Going All In: One Decision Can Change Everything

by Mark Batterson

This powerful booklet, excerpted from All In tells us that the Gospel costs nothing, but demands everything.  If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. It's all or nothing. It's now or never.   It's time to ante up and go all in with God.

No one has ever sacrificed anything for God.  If you always get back more than you gave up, have you sacrificed anything at all?  The eternal reward always outweighs the temporal sacrifice.  At the end of the day, our greatest regret will be whatever we didn’t give back to God. What we didn’t push back across the table to Him.  Eternity will reveal that holding out is losing out.

Batterson writes, “For many years, I thought I was following Jesus.  I wasn’t.  I had invited Jesus to follow me.  I call it inverted Christianity.  And it’s a subtle form of selfishness that masquerades as spirituality.  That’s when I sold out and bought in.  When did we start believing that the gospel is an insurance plan?  It’s a daring plan.  Jesus did not die just to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.”

Genres: Christian

33 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2013

About the author

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church in seven locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. NCC is currently developing a city block into The Capital Turnaround. This 100,000-square-foot space will include an event venue, child development center, mixed-use marketplace, and co-working space. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times best-selling author of seventeen books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, Play the Man, Whisper, and, most recently, Double Blessing. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.

Reviews

[Lane Bortell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, really valuable message. I am grateful for the way Batterson writes; It resonates in a way that is not quite left brain not right brain, but somewhere in the middle.
The heart of the book is something like this: Going all in with Jesus is a dangerous thing to do, but it is not as dangerous as NOT going all in with Him. Batterson calls out the American church for our lukewarm lives and urges us to step out in radical faith. I thought this quotation was so demonstrative of what a life surrendered to Christ can look like: "In a day and age when the average person never traveled outside a thirty mile radius of their home, Jesus sent His disciples to the ends of the earth" How cool.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking book. Some borderline Lordship salvation issues, but not a deal breaker.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half way is no way to live! Quit holding back. God won’t hold out on you. It’s time to go ALL IN and ALL OUT for God! Mark Batterson fills this book with stories that make you want to burn sinful bridges and blaze new trails! Fully surrender to Christ today. You won’t regret it.

[jerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

How is this not a disguised appeal to one’s pride?

[Myron T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is small and quick to read but packed with robust information, challenging the reader to "go all in."

[Cathy Lawdanski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free Audiobook from Spotify+

Lots of anecdotes about people's decisions and how it affected them and the world.

Much like the rest of Batterson's books that I've read.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great short read. Worth every minute.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

short but powerful message

[Joseph Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Well worth reading....

[Jeff Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick-read booklet from the original book. A lot of insight about knowing who God created you to be and do what you've been designed to do!

[Andrew Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Small edition. Very motivating