Rating: 
Summary: The Vision, Heart, Passion, and Philosophy of Willow Creek
Review: "Rediscovering Church" is an insider's look at the American church phenomenon called Willow Creek. The 213-pages are divided into two sections. Part one is the story of Willow told from the candid viewpoint of Lynne Hybels. It depicts a journey from the Son City pre-Willow days continuing through the super-church mid-1990's and the movement known as the Willow Creek Association. It tells the story of people fervently pursuing what they see as God's dream for the church. The second half of the book, written by Senior Pastor Bill Hybels, uncovers the mission, philosophy and techniques employed by the church. I absolutely loved this book! If you love the church and you don't allow your prejudice or preference to throw you off, I think you will as well. You may not agree with Willow's methods, but you have to appreciate it's vision, heart, and passion.
Rating:
Summary: This is Church
Review: I have been a student of the church for the past eight years, and a few years ago I started reading Acts looking for principles to guide the church into the 21st Century. Then I read 'Rediscovering Church,' and I was amazed by the parallels. Much attention has been given to the "Seeker Philosophy" of Willow Creek, yet this book points to the heart of their growth!
Rating: 
Summary: Moto Subtheme
Review: I have read the reviews, and understand that some people do not agree with the book's principles. That leaves plenty of room for those who do. I have been a part of large, dry churches that people seemed to flock to, only to find out that few people indeed were flocking. Why? The preaching wasn't connecting with "Unchurched Harry and Mary". If you want to see how a church impacts the local population, and beyond, read this book at least twice.
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Summary: A New Church Model? No...
Review: I have read the reviews, and understand that some people do not agree with the book's principles. That leaves plenty of room for those who do. I have been a part of large, dry churches that people seemed to flock to, only to find out that few people indeed were flocking. Why? The preaching wasn't connecting with "Unchurched Harry and Mary". If you want to see how a church impacts the local population, and beyond, read this book at least twice.
Rating: 
Summary: Whats The Authority Here?
Review: I must say Bill here is a whole lot more polished than Rick. There are some Wonderfully insightful tools in this book. Unfortunately, the Authority here is not Scripture. Ministry Experience is the Authority. Calling this "new wave" the work of the Holy Spirit is Diceptive. You Cannot seperate the Holy Spirit from the Scriptures. They do not work seperately or contradict each other. But, you don't have to take my word for it. Just be a Berean.
Rating:
Summary: You gotta read it
Review: In a series of vignettes worth the price of the whole book, Bill & Lynne Hybels describe the activities that make up 'church' - a series of people caring for each other, reaching out to hurt, lonely and lost people, showing grace and love.
To read this book is to see the work of a Mighty God - a God who provides us with a vision that cannot be accomplished in our own power. It's only through the resources and power of God that something like Willow Creek can be created. Over and over again, you see the picture of the Hybels' trying to hang on, making decisions based on their understanding of what God is leading them to do, decisions that are echoing throughout the modern Church.
Were they all the "right" decision? Clearly not. Does everything Willow Creek stand for and propogate dovetail with my (and your) theology? Probably not. Is God at work in South Barrington?
Read the book. Steven Smith
Rating:
Summary: You gotta read it
Review: In a series of vignettes worth the price of the whole book, Bill & Lynne Hybels describe the activities that make up 'church' - a series of people caring for each other, reaching out to hurt, lonely and lost people, showing grace and love.
To read this book is to see the work of a Mighty God - a God who provides us with a vision that cannot be accomplished in our own power. It's only through the resources and power of God that something like Willow Creek can be created. Over and over again, you see the picture of the Hybels' trying to hang on, making decisions based on their understanding of what God is leading them to do, decisions that are echoing throughout the modern Church.
Were they all the "right" decision? Clearly not. Does everything Willow Creek stand for and propogate dovetail with my (and your) theology? Probably not. Is God at work in South Barrington?
Read the book.
Steven Smith
Rating: 
Summary: Pragmatism vs. the Scriptures
Review: It's sad to see how Christians are so caught up with man-made methodologies and a desire for "results" instead of a desire to be faithful to the Bible. I suggest the following books as healthy correctives: G.A. Pritchard, Willow Creek Seeker Services [Baker Books: 1996] Os Guinness, Dining With the Devil: The Megachurch Movement Flirts With Modernity [Baker Books: 1993] John Armstrong, ed., The Coming Evangelical Crisis: Current Challenges to the Authority of Scripture and the Gospel [Moody Press: 1997] John Armstrong, ed., The Compromised Church: The Present Evangelical Crisis [Crossway Books: 1998] James Boice & Benjamin Sasse, eds., Here We Stand!: A Call from Confessing Evangelicals [Baker Books: 1996] Os Guiness, ed., No God But God: Breaking With the Idols of Our Age [Moody Press: 1992] David F. Wells, No Place For Truth: Or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology? [Eerdmans: 1993] David F. Wells, God in The Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams [Eerdmans: 1994]
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Summary: What a vision to have of what the church should be!
Review: Lynne and Bill describe their vision and calling to build
a new type of church . One that centres on leading unchurched to the church and to Christ. I believe that
even small church's such as my own can benefit greatly from
their insight on how to relate to today's people.
Their hurts and struggles are also presented candidly for
our protection
Rating:
Summary: Moto Subtheme
Review: One of his correspnding strengths, which can be seen in this book (co-authored by his wife, which apparently keeps him down to Earth), is to reveal an occasional weakness,or failure. The failure he reveals in this book relates to his experience with motocross, which he used to do on the Willow Creek church property in Barrington, Illinois. He says in one part of the book that he once came down off a jump and had to be hospitalized due to bruising some internal organs. We don't know if the bike was a real motocrosser, or what kind of equipment he may have been wearing. But it's a refreshing story which contrasts with the gleaming, hyper-expensive sport of Great Lakes sailboat racing with his irascible crew who must obey a code of silence during competition. The book also chronicles the building of Willow Creek church. But since Willow Creek can be interpreted as an extension of a successful youth group, pay attention to the young guy crashing his dirt bike coming off a jump. There could be a little of us all in that.
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