Series Guide
Overview
This three-week series was created in partnership with Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church and author of Gradually Then Suddenly: How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy (Multnomah, 2025).
This series unpacks the truth that what often feels like an “overnight success” is really the result of small, faithful steps of obedience over time. Drawing from Scripture, history, and leadership insights, it will help your congregation embrace long-term faithfulness, leverage daily decisions that compound into lasting impact, and trust God’s timing. For anyone stuck in the “gradually” phase, this series is a beacon of hope—reminding us that God is preparing us for His “suddenly.”
**Series artwork is limited to use with the sermon series Gradually Then Suddenly and may not be edited without the expressed written permission of Mark Batterson and National Community Church. For more information about Pastor Mark and the book, visit www.markbatterson.com/books/gradually-then-suddenly
Weekly Previews
Week 1 - Gradually, Then Suddenly
God’s miracles often look instantaneous, but they are built on generations of faithfulness and small acts of obedience.
Week 2 - Constant Use
Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built through constant use. Transformation occurs one decision, one discipline, one act of obedience at a time.
Week 3 - Grand Gestures
God often invites us into defining moments—grand gestures—where faith moves from intention to action. Big miracles are born out of bold, obedient steps that say to God, “I’m all in.”