Mark Batterson on Decoding Culture

Quotable statements from Mark Batterson during session #1 of the Buzz Conference.

• The foundation for Mark's talk comes from Numbers 13 and the story of Moses and the spies.
• We can learn something from the cold war unwritten "Moscow Rules" to help us lead in the church.
• We must know our mission. If we get this wrong, we're going to end up in the wrong place.
• You aren't a church just because the IRS gives you a tax exempt status and calls you a church.
• When you get to the irreducible minimums of ministry—it's not about videos or graphics or cool stuff. It's about making disciples.
• Good work usually means more work. Success breeds complexity.
• I have days when I want to kill people rather than love them. I have to be reminded of my purpose.
• A lot of churches are answering questions that no one is asking.
• One of our core values: Irrelevance is Irreverence.
• 60% of people get their theology through music and movies.
• When we quote the Bible, we gain credibility with Christians. When we quote non-biblical sources, we gain credibility with non-Christians. I'm not suggesting we don't use the Bible, I'm just saying that all truth is God's truth.
• Everybody can read at least 1 book a month. Just put it in your bathroom.
• Hardly any of our ideas are original. Every year I take at least 2 "recon" trips to visit other churches and get inspiration and ideas.
• I want to study less and live more, so my teaching is less theoretical and more experiential.
• I don't think the best thing for my church is for me to be a better preach…as much as it is for me to be a better dad, a better husband, a better friend.
• My greatest fear…that my kids would grow up and regret being a pastors' kid. I'm determined not to let that happen.
• Sometimes churches are the most predictable places on the planet. Change things up. Vary the pattern. Disorient people so they are paying attention.
• Some of our role as leaders is keeping things from becoming routine. Good leaders confuse people.
• No matter what you do, people will always resist you.