Chapter 14 (“Take a Stand”) of All In is based on the Old Testament account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3), specifically their refusal to bow down to the ninety-foot-tall statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. As author Mark Batterson notes, near-death experiences, especially in a literal fiery furnace, “often become defining moments in our lives.” […]
Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake.- Exodus 4:2-3 (NLT) “You can have faith or you can have control, but you cannot have both.”- […]
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.”- 2 Corinthians 2:14 After the Roman army had won a great victory, they marched through the streets of Rome in triumphal procession, with captives in their train. […]
Mark Batterson begins Chapter 13 (“Throw Down Your Staff”) of All In with the observation that sometimes going all in feels like it’s all for nothing. But nothing is over until God declares that it’s over. And in the kingdom of God, failure is never final. Yes, when we go all in and all out […]
“It’s not about what you do. It’s about why you do what you do. Ultimately, it’s about who you do it for.”- Mark Batterson “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”- Westminster Shorter Catechism Mark Batterson introduces Chapter 12 (“SDG- Soli Deo Gloria”) of All In with the observation that […]
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”- Philippians 4:13 “A failed attempt is not failing. Failing is not trying. If you are trying, you are succeeding.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson continues Chapter 11 of All In by emphasizing that there comes a point in our lives when enough is enough. We know […]
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me.”- Isaiah 6:8 “Do the best you can with what you have where you are.”- Mark Batterson As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 11 of All In, he stresses that […]
“Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”- Genesis 6:8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”- 2 Timothy 4:7 As Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 10 of All In, he states that during a time when great wickedness prevailed on the earth, Noah stood out […]
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”- Genesis 6:22 As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 10 of All In, he theorizes that Noah must have thought that God was kidding or crazy when He called Noah to build the ark. Because this calling was totally unprecedented, Noah didn’t even have a cognitive category for processing […]
“When your life is over, the world will ask you only one question: ‘Did you do what you were supposed to do.’ “- Korczak Ziolkowski In Chapter 10 (“Build the Ark”) of All In, author Mark Batterson begins with the story of the monument to Crazy Horse being carved out of a mountain in South […]
As Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 9 of All In, he states that it’s important to distinguish between personality issues and spiritual issues. Although all of us land at different places on the risk spectrum, we’re not exempt from taking risks simply because we aren’t natural risk takers. For example, in regard to spiritual gifts, even […]
Author Mark Batterson continues Chapter 9 of All In by differentiating between two basic types of people- those who ask why and those who ask why not. Why not people go all out and look for God-ordained opportunities. Why people look for excuses and are afraid of making mistakes. Pastor Batterson believes we’ve conveniently forgotten […]