.D. Greear , pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; author of Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart "Most Christians are not experiencing all that Jesus has for them, and the result is a faith that does not satisfy them, does not create stability in a shaky world, and does not attract the lost. This book gives everyone a better goal to shoot for.

" -- Josh McDowell , author and speaker Jim Putman is the senior pastor of Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho, one of the fastest-growing churches in America. He is the author of Church Is a Team Sport , as well as the widely adopted Real-Life Discipleship program.