Best Selling Books by Bill Hybels

Discover an identity that fits you for kingdom service.As a Christian, you have received more than God''s forgiveness. You also have a brand new identity! You are a new creation in Christ, with fresh and exciting privileges and responsibilities. And God wants you to walk confidently in this identity, serving Him with joy and energy in your various roles as• A son or daughter of God• A saint of God• A soldier of God• An ambassador of God• A friend of God• A manager of God''s resourcesNew Identity gives you a close-up view of these different roles and equips you with the sound biblical insights you need to fulfill them. You''ll discover new ways to make your citizenship in God''s kingdom a daily reality right where you live. Interactions—a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It''s a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

Rediscovering Church is the candid story of Willow Creek Community Church''s phenomenal growth, from 100 members meeting in a Palatine, Illinois, movie theater to its present Sunday morning attendance of 15,000. Bill Hybels and his wife, Lynne, tell about Willow Creek''s beginnings, its struggles, the philosophy behind its success, and the strategies that have made it a model for church growth. The first half of the book, written by Lynne Hybels, explores the early years of Willow Creek and the personal accounts behind one of this century''s most remarkable church stories. It offers an honest look at the ways God has used both the strengths and weaknesses of His people, creating a church of believers who have had tremendous impact for Christ in their community. In the second half of Rediscovering Church, Bill Hybels helps you apply the strengths of Willow Creek''s ministry philosophy to your own congregation''s mission. From mission statements to developing leadership, making sound financial decisions, and handling growth, Bill stresses that God wants to build His church to be an effective and committed community of faith that reaches out to a hurting world, to be the body of Christ in real and tangible ways. Rediscovering Church draws on the experiences of Willow Creek to show how one fellowship crystallized its mission and methodology, its vision and values. The Willow Creek story provides an example that churches and individuals alike can turn to for inspiration, encouragement, and a means of uncovering the pattern for their own unique mission and ministry.

The founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church shares the passionate cry of his heart: the local church is the hope of the world and its future rests in the hands of its leaders.

This analysis of the inconsistencies in the lifestyle of today''s Christians is accompanied by specific examples and discussion of how Christians can restore authentic Christianity in their personal lives and thus nurture a troubled world.

Shows readers how they can find and feed their personal areas of holy discontent, fight for it when things get risky, and follow it when it takes a mid-course turn.

What if you knew that by simply crossing the room and saying hello to someone, you could change that person’s forever? Just a few steps to make an eternal difference. It has nothing to do with methods and everything to do with taking a genuine interest in another human being. All you need is a heart that’s in tune with the Holy Spirit and a willingness to venture out of your “Circle of Comfort” and into another person’s life. Just Walk Across the Room brings personal evangelism into the twenty-first century. Building on the solid foundation laid in Becoming a Contagious Christian, Bill Hybels shows how you can participate in the model first set by Jesus, who stepped down from heaven 2,000 years ago to bring hope and redemption to broken people living in a fallen world. Now it’s your turn. Your journey may not be as dramatic, but it can have a life-changing impact for someone standing a few steps away from you—and for you as well, as you learn the power of extending care, compassion, and inclusiveness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The highest value in personal evangelism is cooperating with the Spirit, says Hybels. This means playing only the role you’re meant to play—walking when the Spirit says to walk, talking when he says to talk, and falling silent when he suggests that you’ve said enough. Hybels encourages you to “live in 3D” … —Developing friendships —Discovering stories —Discerning appropriate next steps … as a means of learning to understand the Holy Spirit’s promptings. With fresh perspectives from his own reflections and experiences collected during his most recent decade of ministry, Bill Hybels shows with convincing and inspiring clarity the power of this personal, richly relational approach to evangelism. The stakes are high. The implications are eternal. And you may be only a conversation away from having an eternal impact on someone’s life—if you will just walk across the room.

In a society where "upward mobility" is the highest goal, Bill Hybels asks a tough question: Do Christians place God''s desires first-or their own? In Descending into Greatness, Hybels and writer Rob Wilkins take the example of Christ''s downward journey as it was meant to be; the radical and essential answer for every Christian. In fourteen powerful chapters, the authors explore such topics as How Jesus managed power. The intentional decisions necessary to move down. The uplifting nature of true humility. Abundant life through dying to self. The ambush of joy. Moving down is never an easy matter that can be reduced to a formula. It involves a life committed to discipleship. Descending into Greatness introduces you to the touching stories of modern men and women committed to advancing the kingdom of God: from the pro football player, to the medical missionary, to a businessman wrestling with the priorities in the world of finance. Descending into Greatness asks tough questions and gives hopeful answers. Now, this powerful, urgent message also includes a discussion guide so that you can follow through, too. "Like Christ, we must descend-into self-abandonment, unconditional giving, sacrifice, and death to self. And, like Christ, we will then ascend-into fulfillment, blessing, joy, and purpose."

Bill Hybels outlines the dynamics of listening for God''s voice and obeying His leading.

Bill Hybels points us to the wisdom of the book of Proverbs. This practical guidebook is ideal for anyone who wants to live the Christian life with wisdom and wholeness.

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.

The best leaders not only lead well but also reflect on their leadership long enough and thoughtfully enough to articulate the philosophies that cause them to do so. Whether serving in the marketplace or in ministry, as executives or rank-and-file employees, as salaried staff or volunteer servants, good leaders can pinpoint the rationale for their actions and decisions with the ease of reciting their home address. In Axiom: author Bill Hybels divulges the God-given convictions that have dictated his leadership strategy for more than three decades as senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. Oriented toward four key leadership categories ... 1. Vision and strategy (''Promote Shameless Profitability, '' ''Take a Flyer'') 2. Teamwork and communication (''Obi-Wan Kenobi Isn''t for Hire, '' ''Disagree without Drawing Blood'') 3. Activity and assessment (''Develop a Mole System, '' ''Sweat the Small Stuff'') 4. Personal integrity (''Admit Mistakes, and Your Stock Goes Up, '' ''Fight for Your Family'') ...Axiom brokers accessible wisdom from one leader''s journey, as well as emboldens you to nail down the reasons why you lead like you lead.

Bill Hybels offers inspiration for developing a consistently Christian character.

Pastor Bill Hybels’s firm conviction is that the highest value in personal evangelism is being attuned to and cooperative with the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This means playing only the role you are intended to play—walking when the Spirit says to walk, talking when the Spirit says to talk, and falling silent when the Spirit suggests that you’ve already said enough. More than two thousand years ago, Jesus himself introduced the perfect model for evangelism. He left the marvelous adoration of the angels and the perfection of heaven, and he chose to “walk” clear across the cosmos. He had no memorized script, no forced formulas. Instead, he was armed only with an offer of redemption to people just like you and me, many of whom were neck-deep in pain of their own making. Today, the goal for every Christian is to reflect Christ’s love and follow his example by taking simple walks across rooms—leaving our circles of comfort and extending hands of care, compassion, and inclusiveness to people living far from God. Designed for use with the video.

Network is a six-session dynamic program to help Christians understand who God has uniquely made them to be and mobilize them to a place of meaningful service in the local church. Each participant in Network will work through a series of assessments to discover their unique blend of spiritual gifts, personal style, and ministry passion.

What does it mean to be truly committed to Christ?Jesus’ answer to that question forms perhaps the greatest sermon ever delivered. In Commitment, you’ll revisit the Sermon on the Mount to discover practical ways for assessing your present level of commitment and setting goals for its growth.You’ll find out what the Master expects from those who follow Him and what rewards await them. You’ll also learn how to sidestep common barriers to commitment and draw closer to Christ than you’ve ever thought possible. As you explore the themes of Jesus’ famous sermon and apply them to your own relationship with God, you’ll discover the confidence that comes from being fully committed to Christ.Interactions—a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It''s a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

In this greatest of all sermons, Jesus inspires, encourages, and challenges his followers to love God and love others in fresh and practical ways.

“Without a hint of exaggeration,” says Bill Hybels, “the ability to discern divine direction has saved me from a life of sure boredom and self-destruction. God’s well-timed words have redirected my path, rescued me from temptation and re-energized me during some of my deepest moments of despair.” In The Power of a Whisper, vision is cast for what life can look like when God’s followers choose to hear from heaven as they navigate life on earth. Whispers that arbitrate key decisions, nudges that rescue from dark nights of the soul, promptings that spur on growth, urgings that come by way of another person, inspiration that opens once-glazed-over eyes to the terrible plight people face in this world—through firsthand accounts spanning fifty-seven years of life, more than thirty of which have been spent in the trenches of ministry, Hybels promotes passion in Christ-followers'' hearts for being wide open to hearing from God, and for getting gutsier about doing exactly what he says to do. For more information go to: www.thewhisperwall.com.

Experience the Transforming Presence of God What if you could look over the shoulders of great saints from the past and learn from their example? Suppose you found a diary that contained the prayers, confessions, and dreams of some of history’s most godly people. What might you learn? How might God teach you? The book of Psalms captures lessons that span the scope of human experience. How do I deal with guilt? Can I overcome fear? What will help me grow to trust God in uncertain times? Where can I find true blessedness? What leads to peace in relationships? These are just some of the life-changing lessons God wants to unfold in your heart as you dig into the teachings of the Psalms.

Guide to making prayer a part of everyday life and finding time to pray in a busy schedule.

Life as a follower of Christ is not a fifty-yard dash. It''s a marathon. God offers strength for the race, cold water to quench our thirst, and fresh legs when we grow weary. We never run alone. He is always right beside us cheering us on or ahead of us leading the way. Do you need energy and refreshment for the race of life? In Philippians, you will find all you need to run with strength and confidence. If you desire joy beyond measure, perseverance, a servant''s heart, hope for the future, a peace beyond understanding, and lasting contentment, look no further than Philippians. New Community Series -- a high-impact tool for experiencing the transforming power of God''s Word. This cutting-edge series lets you explore life-changing topics from a biblical perspective in community with others in your small group. Challenging questions encourage you to reflect on Scripture and its impact on your life, both as an individual and as part of a community of Christ followers.

God instituted festivals and feasts. Jesus went to weddings and parties. Christians were made to be people who celebrate, and the focal point of praise should always be God. He is generous, and He is righteous, and believers'' natural responses should be celebration.

When Jesus was walking the earth, everyone had a theory about who he was—healer, revolutionary, king, friend, humble carpenter. But out of the vast complexity of characteristics and ideas there emerges one simple word that no one can deny: “Rabbi.” These 36 Bible studies capture the heart of Jesus the Rabbi. He was a revolutionary, miracle-working, loving, powerful, divine teacher. For those whose minds are ready to be expanded, whose hearts are hungering to be touched, and whose lives are ripe for growth, John Ortberg and Bill Hybels invites people of all ages and backgrounds to pull up a chair and dig into the life lessons of Jesus captured in the Bible throughout the Gospels. Designed for use as personal Bible study or group study, the interactive format will help readers grow in their ability to reflect the character of Jesus. Studies include: Twelve Studies on the Sermon on the Mount by Bill Hybels Six Studies on The Lord’s Prayer by John Ortberg Six Studies on the Parables by John Ortberg Six Studies on The Passion Story by Bill Hybels Six Studies on Luke by Bill Hybels

The floodwaters of life are rising; the current races faster. You feel yourself slipping. You need a secure foothold . . . and you need it now! We have all experienced the heart-pounding feeling of losing our stability in the storms of life. We want to stand strong as followers of Christ, but the world presses against us with staggering force. Where can we find an unshakable foundation for life? In the book of 1 Peter, you and your small group will find a rock-solid basis for living in a precarious and uncertain world. God offers you hope, love, purpose, service, submission, and victory. You can stand strong against the flood as you anchor yourself to the bedrock of Jesus Christ.

Be set free to pursue God’s purpose for your life.God wants to set you free. No more bondage. No more fear. No more living as a slave to sin. Sound like a dream? God is in the business of making these kinds of dreams a reality. He is committed to giving you a life of incredible significance, and he has already done all that is necessary to break the chains that keep you from it.In Significance, you will discover a strategy for becoming all God wants you to be. God has a plan for you to walk in tremendous purpose, and he has provided the power needed to put this plan into action. But first, the chains that hold you back must be destroyed. This series of studies maps out God’s road to freedom and significance. Every journey begins with one step. Are you ready to take it?Interactions—a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It''s a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

What kind of love makes a difference?A bold yet compassionate love is a trademark of Jesus Christ. Love without limits. A world-changing love. Can such love be reproduced in the lives of sinful men and women like us? Is it possible to follow Jesus'' model of giving and receiving love? In Lessons on Love, you''ll find out how. You''ll learn about the various kinds of love, beginning with forms of love you''ll recognize—and ending with a supernatural love so awesome it can utterly transform lives. Christ''s love. The world around you will take note when you unleash the power of Christ''s love—and it will never be the same.Interactions—a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It''s a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

God wants you to be a world changer. Your acts of service, words of truth, love for God, and care for people can have a transformational impact. In a dark world, the light of heaven can shine through you. It''s time to influence the world with the love of Jesus. It''s time to maximize our impact for God!

Those who follow in the steps of Jesus hear the invitation to excellent living. When believers seek to give God their best, they discover that the power of Jesus helps them live excellent lives on every level: spiritually, morally, relationally, financially, directionally, and eternally.

Bestselling author and pastor Bill Hybels helps equip leaders with five key skills that everyone needs in order to grow their leadership ability. Each of the video sessions will feature Hybels sharing the wisdom and experience that he has learned in nearly 40 years of leadership at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. In this five-session teaching video (DVD/digital video sold separately), Hybels will help leaders discover what kind of leader they are, how to gain self-awareness and relational awareness, how to build an effective team, how to form and declare a vision, and discovering each leader''s holy discontent. Sessions include: The Power of Vision The Toughest Person You Lead Mastering 360-Degree Leadership Building a Fantastic Culture Pursue Your Unique Calling Designed for use with the Leading from Here to There Video Study 9780310884606 (sold separately).

Hybels makes a clarion call to move beyond volunteer retention to volunteer acquisition. By attracting, connecting, training, and sustaining volunteers, churches will mobilize people into places of service that will bring new meaning to their lives as it advances God''s cause upon planet Earth.

Offers the counsel of biblical advice and principles to the triumphs and problems of marriage.

With this volume of the Interactions Small Group Series you will move toward wise choices and disciplined action in five vital areas of your life: your time, your health, your finances, your spiritual life, and your relationships. 6 SESSIONS

As you study this powerful sermon of Jesus in six sessions, it will help you transform relationships with others.

You probably don’t think of yourself as an evangelist.Most Christians would rather leave evangelism to a select few with "special talent" for outreach. But when Christ gave the command to spread the Gospel, He gave it to us all. Because He knew we''d each have something unique to offer as His witnesses to the world. In Reaching Out, Bill Hybels helps you develop your own evangelism style—one that fits your personality like a glove. You''ll discover the meaning and importance of sharing your faith and learn the motivation and mind-set behind evangelism. You''ll also get the solid guidance and seasoned tips you need to put it all into motion successfully. As you walk through this proven, highly effective approach, you''ll find your hesitations melting into an enthusiasm for winning lost men and women to Christ.Interactions—a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It''s a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

The path to satisfying relationships is clear. And rarely taken. We all long for close relationships. Bonds so secure that we can be completely honest and vulnerable. But often, we keep our relationships at a safe—and shallow—level. We avoid the risk of revealing all that’s in our hearts. God wants us to take that risk. His reward for doing so is the satisfaction of true, deep community. If you’re ready to experience that joy, The Real Deal will help you move beyond your fears into the realm of knowing others and being known by them. Each session will carefully assist you in peeling away the disguises that prevent you from being your truest, freest self. Get ready for a life-changing adventure in developing richer, more meaningful relationships with God, with others, and with yourself.Interactions—a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It''s a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

True stories about the highs and lows of life with God.What is it about the Psalms that creates their ageless appeal? What draws us to them time and again to find courage, hope, and joy? Perhaps it’s the way these ancient songs so faithfully mirror our own experience. With depth and passion, the Psalms reflect the many-faceted relationship between humans and God in the ever-changing proving grounds of life. In Meeting God, you’ll learn about God’s heart toward you—and what He looks for in your heart toward Him. You’ll find a road map for life. Discover a source of courage in the face of fear. Expand your heart with a fresh realization of God’s greatness. And deepen your relationship with a very present, personal Creator.Interactions—a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It''s a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.

When Leadership and Discipleship Collide Using stories from his own life and ministry, Bill Hybels shows how the laws for leadership success can sometimes crash headlong into another reality: an inner prompting of the Spirit showing you a different approach. The decisions you make at that point could affect not only you, but the ultimate destiny of those you lead.