Endorsements
Kyle Idleman is rock solid. He loves the Bible, loves people, and loves to teach people the Bible. If you read this book, you can expect to be encouraged, challenged, and better because of it.
Max Lucado, New York Times bestselling author
Kyle has written yet another terrific book. He reminds us about the power of presence and taking a genuine interest in the person right in front of us rather than being distracted by the many other shiny things around us. It isnt new math to influence a few more people that you will find in these pages but a reminder of the old math Jesus used to change the entire world.
Bob Goff , author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does , Everybody Always , and Dream Big
As Christians, we want our lives to matter, to count for something. We may be tempted to measure our efforts by numbers, but Jesus was clearly focused on one person at a time. If we really want to be faithful followers of Christ, we need to follow his example. In this book, Kyle Idleman will help you see yourself as a true influencer and identify how to change the world One at a Time.
Craig Groeschel , pastor of Life Church and New York Times bestselling author
I have been blown away by Kyle Idlemans kindness and support. This book helped me understand the source of his kindness and support: he was just following Jesus. The truths in the chapters ahead are both revolutionary and simple. This book is going to change Christians, one at a time.
Jonathan JP Pokluda , pastor of Harris Creek and bestselling author
One at a Time is a deeply personal book written for the hands and feet of Jesushis followers. We are the ones called to share, serve, and sacrifice. We are the anointed empowered to care for others. In this encouragement, Kyle Idleman is realistic: we cannot do everything for everyone, but we can be there for one another one at a time. He shows us how.
Mark Batterson , New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker and lead pastor of National Community Church
Kyle Idleman is a fresh and powerful voice for faith in our time. With clarity and insight, One at a Time shows how you can change the world and have a meaningful impact.
Jud Wilhite , senior pastor of Central Church and author of Uncaged
Do you want to make a big impact with your life? Then go small! Try focusing your attention and activities on one person whom God wants you to reach for himand watch what happens. After all, revivals start one individual at a time. In this practical and entertaining guide, my friend Kyle Idleman will inspire and equip you to take the path blazed by Jesus himself. Whatever you do, dont miss the adventure that awaits you!
Lee Strobel , founding director, Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University
One at a Time is the way of Jesus, so it should be our practice as well. Kyle Idleman shares this compelling insight with persuasive stories from the Scriptures and modern life. Whether we are called to disciple a questioning follower, rescue an unwanted child, or care for a needy neighbor, we can only do it one by one. In the name of Jesus, read this book and minister to others one at a time.
Roland Warren , president and CEO of Care Net and author of Raising Sons of Promise
A few years ago, I was backstage after finishing up an event in Louisville. Id recently recovered from an illness, and I was sitting alone with my own thoughts when Kyle walked up. He asked how I was feeling and how my family was doing, and our conversation lasted twenty or thirty minutes. I was deeply encouraged and spurred on by our chat, and Ive never forgotten it. As I was reading Kyles new book, I was struck that before this book ever existed, he was living this one at a time mantra, and in that moment backstage, I was the one he was impacting and influencing. I was the one.
Luke Smallbone , For King & Country
One at a Time is a unique roadmap to influence. It is a testimony of a church transformed and a pastor molded by Jesuss passion to see people in the crowd, not crowds of people. Do you want to be influential? One at a Time is your template.
Mark E. Moore, PhD, author of Core 52 and teaching pastor at Christs Church of the Valley
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
2022 by Kyle Idleman
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2021
Ebook corrections 02.16.2022
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-3394-0
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations labeled CEV are from the Contemporary English Version 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations labeled CSB are from the Christian Standard Bible, copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Some names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
Published in association with the literary agent Don Gates of The Gates Group, www.the-gates-group.com.
Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
Dedication
To Christina and Kawandah:
you didnt know me but you knew Jesus,
and you loved people one at a time
and then one day, at just the right time,
one of the people you loved happened to be one
of the most important people in the world to me.
Thank you for loving one at a time.
Contents
Endorsements
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Introduction
Part 1 Loving One at a Time
1. Zoom Lens
2. In Then Through
3. The Proximity Principle
4. The Power of And
5. Extra Mile Mentality
6. Dont Be a Prig
7. One Party at a Time
8. One Word at a Time
9. One Expression at a Time
10. One Conversation at a Time
11. One Meal at a Time
12. One Need at a Time
Conclusion: The End in Mind
Notes
About the Author
Back Ads
Back Cover
Introduction
I DONT KNOW of any person who doesnt want to make a difference in the world.
Nobody grows up dreaming of waking up, going to work, heading home, watching Netflix, scrolling through social media, and then doing it all over again the next day until their last breath. We all want to be used to change the world.