Rediscovering Church

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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.

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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!

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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: 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: 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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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: 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.