Getting Over Yourself: Trading Believe-in-Yourself Religion for Christ-Centered Christianity

by Dean Inserra

Publisher:

Moody Publishers

, 2021

Overview

Is trying to be “the best you” actually ruining you?

From “living your best life” to “self-actualizing,” “finding your destiny,” and “waiting on the best to come,” the contemporary messages of the world exhort us to believe that we are promised and entitled the biggest and best life can possibly offer. But is that actually what Jesus promises? Is that even close to the message of the gospel?

Getting Over Yourself is a call for Christians to reject these hollow messages of personal prosperity and to return to the humble truths of the gospel. You’ll learn how to identify this insidious, popular theology in culture and churches and examine its devastating effects. And, perhaps most importantly, you’ll learn how to combat it with gospel truth that leads to the abundant life Jesus actually desires for His people. Discover the beauty in losing yourself—and ultimately in gaining Him.

Praise for Getting Over Yourself

One of the bright young pastor stars on the horizon is my dear friend Dean Inserra. You will see why when you read this book. Wise but witty, firm but fair, convictional but cordial, he takes us on a journey through an issue that needs to be addressed for the sake of truth and the kingdom. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

——JAMES MERRITT

The new prosperity churches largely shun the language that we can all be wealthy if we just have more faith. The emphasis is more about experiencing God’s power and presence in our lives and overcoming the lies of the enemy. The worship is upbeat and lively. This is what makes the movement, on the one hand, compelling to audiences and, on the other hand, more difficult to engage with biblical and constructive critique. This book is a surgeon’s scalpel, not a cudgel. It will help the church and church leaders discern the features of a growing movement but, even more importantly, see where our own hearts may be drifting. There is wisdom here to show us how not to build on a foundation of sand. I’ve been sharpened in my commitment to build well, be faithful, and employ biblical metrics of success in gospel ministry.

——MATT MASON

A good doctor can deliver a difficult diagnosis with compassion, and Dean Inserra proves to be a faithful general practitioner for the soul. Confronting the motives and misplaced ambitions of a self-centered Christianity, this book asks, “Do I exist for God or does God exist for me?

——KATIE MCCOY

Pastoral brashness are not words that are supposed to go together. But Pastor Dean Inserra has carved a unique voice for lovingly critiquing the untouchable subjects of American evangelicalism without falling prey to bitter fundamentalism or therapeutized liberalism. In Getting Over Yourself, Dean dismantles the Instagrammification of me-focused, platform-obsessed Christianity and calls us to a deeper walk with Christ than what the Church of All the Feels can offer.

——ANDREW T. WALKER

In God’s providence, some books arrive at just the right time and say exactly what needs to be said. I honestly believe that is the case with Getting Over Yourself. Dean Inserra offers a blistering-but-biblical, withering-but-winsome critique of the new prosperity gospel. This “me-centered

——NATHAN A. FINN

The contents of this book lay out a way forward for anyone who wants to enjoy the freedom of following Jesus in true discipleship. For too long, many churches have settled for a shallow version of discipleship that sounds more like pop psychology than a radical call to follow Jesus. Dean offers a pathway for any disciple who wants to truly love Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

——JT ENGLISH

Getting Over Yourself is a bold, gospel-driven, prophetic word for the American church. In reminding us of our sin and depravity, Dean reminds us of the true beauty of the gospel. The best news in the world isn’t that Jesus came to Earth, lived, died, and rose again to help me live a better life. No—the best news in the all the world is that Jesus came to Earth, lived, died, and rose again to rescue me from my sinful, self-obsessed lostness to set me free to live a new life for His glory. By pointing us to the fullness of the gospel, Dean exposes the second-rate “good news

——MARK VANCE

We live in an age where everyone is a brand and every experience is a potential marketing opportunity. Even and perhaps especially in the church. Too often Christians are tempted toward a fake gospel of soft prosperity, comfort, and self-affirmation. Dean Inserra understands that Jesus came to rescue us from the bondage of self, which is why this book is vital to put into the hands of every believer. This book carefully and surgically works through the layers of false gospels we so easily imbibe and leads us back toward a cross-centered, Christ-focused Christianity.

——DANIEL DARLING

With laser-like intensity and clarity, Dean masterfully dissects the current state of much of the American church, revealing the facade of the self-centered life masquerading under the banner of Christianity and offers us Jesus, the real Jesus, in response. In the final chapter he asks, “It’s clear that God is fully satisfied with Jesus. Am I?

——MICAH FRIES

Dean Inserra diagnoses a harmful but subtle trend in American Christianity where many pastors and churches have substituted a self-help hype machine baptized in Christian language for Jesus-centered discipleship. In so doing, Jesus becomes the means to your better life, not the end for whom you were created! Dean displays great bedside manner by not casting judgment, but rather showing loving concern that Christians do what we have always done since the cross and the empty tomb—get over ourselves and focus on Jesus.

——JON AKIN

Dean Inserra is one of the most down-to-earth pastors you will ever meet. He’s fun, precocious, and has an incisive wit. But Dean is also a deep thinker who speaks truth in his own unique voice. Getting Over Yourself is the most Dean Inserra title in the world, and it so perfectly captures what the gospel is calling Christians to do—to put others before ourselves and to put Christ above all. This book will encourage you to do that.

——JIMMY SCROGGINS

In Getting Over Yourself, Dean Inserra tackles the me-centeredness that animates and sets the priorities of so much of church ministry in pop-Christianity. With his engaging quips and memorable phrases, he cuts to heart of the matter. We are not supposed to be “sharing the spotlight

——KEITH WHITFIELD

One of the bright young pastor stars on the horizon is my dear friend Dean Inserra. You will see why when you read this book. Wise but witty, firm but fair, convictional but cordial, he takes us on a journey through an issue that needs to be addressed for the sake of truth and the kingdom. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

——JAMES MERRITT

The new prosperity churches largely shun the language that we can all be wealthy if we just have more faith. The emphasis is more about experiencing God’s power and presence in our lives and overcoming the lies of the enemy. The worship is upbeat and lively. This is what makes the movement, on the one hand, compelling to audiences and, on the other hand, more difficult to engage with biblical and constructive critique. This book is a surgeon’s scalpel, not a cudgel. It will help the church and church leaders discern the features of a growing movement but, even more importantly, see where our own hearts may be drifting. There is wisdom here to show us how not to build on a foundation of sand. I’ve been sharpened in my commitment to build well, be faithful, and employ biblical metrics of success in gospel ministry.

——MATT MASON

A good doctor can deliver a difficult diagnosis with compassion, and Dean Inserra proves to be a faithful general practitioner for the soul. Confronting the motives and misplaced ambitions of a self-centered Christianity, this book asks, “Do I exist for God or does God exist for me?

——KATIE MCCOY

Pastoral brashness are not words that are supposed to go together. But Pastor Dean Inserra has carved a unique voice for lovingly critiquing the untouchable subjects of American evangelicalism without falling prey to bitter fundamentalism or therapeutized liberalism. In Getting Over Yourself, Dean dismantles the Instagrammification of me-focused, platform-obsessed Christianity and calls us to a deeper walk with Christ than what the Church of All the Feels can offer.

——ANDREW T. WALKER

The contents of this book lay out a way forward for anyone who wants to enjoy the freedom of following Jesus in true discipleship. For too long, many churches have settled for a shallow version of discipleship that sounds more like pop psychology than a radical call to follow Jesus. Dean offers a pathway for any disciple who wants to truly love Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

——NATHAN A. FINN

Getting Over Yourself is a bold, gospel-driven, prophetic word for the American church. In reminding us of our sin and depravity, Dean reminds us of the true beauty of the gospel. The best news in the world isn’t that Jesus came to Earth, lived, died, and rose again to help me live a better life. No—the best news in the all the world is that Jesus came to Earth, lived, died, and rose again to rescue me from my sinful, self-obsessed lostness to set me free to live a new life for His glory. By pointing us to the fullness of the gospel, Dean exposes the second-rate “good news

——JT ENGLISH

We live in an age where everyone is a brand and every experience is a potential marketing opportunity. Even and perhaps especially in the church. Too often Christians are tempted toward a fake gospel of soft prosperity, comfort, and self-affirmation. Dean Inserra understands that Jesus came to rescue us from the bondage of self, which is why this book is vital to put into the hands of every believer. This book carefully and surgically works through the layers of false gospels we so easily imbibe and leads us back toward a cross-centered, Christ-focused Christianity.

——MARK VANCE

With laser-like intensity and clarity, Dean masterfully dissects the current state of much of the American church, revealing the facade of the self-centered life masquerading under the banner of Christianity and offers us Jesus, the real Jesus, in response. In the final chapter he asks, “It’s clear that God is fully satisfied with Jesus. Am I?

——DANIEL DARLING

Dean Inserra diagnoses a harmful but subtle trend in American Christianity where many pastors and churches have substituted a self-help hype machine baptized in Christian language for Jesus-centered discipleship. In so doing, Jesus becomes the means to your better life, not the end for whom you were created! Dean displays great bedside manner by not casting judgment, but rather showing loving concern that Christians do what we have always done since the cross and the empty tomb—get over ourselves and focus on Jesus.

——MICAH FRIES

Dean Inserra is one of the most down-to-earth pastors you will ever meet. He’s fun, precocious, and has an incisive wit. But Dean is also a deep thinker who speaks truth in his own unique voice. Getting Over Yourself is the most Dean Inserra title in the world, and it so perfectly captures what the gospel is calling Christians to do—to put others before ourselves and to put Christ above all. This book will encourage you to do that.

——JON AKIN

In Getting Over Yourself, Dean Inserra tackles the me-centeredness that animates and sets the priorities of so much of church ministry in pop-Christianity. With his engaging quips and memorable phrases, he cuts to heart of the matter. We are not supposed to be “sharing the spotlight

——JIMMY SCROGGINS

Product Details

• Title: Getting Over Yourself: Trading Believe-in-Yourself Religion for Christ-Centered Christianity
• Author: Dean Inserra
• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2022
• Pages: 176
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9780802499479, 9780802423078, 0802423078, 0802499473
• Resource ID: LLS:9780802499479
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T17:03:09Z

About Dean Inserra

DEAN INSERRA is a graduate of Liberty University and holds a M.A. in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is pursuing a D. Min. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the founding pastor of City Church. He is passionate about reaching the city of Tallahassee with the Gospel, to see a worldwide impact made for Jesus. Dean is married to Krissie and they have two sons, Tommy and Ty, and one daughter, Sally Ashlyn. He likes baseball, wrestling, and the Miami Hurricanes. He believes Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback and that everyone who disagrees holds the right to be wrong.