Primal

Make this the first book you read in 2010.

Title: PRIMAL: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity
Author: Mark Batterson
Publisher: Multnomah
November 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60142-131-9
Genre: Inspirational/nonfiction/Christian living

Our generation needs a reformation, but a single person won’t lead it. A single event won’t define it. Our reformation will be a movement of reformers living compassionately, creatively, courageously for the cause of Christ. This reformation will not be born of a new discovery. It will be the rediscovery of something old, something ancient. Something PRIMAL. (from the back cover.)

Have you ever considered what your faith would look like if it were stripped down to the simplest, rawest, purest faith possible? PRIMAL wants to take you to that time. A time when you will stop uncomplicating Christianity, and let Jesus simplify it. So that we will be able to unconditionally love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But if we are to live out the essence of Christianity, we must commit to being great at the Great Commandment.

In PRIMAL, the author explores the four basic elements of the Great Commandment in Christianity: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and power. And he invites you to be a part of God’s commandment, starting in your own life.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had no place to turn, but to God. I told Him my life was in His hands, even as I begged him to intervene, for the sake of my husband and children. And God met me. He carried me every step of the way through the cancer experience, surgery, recovery, chemo and radiation, impressing even my doctors with my amazing tolerance of the treatment (it was all God.) And I immerged a different person. I will never be the same again, and I don’t ever want to lose the relationship with the Lord that I have right now.

In PRIMAL, Mark Batterson wants all the readers to come to that point. A point where your heart will break for the things that hurt God. A place where you met God and God met you. A place where God will birth something supernatural in your spirit.

Grow great at the Great Commandment.

PRIMAL. $17.99 hardcover. 171 pages.


Be Astonished Again

We have a tendency to complicate Christianity. Jesus simplified it: Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we are to live out the essence of Christianity, we must commit to being great at this Great Commandment.

In Primal, Mark Batterson explores the four elements of Great Commandment Christianity: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and power. Along the way, he calls you to be a part of God’s reformation, starting in your own life.

As Mark writes, “Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you? A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God? Maybe it was a sermon that became more than a sermon. Maybe it was a mission trip or retreat. Maybe it was a vow you made at an altar. In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit. You knew you’d never be the same again. My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush—and reignite a primal faith.”

Primal will help you live in light of what matters most and discover what it means to love God. It will help you become great at the Great Commandment.


Author Bio:

The author of Wild Goose Chase and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington , D.C. One church with nine services in five locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the D.C. area. Mark has two Masters degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago . He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children. www.markbatterson.com