Bill HybelsAnmeldelser

An excellent book. If more Christians read and practiced what Hybels suggests, fewer non-Christians would dislike Christians.

3.5 stars

There are lots of stories here of actual volunteers within the author's megachurch, so readers will be inspired and encouraged to think creatively about how to get involved in their own churches and communities.

The emphasis in the book was definitely on serving in the local church, because in a megachurch, there is a huge variety of ministries reaching out to the community. In smaller churches, members very well may need to go outside the church to volunteer, and I wish this had been addressed more in the book - many pastors and church leaders don't really acknowledge any kind of service outside of the church building as counting for the Kingdom.

I really appreciated that Hybels warns against overcommitment and burnout, and counsels both members and leaders of a church about best practices for getting involved, which include jumping in and just trying out some different opportunities, but also using those experiences to learn more about yourself and how God has gifted you and given you particular passions, so that you can work toward using those things to bless others, and actually enjoy the work, and feel fulfilled by it, at the same time.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book - primarily, I think, because Hybels seems to have mixed messages in it.

The chapter about discovering others' stories was my favorite; it had some good nuggets. Hybels emphasizes in some chapters that God created us the way He did for a purpose, and encourages us to "stay true to ourselves" when we are interacting with non-believers. We're not supposed to take on the persona of a forceful evangelist/super missionary and toss aside the gifts that God has given to us. We can serve Him with the personality that He has gifted to us as individuals. I really liked this bit, as it's something I see forgotten frequently!

"God made you exactly as you are. He wired you and gave you the temptation and the experience and the background that you have because he wanted someone just like you in this world right now." p.84

However, Hybels seems to change his tune a little later in the book. Hybels claims to be "mildly extroverted", though I have a hard time buying the "mild" part. The large bulk of his stories of people being faithful to make friendships with non-believers that eventually led them to know Christ are stories about him doing the work, although he also includes a couple of stories from his church members.

He sounds very, very busy, and I don't mean that in a good way. He has regular date nights with his wife, plus weekly "seeker" dinners, plus he pastors a large church, plus he has a sailing group, plus he goes out of his way to always be with people in crowded places, plus, plus, plus. As an introvert, I became exhausted just reading about everything he does on a regular basis! And while I can appreciate that he's serving God in a way that befits his personality, I got the distinct impression that he didn't actually mean his earlier claim about serving God the way we are. There were no stories of introverts included in the book that I can remember. Not one.

At one point, he mentions a man who wrote jingles for a living and who became a Christian (who, of course, also attends his church, because why would anyone possibly want to attend any other church?); he states he encouraged this man to stop writing jingles and to do something for Christ instead. "Write songs that help people go to heaven." p.181

Hold up there, Hybels. Since when does a person have to be doing "Christian" work to serve God? He says in the beginning of his book that people assume he has constant interaction with non-believers because he's a pastor and he actually has much more contact with Christians, and is jealous of laypersons who work in a secular environment. And yet he seems to only believe that "Christian" work is the way to truly serve God. How does he know that God didn't have plans for the man at the advertising agency where he worked? Undoubtedly, there were other non-believers there that he already had relationships with and who needed to know Christ.

Also, one chapter is all about learning to tell your story in a concise, effective way to those who inquire. Hybels believes a person should focus on their before/after conversion experience. Throughout the entire book, he talks to Christians as if all Christians became believers as adults (which, not surprisingly, is when Hybels came to know Christ). Never is it even considered an option that someone might believe as a child, so I couldn't relate much at all. I became a Christian when I was 5 years old and so I, quite frankly, don't have a dramatic before and after story with which to wow everyone.

There were a few other tidbits here and there that rubbed me the wrong way (Hybels talks of threatening his babysitters, for one... why that would be necessary is completely beyond me!), but I won't list anything more as this review is already too long.

The good: I like that Hybels is encouraging Christians to get outside their Christian bubbles, the way Jesus did, and yet not compromise their own beliefs or message. It is possible to love and value people without justifying or "accepting" their sin.

"….even the most "Christlike" Christians on the planet will be totally ineffective unless they get near people who are living far from God." p.82

"[Jesus] didn't expect people who had lived their entire lives far from God to be holy when he encountered them. What was of utmost importance to Jesus was that irreligious people were willing for him to make them holy." p.88

However, as an introvert, I cannot recommend this book as it seems to disregard the fact that not everyone has the exact same personality, or has had all the exact same experiences, as Bill Hybels.

Oriented towards 4 key leadership categories: Vision & Strategy, teamwork & communication, activity & assessment, personal integrity.

How to pour your passion into service - and in doing so, changing your corner of the world!

The author challenges Christians to examine their lifestyles and honestly see if God has changed their lives. Areas addressed include: family life, work, male and female role models, physical fitness, marriage values, spiritual disciplines, etc
With study guide.

The author challenges Christians to examine their lifestyles and honestly see if God has changed their lives. Areas addressed include: family life, work, male and female role models, physical fitness, marriage values, spiritual disciplines, etc.

Pleasantville, New Y

Minn., MN

I used to have a few of Bill Hybels' sermons on cassette; I even saw him speak once at Willow Creek. Back then, I appreciated his insights, and I still do today.
The vocabulary he uses doesn't always work for me, but the content behind it is still good. I especially liked the chapter on forgiveness. If you only read one chapter in the book (I don't know why you'd do this, but you might), read this one.
The book is directed specifically at Christians who want to simplify their lives. The ten practices mentioned in the title all have a biblical origin. Some chapters resonated with me more than others, but overall it was good stuff.

Addresses areas of our life that need simplifying (calendar, finances, career, etc.) and practical ways to do that. Works for all vocations but written by a pastor so there is added benefit of a pastoral perspective.

Thoroughly helpful and inspiring book by Bill Hybels, filled with many personal examples and circumstances in which God has faithfully spoken to him and those around him. You not only see what happens when he entrusts his life wholly into God's hands, but also the disasters that occur when he doesn't.

Contains a lot of practical, helpful advice on not just how to listen and make yourself available to God's gentle whispers, but also the kinds of whispers He uses and how they can affect our lives. Recommended reading for any Christian who wants to see the power of God flow through their lives.

Slowing down and making prayer a priority – that’s something I wanted to learn more about. And as this was written by respected pastor and author Bill Hybels, I hoped it would actually give me plenty to think about. Yes! This book checked all the boxes and is a 5 star read.

As many other reviewers have mentioned, this book was easy to read and understand. And it was easy to relate to, as we are all too busy for our own good. I appreciated Hybels’ honesty, his clear writing style, and the book’s ability to make me think. I was reminded that praying is not only talking to God, but also listening to what he has to say to us. Remember the phrase “that still, small voice”?

An example that resonated with me was Hybels’ explanation of taking time to pray: “The moments with God that follow are the ones that really matter. This is where authentic Christianity comes from. Not from prayers on the run, not at Christian concerts or conferences, not when I’m flying around here and there, even if I’m engaged in ministry. No one can become an authentic Christian on a steady diet of activity. Power comes out of stillness; strength comes out of solitude. Decisions that change the entire course of your life come out of your times of stillness before God.”

Hybels presented a journaling technique as a disciplined way that works for him to communicate with God daily. The book also includes a guide for prayer, to get you started as you begin to make time for prayer on a regular basis.

This would be a great book for a small group to read together and discuss, as it contains discussion questions for each chapter. And if you read this on your own, the questions work well for reflection.

I was looking for something that would focus on an important aspect of Christian life in an informative, encouraging way – and I found it in this inspiring book.

Sooner or later almost everybody looks for God ......

The author challenges Christians to examine their lifestyles and honestly see if God has changed their lives. Areas addressed include: family life, work, male and female role models, physical fitness, marriage values, spiritual disciplines, etc

The author challenges Christians to examine their lifestyles and honestly see if God has changed their lives. Areas addressed include: family life, work, male and female role models, physical fitness, marriage values, spiritual disciplines, etc

Evangelism doesn't have to be frustrating or intimidating. Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg believe that effectively communicating our faith in Christ should be the most natural thing in the world. We just need encouragement and direction.

This is quite a book. The title and cover would suggest that this would read like a manual. But no, this book reads like a little charming novel with personable characters and a well constructed plot. The author seems to be following the teachings of Jesus in His use of parables. The main theme is servant leadership.

Excellent!! Study with Biblical discrimination.

Awesome!

Speak to God about people, then speak to people about God.

Evangelism doesn't have to be frustrating or intimidating. Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg believe that effectively communicating our faith in Christ should be the most natural thing in the world. We just need encouragement and direction. In Becoming a Contagious Christian, Hybels and Mittelberg articulate the central principles that have helped the believers at Willow Creek Community Church become a church known around the world for its outstanding outreach to unchurched people. Based on the words of Jesus and flowing from the firsthand experiences of the authors, Becoming a Contagious Christian is a groundbreaking, personalized approach to relational evangelism. You will discover your own natural evangelism style, how to develop a contagious Christian character, to build spiritually strategic relationships, to direct conversations toward matters of faith, and to share biblical truths in everyday language. This landmark book presents a blueprint for starting a spiritual epidemic of hope and enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel.

This book had a profound effect on my praying because it strongly encouraged me to write my prayers, a practice I had dabbled with a little bit, but this set me on it for good.

Just about finished this book on marriage.

Been quite a good read so far, hope I retain some of it.

Might have to review it again and take notes.

I am not a mega-church guy. The churches I have been a part of have been small; however I am not a mega-hater either. I recognize big churches often have resources that smaller churches do not and are doing Kingdom work. I recognize my life’s call is different but I appreciate several mega-church pastors. One such pastor I respect is Bill Hybels, founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. He is a clear and effective communicator, a follower of Jesus and a pastor with nearly forty years of experience. I admit that I have a bias for smaller more organic models of church, but you have to respect that kind of faithful longevity in ministry!

Hybel’s new book Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul shares practical insights for having a lifestyle of freedom in Christ. These are insights that Hybel’s has learned personally and through his experience as a pastor: They include:

Replenishing your energy reserves.
Organizing your schedule to reflect who you want to become instead of what you need to get done.
Managing your finances
Refining your working world (doing what you were made to do!).
Making room for forgiveness.
Conquering your fears.
Deepening your friendships and relational circles.
Claiming God’s call on your life by finding a life verse to give you focus.
Welcoming new seasons into your life.
Leaving a godly legacy.
Many of the practices that Hybels suggests correspond to advice you would find in self-help books; yet this is not just a self-help book with a Christian veneer. Hybels wants people to experience all that God has for them in Christ. So when Hybels talks about organizing your life, he isn’t just talking about time management that will make you healthier, happier and more productive. He is hoping to help you become what you were meant to be a Christ follower (35). And when he shares about choosing a life verse he isn’t just giving us the Christian version of a personal vision statement. A life verse is a passage of scripture chosen to reflect God’s purpose for your life so that you can focus on what matters most. In each of these cases what Hybels is pressing us to pursue is something far deeper and richer than its secular equivalent.

Along the way Hybels dispenses lot of helpful tidbits. Regarding forgiveness, he gives detailed pastoral advice on how to let go of the small stuff (level one offenses), and work towards reconciliation and healing when there has been a real wrong done (level two offenses) or when there is profound damage done (level three offenses). He doesn’t offer easy answers (simple doesn’t always mean easy) but gives guidance which helps us to pursue wholeness and healing. Hybels helps us attend to the health of our relationships and deeping our connection with other believers. I personally found his discussion of organization and finances to be insightful because he takes the two most coveted commodities in our culture (time and money) and illustrates how managing these well helps you experience the deep joy and serve God better.

Anyone could read this book profitably but Christians will find it particularly useful. I underlined and dog marked several pages which I plan to return to personally, and also because I think that Hybels illustrates well about how to talk about issues with others. Hybels is gracious in what he says and how he says it and I think I can learn from that. I give this book four stars.

Notice of material connection: I received this book from Tyndale so that I could share with you my honest review.