Not a Fan—Becoming a completely committed follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman

Group Study Guide

Before your Group Study:

Read the chapter(s) assigned to your group for the upcoming study.Make notes of the words, phrases, and stories that resonate with you. Write discussion questions that come to mind.

At your Group Study:

  1. Begin in prayer. Thank Him for the opportunity to gather as sisters in Christ. Ask His Spirit to shine light and understanding on your discussion.
  2. Ask women to share the words, phrases, and stories that jumped from the chapter(s) they read.
  3. Discuss the questions below or use the discussion questions women jotted during their personal study time.
  4. Share thanksgiving and prayer needs. Close with group prayer.

Chapter 1: D.T.R

  1. Reread the list on page 20. Can these things be part of the lives of fans and followers? If so, how? If not, why?
  2. How would you define being a fan and being a follower?
  3. What evidence of fandom do you see in your life?
  4. What is your level of commitment to Jesus? What is His level of commitment to you?

Chapter 2: A decision or a commitment?

  1. What would following Jesus cost Nicodemus?
  2. Has following Jesus cost you anything? If so, what? If it’s not costing you anything, why?
  3. What is the difference between making a decision for Jesus and committing to Jesus?
  4. We think about the cost to Nicodemus, to us, and other followers. But what did the great love Jesus had for the world cost Him? In what ways does your commitment level reflect your gratitude for all He’s done for you?

Chapter 3: Knowledge about Him or intimacy with Him?

  1. What is the difference between knowledge and intimacy?
  2. Do you just know about Jesus or do you really know Him?
  3. Read Psalm 139:1-6. Describe how God knows you and wants to be known by you.
  4. Think about God’s never-ending, never-stopping love for you. When is the last time you had a moment with Jesus like the woman in Luke 7 had, when you expressed your love to Him?

Chapter 4: One of many or your One and only?

  1. Read Matthew 6:21, 24. For what do you sacrifice your money?
  2. When you experience pain or suffering, where do you go for comfort?
  3. What excessively disappoints or over-frustrates you?
  4. What is it that really gets you excited?
  5. On page 64, Idleman writes, “When Jesus explains that He will not share your affection or devotion, He isn’t just saying how He wants to be loved by you; He is making it clear how much He loves you.” As you think about His love for you and your love for Him, is He one of many or your one and only? Explain.

Chapter 5: Following Jesus or following the rules?

  1. Read Matthew 23:27-28. Are you more focused on the outside than the inside? Or do you ever pretend on the outside to have it all together? If so, when and why?
  2. Where do you find legalism prevalent in your own life or faith community? When you recognize it, how can you fight to prioritize people over rules and policies?
  3. Read Matthew 11:28-30. Those who follow rules instead of Jesus become weighed down with fear and guilt. Read Jesus’ invitation to you. What does it look like to accept His invitation?
  4. Think about the radical difference between following rules or following Jesus. Was there confusion about that at any point in your faith journey? How can you ensure that what you teach the girls at your club clearly points them to a relationship with Jesus?

Chapter 6: Self-empowered or Spirit-filled?

  1. Read Acts 1:8-9. How would you answer the question, “What is it like to have God living inside of you?”
  2. Read Galatians 5:25. Define Spiritual Breathing. Have you discovered other ways to live with a moment-by-moment awareness of the Spirit? If so, share.
  3. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. How does acknowledging our weakness make room for Christ’s power?
  4. How would you finish this sentence, “By the power of the Holy Spirit . . .”
  5. Read Romans 8:11. Are you a self-empowered fan or a Spirit-filled follower? Explain.

Chapter 7: The relationship defined

  1. Read Matthew 7:21-22. Does your life reflect what you say you believe? If so, how?
  2. Read James 2:14-16. Do you think you’re on the right road because of what you’ve done? Does anything you do really matter?
  3. Read Matthew 7:23. Do you know Jesus and does Jesus know you?
  4. Read Ephesians 2:8, Jude 1:24, Romans 8:38-39, Revelation 3:15-16. How has Jesus defined the relationship He wants with you? What is your response?

Chapter 8: Anyone—an open invitation

  1. Read Luke 9:23. Who does Jesus invite to follow Him?
  2. Read Matthew 9:9. Talk about Matthew’s story. What amazes you most about Jesus’ invitation to Matthew?
  3. Who do you know that needs to hear that Jesus invites them into relationship? How can you make His invitation real to them?
  4. Talk about your story. What amazes you most that Jesus invites you to follow Him?

Chapter 9: Come after Me—a personal pursuit

  1. Read Luke 9:23. When Jesus says, “Come after,” what is He describing? (page 130)
  2. Read Matthew 13:44-45. What picture did Jesus have in mind when He invited us to come after Him?
  3. Read 1 John 4:19. On page 137 Idleman writes, “One of the greatest motivations of our love and passionate pursuit of Jesus is a better understanding of how great His love is for us.” Share stories of God’s overflowing love.
  4. Read Revelation 2:4-5. So what do you do if you find yourself in a place of acedia, where you want to passionately pursue Jesus but your heart’s not in it? What would that look like for you?

Chapter 10: Deny—a total surrender

  1. Read Luke 9:23. What does it mean to deny yourself?
  2. If there were an exception clause to following Jesus, what would you add to the list?
  3. Talk about our North American context of slavery. What impressions do you have of a slave and a master?
  4. Talk about slavery within the context of Scripture.
  5. On page 153 Idleman writes, “It’s only by becoming a slave to Jesus that we ever truly find freedom.” Do you agree? If not, why? If so, explain.
  6. On page 153 Idleman describes our Master. Read the paragraph and continue to add to it. My master will ______.

Chapter 11: Take up your cross daily—an everyday death

  1. Read Luke 9:23. For the Jews, what did the cross symbolize?
  2. Read Luke 6:22, 2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29. When is the last time that following Jesus cost you something?
  3. Share a way that you can carry a cross and die to yourself daily? (Page 169) How can you hold one another accountable this week.
  4. On page 171 Idleman writes, “In a twist of irony, we find that giving up our lives gives us the life we so desperately wanted all along.” Do you agree? If not, why? If so, explain. Talk about the Lord in prayer about this together.

Chapter 12: Wherever. What about there?

  1. Read Luke 9:57-58. Where is the one place you find it most difficult to follow Jesus?
  2. Idleman shared wherever stories about Adoniram and Anne Judson and Orville Hubbard and Dick Wolf. Share wherever stories you may know whether known worldwide or local and personal.
  3. Saying “Wherever” to Jesus comes with risk and uncertainty. Do you have any fears or “What if?” questions you’ve asked about making a commitment to Christ?
  4. Finish this statement: Saying yes to following Jesus means saying no to . . . (p. 182).

Chapter 13: Whenever. What about now?

  1. Read Luke 9:59-60. Is there a part of you like this man in Luke that says, “First let me. . .”
  2. Read Matthew 4:18-20. Compare the response of the man in Luke 9 to the disciples in Matthew 4 to your response to Jesus’ invitation to follow?
  3. Why do you think people put off following Jesus with their whole heart?
  4. Read Hebrews 3:15. As you listen to His voice is there something that needs to change today? Not tomorrow. Today.

Chapter 14: Whatever. What about that?

  1. Read Luke 9:61-62. What seems to be holding this man back from following Jesus? Is this a bad thing? Why or why not?
  2. What is it that is competing for your allegiance to Christ? (p. 207)
  3. What would change (if anything) if you were to go all-in and be completely committed in following Jesus? (p. 209)
  4. Read 2 Chronicles 16:9. What does the Lord do for His followers? Search the Scriptures. What else does He promise His followers? Give Him thanks.

Chapter 15: Follower: my true identity

  1. What is the difference between understanding that “follower” is more than something you do or don’t do; it’s who you are? (p. 214)
  2. What are ways your identity has been shaped by what was told to you early and often? Or by what you have accomplished? Have you let this keep you from embracing who Jesus has called you to be as a follower? Explain. (p. 216)
  3. Read Ephesians 2:1, 19, 4:1; Colossians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 1:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 3:7-8, Luke 9:23. What is your true identity?
  4. Your study of Not a Fan is complete. Is anything pressing on your hearts as you shut this book? If yes, what?