Week 2: Part One — Fan or Follower? (A Serious Question Deserves a Closer Look)

1.Idleman describes a scene from John 6 where Jesus delivers a hard teaching and the crowd drops from thousands to a handful of twelve. Why does he say Jesus seems almost to invite this outcome? Does that picture of Jesus surprise you?

2.The author introduces the idea that many people have a "fan-ship" with Jesus — they like what he does for them (healing, feeding, teaching) but are not interested in who he is and what he demands. Think about the crowds in John 6. What were they drawn to about Jesus, and what were they not willing to accept?

3.Idleman asks readers to take what he calls a "fan or follower" self-assessment. As you worked through that assessment (or as you thought about it), what answers surprised you most about yourself?