Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus [Paperback]

Kyle Idleman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2011

Are you a follower of Jesus? Don't answer too quickly. In fact, you may want to read this book before you answer at all. Consider it a 'Define the Relationship' conversation to determine exactly where you stand. You may indeed be a passionate, fully devoted follower of Jesus. Or, you may be just a fan who admires Jesus but isn't ready to let him cramp your style. Then again, maybe you're not into Jesus, period. In any case, don't take the question---Are you a follower of Jesus?---lightly. Some people don't know what they've said yes to and other people don't realize what they've said no to, says Pastor Kyle Idleman. But Jesus is ready to clearly define the relationship he wants with his followers. Not a Fan calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness sprinkled with humor, Idleman invites you to live the way Jesus lived, love the way he loved, pray the way he prayed, and never give up living for the One who gave his all for you.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kyle Idleman knows where we live and where we could live with God's help. His words are, at once, profound and practical. He is committed to helping us move in the right direction. If you need a helping hand in your journey, he'll point you to the right Person." --Max Lucado - Pastor, Oak Hills Church and Author of Fearless

"Jesus never asked us to sit on the sidelines and cheer for his cause. In Idleman's book, Not a Fan, Kyle will challenge you to grow from a fair weather fan to a full-time follower of Christ." --Craig Groeschel - Senior Pastor of LifeChurch.tv and Author of The Christian Atheist

"Not a Fan is truly a cutting edge study that will challenge even the most obedient Christians to re-look at their relationship with Christ. I highly recommend to individuals and churches everywhere." --Mike Huckabee - Former Governor of Arkansas and Author of Do the Right Thing

"Kyle Idleman's Not a Fan is a crucial message for our time. It's a powerful call to commitment and to following Jesus with all our hearts that has challenged me in the best of ways!" --Jud Wilhite - Sr. Pastor Central Christian Church, Las Vegas and Author of Throw it Down

"This book disrupts the status quo and challenges readers to follow Christ with greater devotion." --Mark Batterson - Lead Pastor, National Community Church and Author of Soul Print

"Not A Fan is a book that every Christian should read and regularly re-read. I started to read the manuscript and could not stop until I finished. This is a NOW message for the Church and my hope is that every believer who reads this will become an authentic follower of Christ." --Christine Caine - Founder, The A21 Campaign and Author of Run to Win

About the Author

Kyle Idleman is the Teaching Pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, the 5th largest church in America. He is the author and presenter of the Award-winning video curriculum series H2O: A Journey of Faith and The Easter Experience. Kyle and his wife, DesiRae, have four young children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (May 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310331935
• ISBN-13: 978-0310331933
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.2 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism
  • #37 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Christian Living

More About the Author

Kyle Idleman is the Teaching Minister at Southeast Christian Church located in Louisville, Ky with over 20,000 in attendance every weekend. He's a guest speaker for regional and national conventions around the country and regularly speaks for some of America's most influential churches. He's the author and presenter of the award winning video curriculum H2O: A Journey of Faith as well as The Easter Experience. His latest series is entitled Not A Fan, a small group Bible study released in 2010. His Not A Fan book published by Zondervan is scheduled to release in May of 2011. Join the Not A Fan movement at www.facebook.com/notafan or view samples of Kyle's preaching and message presentation at www.notafan.com. Kyle's favorite thing to do is hang out with the love of his life, DesiRae. They have been married for 15 years and have four children: MacKenzie, Morgan, Macy and Kael.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

110 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Convicting and life changing., April 26, 2011

By 

LMS "Book worm" (WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (Paperback)

(What's this?)

If you are looking for a book that preaches a comfortable, easy, complacent version of Christianity, then this isn't the book for you. This book will hit you between the eyes. Kyle Idleman pulls no punches. If you are open to it, this book is like a giant mirror. It will help you take an honest look at yourself and realize what is truly in your heart. Jesus was never interested in drawing a crowd. He was interesting in gaining followers. Not of religion or legalism, but followers of Him. Idleman goes to great lengths to help the reader understand what it means to truly follow Christ. We live in an age where the Gospel and cost of following Christ are often softened and watered down. I think there are many people in American churches who have chosen to "follow Christ" with little or no consideration of the cost. Following Christ is about much more than just a "Get Out of Hell Free" card. It involves sacrifice, dying to self, and surrendering everything to Him. He may not ask us to give up everything, but a true follower is willing to do so if He does ask.

I think we all know someone who is obsessed with a particular celebrity. For example, say someone is obsessed with Britney Spears. A true fan probably is a fan on Facebook, has every CD she has ever made, and possibly even a scrape book of every magazine article ever written about her. If something new comes out, they will go to great lengths to attain it. But Jesus has never been interesting in having a fan club. He wants all of us. If you read this book with an open heart and mind, and are willing to be honest with yourself, this book will help you know if you are really a follower of Christ or if you are merely a fan of His. It is one thing to CLAIM to be a follower, it is an altogether different thing to actually LIVE like a follower of Christ. Jesus is not interested in mere lip service.

I have to ademit, that I spent a lot of years as a fan of Jesus. I knew all the right lingo, all the rules (don't drink, don't swear, don't have sex before marriage) and I knew a lot of knowledge about Jesus and the Bible. But what I didn't realize is that Jesus is interested in the heart. It is entirely possible to look great on the outside and be rotten on the inside. After awhile, I started going through the motions of prayer, worshiping God, and reading in the Word, but my heart wasn't really in it. I cared more about looking good on the outside than the state of my heart. I claimed to love Jesus, but in reality, it was all about me. I realized I wasn't following the Jesus of Scripture, I was following a false version of my own creation. A version that didn't demand too much, expect too much out of me, or expect total, unconditional surrender. I honestly believed that I could have Christ and my own way. Looking back, I can see now how completely self-centered I was. Even when a close friend cared enough to point this out to me, I didn't listen. Instead, I got angry and defensive. I claimed that Jesus was Lord of my life, but when it came right down to it, I was Lord of my life. But no more. Now, I can honestly say "I am not a fan of Jesus."

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a FAN of "Not A Fan.", April 28, 2011

By 

John M. Alexander "At The Garage" (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (Paperback)

(What's this?)

In brief, I became a fan of Kyle Idleman and Not A Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus.

Let's be honest. This is a popular sub-culture of Christian writing -- this concept of being fully devoted, going all out, not standing on the sidelines, and becoming more than just a "Christian."

But Idleman proved he could take a subject that is being written about often, and provide a fresh take and motivating spin on this concept.

Here's why I loved this book:

1. His heart.
Idleman time and time again displayed the authenticity and transparency my generation (20s) love. I respect him for his willingness to share his authentic self, not just the pastor self who occasionally says bad words.

2. His humor.
This was easily the most surprising aspect of the book. I found his footnotes and off-handed side comments to be hilarious and refreshing.

3. His message.
More than anything, I believe his message is one that needs to be heard time and time and time again. As a pastor of the 5th largest church in American, I imagine it can be tempting to not want to offend people and therefore lose "customers." But Idleman makes it clear, he is no longer going to just create fans (people who stand on the sidelines, know about Jesus, and cheer for him). He is going to help create followers (those who are in the game of becoming more and more like Jesus by KNOWING him).

Personally, I can tell you this was a timely read as I was preparing to give a message about giving your lives to Jesus. I wasn't presenting the full cost. Now, I will. I don't want fans of Jesus. I want followers.

This is a book for pastors, ministry leaders, lifelong Christians and first time Christians.

Become a fan of Kyle Idleman and Not A Fan. I know I am.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are you really a follower? Or just a fan?, May 6, 2011

By 

P. Hamm "p-squared" (Western Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (Paperback)

(What's this?)

Just when every pastor of every mega-church seems to be coming out with a book on how to really follow Jesus... which of course ties in with a sermon series and sells thousands of copies all over... there's another one...

I was really expecting that this book wouldn't be challenging, but it is. Big time.

Enough of the "come follow Jesus and you'll have every blessing you can imagine". how about "Come and die. Come and give it up. Come and surrender."

This book is in "Come and die" territory, and I recommend it highly. If you've had enough of the shallow Christianity practiced and even taught by so many... this is your book.

I do not want to be a fan.