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The Call to Lead: Following Jesus and Living Out Your Mission
Modern business practice and scholarship have honed the laws of the leadership. To achieve success, you're supposed to---among other things---leverage your time, choose a strong team, and avoid unnecessary controversy. But what do you do when the laws of leadership collide with the teachings of Christ? What would it mean to reveal your true character to those you lead? What would it take for you to take an honest look at yourself and ask, 'Am I leading from my mission ... or my shadow mission?' Using stories from their own lives and ministries, Bill Hybels, John Ortberg, and Dan Allender illustrate how the laws of leadership sometimes crash head-on into the demands of discipleship, and how the decisions you make at these crossroads could affect not only you, but the destiny of those you lead. The Call to Lead includes the previous releases from the Leadership Library When Leadership and Discipleship Collide, by Bill Hybels, Overcoming Your Shadow Mission, by John Ortberg, and Leading Character from Dan Allender.
144 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2012
About the author
Bill Hybels
399 books222 followersBill Hybels is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, a non-denominational church with eight regional locations in the Chicago area. He is the bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Simplify, Axiom, Holy Discontent, Just Walk Across the Room, The Volunteer Revolution, Courageous Leadership, Too Busy Not to Pray, and Becoming a Contagious Christian.
Hybels launched Willow Creek Community Church in 1975 with his wife, Lynne (Berry), and a group of friends who gathered in rented space in a movie theater with a vision of helping people from any faith background (or no faith at all) become fully devoted followers of Jesus. Utilizing contemporary music, the arts, relevant teaching from the Bible, and a small-groups community focus that has revolutionized how people experience community in the local church, Willow Creek has grown to more than 25,000 attendees, one of the largest churches in North America—and one of the most influential.
In 1992, Hybels launched Willow Creek Association, a not-for-profit organization that equips, inspires, and empowers leaders around the world. In 1995, he convened WCA’s first Global Leadership Summit, an annual two-day event featuring top leaders from all perspectives and areas of expertise—both faith-based and secular (past speakers include Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Bono, Melinda Gates, Andy Stanley, Jim Collins, Ed Catmull, Tyler Perry, Sheryl Sandberg, Nicholas Kristof, David Gergen, and Brené Brown). Telecast live from Willow Creek’s 7,000-seat South Barrington auditorium each August, more than 400,000 pastors and community leaders attend the Summit at hundreds of locations across North America, and around the world at 675+ sites in 130 countries and 60 different languages—making it the largest event of its kind on the planet. “Everyone wins when a leader gets better,” Hybels says.
Hybels holds a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Trinity College (now Trinity International University) in Deerfield, Illinois. He and his wife, Lynne, have two grown children and two grandsons.
Hybels launched Willow Creek Community Church in 1975 with his wife, Lynne (Berry), and a group of friends who gathered in rented space in a movie theater with a vision of helping people from any faith background (or no faith at all) become fully devoted followers of Jesus. Utilizing contemporary music, the arts, relevant teaching from the Bible, and a small-groups community focus that has revolutionized how people experience community in the local church, Willow Creek has grown to more than 25,000 attendees, one of the largest churches in North America—and one of the most influential.
In 1992, Hybels launched Willow Creek Association, a not-for-profit organization that equips, inspires, and empowers leaders around the world. In 1995, he convened WCA’s first Global Leadership Summit, an annual two-day event featuring top leaders from all perspectives and areas of expertise—both faith-based and secular (past speakers include Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Bono, Melinda Gates, Andy Stanley, Jim Collins, Ed Catmull, Tyler Perry, Sheryl Sandberg, Nicholas Kristof, David Gergen, and Brené Brown). Telecast live from Willow Creek’s 7,000-seat South Barrington auditorium each August, more than 400,000 pastors and community leaders attend the Summit at hundreds of locations across North America, and around the world at 675+ sites in 130 countries and 60 different languages—making it the largest event of its kind on the planet. “Everyone wins when a leader gets better,” Hybels says.
Hybels holds a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Trinity College (now Trinity International University) in Deerfield, Illinois. He and his wife, Lynne, have two grown children and two grandsons.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 21, 2017
It was hard not to give this book 5 stars because it ended on such an extreme high note.
This is a collection of 3 essays by Bill Hybels, John Ortberg, and Dan B. Allender respectively.
Bill Hybels is a gifted speaker but I found his essay to be just ok, 3 stars.
Ortberg gave a compelling essay about character, being honest with ourselves about our shortcomings from a spiritual perspective, and how to lead through them. 4 stars for his portion.
Allender offers a stunning look at what he calls a "shadow mission" juxtaposed with what our mission in life as a Christian should be. He does so with an insightful study of the stories of Esther and Samson. He concludes with strategies for both personal and corporate application. 5 stars for Allender's offering.
This is a collection of 3 essays by Bill Hybels, John Ortberg, and Dan B. Allender respectively.
Bill Hybels is a gifted speaker but I found his essay to be just ok, 3 stars.
Ortberg gave a compelling essay about character, being honest with ourselves about our shortcomings from a spiritual perspective, and how to lead through them. 4 stars for his portion.
Allender offers a stunning look at what he calls a "shadow mission" juxtaposed with what our mission in life as a Christian should be. He does so with an insightful study of the stories of Esther and Samson. He concludes with strategies for both personal and corporate application. 5 stars for Allender's offering.
March 27, 2018
All good stuff, but the best part was the chapter by John Ortberg on identifying your `shadow mission` (what your real motivation is)
Unsurprisingly, very American, but there is very little UK stuff of such quality (or quantity)
Unsurprisingly, very American, but there is very little UK stuff of such quality (or quantity)
March 4, 2021
These three geezers bang on about leadership in a Christian context, with a short essay each. It was OK, but nothing that exciting really, Hybels was probably the pick of the bunch.
May 24, 2014
This book should go on every Leader's shelf. Read it through cover-to-cover with a highlighter at the ready. It re-enforced principles I practice and described others with a Christian flavor I hope to call up in future applications. It will be one of those books that for me, I'll occasionally take down, randomly open to a random page (yes, I do visualize the Holy Spirit chuckling at my logic!) and remind myself of something I know, that will lead to whatever I might need for an upcoming situation - known at the time or not yet revealed). Not only is it worth the small shelf space it will occupy but... Leaders read.
October 8, 2012
This short book (comprising three essays) by who I consider to be three of the greatest Christian leaders in the world today is a fantastic insight into leadership. I was particularly impressed with Bill's thought provoking insight into how Jesus disobeyed many of our modern day 'leadership laws'. Thoroughly worth a read for any leader.
January 11, 2016
Insightful applications of differences between leadership decisions in the church versus other organizations.
February 9, 2017
Three very helpful papers on Leadership
- Hybels unpacks the paradox/Challenge when Leadership Laws collide with Discipleship principals.
- Allender discusses the tension of Strength and Grace in Leadership - being a Character, having Character, developing character and being an honest/transparent character.
- Ortberg presents some helpful thoughts on our "shadow mission" (or how our shadow self presents) for leaders and teams to digest, consider and combat
- Hybels unpacks the paradox/Challenge when Leadership Laws collide with Discipleship principals.
- Allender discusses the tension of Strength and Grace in Leadership - being a Character, having Character, developing character and being an honest/transparent character.
- Ortberg presents some helpful thoughts on our "shadow mission" (or how our shadow self presents) for leaders and teams to digest, consider and combat
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews