Small Starts Grew a Lasting Church

Pastor and bestselling author Mark Batterson joins Bob to unpack one of the most misunderstood principles of growth: the way breakthroughs actually happen—gradually, then suddenly.

From Warren Buffett's compounding to Jim Carrey's famed $10M check, to the long arc of ministry, writing, generosity, and family life, this conversation is a hopeful reset for anyone who feels "behind."

In This Episode

• Why most "overnight success" stories take decades
• What 95-year-olds say they would do differently (and how it should change our lives today)
• The "25-year time machine" mindset that makes ordinary moments priceless
• Why young adults often underestimate what God can do in 10–20 years
• How Mark pastors a church with seven properties and zero debt — and the long-term mindset behind it
• Turning your church "inside out": how NCC generates $2M/year through marketplace engagement
• The hidden power of giving goals (and the difference between getting vs. giving goals)
• The surprising truth about Buffett's wealth: it's not returns… it's time
• Mark's take on grand gestures, faith steps, and why God honors long obedience
• Bob's story of writing a 5-year giving goal that seemed impossible—and what God did
• What to do when your dream is taking way longer than you thought

Key Quotes

• "You'll overestimate what you can do in two years and underestimate what God can do in ten." —Mark Batterson
• "Faith is taking the first step before God reveals the second." —Mark Batterson
• "The greatest risk is taking no risks." —Mark Batterson
• "We decided to do a ten-year book launch. Let's give it a decade and see if it's any good." —Bob Lotich

Timestamps

00:00 — Why get-rich-quick thinking never works

01:00 — Introducing Mark Batterson & the story behind Gradually, Then Suddenly

02:00 — What 95-year-olds regret most

04:00 — The "25-year time machine" for parenting and life

05:00 — Why we plan vacations better than our futures

07:00 — The power of long-range thinking (and why it's so rare)

08:00 — Why most people quit right before the breakthrough

10:00 — Bob's 10-year book launch strategy

12:00 — Early results vs. long obedience

14:00 — The myth of the fast start: Circle Maker sales + slow beginnings

16:00 — Teaching a generation to love "gradually"

19:00 — Mark's 29-year pastoral journey and miraculous property story

21:00 — Why NCC's venue generates $2M/year

24:00 — What church leaders can learn from marketplace strategy

28:00 — Jim Carrey's $10M check and the power of a grand gesture

29:00 — Bob's five-year giving goal that changed everything

32:00 — How giving goals open doors for God to move

34:00 — What to do with dreams that are taking too long

35:00 — Closing encouragement + where to get the book

Resources & Links

• Mark Batterson's new book: Gradually, Then Suddenly
• The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
• Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
• Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday

If You Enjoyed This Episode

Please leave a rating & review — it helps more people discover the show and live with biblical wisdom about money, purpose, and calling.

BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime).

If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books."

You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.