Week 9: Chapter 8 — Follower, Not a Fan, of Jesus' Teachings (Obedience, Not Just Agreement)

1.Idleman draws a sharp distinction between fans who are hearers of the word and followers who are doers of it (James 1:22). He calls agreeing with Jesus' teaching without obeying it a form of self-deception. Have you ever caught yourself agreeing with a conviction from Scripture for years without it actually changing your behavior? What was that like?

2.Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24–27) is not about people who have never heard his teaching — both builders heard the same words. The difference is obedience. What is the "rock" Jesus is describing, and what does building on it actually look like in practical terms?

3.Idleman argues that fans are selective about which of Jesus' teachings they embrace — they accept the comforting ones and quietly ignore the costly ones. Which of Jesus' teachings do you find most consistently difficult to obey?