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Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small
Over 100,000 copies sold!
Quit playing it safe and start running toward the roar!
When the image of a man-eating beast travels through the optic nerve and into the visual cortex, the brain sends the body a simple but urgent message: run away! That’s what normal people do, but not lion chasers. Rather than seeing a five-hundred-pound problem, they see an opportunity for God to show up and show His power.
Chase the Lion is more than a catch phrase; it’s a radically different approach to life. It’s only when we stop fearing failure that we can fully seize opportunity by the mane. With grit and gusto, New York Times best-selling author Mark Batterson delivers a bold message to everyone with a big dream.
This is a wake-up call to stop living as if the purpose of life was to simply arrive safely at death. Our dreams should scare us. They should be so big that without God they would be impossible to achieve. Quit running away from what you’re afraid of.
Chase the lion!
Change the world!
What is your five-hundred-pound dream?
In this highly anticipated sequel to his best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day , Mark Batterson invites lion chasers everywhere to chase dreams so impossible that victory demands we face our fears, defy the odds, and hold tight to God.
These are the kind of dreams that will make you a bigger person and the world a better place.
Based upon 2 Samuel 23, Chase the Lion tells the true story of an ancient warrior named Benaiah who chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day—and then killed it. For most people, that situation wouldn’t just be a problem…it would be the last problem they ever faced. For Benaiah, it was an opportunity to step into his destiny. After defeating the lion, he landed his dream job as King David’s bodyguard and eventually became commander-in-chief of Israel’s army under King Solomon.
Written in a way that both challenges and encourages, this revolutionary book will help unleash the faith and courage you need to identify, chase, and catch the five-hundred-pound dreams in your life.
Quit playing it safe and start running toward the roar!
When the image of a man-eating beast travels through the optic nerve and into the visual cortex, the brain sends the body a simple but urgent message: run away! That’s what normal people do, but not lion chasers. Rather than seeing a five-hundred-pound problem, they see an opportunity for God to show up and show His power.
Chase the Lion is more than a catch phrase; it’s a radically different approach to life. It’s only when we stop fearing failure that we can fully seize opportunity by the mane. With grit and gusto, New York Times best-selling author Mark Batterson delivers a bold message to everyone with a big dream.
This is a wake-up call to stop living as if the purpose of life was to simply arrive safely at death. Our dreams should scare us. They should be so big that without God they would be impossible to achieve. Quit running away from what you’re afraid of.
Chase the lion!
Change the world!
What is your five-hundred-pound dream?
In this highly anticipated sequel to his best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day , Mark Batterson invites lion chasers everywhere to chase dreams so impossible that victory demands we face our fears, defy the odds, and hold tight to God.
These are the kind of dreams that will make you a bigger person and the world a better place.
Based upon 2 Samuel 23, Chase the Lion tells the true story of an ancient warrior named Benaiah who chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day—and then killed it. For most people, that situation wouldn’t just be a problem…it would be the last problem they ever faced. For Benaiah, it was an opportunity to step into his destiny. After defeating the lion, he landed his dream job as King David’s bodyguard and eventually became commander-in-chief of Israel’s army under King Solomon.
Written in a way that both challenges and encourages, this revolutionary book will help unleash the faith and courage you need to identify, chase, and catch the five-hundred-pound dreams in your life.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
872 people are currently reading
4178 people want to read
About the author
Mark Batterson
188 books1,115 followersMark 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews
September 19, 2016
In a nutshell, this book is about how to embrace the “dream” or “destiny” God has placed in your heart and step into your full potential as a Christ-follower. According to Batterson, the way to do that is by facing, chasing, and killing your “lions”—those things you fear most in life. He says that fear causes us to either forfeit our dreams or dream in too small of terms, which does not bring God glory.
That said, I really disliked this book.
Batterson says all of the right things, mentioning topics like servant leadership, Christ-likeness, and focusing on eternal reward. But he does not substantiate his argument at all from Scripture. (Maybe because “chasing your dreams” isn’t exactly a biblical concept…) The title of the book (“Chase the Lion”) comes from 2 Samuel 23:20, which says, “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada…went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen” (ESV). Except, he uses a poorly translated version from the NLT that shifts that verb (“went down”) to an active form (“chase”). And from that verse, Batterson moves immediately into a discussion about how we need to model Benaiah’s example of not backing down from our destiny. Instead, we ought to chase the lions that roar at us and stand in the way of our dreams. Then, he picks random verses from the rest of 2 Samuel 23—which describes David’s mighty men—and casually works them into each chapter even though they don’t make any sense. 2 Samuel 23 has literally nothing to say about “dreams” or “destiny,” but that’s the foundational chapter for the book. He draws out all kinds of conjectured motivations and back stories to the characters that have no biblical support.
The bigger problem though was the impression I had when I finished the book. Despite mentioning biblical topics like those I described above (service, conformity to Christ, eternal reward, faithfulness, and suffering well), the book ends up giving the impression that if you live a simple life you’re not following Jesus well enough. Just about every story of evidence to substantiate his argument is about worldly success, most of them focused on his church. He mentions QBs succeeding in the NFL, Rick Warren becoming an NYT best-seller, and then shares in almost every chapter how his church owns a local coffee shop, has an eight-figure budget, eight separate campuses, and missionaries all over the world. He also includes a story in almost every chapter about how someone’s life was changed by his book, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day."
All of it left me feeling like it was a handbook for a flashy spiritual life that God will give to you if you just plant the right “faith seeds.” He gets pretty close to prosperity talk towards the end saying that when we’re nice to others we’ll reap their generosity towards us and that, “If you’re diligent, you’ll stand before kings. Or sit at tables with presidents” (p. 184)—this coming on the heels of him sharing his own experiences of having done so.
I’m pretty uncomfortable with where it landed. It’s very ego-centric, basically communicating that if we are willing to take risks for God he will bless us in profound ways and fulfill our wildest dreams. I think that message distracts from the heart of every day faithfulness, of living as though God has a purpose to your every day routine. Batterson’s book made both God and the every day routine of existence feel more like a means to an end, that if we just endure it long enough God will turn over a fresh and better chapter in our lives.
It’s a convenient message when things are going well, but does little to provide hope in times of suffering. The treasure of a life with Christ is not that he makes all of our dreams come true. It’s that we are reconciled to God. By faith, he is with us always. God is present in all we do so that even the simplest routine has eternal purpose through Christ. God desires faithfulness and sometimes that will take us to extreme obedience. Most times, it will mean joyful commitment to the every day routine. If that describes your life, it's not a reason for despair or doubting the sincerity of your faith. It's simply where God has placed you. In the end, the vitality of your faith is not measured by the glamor of your life, but by the God who holds it in his hands.
That said, I really disliked this book.
Batterson says all of the right things, mentioning topics like servant leadership, Christ-likeness, and focusing on eternal reward. But he does not substantiate his argument at all from Scripture. (Maybe because “chasing your dreams” isn’t exactly a biblical concept…) The title of the book (“Chase the Lion”) comes from 2 Samuel 23:20, which says, “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada…went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen” (ESV). Except, he uses a poorly translated version from the NLT that shifts that verb (“went down”) to an active form (“chase”). And from that verse, Batterson moves immediately into a discussion about how we need to model Benaiah’s example of not backing down from our destiny. Instead, we ought to chase the lions that roar at us and stand in the way of our dreams. Then, he picks random verses from the rest of 2 Samuel 23—which describes David’s mighty men—and casually works them into each chapter even though they don’t make any sense. 2 Samuel 23 has literally nothing to say about “dreams” or “destiny,” but that’s the foundational chapter for the book. He draws out all kinds of conjectured motivations and back stories to the characters that have no biblical support.
The bigger problem though was the impression I had when I finished the book. Despite mentioning biblical topics like those I described above (service, conformity to Christ, eternal reward, faithfulness, and suffering well), the book ends up giving the impression that if you live a simple life you’re not following Jesus well enough. Just about every story of evidence to substantiate his argument is about worldly success, most of them focused on his church. He mentions QBs succeeding in the NFL, Rick Warren becoming an NYT best-seller, and then shares in almost every chapter how his church owns a local coffee shop, has an eight-figure budget, eight separate campuses, and missionaries all over the world. He also includes a story in almost every chapter about how someone’s life was changed by his book, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day."
All of it left me feeling like it was a handbook for a flashy spiritual life that God will give to you if you just plant the right “faith seeds.” He gets pretty close to prosperity talk towards the end saying that when we’re nice to others we’ll reap their generosity towards us and that, “If you’re diligent, you’ll stand before kings. Or sit at tables with presidents” (p. 184)—this coming on the heels of him sharing his own experiences of having done so.
I’m pretty uncomfortable with where it landed. It’s very ego-centric, basically communicating that if we are willing to take risks for God he will bless us in profound ways and fulfill our wildest dreams. I think that message distracts from the heart of every day faithfulness, of living as though God has a purpose to your every day routine. Batterson’s book made both God and the every day routine of existence feel more like a means to an end, that if we just endure it long enough God will turn over a fresh and better chapter in our lives.
It’s a convenient message when things are going well, but does little to provide hope in times of suffering. The treasure of a life with Christ is not that he makes all of our dreams come true. It’s that we are reconciled to God. By faith, he is with us always. God is present in all we do so that even the simplest routine has eternal purpose through Christ. God desires faithfulness and sometimes that will take us to extreme obedience. Most times, it will mean joyful commitment to the every day routine. If that describes your life, it's not a reason for despair or doubting the sincerity of your faith. It's simply where God has placed you. In the end, the vitality of your faith is not measured by the glamor of your life, but by the God who holds it in his hands.
May 28, 2017
One of the better motivational books I’ve read, “Chase the Lion” gets especially high marks for readability, and for numerous, on-point illustrations and examples from the lives and experiences of people in all walks of life. Author Mark Batterson also includes many of his own stories and adventures (both victories and lessons learned) from his years as a Pastor and church leader.
Plus, this is a book that’s just chock full of quotable nuggets:
“Games aren’t won on game day. Games are won in the weight room, the film room, the locker room.”
“Mismanaged success is the leading cause of failure; well-managed failure is the leading cause of success.”
“God has called us to play offense with our lives”
“An inheritance is what you leave for someone. A legacy is what you leave in someone.
“Chase the Lion” is a book length exposition of a little-known passage of Scripture in 2 Samuel 23:20, about a man named Benaiah who, on a snowy day, chased a lion into a pit and killed it. Every man or woman who dreams of accomplishing great things in life, and desires to achieve what they were created and destined to do and be, will glean much insight and motivation from Benaiah’s lion encounter, and all the rest of Batterson’s writing. As he points out, “If your dream doesn’t scare you, it’s too small.”
This book will make you a lion chaser!
Plus, this is a book that’s just chock full of quotable nuggets:
“Games aren’t won on game day. Games are won in the weight room, the film room, the locker room.”
“Mismanaged success is the leading cause of failure; well-managed failure is the leading cause of success.”
“God has called us to play offense with our lives”
“An inheritance is what you leave for someone. A legacy is what you leave in someone.
“Chase the Lion” is a book length exposition of a little-known passage of Scripture in 2 Samuel 23:20, about a man named Benaiah who, on a snowy day, chased a lion into a pit and killed it. Every man or woman who dreams of accomplishing great things in life, and desires to achieve what they were created and destined to do and be, will glean much insight and motivation from Benaiah’s lion encounter, and all the rest of Batterson’s writing. As he points out, “If your dream doesn’t scare you, it’s too small.”
This book will make you a lion chaser!
March 21, 2018
While I am fan of Circle Maker, the same can’t be said for Chasing the Lion. The premise is solid, and I agree with Batterson that our tendency as Christian’s is to live a safe life, where we can manage without much intervention from God but this book quickly turned into something else. There were moments where his thoughts edged dangerously close to promoting a prosperity gospel (example, the 5k he donated to foreign missions was directly correlated to him getting his book deal) and then there were moments of borderline heresy.
Also, I totally understand the need to frame the book’s title in a way that will sell the most copies, but if that title (and the whole premise of the book) is based on a verse in scripture, there should be a closer relation to said verse. In order to get the entirety of how Batterson presented the verse, you’d need about 5 different translations.
Though the premise is solid (and something I’m genuinely intrigued by), Chasing the Lion ended up being more self promotion than inspiration.
Also, I totally understand the need to frame the book’s title in a way that will sell the most copies, but if that title (and the whole premise of the book) is based on a verse in scripture, there should be a closer relation to said verse. In order to get the entirety of how Batterson presented the verse, you’d need about 5 different translations.
Though the premise is solid (and something I’m genuinely intrigued by), Chasing the Lion ended up being more self promotion than inspiration.
May 19, 2021
En general el libro me gustó y lo recomiendo; una lectura interesante y motivadora. Sin embargo, difiero en una sola cosa del autor y es la postura frente a los sueños pequeños, pues Dios se glorifica aún en esos sueños ordinarios.
August 10, 2017
i am only about half way through this book.. and i cannot say enough about it!! it will inspire you to dream big, it will encourage you to fight the good fight and not let go until you get the breakthrough! This book will make you mountains look like molehills and Lions look like kitty cats! It will help put the giants in your life back into perspective to where you will not fear of the battle and KNOW that you are assured the victory in Christ! You will find the dreams you thought were impossible and now well within your reach. The dreams you thought were dead and buried will have new life breathed into them and they will rise from the ashes! Don't settle where you are.. you have been going around the mountain long enough.. its time to cross over to the other side. Get this book and See how God through Mark Batterson will push you out of the ordinary and show you how to take hold of the extraorinary!! order now and Start Chasing you some Lions!!
January 26, 2019
Not many people would chase a lion into a pit on a snowy day, much less would actually kill the beast. This book of encouragement and spurring on revolves around the Mighty Men that supported King David during a tumultuous time in Israel’s political history.
In short this book challenges the reader to dream dreams that only could be achieved with God’s powerful intervention.
Chapters are filled with stories of church planting, historical leaders, missionary tales, and Scripture references that stir the heart. Our dreams won’t be accomplished on our own, and this book encourages us to let other join our dreams and to join others!
I love this quote
“Jesus didn’t die just to keep you safe.”
Our Savior is ready and willing to take on incredible life journeys that shake the world and bring glory to His name.
In short this book challenges the reader to dream dreams that only could be achieved with God’s powerful intervention.
Chapters are filled with stories of church planting, historical leaders, missionary tales, and Scripture references that stir the heart. Our dreams won’t be accomplished on our own, and this book encourages us to let other join our dreams and to join others!
I love this quote
“Jesus didn’t die just to keep you safe.”
Our Savior is ready and willing to take on incredible life journeys that shake the world and bring glory to His name.
December 21, 2024
“In case you haven’t figured it out by now, Chase the Lion is not just a book; it’s a call to arms! It’s okay to pray a hedge of protection around those you love—God is our Refuge, our Shield. But He is also our Banner—the God who goes before us, the God who fights for us! Jesus didn’t die just to keep you safe. He died to make you dangerous! Can I tell you who I think you are? You are a lion chaser! So do what you were destined to do. Chase the lion!”
The first 7 chapters are pretty inspiring but then the next 13 feel super repetitive while also serving what feels like is the sole purpose of getting people to read his other books, discuss all the famous people who love his books, and how great his church is. I gave it three stars for those first 7 chapters but it could have been a 5-star book with a great editor and half the length.
The first 7 chapters are pretty inspiring but then the next 13 feel super repetitive while also serving what feels like is the sole purpose of getting people to read his other books, discuss all the famous people who love his books, and how great his church is. I gave it three stars for those first 7 chapters but it could have been a 5-star book with a great editor and half the length.
August 31, 2017
Another great book from Mark. I recommend reading in preparation for a new year, or new season.
"Sometimes the greatest opposition to what God wants to do next comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God did last."
Pray, "God help us help them."
"What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." Revelation 3:7.
Perfect love casts out fear. The opposite of love isn't hate. The opposite of love is fear.
When you know God loves you no matter what, you're not afraid to fail, because you know that God will be right there to pick you up if you fall down.
Almost every dream goes through some sort of holding pattern. (page 93)
Humility is the prologue to every success story in Scripture.
"Sometimes the greatest opposition to what God wants to do next comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God did last."
Pray, "God help us help them."
"What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." Revelation 3:7.
Perfect love casts out fear. The opposite of love isn't hate. The opposite of love is fear.
When you know God loves you no matter what, you're not afraid to fail, because you know that God will be right there to pick you up if you fall down.
Almost every dream goes through some sort of holding pattern. (page 93)
Humility is the prologue to every success story in Scripture.
October 16, 2018
Worse than many a decent self-help book, this book uses one verse about a lion slaying warrior to pitch a thinly Christianised business approach. It shines the spotlight on human effort and acumen rather than Christ. Avoid it and read ‘Don’t Waste Your Life’ by John Piper, it will be an incomparably better use of your time.
July 5, 2017
Mind Blowing
This book has really made me think about what I'm doing spiritually & personally. I'm motivated. I like the personal stories, the historical stories & the real people stories. The imagery will stay long after the book is put away.
This book has really made me think about what I'm doing spiritually & personally. I'm motivated. I like the personal stories, the historical stories & the real people stories. The imagery will stay long after the book is put away.
November 19, 2017
Basically this book is about "dreams" and "aspirations". In addition this book will guide you to awaken the sleeping dreams ( The Lion ) within you. Which will give you the faith to chase those dreams, and help you develop new dreams.
January 4, 2020
Good book! I actually bought it a couple of years ago and never got into it. Started reading it as part of a New Years resolution to read more non-fiction and finished it in 3 days. Solid, practical ways to start making and chasing big dreams. I guess I have more New Years resolutions now.
June 25, 2017
A wonderful book for pursuing God-given dreams and goals.
July 17, 2017
For me, it started slow and he used a lot of cliche, one-liners. But ultimately it was very encouraging and inspirational.
May 19, 2020
I loved this book. It can be repetitive but was very much worth the read! Has me noticed, seeking God and chasing those Lions! I'm glad I read it during quarantine!!!
December 31, 2021
Another great Batterson read. No complaints here. Motivational, insightful, and full of golden nuggets.
October 26, 2016
I'll tell you what; Multnomah/Waterbrook has put out some stellar books this September! I am amazed by all of them that I've read so far.
This one, Chase The Lion, is a Dream-Pursuer's fuel. It's thought provoking stories within the story stir up hope and inspire you to dream and keep dreaming. This book belongs on your bookshelf because it's one that you'll go back to time and time again. It wont go out of date. It's content is biblical, it's real-life, it's genuine. Mark Batterson's writing style is fresh, like he's sitting in your living room having a conversation about dreaming your dream with you. I can't tell you how many quotes I posted to FaceBook in even just the first chapters. Truth is truth and there's no avoiding it. We live our lives through story and that's how Batterson relates his message here; through story.
This is a MUST READ, MUST OWN book!
"Too often the church complains about culture instead of creating it. The energy we spend on criticism is being stolen from creativity. It’s sideways energy. We need fewer commentators and more innovators. I try to live by Michelangelo’s maxim: criticize by creating. Quit complaining about what’s wrong, and do something that makes a difference!" -Chase The Lion @markbatterson
"God honors big dreams because big dreams honor God." -Chase The Lion
"No conflict. No story. We accept that fact when it comes to movies. Epic movies demand epic conflict. That’s what makes them epic! And what’s true of great movies is true of great lives. Great conflict cultivates great character. Of course, it’s easier to watch on the screen than it is to walk through it. If you want to live an epic life, you have to overcome some epic challenges. You have to take some epic risks, make some epic sacrifices. For David it was picking a fight with Goliath. For Benaiah it was chasing the lion." -Chase The Lion
(I was given a copy of this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. In all honesty, I fell in love with this book. I didn't read the first one--In the Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day--but this one caught my attention and kept it. Love it! And yes, another copy will be purchased and on my coffee table.)
This one, Chase The Lion, is a Dream-Pursuer's fuel. It's thought provoking stories within the story stir up hope and inspire you to dream and keep dreaming. This book belongs on your bookshelf because it's one that you'll go back to time and time again. It wont go out of date. It's content is biblical, it's real-life, it's genuine. Mark Batterson's writing style is fresh, like he's sitting in your living room having a conversation about dreaming your dream with you. I can't tell you how many quotes I posted to FaceBook in even just the first chapters. Truth is truth and there's no avoiding it. We live our lives through story and that's how Batterson relates his message here; through story.
This is a MUST READ, MUST OWN book!
"Too often the church complains about culture instead of creating it. The energy we spend on criticism is being stolen from creativity. It’s sideways energy. We need fewer commentators and more innovators. I try to live by Michelangelo’s maxim: criticize by creating. Quit complaining about what’s wrong, and do something that makes a difference!" -Chase The Lion @markbatterson
"God honors big dreams because big dreams honor God." -Chase The Lion
"No conflict. No story. We accept that fact when it comes to movies. Epic movies demand epic conflict. That’s what makes them epic! And what’s true of great movies is true of great lives. Great conflict cultivates great character. Of course, it’s easier to watch on the screen than it is to walk through it. If you want to live an epic life, you have to overcome some epic challenges. You have to take some epic risks, make some epic sacrifices. For David it was picking a fight with Goliath. For Benaiah it was chasing the lion." -Chase The Lion
(I was given a copy of this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. In all honesty, I fell in love with this book. I didn't read the first one--In the Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day--but this one caught my attention and kept it. Love it! And yes, another copy will be purchased and on my coffee table.)
May 26, 2025
Man, I loved this book! I read this when someone suggested that you read it if you are "entering a new season of your life." Well, that definitely describes me right now (looking for new job, likely to result in moving to a new state, etc.). I'm definitely a big dreamer and I would argue that I probably have higher aspirations than most of my friends. This book is a such a quotable book that I am now starting a "quote doc" to keep up with all of the quotes that inspire me (I've been using these quotes in my Goodreads reviews, but have never kept up with them in a separate place).
It is so hard to pick out my 5 favorite quotes (ok, so it's actually 6), but I think these are the ones (out of 51 quotes on my quote doc):
- p. 2 - "You are one idea, one risk, one decision away from a totally different life. It’ll probably be the toughest decision you ever make, the scariest risk you ever take. But if you’re dream doesn’t scare you, it’s too small."
- p. 58 - "Contextual intelligence is the ability to spot opportunity where others don’t. That’s what sets leaders apart; that’s what sets them up for success…Lion chasers see and seize the decisive moment."
- p. 121 - "There is a world of difference between 'making a living' a 'making a life.' Life isn’t measured in dollars; it’s measured in moments you can’t put a price tag on."
- p. 138 - "The key to success in business and success in life is an eye for opportunity…If you’re looking for excuses, you will always find one. But the same is true for opportunities. If you look for them, you’ll find them all around you all the time."
- p. 156 - "If you do little things like their big things, God will do big things like they’re little things."
- p. 160 - "Legacy isn’t measured by what you accomplish during your life span. Legacy is measured by the lives that are affected by your life long after you are gone."
It is so hard to pick out my 5 favorite quotes (ok, so it's actually 6), but I think these are the ones (out of 51 quotes on my quote doc):
- p. 2 - "You are one idea, one risk, one decision away from a totally different life. It’ll probably be the toughest decision you ever make, the scariest risk you ever take. But if you’re dream doesn’t scare you, it’s too small."
- p. 58 - "Contextual intelligence is the ability to spot opportunity where others don’t. That’s what sets leaders apart; that’s what sets them up for success…Lion chasers see and seize the decisive moment."
- p. 121 - "There is a world of difference between 'making a living' a 'making a life.' Life isn’t measured in dollars; it’s measured in moments you can’t put a price tag on."
- p. 138 - "The key to success in business and success in life is an eye for opportunity…If you’re looking for excuses, you will always find one. But the same is true for opportunities. If you look for them, you’ll find them all around you all the time."
- p. 156 - "If you do little things like their big things, God will do big things like they’re little things."
- p. 160 - "Legacy isn’t measured by what you accomplish during your life span. Legacy is measured by the lives that are affected by your life long after you are gone."
July 17, 2022
DREAM BIG! TRUST GOD! There wasn’t anything inherently bad about this book, in fact it was quite the opposite, this book was actually pretty enjoyable. It was full of tidbits of really fascinating and largely unknown historical facts and short stories that the author used to further the points he was making. Many of these stories I would have never known otherwise and I’m not even sure how he discovered all this stuff. Another thing I liked about this book is that it served as a great uplifter since I was also reading “when breath becomes air” at the same time as this one. The reason I only gave this book 3/5 stars is because it seemed really, and I mean REALLY cliche. The overlying message really is just “trust God and dream big and you will achieve everything you’ve ever wanted”, which to be honest sounded a lot like prosperity gospel at certain times and I’m not sure it’s totally biblical. I’m not saying this book is bad or that it’s spreading a totally false gospel, I’m just saying take it with a grain of salt. There is biblical truth within this book, but there’s also some points that are a little far stretched, and therefore I think the sub-genre of “Christian Self-improvement” still lacks something to be desired.
September 8, 2016
Chase the Lion is another great read by Mark Batterson. There are times that I felt as if it was an infomercial for his church but once I was able to open my eyes and see the bigger picture (“The Kingdom Picture”) I realized that this book is a testimony about what has worked and not worked. The Examples shared are historical and personal experiences of those that had to learn to focus on the bigger picture. We should celebrate with Mark the providential care the Lord bestowed upon the Church and His followers. If you have read “in a pit with a lion on a snowy day” this book is a sequel to that. Please don’t make the mistake I almost did and almost put it down after the first chapter because you think it is the same thing, it is much more. Wonderful book about 1. Realizing your God honoring dreams and 2. Letting God fulfill His dreams in your life. I would recommend this book for anyone, and especially for those wanting to get out of the rut of inaction and move to a place of action so that we may bless God in all we say, think and do.
October 25, 2022
This motivational book is genuinely worth the read! I was going into this anticipating something mediocre because a lot of times, big-name pastors who write lots of books, in my opinion, oversell yet underdeliver.
But I don’t think this book is like that at all. Each chapter was genuinely encouraging, thought-provoking, and exciting to read. Sure, I can see people having an issue with how he repeats himself often and can sometimes lack enough depth, but I don’t see it that way because this book wasn’t made to be deeply studied; this book was made to empower us to start dreaming God-sized dreams and GO!
For that reason, I cruised through this book and was encouraged the whole way. I highly recommend it to you and appreciate this read!
With that in mind, I’d also encourage you to read this faster than you normally do with Christian books. This book shouldn’t have to be studied in depth. Just scan and keep going. That’s honestly the way I was able to read this book and receive so much out of it.
Final rating: 8.7/10, five stars.
But I don’t think this book is like that at all. Each chapter was genuinely encouraging, thought-provoking, and exciting to read. Sure, I can see people having an issue with how he repeats himself often and can sometimes lack enough depth, but I don’t see it that way because this book wasn’t made to be deeply studied; this book was made to empower us to start dreaming God-sized dreams and GO!
For that reason, I cruised through this book and was encouraged the whole way. I highly recommend it to you and appreciate this read!
With that in mind, I’d also encourage you to read this faster than you normally do with Christian books. This book shouldn’t have to be studied in depth. Just scan and keep going. That’s honestly the way I was able to read this book and receive so much out of it.
Final rating: 8.7/10, five stars.
March 15, 2017
A typical "chase your dreams" type book. Nothing groundbreaking. Lots of unnecessary fluff. Lots of psychologizing the Old Testament. The book is based on 2 Samuel 23:20 in which a man named Benaiah kills a lion. The NLT version (the version the author uses) says he chased a lion into a pit, but the Hebrew version says he went down into the pit (meaning the lion was already down there) and killed it. That sounds like semantical nit-picking, but if your book is about chasing lions based on a verse about a guy chasing a lion, it would help if the verse actually said he chased the lion. A quote from page 8 which sums up the book quite accurately is: "The size of your dream may be the most accurate measure of the size of your God." That statement is true… if your dream is your god.
If you are searching for meaning in your life, read a book like Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl instead.
If you are searching for meaning in your life, read a book like Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl instead.
November 14, 2017
Didn't like it but didn't hate it. Mostly it just repeated itself over and over, and the thing the previous reviewer said about it being just a long plug for his other books is completely correct. He also brags every couple of pages about how big his own dream is and now does millions of dollars worth of work etc.
a good message about finding and chasing your God-given dream though
Just kind of makes you feel bad if your dream is something more mundane, like getting out of debt or being a good dad
a good message about finding and chasing your God-given dream though
Just kind of makes you feel bad if your dream is something more mundane, like getting out of debt or being a good dad
February 10, 2023
This is not my first Batterson book and I find that he repeats himself in his various books. I would love to read something fresh and new with new stories and connections from him. He is a great writer and his reading of his works is also entertaining and passionate.
This book was good, but sounded a lot like "In a Pit With a Lion..." or "Wild Goose Chase" or "Circle Maker." They all ran together.
This book was good, but sounded a lot like "In a Pit With a Lion..." or "Wild Goose Chase" or "Circle Maker." They all ran together.
January 6, 2018
This book is a strong 3.5 it's just that while some chapters I loved others were a bit ho hum. I thought the biblical aspects were a bit light and fluffy. More of a feel good kind of vibe than anything deep and meaty. It's a good motivational book and I got a bit out if it. I love the idea of how our dreams are interlinked and it's about leaving a legacy for future generations.
June 18, 2024
Chasing The Lion
This is a truly inspirational book by Batterson.
All of his books are inspirational, but I was particularly inspired by this book.
I always love his writing and his constant use of scripture references.
Definitely a great follow up to his first book.
Highly recommend checking this one out.
4.5/5
This is a truly inspirational book by Batterson.
All of his books are inspirational, but I was particularly inspired by this book.
I always love his writing and his constant use of scripture references.
Definitely a great follow up to his first book.
Highly recommend checking this one out.
4.5/5
February 16, 2025
Audio. The author reads this book; this is a call to action — dream big but beyond what YOU can imagine and instead letting God place a dream in you! This dream should scare you but also should be one to impact future generations! Batterson refers to his previous books — “in a pit with a lion on a snowy day” and others. Trust God and go BIG!
October 20, 2017
While I gave the first book four stars, it was not because it was a stellar book, but the lessons were really good. I could not finish this book, because I just couldn't read another sentence about a pit, a lion, and a snowy day.
January 11, 2020
Even though I put this book down for awhile when I first started it, it ended up being really great! Got some great nuggets out of it. Even though there’s lots of biblical stories, everything tied back to the overall theme. I would recommend this to any leader.
January 8, 2020
I liked the encouragement to plan your impact several generations into the future. Think beyond the immediate impact your mission will have and plan for the impact of the impact! God has no limitations so rely on Him and align you plans with His for all eternity.
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