Discipleship.org subscribers can receive a free print book! Chip’s publisher, Oaks Press, is giving away physical copies of Made to Win exclusively to Disclipleship.org subscribers—you just cover shipping. Head to www.OaksPress.com/win to claim your copy today.
Dear Discipleship-First Friends,
I’m pleased to introduce you to my friend, Chip Pugh. Chip is a follower of Jesus and an incredible disciple maker. In addition to founding Be1Make1, a ministry that trains/coaches disciple makers, Chip is currently serving as the Director of Team Development and Chaplain for the Tennessee Titans football organization. Chip is the author of Made to Win, that is out now with Oaks Press. What follows is an interview with Chip that not only gives us a glimpse into the meaning behind the book, but what it means to live out the mission of Jesus.
See details at the end to receive your free print copy of the book!
D.org: “A lot of people see following Jesus as a one-time decision. What shifted for you personally that made you see it as a lifelong process instead?”
CHIP: When I was a teenager, I saw one of my friends get baptized. I remember thinking to myself, “What is his next step?” It seemed like his baptism was his finish line, but I knew that didn’t make sense. He was just getting started in his faith journey. This got me thinking about my own spiritual growth process. Every other area of my life (athletics, academics, future career opportunities, etc.) shows a process of growth, but why don’t we view our spiritual growth the same way?
D.org: “As an NFL chaplain, you spend a lot of time around high-performing athletes. But how will your book challenge and impact non-athletes, or Christians who aren’t really interested in sports?”
CHIP: Whether we literally play sports or not, we are all “athletes” in life. I know this because the Bible frequently uses athletic metaphors for life. Viewing ourselves as competitive runners in the race of life can help us strive to maximize our potential. This is how God designed us to live. As we run our race with all our might, we will help others join the race too. I am hopeful my book will challenge readers to be their best and help them experience the freedom that discipline can bring to our lives.
D.org: “You talk a lot about identity in Made to Win. Why do you think so many believers struggle to live out who they already are in Christ?”
CHIP: We are constantly being bombarded with messages that attempt to steal our joy. We are told we are not enough—both from the outside and from within. We see things that make us think we don’t measure up as we compare ourselves to others. This leads us to find identity in things that make us feel better about ourselves. It is the easy way, but as we know, the easy way is not usually the best way. When we let Jesus remind us who we are in his eyes, we find true joy, love, and peace.
D.org: “What do you think is missing in the way discipleship is typically taught in churches today—and how does this book try to fill that gap?”
CHIP: Many times we think of discipleship as a church program or a class. But Jesus calls each of his disciples by name (John 10:3). He sees them as unique individuals who follow his voice in their everyday lives, and he leads them to serve others right where they are—in their jobs, in their neighborhoods, and their families. This means discipleship is about following a Person, not a program. My book provides a system to help individuals connect to Jesus and learn to follow him in every aspect of their lives.
D.org: “If someone reads Made to Win and actually lives it out, what should be different about their life six months from now?”
CHIP: Everything begins with expectation. When we expect to win, we will follow through on the actions that are necessary to win in life. I hope readers take hold of their true identity in Jesus and learn they can expect to win. This will give them permission to dream bigger, so they can truly maximize their potential in the mission of God. They can make a difference in this world by becoming who Jesus made them to be.
For King Jesus,