Fan or Follower, Part 1

Pastor Dale reflects on John 6, focusing on the difference between being a fan of Jesus and a true follower. He starts by recounting Jesus' miracle of feeding the multitudes, which drew people to Him, though not necessarily for spiritual reasons. They were drawn to immediate physical fulfillment rather than genuine faith. When Jesus began teaching hard truths, many left because they weren’t committed to His message beyond their initial interest.

Pastor emphasizes that fans of Jesus enjoy His teachings or benefits but are not committed to following Him deeply. Fans might acknowledge Him, add Him to their lives, or do religious acts, yet lack a personal, transformative relationship. In contrast, followers remain even when His teachings challenge them, deeply integrating Jesus into every aspect of life.

He uses biblical examples like Nicodemus, who initially approached Jesus in secrecy but later grew into a true disciple. This shift from fan to follower involves a "Define the Relationship" (DTR) talk—a moment of clarifying one’s commitment. Fans are content with knowing about Jesus or adding Him to their lives for convenience, whereas followers fully surrender and prioritize Him, making their whole lives about His teachings.

True followers embody a continuous, intimate relationship, involving Jesus in all areas of life rather than treating Him as a separate, occasional addition. The message concludes with a call to evaluate whether we are fans who merely respect Jesus or followers who fully commit to living out His teachings.