Gradually Then Suddenly
In November 2025, Multnomah released Mark Batterson’s latest book, Gradually Then Suddenly: How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy. Currently, Pastor Batterson ministers as lead visionary at National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, DC. One church with a network of churches. Reverse engineer any success story, Mark underscores, and you’ll find the story happened in two ways — gradually then suddenly. Because success happens at the speed of a seed, not at the speed of light. As a result, the author observes, most of us fail for lack of trying. We give up on our dream gradually. Therefore, even more than a vision from God, we need a vision of God.
Long vision involves kneeling down so the next generation can stand on our shoulders. In addition, long vision looks for long-term solutions rather than solving for symptoms. Thus, Mark exhorts, see and seize God-ordained opportunities, even if those divine appointments happen at the most inopportune times. Furthermore, see potential in people and possibilities in problems. Since long vision is a function of conviction, the deeper your conviction, the longer the vision. Above all, if you fail to dream, you stop creating the future and start repeating the past. Hence, you live out of logic instead of imagination. Mundanity characterizes maturity — doing little things like they are big things.
However, Pastor Batterson stresses, few things are harder to trust than God’s timing. And in that process, daring to be different requires moral courage. Because the only other option results in moral compromise. Seek God’s anointing, for His anointing makes you better than you. So, consecrate yourself to God and let God do amazing things for you. Consequently, apply strategic patience to long obedience in the same direction as you remain tethered to your convictions. Don’t let outcomes paralyze you because you can only control inputs. Your actions and inactions, your decisions and indecisions, matter more than you know. For better or for worse, your actions create a butterfly effect on the people around you.
In conclusion, Mark describes testimony as prophecy. The God who did it before can do it again. Most significantly, failure to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit turns sins of omission into inaction regrets. Whether you think of yourself as a dreamer or a problem solver, you need to exercise prophetic imagination. Redirect the creativity you employ to make excuse into a more positive direction. Because the breakthrough you seek is only impossible until it isn’t. Also, your greatest asset consists of your availability. Above all, stop talking to God about your circumstances and start talking to your circumstances about God!
Finally, in his Epilogue, Mark offers these closing thoughts:
“I have no idea what page or paragraph of this book pricked your conscience, intensified your emotions, or stretched your faith. But it’s time. Time for what? It’s time to dream again. You know how dreams become reality — gradually then suddenly! Don’t worry about suddenly; that’s the lag measure. If you get to work on gradually, God will take care of the suddenly. Go, set, ready!”