LEADING WITH BOLDNESS
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR & LEAD PASTOR
Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church (www.theaterchurch.com) in Washington, DC. One church with eight locations. NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in theaters throughout the DC metro area. NCC also owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse on Capitol Hill. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, If and forthcoming release, Chase the Lion. Mark is married to Lora and they live on Capitol Hill with their three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.
Our Biggest Regrets . . .
There are two types of regrets that we have, inaction regrets and action regrets.
Action regret is doing something you wish you hadn’t done. Inaction regret is not doing something you wish you had.
When you’re younger, you roughly feel the same amount of regret from actions and inactions. In a massive study that surveyed people people on their death bed, 86% of their regrets were inaction regrets. The dreams we didn’t go after…the 500 pound lions we did not chase.
Definitions Of Boldness . . .
Boldness = Bold Decisions backed up by Bold Actions.
Boldness is:
- There are two types of regrets that we have, inaction regrets and action regrets.
- Action regret is doing something you wish you hadn’t done. Inaction regret is not doing something you wish you had.
- When you’re younger, you roughly feel the same amount of regret from actions and inactions. In a massive study that surveyed people people on their death bed, 86% of their regrets were inaction regrets. The dreams we didn’t go after…the 500 pound lions we did not chase.
The willingness to look foolish. Noah looked foolish building an ark. David looked foolish fighting a giant with a sling shot. Where do you need to be willing to look foolish?
The process of unlearning our fears. Psychologists tell us we are only born with two fears… the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. Every other fear we have is learned. John 4:18 says “Perfect love casts out all fears”, so the more we grow in a love relationship with God we unlearn our other fears until the only fear we have is healthy fear, the fear of God.
Taking the first step before God reveals the second step. A God sized dream by definition is one that is beyond your resources and beyond your abilities. Sometimes we wait for God to move but we really should be looking to make the first move.
Being Bold Doesn’t Mean Making Unwise Choices . . .
I don’t think God honors dumb. Being bold doesn’t mean that you should go and quit your job tomorrow. There is a difference between being rash and humble boldness, that God will provide.
Taking The First Step . . .
God doesn’t call the qualified…he qualifies the called – take the first step and put it in Gods hands to do the rest.
Healthy Doses Of Fear . . .
Failure by itself is not a catalyst for success. The cure for the fear of failure is failure in small enough doses you build immunity to it.
Mark Batterson’s Definition Of Success . . .
“Those who know you best, respect you the most…”
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“EDGE|X ranks as one of the most inspirational events I’ve had the privilege of being part of, and its impact goes beyond the speaking lineup. The heart behind the event is the multiplicative power of mentoring, which created a feeling of collegiality. It felt like ‘we’re all in this together.’ It felt like iron sharpening iron. At the end of the day, I was challenged to keep learning, keep growing, keep stretching.”