Rating: 
Summary: The Purpose Driven Church is more helpful
Review: This book was interesting to read if you are curious about the history of Willow Creek. But alot of this church's story isn't applicable to the average church. If you want practical help and inspiring encouragement get The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren. I found it very transferable and useful in developing a philosophy of ministry. Willow Creek is certainly impressive but Warren's book has the practical wisdom.
Rating: 
Summary: A book that clearly delineates how to reach people.
Review: This is one church health book that really resonated to the deepest part of my soul. Bill's experience in the 70's were not much different than what I wanted to see happen in youth's lives. That kind of zeal and availability can recharge any church that is willing to see change come to their tired flock, and give its visionary leaders the needed shot of adrenaline they seriously need. As Lynne give most of the historical account in the first part of the book, Bill extracts principles in the second part. His keen awareness of his need to remain in a heart-to-heart communication to Christ is a fresh breath of air to listening pastors. His insight into how a church can function is not rocket science material. It simply makes good theological sense.
Rating:
Summary: The story of WIllow Creek- warts & all-Lynne can write, too!
Review: This is the exhilirating, confusing, honest, hindsight-influenced story of one of the largest churches in America. It is also not a "how to" book, but a "how we did it- don't copy us" book. The Hybels, like Rick Warren, open up and show their warts (maybe a little more so than Warren), but also share the excitement, tragedy and wonder of God's work in suburban Chicago. A must for anyone wanting to grow a church- new, old or ancient!
Rating: 
Summary: Honest Informative Confession of their Congregation
Review: This work is good reading for all interested in current American Christian church scene, for Willow Creek is major player.Segmented into two sections, first written by wife who chronicles the history and development of Willow Creek followed by Bill's second part which describes his philosophy, theology and leadership principles. This is honest, humbly written, with passion for reaching the lost. Would it be that equally balancing this was a passion for the unabated, unaided truth of God's Word. Hybels even admits about a period of WC: "In spite of the fact that every message I gave was absolutely biblical, certain themes were stressed to the near exclusion of others. In that era, I inadvertently emphasized grace but not holiness, and as a result, we adopted a kind of careless Christianity." He admits putting all of his theological eggs into the basket of relational evangelism. While there is nothing wrong with relational evangelism, it is not the primary egg. The power of God to save anyone is the faithful, pure preaching of the gospel, Christ crucified (Romans 1:16-17). Hybels even said during ABC News Special that he doesn't feel Christianity can be refined down to just one symbol: the cross. Here is where many in the church, including this reviewer, see Hybels and his followers for going off the track. Those who he wishes to engage with the living God will not tolerate the scandal of particularity of the crucified, so he seeks to attract and retain them by other means till they might be drawn into faith. Classic bait and switch. Switching not working, as Barna and others have documented. This and other Church Growth techniques have not built up Christ's church, only took away sheep and moved them. Further, frustrated members of other sheep pens who compare their numbers with WC and demand similar results. The ignoring of Biblical apostasy is striking! Cultural relevance to the exclusion of Biblical faithfulness smacks of 2 Timothy 4 predicitions. You decide-- is WC God pleasing or not? See Galatians 1:6-12.
Rating:
Summary: Let's Get Back to the Biblical Model
Review: Though I don't doubt Hybel's sincerity and zeal, I must express my disagreement with his model. A more faithful approach is to get back to the simplicity of the early NT assemblies.
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