The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

Week 3: Chapter 2 — The Miracle on Capitol Hill

Read Chapter 2 of The Circle Maker. Primary Scripture: Luke 18:1–8 (the persistent widow).

Batterson moves from ancient legend to personal testimony — consider the moments in your own story where God has honored persistent, specific prayer.

Discussion Questions

7 questions

1.Batterson shares the story of how National Community Church (NCC) came to own property on Capitol Hill — a process that involved years of prayer, setbacks, and what seemed like closed doors. What strikes you most about the way that story unfolded?

2.The author describes "praying through" a situation — continuing to pray after the initial enthusiasm has faded. What is the difference between "praying through" and simply being stubborn or resistant to God's 'no'?

3.Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18) immediately after teaching about prayer. Why do you think persistence is so central to Jesus' own vision of prayer — not just Batterson's?

4.Batterson describes how the NCC property story involved many human obstacles — bureaucracy, finances, opposition. He frames these as part of God's process, not evidence of God's absence. How does that reframe the obstacles you are currently facing?

5.The chapter challenges the reader to pray for God-sized goals that require God-sized answers — things that cannot be explained away by hard work or good fortune alone. What are the risks of praying that boldly, and are they worth it?

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Closing Prayer

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Lord, we thank you for the way you work through years and not just moments. Forgive us for giving up too soon, for interpreting your silence as your absence, for settling for what we can arrange on our own instead of waiting for what only you can do. Teach us to be like the widow who would not quit — not because she was demanding, but because she believed the judge would act. We believe you will act. Give us grace to keep praying. Amen.

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