Let’s be honest for a second: we all have a "version" of Jesus in our heads.
For some of us, He’s the gentle, soft-spoken Shepherd who just wants everyone to get along. For others, He’s the stern judge waiting for us to mess up. Maybe for you, He’s become a bit of a political figure, a social justice warrior, or even a cosmic life coach who exists primarily to help you crush your career goals.
But here is the question that Dr. Adam Grill poses in his groundbreaking new series, The Real Jesus: Are we following the Jesus of the Bible, or a Jesus we created in our own image?
Welcome to the first post in our series exploring the depths of Dr. Grill’s latest work. Today, we’re diving into why authenticity is the secret sauce to a life-changing relationship with Christ. If we want to be "Disciple Makers," we have to make sure we are actually following the Real Jesus: not just a cultural imitation.
The Problem with "Cultural Jesus"
We live in a world that loves to customize everything. We customize our coffee orders, our social media feeds, and our sneakers. Subconsciously, we’ve started doing the same thing with our faith. We take the parts of Jesus’ teaching that we like: the love, the grace, the "judge not" parts: and we quietly ignore the parts that make us uncomfortable, like His calls to repentance, sacrifice, and radical obedience.
Dr. Adam Grill points out that a "Custom Jesus" is a powerless Jesus. When we mold Him to fit our lifestyle, He can’t transform our lives. Authenticity starts with a willingness to see Jesus for who He actually is, even when it challenges our comfort zones.
In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks His disciples the most important question anyone will ever answer: "But what about you? Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered correctly: the Messiah: but even Peter struggled later with the reality of what that meant (a suffering Savior rather than a conquering king). Like Peter, we have to peel back the layers of our own expectations to find the truth.
Authenticity vs. Performance
In religious circles, it’s easy to swap "authenticity" for "performance." We think following Jesus is about saying the right things, wearing the right clothes to church, and keeping our struggles hidden behind a "blessed" smile.
But the Real Jesus? He wasn't a fan of the performance. In fact, some of His harshest words were reserved for the religious leaders of His day: the Pharisees: who were masters of the outward appearance but were "whitewashed tombs" on the inside (Matthew 23:27).
Authenticity matters because Jesus is a person, not a philosophy. You can't have a real relationship with a person if you aren't being your real self. Dr. Adam Grill often says that discipleship isn't about becoming "religious"; it's about becoming real. It’s about bringing our mess, our doubts, and our failures to the feet of a Savior who already knows they’re there and loves us anyway.
When we stop pretending, we finally give Jesus the space to do His best work.
How the Real Jesus Reshapes Everything
When you start reading The Real Jesus series, you’ll notice a recurring theme: Jesus was constantly surprising people. He didn't fit the boxes people tried to put Him in.
- He was radically inclusive, yet deeply demanding. He ate with tax collectors and "sinners," but He also told them to "go and sin no more."
- He was peaceful, yet disruptive. He offered a peace that passes understanding, but He also flipped tables in the temple when He saw injustice and hypocrisy.
- He was God, yet fully human. He wept at the grave of His friend Lazarus, showing us that our emotions and our humanity are not things to be suppressed, but things to be brought to God.
If the Jesus you follow never makes you uncomfortable, you might be following a "Safe Jesus" rather than the Real Jesus. As Dr. Grill notes, the Real Jesus is much more exciting: and much more dangerous to our status quo: than the version we see on most greeting cards.
Why This Matters for Your Discipleship Journey
At Disciple Maker, our mission is to help you follow Jesus and help others do the same. But here’s the catch: you can’t lead someone to a Jesus you don’t actually know.
If your version of Jesus is just a set of rules, the people you disciple will become legalistic. If your Jesus is just a "feel-good" buddy, the people you disciple will lack the resilience to handle the trials of life.
Authentic discipleship requires an authentic foundation. By returning to the Gospels and seeing Jesus through the lens of His actual words and actions: the way Dr. Adam Grill outlines in his books: we equip ourselves to build ministries and relationships that actually last.
Check out our blog post on starting a Bible study to see how putting the Real Jesus at the center changes the dynamic of a small group.
Taking the First Step Toward Authenticity
So, how do we start "Discovering the Real Jesus"? It’s simpler than you might think, but it requires a bit of humility.
1. Read the Gospels Like It’s the First Time
Try reading the book of John or Mark this week. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something about Jesus that you’ve missed because you thought you already knew the story. Look for the moments where He surprises people. For more tips on this, check out our guide on how to disciple someone.
2. Practice "Vulnerable Prayer"
Stop praying the "polite" version of your prayers. Tell God what you’re actually frustrated about. Admit the areas where you’re struggling to believe Him. Jesus isn't fragile; He can handle your honesty. In fact, He invites it.
3. Use the Tools Available to You
We live in an amazing time where technology can actually help us stay grounded in the Word. Whether it’s using the Disciple Maker App to keep your daily walk on track or following along with Dr. Adam Grill’s book series, don’t try to do this alone. Authenticity thrives in community.
No Seminary Degree Required
One of the things Dr. Adam Grill emphasizes most is that discovering the Real Jesus isn't reserved for pastors or scholars. You don’t need a PhD to have an authentic relationship with Christ. You just need a hungry heart and a Bible.
Jesus didn't call the elite; He called fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary people. He’s still doing that today. He’s calling you to move past the "cultural" version of faith and step into something much more raw, powerful, and real.
Final Thoughts
The journey of discovering the Real Jesus is the greatest adventure you’ll ever go on. It’s a journey that moves from the head to the heart, from performance to presence, and from religion to relationship.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be digging deeper into specific chapters of Dr. Grill's book, The Real Jesus. We’ll talk about His authority, His compassion, and the radical way He viewed leadership.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you. Which "version" of Jesus have you found yourself following lately? How is He challenging you to get real this week?
If you want to dive deeper into these resources or support our mission to make discipleship accessible to everyone, feel free to visit our donation page or contact us with your questions.
Let’s stop settling for the imitation. Let’s find the Real Jesus together.
About the Expert:
Dr. Adam Grill is the CEO of Disciple Maker and the author of "The Real Jesus" book series. His passion is helping believers strip away cultural noise to find the authentic, life-changing person of Christ through simple, biblical discipleship.