Mark Batterson Explained

Mark Batterson (born November 5, 1969, in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American pastor and author. Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. NCC was recognized as one of the Most Innovative and Most Influential Churches in America by Outreach Magazine in 2008.^[1] Batterson is also the author of the books Win the Day, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, and Wild Goose Chase. Batterson's New York Times bestseller The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears was released in December 2011.^[2]

Background

He was raised in Naperville, Illinois having been born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Batterson first went to the University of Chicago via a scholarship to major in pre-law and playing basketball. He was called to full-time ministry, which led to a move to Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.^[3]

Personal

Batterson has a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree from Regent University.^[4] Batterson also has two master's degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, Illinois, and a bachelor's degree from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He is a graduate of Naperville (Illinois) Central High School.^[5]

National Community Church

Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. NCC has campuses in Washington, DC; Northern Virginia; and online.

Ebenezers is owned and operated by NCC.^[6] In 2008, Ebenezers was recognized as the No. 1 coffeehouse in the metro DC area by AOL CityGuide^[7] and has been profiled by The Washington Post^[8] and The Washington Times.^[9]

New media

Batterson and the NCC staff became known for their use of new media. Since 2005, Batterson's sermons have been available via podcast.^[10] Batterson's use of Twitter for ministry purposes was covered by The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer in 2009.^[11]

Books

Batterson is the author of 24 books, including Please, Sorry, Thanks: The Three Words That Change Everything (Multnomah; 4/3/23) Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God, Play the Man: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be and Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small. Most focus on issues of Christian living.

Social and political views

On sex

Batterson is quoted by Washingtonian magazine as saying "We ought to be more concerned about being biblically correct than politically correct"..."So here is the biblical bottom line: Sex outside of marriage is wrong. Sex is a sacred covenant between a husband and a wife. Period."^[12]

On LGBTQ+ sexual orientation

During an interview with Washingtonian magazine, Batterson "[pointed] to a sermon in which he included homosexuality in a list of sexual sins."

On April 17, 2014, Batterson was a guest on "The Kojo Nnamdi Show". During the interview, Nnamdi asked Batterson: "So do you believe or consider that homosexuality is a sin?" Batterson replied:

Yeah, you know, I believe that marriage is something between a husband and a wife. I think that sex is a gift from God. It was his idea. And so our church celebrates that. But it's a gift that was meant for the covenant relationship of marriage. And so that's something that we teach and encourage.^[13]

In his sermon "The Elephant in the Church: The Gray Elephant", Batterson explains:

So when a church hangs a plaque endorsing homosexuality it's a gray elephant. It is approving of something God disapproves of. And while it may seem loving and accepting to some, it is approving of something God disapproves of. And that is neither loving nor honest.^[14]

Books

• Book: Batterson . Mark . Id: the true you. Longwood, FL . Xulon Press . 2004 . 9781594679094 . 270993555 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day . Sisters, OR . . 2006 . 9781590527153 . 70775594 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God . Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2008 . 9781590527191 . 224442418 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity . Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2009 . 9781601421319 . 401141340 . registration . ^[15]
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Soulprint: Discovering Your Divine Destiny . Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2011 . 9781601420398 . 752207554 . ^[16] - probably a new edition of Id: the true you
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears . Grand Rapids, MI . Zondervan . 2011 . 9780310333029 . 733755580 . ^[2]
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life . Grand Rapids, MI . Zondervan . 2013 . 9780310333050 . 833300915 . ^[17]
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . The Grave Robber: how Jesus can make your impossible possible . Grand Rapids, MI . Baker Books . 2014 . 9780801015946 . 871319236 . registration .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Clark . Joel N. . Joel N. Clark . Jack Staples and the Ring of Time . Jack Staples trilogy . 1 . Colorado Springs, CO . David C Cook . 2014 . 9780781411073 . 863196144 . registration .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Clark . Joel N. . Joel N. Clark . Jack Staples and the City of Shadows . Jack Staples trilogy . 2 . Colorado Springs, CO . David C Cook . 2015 . 9780781411080 . 879246231 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Clark . Joel N. . Joel N. Clark . Jack Staples and the Poet's Storm . Jack Staples trilogy . 3 . Colorado Springs, CO . David C Cook . 2015 . 9781434707321 . 911946608 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . A Trip Around the Sun: turning your everyday life into the adventure of a lifetime . Grand Rapids, MI . Baker Books . 2015 . 9780801016837 . 894139927 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities . Grand Rapids, MI . Baker Books . 2015 . 9780801016004 . 903675423 . ^[18]
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small . Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2016 . 9781601428851 . 942838402 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Play the Man . Grand Rapids, MI . Baker Books . 2017 . 9780801018985 . 1023201872 .
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Whisper: How to Hear God's Voice . Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2017 . 9780735291089 . 975132772 . ^[19]
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Double Blessing: Don't Settle for Less Than You're Called to Bless. Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2019 . 9780735291119. ^[20]
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . God Speaks in Whispers . Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2020 . 9780735291119. ^[21]
• Book: Batterson . Mark . 3 . Win the Day . Colorado Springs, CO . Multnomah . 2021 . 9780593192764. ^[22]
• (2023) The Best Worst Day Ever: Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah. ISBN 9780525653899
• (2023) Please, Sorry, Thanks: Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah. ISBN 9780593192795

See also

• Religion and spirituality podcast

Notes and References

1. Web site: America's 25 Most Innovative Churches of 2008. churchrelevance.com. October 24, 2017.
2. Web site: The Circle Maker . thecirclemaker.com . October 24, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074047/https://thecirclemaker.com/ . October 25, 2017.
3. Web site: Mark Batterson - Lead Pastor . National Community Church . March 28, 2019.
4. Web site: Outstanding Graduates: Mark Batterson, D.Min. '12 . August 23, 2015 . Regent University Web Site . Regent University . "Mark Batterson D.Min. '12 ... Mark serves as lead pastor of National Community Church ... recognized as one of the "Most Innovative and Most Influential Churches in America" by Outreach Magazine.".
5. Book: Arrowhead: 1988 NCHS Yearbook . 1988.
6. Web site: Ebenezers Coffeehouse. David. Russell. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com. October 24, 2017.
7. Web site: Travel inspiration and articles that will help you plan your next vacation. — MapQuest. citysbest.aol.com. October 24, 2017.
8. News: Tina . Poole . Coffee and Community at Ebenezers . March 2, 2008 . October 24, 2017 . The Washington Post.
9. News: Where would Jesus hang out? . . October 24, 2017 . March 30, 2006.
10. News: Missed Church? Download It to Your IPod. . Tania . Ralli . . August 29, 2005 . October 24, 2017 . live . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20150529194557/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/29/technology/missed-church-download-it-to-your-ipod.html . May 29, 2015.
11. News: Twitter: Harmless Fad, or Web Revolution? . . . October 24, 2017 . July 22, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090727023213/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec09/twitter_07-22.html . July 27, 2009.
12. Kapralos, Krista (March 5, 2013). "Is National Community Church's Mark Batterson the Most Innovative Pastor in America?". Washingtonian.com. Washingtonian Magazine, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
13. Batterson, Mark (17 April 2014). "Contemporary Religion on Capitol Hill". The Kojo Nnamdi Show. WAMU. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
14. Batterson, Mark (March 2008). "The Elephant in the Church: The Gray Elephant". SermonCentral.com. SermonCentral. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
15. Web site: PRIMAL by Mark Batterson. theprimalmovement.com. October 24, 2017.
16. Web site: Book Review: Soulprint by Mark Batterson. January 18, 2011. bloggingtheologically.com. October 24, 2017.
17. Web site: All In . zondervan.com. October 24, 2017.
18. Web site: IF by Mark Batterson. Mark Batterson. October 24, 2017.
19. Web site: Whisper by Mark Batterson - WaterBrook & Multnomah. WaterBrook & Multnomah. October 24, 2017.
20. Web site: Double Blessing by Mark Batterson - WaterBrook & Multnomah. WaterBrook & Multnomah. September 24, 2019.
21. Web site: God Speaks in Whispers by Mark Batterson & Summer Batterson Dailey - WaterBrook & Multnomah. WaterBrook & Multnomah. July 30, 2020.
22. Web site: Win the Day by Mark Batterson - WaterBrook & Multnomah. WaterBrook & Multnomah. March 10, 2021.