From Fan to Follower - Small Group Study
Cross of Glory Fall 2012
An introduction & description of this study – Jesus calls us to come and follow him, to be his disciples, to
forsake everything else and completely devote our whole lives to him. This directed decision toward him,
which means that by faith we follow him, is what the Christian life is all about. Kyle Idleman wrote a book
called not a fan (NAF), he helped create a video to accompany it and then supported a small group study for
people like you and me to help us take seriously the invitation of Jesus to become completely committed
follower. Here are a few of Kyle’s opening thoughts from his book:
I hope you will read this book and discover with me what it really means to follow Jesus. I will talk
more about repentance than forgiveness, more about surrender than salvation, more about
brokenness than happiness and more about death than about life. The truth is, if you are looking for
a book about following Jesus that lays out a comfortable and reassuring path, you won’t find it here
(page 14-15).
The study was designed to last six weeks and includes journaling each day of the six weeks. We have taken
the book content, corresponding video segments, and journal to create a six month small group study. While
Kyle bases his teaching on Scripture, we have intentionally added an additional Bible study element to be
done both in our cluster meetings at Cross of Glory and in our home gatherings.
Honestly speaking, it is designed to be an intense study, mostly because of the topic. For our part we have
included each component in the study to intentionally engage us in the process. We hope to take what we
are reading, studying and thinking about to a level in our lives where we make measurable progress moving
“From Fan to Follower!” Very glad you have joined us!
CHURCH STUDY #1 "an honest diagnosis"
From the book NAF… talk together at your table about the following statement from page 25, middle
paragraph:
“The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually
interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not
so close that it requires anything from them.”
Now to page 27 “Fans often confuse their admiration for devotion. They mistake their knowledge of
Jesus for intimacy with Jesus.” Begin thinking about admiration versus devotion (you will get a chance
to visit this again and write your thoughts down when you get to page 20 in your journal).
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From Fan to Follower - Small Group Study
Cross of Glory Fall 2012
Watch video segment 1 – “Fan or Follower?”
From the Video segment…
From the Bible… Matthew 7:13-27
1. Two roads – one command – verses 13 & 14
What command does Jesus give to his listeners and to you and me as readers?
Describe the two roads briefly by contrasting and comparing them.
Wide Road
Narrow Road
Transition – Think about… Who chooses the road? Which road are you on? How do you know? How do we
choose?
2. We can know – three “tests” to help determine which road you and I are on – verses 15-27
A. We can know by our fruit (Good tree / Bad tree)
Here the warning is about watching out for false prophets – what is true about them can be true
about us as well. How are false prophets recognized even though on the outside they may look like
sheep?
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From Fan to Follower - Small Group Study
Cross of Glory Fall 2012
What happens to every tree that does not produce good fruit?
What is the good fruit that Jesus is referring to?
B. We can know by what we do (Saying “Lord, Lord” or “doing the Father’s will”)
Here Jesus takes the discussion beyond false prophets to all people who make false professions of
faith. Who will enter the kingdom of heaven?
What happens to those who do good works in Jesus’ name but don’t follow him by doing the Father’s
will?
What is the difference between doing good works in Jesus’ name and doing the Father’s will?
C. We can know by how we apply what we hear (Hear and do nothing/your own thing or hear and
put into practice Jesus’ teaching)
How does someone put into practice the teaching of Jesus?
What happens to anyone/everyone who hears (and may even readily agree with Jesus) but does not
follow through and live it out?
Making a commitment and seeking accountability – benchmarking the moment (survey #1)
Your journali and preparing for your next home study. Between the church cluster meetings and your home
meetings you will be encouraged to do the journal and read the next set of Scriptures in the schedule.
3. Personal application – an honest diagnosis? (This can be discussed in the small group time following the
teaching time or done privately. It will be best if you can share your thoughts and answers with at least
one other person)
Which road have you chosen?
What does your “fruit” say about you?
Whose will are you following?
What have you heard Jesus tell you that you need to put into practice?
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From Fan to Follower - Small Group Study
Cross of Glory Fall 2012
HOME STUDY #1 “the diagnosis continues”
From the Bible…
The author of the book not a fan (NAF) examines the life of Nicodemus, a Pharisee, by following his
encounters and interaction with Jesus. Nicodemus is a member of the Sanhedrin, a religious ruling body in
Jesus’ day. In John’s gospel in chapter 3 Nicodemus first comes to Jesus “at night” to ask some burning
questions. In chapter seven he finds himself indirectly defending Jesus, and then finally in chapter 19, he
joins Joseph of Arimathea in caring for Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. In this study our goal is to track his
progress and use it as a backdrop for our continued diagnosis of our relationship with Christ.
1. His first visit at night – John 3:1-21
Why do you think Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night? The text does not tell us explicitly but it is implied ii.
Describe Nicodemus’ concern; what does he want to know about Jesus during this first visit?
Jesus seems to bypass the concern as Nicodemus stated it and goes right to the real issue; how would you
summarize Jesus’ answer in verse 3 and the interaction that follows in verses 4-10?iii
What does the interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus tell us can be true even of important spiritual
leaders?
How does John 3:16-18 “shed light” on this discussion for us? Try to see John 3:16 in its context and not as a
standalone verse.
Using verses 3:19-21 how would you define what it means to “believe in himiv…” from verse 16?
Who knows that you are a Christ follower?
2. His defense of Jesus – John 7:45-52
The background context for these verses are that in John 7 Jesus’ identity is being challenged, some are
saying he is a good man (v. 12), while others are wanting him dead (v. 19). They try to seize him but are not
successful (v. 30). Finally, the leaders of the Jews (chief priests and Pharisees) sent temple guards to arrest
Jesus. They return in verse 45 without arresting him and are asked, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” The
answer of the temple guard is interesting in verse 46 – “No one ever spoke the way this man does!”
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From Fan to Follower - Small Group Study
Cross of Glory Fall 2012
This is when the Pharisees weigh in and set the stage for Nicodemus to step up and defend Jesus. What do
they say in verse 47?
In verse 48, if Nicodemus already believes in Jesus what can we conclude about him at this point?
How does his statement in verse 51 begin to show us whether he is becoming a follower or not?
In the book NAF Kyle writes this about Nicodemus, “Though he stops short of saying what he believes, he
does risk his career and reputation and publicly speaks up on behalf of Jesus. This is no longer a private
conversation about what he believes. He allows what he believes to interfere with his work, his relationships,
and his financial future. In that moment he stops being just a fan, and begins the journey of following.”(pages
36-37)
How has what you say you believe affected your career or reputation? Does your relationship with Jesus
interfere with your work, your relationships or your finances?
3. His care for Jesus’ body after the crucifixion – John 19:38-42
How does Nicodemus show that he is a follower of Jesus in his death?
What does it cost Nicodemus?
What time of day is this taking place? Where is it taking place?
Why don’t you think John the gospel writer ever says something like, “Nicodemus, the man who earlier had
visited Jesus at night, now a born-again believer…” or something like that?v
From the Journal…
About the journal - in this study the journal is a tool for your own personal use. It is included to seek to bring
the whole study home to a very practical place. As a small group member you are invited to share from it
what you feel led to share and keep private what you choose not to share. (see endnote i for more
information about the journal).
Note to leaders: Use the journal as a tool to personalize what you have just studied from the Bible passages.
What follows is to help you do this. You are free to adapt it or use the sections that best suit how God is
leading you as a group. If your small group does not want to discuss their journal entries, that is fine; you are
still encouraged to make it very practical and identify specific applications.
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From Fan to Follower - Small Group Study
Cross of Glory Fall 2012
WEEK ONE: fan or follower? (Pages 8-30) You can rewrite your answers here or simply mark your answers in
the journal and then share the details you want to share.
From page 9 how did you define your relationship with Jesus? What needs to change?
From page 13 what have you learned about yourself and your willingness to let Jesus interfere in your daily
life?
From page 17 who or what do you find competing with your love for Jesus?
From page 20 how are admiration and devotion different?
From pages 23-28 what did you learn about how you spend your days?
From pages 29-30 is there anything or any area in your life off-limits to Jesus?
i
About the use of the journal in this study – this is a tool for your own personal use. It is included to seek to bring
the whole study home to a very personal place. You are strongly encouraged to faithfully answer the questions
and do the exercises that are in it. You have 2 weeks to do a week’s worth of journaling. As a small group member
you are invited to share from it what you feel led to share and keep private what you choose not to share. Like
Nicodemus though, the more you engage in the process and the more willing you are to share where you are at
the greater potential you have for progressing from fan to follower in your relationship with Jesus.
ii
John the writer of this gospel develops a theme about light and darkness, day and night throughout this book.
This first begins in chapter 3 in the discussion Jesus has with Nicodemus in verses 19-21. See also John 8:12; 11:910; 12:35-36; 13:30.
iii
Important spiritual leaders like Nicodemus may not understand the significance of the physical and the spiritual
world. He seems to be stuck thinking one-dimensionally about life as a physical experience, almost completely
ignoring the reality of a spiritual dimension all around him.
iv
Though the debate over what it means to believe and therefore what it takes to be saved (born-again) will
continue to rage, please note that Jesus is describing actions and activity which demonstrate (show) that someone
actually believes. Those who love evil do not come to the light (v. 20) but those who live by the truth (believe)
come into the light (take action). When they do, what they have done, can be seen, and it becomes obvious that it
is a work of God (v. 21). See also Matthew 5:14-16.
v
We may have done ourselves a disservice by over emphasizing the supposed moment of salvation marked by a
prayer, or a raised hand, or saying we believe in Jesus and not focusing on God’s work of life change. See
paragraph 1 on page 32 in the book NAF.
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