Play the Man

Becoming the Man God Created You to Be

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"In Play the Man, Mark is speaking to me right where I live at this very moment. Even more important, he's speaking to all men faced with the awesome responsibility of raising up the next generation. His ideas, advice, and encouragement are priceless."--Ernie Johnson Jr., TNT sportscaster and author of Unscripted 

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Play the man. Make the man.

Somewhere along the way, our culture lost its definition of manhood, leaving generations of men and men-to-be confused about their roles, responsibilities, relationships, and the reason God made them men. It's in this "no-man's-land" that New York Times bestselling author Mark Batterson declares his mantra for manhood: play the man.

In this inspiring call to something greater, he helps men understand what it means to be a man of God by unveiling seven virtues of manhood. Mark shares inspiring stories of manhood, including the true story of the hero and martyr Polycarp, who first heard the voice from heaven say, "Play the man." Mark couples those stories with practical ideas about how to disciple the next generation of men who will put God first, family second, and career third.

This is more than a book; it's a movement of men who will settle for nothing less than fulfilling their highest calling to be the man and the father God has destined them to be.


"Mark is an excellent expositor of God's Word, but in Play the Man he is showing us how to live it out. This book will take you out of your comfort zone to reach your God-given calling."--Carey Casey, National Center for Fathering

"Read this book and learn what it takes to be the man God created you to be. Here's the good news. You'll find out you already have what it takes. Let's go!"--Shaun Alexander, award-winning author of Touchdown Alexander and The Walk, 2005 NFL MVP, and host of the radio/podcast show Finish the Game 

"Mark is one of my favorite writers, and he hits a grand slam with Play the Man."--Steve Foster, Colorado Rockies pitching coach


Mark Batterson is the New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, The Grave Robber, A Trip around the Sun, and If. He is the lead pastor of National Community Church, one church with eight campuses in Washington, DC. Mark has a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children. Learn more at www.markbatterson.com.

Endorsements

"This is a timely message for our culture, and I cannot think of a better person to deliver it. Mark is an excellent expositor of God's Word, but in Play the Man he is showing us how to live it out. Challenging men to reject the status quo, Mark helps them refocus, rally, and do the work of revitalizing their homes, churches, and culture in general. This book will take you out of your comfort zone to reach your God-given calling. I am so proud that Mark took on this important and needed project."

Carey Casey, National Center for Fathering

"You won't accomplish anything if don't play the game. You can't be MVP unless you finish the game. All this starts with a clear decision to 'play the man.' This book is full of personal, biblical, and historical stories that encourage, challenge, and teach you how to go from boy to man. How to go from being trained to training others or from a son to a father or, as I put it, a young warrior to a hero. Read this book and learn what it takes to be the man God created you to be. Here's the good news. You'll find out you already have what it takes. Let's go!"

Shaun Alexander, award-winning author of Touchdown Alexander and The Walk, 2005 NFL MVP, and host of the radio/podcast show Finish the Game 

"If there's one thing I've learned from reading Mark Batterson's work throughout the years, it's that he has the amazing ability to make the written word feel like a face-to-face conversation. In Play the Man, Mark is speaking to me right where I live at this very moment. Even more important, he's speaking to all men faced with the awesome responsibility of raising up the next generation. His ideas, advice, and encouragement are priceless."

Ernie Johnson Jr., TNT sportscaster and author of Unscripted 

"My baseball off-season consists of rest, reading, and replenishing the reserve tank. A 162-game schedule on top of a two-month spring training is taxing on any man. I look to equip my heart and mind with encouraging words. I can imagine no better companion during this time than Mark Batterson. Mark is one of my favorite writers, and he hits a grand slam with Play the Man."

Steve Foster, Colorado Rockies pitching coach

The Author

  1. Mark Batterson

    Mark Batterson

    Mark Batterson is the New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, The Grave Robber, A Trip around the Sun, and If. He is the lead pastor of National Community Church, one church with eight campuses in...

    Continue reading about Mark Batterson

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