I always keep about 10 copies of this book and then send them to people I know who are going through trials in their life. It is good for them and it is good for me.

Super book for the people who'd like to find the way home... In my opinion this is a book, which should be distribute to everyone person, especially who is looking for a God. You can find here super explanations about the nature and the existence of God. It is very interesting and exciting. I wish to the people who will hear it (cassetes) Gods bless and a good way to find out the personality of God!

This is a very powerful book desgined for those who are not sure who or what this God is. But has some great help for committed Christians, as well. Reads very easily, and I believe that this is a collection of messages that Bill Hybles gave at his church, Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, IL. Read it! It will answer your questions and question your answers. A eye & heart opening book.

Many younger and older pastors alike have stood in awe at the way God has used Bill Hybels at the Willow Creek Community Church outside of Chicago. Willow is currently the largest church in North America. Hybels is a dynamic speaker and author, in addition to being an extremely successful pastor. Now, he has gathered his leadership thoughts together in this volume, which is sure to be a great help to all Christian leaders.

Throughout this book, Hybels emphasizes the importance of possessing a Divine vision for God's people, then pursuing that vision relentlessly and casting it consistently. The author offers various thoughts and insights into what makes a great leader. Many of these lessons he has learned through his own "school of hard knocks" at Willow.

I recommend this book very highly to all pastors, regardless of church size or denomination. I always enjoy Hybels' writings, and this volume is undoubtedly one of his best. Don't pass on this one!

Bill Hybels is a Christian leader who has known the elation of leadership success while also having experienced the agony of near fatal leadership disasters. He writes "Courageous Leadership" with conviction, passion, and empathy that could only be gained through his own leadership journey. This book is vintage Hybels, as his words paint compelling images of what effective Christian leadership looks like. He examines such subjects as vision, raising resources, developing the leaders around you, developing your own leadership style, decision-making, self-leadership, endurance, and the "God-factors" in leadership. If you have been a student of Bill Hybels, you won't find too much new material but rather a collection of his best leadership teachings. The two chapters on vision are easily worth the price of the book. If you've never read or heard Hybels you owe it to yourself to listen to what this proven leader has to say about this subject. I highly recommend "Courageous Leadership."

THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!! AFTER ATTENDING BILL'S CHURCH , WILLOW CREEK , I WAS MORE THAN IMPRESSED. ITS THE MOST INCREDIBLE , LIFE CHANGING , EXAMPLE SETTING CHURCH THAT I'VE EVER SEEN!! AND BILL'S BOOK IS DEFINATLY ONE OF THE BEST -EVER!! I KNOW GOD IS SMILING ON WILLOW CREEK CHURCH , BILL HYBELS , AND HIS KINGDOM BUILDING MINISTRY!!

This book is a powerful reflection upon the circumstances & events surrounding Christ's birth. Within each of the (6) author's section, there are a multitude of heart provoking directions for the Holy Spirit to take you. It has touched me deeply, and also touched the life of a friend I gave a copy to for Christmas. I highly recommend this for personal reading and gift-giving.

The collection of sermons in this book provided a springboard of ideas for themes to preach this Christmas season. Max Lacado's sermon provided the background for our Christmas program this year.

"The Heart of Christmas" employs the writing talents of six inspirational authors, with the message they would most like people to learn and see at Christmastime. John Maxwell relates the wise men following the star and finding a lowly stable, to our search for greatness and finding instead disappointment, in our lives. He allows us to understand that we can find God even in our lowest moments. Bill Hybels challenges us to really look at the nativity, and God's purpose for choosing the location of the Christ-child, this season. Hybels parallels the nativity to our relationship with God. Max Lucado ponders what Joseph's thoughts were on that wonderful night and how we oft-times questions God ourselves. David Jeremiah writes about the name and significance of Jesus, the reasons God may have chosen to give his only son that common, yet most revered name. Rick Warren encourages us to seek that which we want to find this year. He gives us special insight and tells us what we should really be seeking for. Jack Hayford examines the Mary Miracle, as he calls it. He shows us how God is still "birthing" his holy word in us, today. If you are like me, growing weary with all the hype and stress of Christmas as society defines it, year after un-inspirational year, this is a book that will offer you a new vision and understanding of this wonderful holiday. It will put Christmas back into your heart so that it may shine forth, just like the star that marked Jesus' birth.

I'm starting a new emphasis on COMMUNITY/UNITY in our church, and this guide does a great job digging into 1John and pulling out how to just love each other - good study to build on.

I am using this study guide to kick-off an new direction for our church's small group ministry. I like the way it deals with sin in a relationship, coming from 1 John, and deals with it in love and honesty. We need more "love" like this - that can confront and still maintain the caharacteristics of live from 1 Corinthians 13!

The leader's guide for the Becoming A Contagious Christian course is an indispensable tool for the teacher. It is the best leader's guide that I have ever seen. Every minute is accounted for. Every activity is carefully designed and laid out. You even get to see exactly what the participants see in their books. it is so thorough and extensive. Don't try to teach the course without it.

I recommend this book to individuals and small group Bible studies who are serious in their relationship with Christ and who wants to get a closer walk with Him.

If you're looking for a book that will help build strong relationships in your small group, then this is the book for you. The questions are meaningful and relevant and easy to discuss. I've found that Acts 2 is coming alive in my small group because of this study.

This is one of the best at getting into the mind of the radically unchurched.

On the downside, this book (like most on the subject) takes a narrative approach to each chapter. Some chapters have useful take-away summaries. What I would have liked but did not find in the chapters were:
1. Discussion or review questions at the end of each chapter
2. Application exercise(s) at the end of each chapter

So, in my view, this book fell short on providing clear, easy to adopt "how to" ways to build effective relationship evangelism habits.

A promising new book that I may use is Evangelism Outside The Box (Rick Richardson, 2000).

Older books that have worked well for me in teaching others are: (roughly in order of preference): Power Evangelism (John Wimber, 1992), Witnessing Without Fear (Bill Bright, 1987), Out of the Salt Shaker (Rebecca Pippert).

When looking only at the title of the book, it could be concluded that this book is only a diatribe against non Christians and what motivates them to stay away from God. But after reading the book, I found that this is not the emphasis of the book at all.

It seemed to me that the book was pretty much addressing two main questions - why are some people suspicious of Christianity and the church, and what can Christians and the church do to respectfully dialogue with these folks and make them feel safe in exploring the claims of Christianity. Because the book is dealing with these two questions, I found Strobel to be very balanced in assessing both sides. His treatment of the attitudes and motivations of the unchurched is done respectfully and is generally absent of condemnation. Having been a self declared atheist for many years, he brings a unique insight into this question and I believe he handles the subject matter with the same respect and gentleness that he would liked to have received from the church during his atheist days. Likewise, when dealing with the question of what the church can be doing better to reach out to these folks, he is very balanced in his assessment. In fact, it seemed to me that if Strobel was being critical of anyone in this whole equation, he reserved his strongest criticism for the church in terms of not doing a good job reaching these folks and being unwilling to move beyond traditional forms of worship to establish a more relevant and safe environment which is still Biblically based for the sincere seeker.

I think that this book is very insightful in its probing of the attitudes of the unchurched, and I would recommend this book purely on that basis. It is important that as Christians, we have some level of understanding for how some folks become either indifferent or hostile to our faith. Having this level of understanding will help us to engage these folks where they are and to hopefully give us an opening to reach a deeper level of understanding on a one on one basis, one person at a time. But I would also highly recommend this book as a pastoral resource. I think the section that discusses what the church response should be in reaching out to these folks should be required reading for every pastor in America who is looking to spread the Good News but is having difficulty finding the right formula for effectively reaching out to the secular community. This is a very good resource.

This is the story many would like to read -- how a self-avowed atheist working as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune not only converted to Christianity, but became a minister. This book -- and particularly Chapter 9 -- provides the answers.

The book is written as a how-to book which allows others to lead their "Unchurched" friends (a term first coined by the Gallup polling agency) down the same path. In this fashion, the author covers all of his former objections to Christianity along with the factors that eventually changed his mind.

The author's journalistic skills are in evidence throughout the book -- the reader will find it difficult to put the book down until it is completely finished. Both Christians and non-Christians will find the book enlightening, interesting and enjoyable.

This is a great guide for the seeker or believer who has a heart to serve and needs a process to explore their personal uniqueness. The servant profile of passion, spiritual gifts and personality is a simple yet effective framework for facilitating a person to find pertinent ministry outlets. Having experienced the process personally, I found the design and flow of the course to be especially good, from the video vignettes to the huddle groups to the gift affirmation process, in which you have others help give perspective to your gifts. I also found the immplementation and leadership materials to be quite helpful in proposing and putting to work a gift-based ministry design in the local church. The only downside to the Network gift-based approach MIGHT be the "modernist" flavor that permeates the material. If you identify more with "postmodern" perspectives you might find Rick Warren's SHAPE process a bit more resonating. Overall though, a very good book that has had a signifigant impact in how churches are designing ministries and placing volunteers for service....I heartily recommend it.

A concise and easy to use guide for consultants using the Network system in their churches. This guide succeeds in giving detailed guidance through the consultation (step 2) process of learning how to apply Spiritual Gifts. Network is an amazing system of assisting Christians in discovering and applying their spiritual gifts and talents to building God's Kingdom. These materials are definietly the means of growing transformed disciples who will transform the world through dedicated and enthusiastic service in God's Kingdom. This guide is a MUST for everyone who is a consultant in the Network Process! It give the ins and outs of consultations with example phrases and detailed outlines. I wouldn't want to consult without it!

I just completed the class this book accompanies. This was a milestone event for my wife and me. Both of us were saying "No wonder I'm like this and you're like that." I would recommend this for you not only to find your place in church (which it can help you with), but also to find your place in life. This book can focus you in on your Passion (where you should be), your Gifts (what you should be doing) and your Personal Style (how you will be doing it). This book will shine a light on you. Stop fighting your innate makeup and tendencies. And figure out just exactly what you are and how God made you.

Hybels' books are an easy read jam packed with so much great stuff. One you start reading this book, it'll change your prayer life, challenging you to pray mountain moving prayers. Definitely can be read by new believers and seasoned christians as well.

This book is based at Christians, but if you are not I am sure you will find it interesting to look deeper into what others believe. The first time you read this book it may seen a bit boring towards the beginning, but don't be put off by this keep reading and you will find that it gets better as the pages go on. If you are like me after the first three chapters you will want to stop time to read it over and over again, but that can't be done which is a great shame. The book look at prayer from all angles and quotes short passages from the Bible, with all the meanings thoroughly explained. The book also looks at how God reacts and responds to all prayer. The book is called 'Too Busy Not To Pray' but take some time out of your busy day to sit down and read it. While you are reading it you may be very surprised what you find hidden in the pages. I found out things, which I didn't know before, and I have been a Christian for a few years now, I say give it a go it's worth your time.

13 chapters and a group of study questions to provoke thought and/or discussion leads the reader thru the author's own discoveries regarding prayer. Hybels, by his own admission, acknowledged what many of us don't: that "praying on the run" does not properly develop or nurture a relationship with God. In a fast-paced, super sophisticated world where we can barely escape work and a host of other stresses because of today's technology, we suffer from "ultra-business". Barely having out enough time to brush our teeth or eat properly, prayer for many of us, is a "back-burner activity". The discoveries Bill Hybels made can help all of us examine our own habits, and enrich our prayer life with God, such as "how to slow down to pray", "how to listen to God" and "how to overcome barriers". Readers must approach this book with honesty and a willingness to examine their own thoughts and habits. It would do all of us well to consider that even Jesus took time to slow down and be with God, alone. Jesus, tempted by all as we are, was Himself perfect, and yet found in Himself a need and desire to seek the Father's face. When His life became public, and His ministry active, many clamored for His attention. In the midst of that hectic activity, Jesus took time out to spend with the Father. In that we are imperfect, and do fall into temptation, how much more do we need to seek the Father? This eye-opening book offers insightful answers to those questions.