What do you think?
Rate this book
Becoming a Contagious Christian: Be Who You Already Are
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.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1994
118 people are currently reading
1606 people want to read
About the author
Bill Hybels
397 books220 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
May 24, 2017
A basic introduction to evangelism. A quick read and filled with personal illustrations. Not the final word on the subject but excellent primer on evangelism.
January 29, 2021
Great book on evangelism. If all you knew was this concept:
High potency + Close proximity + Clear communication = maximum impact, you'd be well off
High potency + Close proximity + Clear communication = maximum impact, you'd be well off
January 30, 2023
THE WILLOW CREEK MODELS FOR EVANGELISM
William ‘Bill’ Hybels is the founding and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. (He left the position under allegations of misconduct.) Mark Mittelberg was the original evangelism director at Willow Creek.
Hybels wrote in the first chapter of this 1994 book, “In their heart of hearts, I think all true followers of Christ long to become contagious Christians. Though unsure about how to do so or the risks involved, deep down they sense that there isn’t anything as rewarding as opening a person up to God’s love and truth. But though we might like the idea of having a spiritual impact on others, we won’t take decisive action unless we first raise our motivation level. And one of the best ways to do that it to get God’s perspective on the matter. Let’s begin with two lessons… One is from the realm of science, the other is from the world of business.” (Pg. 13)
He begins, “the Anthropic Principle implies that when we look at the world around us, it would SEEM… that the universe was somehow DESIGNED to support and nourish human life. The lesson we can draw… is this: SOMEONE mut have gone to a lot of effort to make things just right so that you and I could be here to enjoy life. In short, modern science points to the fact that we must really matter to God!” (Pg. 13-14)
For the second lesson, he states, “Businesses, if they’re going to be successful for the long haul, must pull their attention of for themselves and refocus their energies on their only reason for existence---to serve their customers… So if the lesson from science is that people matter to God, then the lesson from business is ‘they’d better matter to us, too.’ Only as we begin to value those outside our Christian circles will we be truly fulfilled and functioning according to God’s purpose for us.” (Pg, 15)
He notes, “Spiritual Growth… is one of the most important, but often overlooked, benefits of contagious Christianity. Often I meet Christians who are in spiritual malaise… Bible study has become a chore; prayer is a dry routine… And going to church is---well, it’s something they just DO… But when these lethargic believers break out of spiritual isolation and meet some spiritual seekers… they begin to notice a sort of inner renewal taking place.” (Pg. 30)
He observes, “Most people won’t come right out and say it, but you’d better believe they’re thinking it. They’re not interested in committing their lives to Christ unless they observe attractive and consistent patterns of living in the Christians they know.” (Pg. 54)
He records, “‘So tell me, what are you doing to help poor people in your neighborhood? Do you have any programs to feed the hungry or to clothe the needy or to shelter the homeless?’ As I’ve … to talk about what Willow Cree, … is doing to reach irreligious people, these kinds of questions inevitably come up. I’m glad that they keep getting asked. That’s because I find it encouraging that so many people … understand that caring for the tangible needs of human beings is part-and-parcel of genuine Christianity.” (Pg. 67)
He cautions, “Don’t be surprised if … some of the people closest to you … who have seen you go through all kinds of phases before … [are] a bit calloused to the latest claims. The question is, are you willing to prove them wrong by making the sacrifice of living a consistent, high-integrity, Christian life, not just for a season, but for the long haul?” (Pg. 89-90)
He suggests, “All of us go to gas stations, restaurants, dry cleaners, grocery stores … and other places for the necessities of everyday life, right? Well, with a little foresight, these mundane errands can be turned into evangelistic adventures. The first step is to approach the people working in these places not as objects to serve us but as people who matter to God and are worthy of our love and concern. That’s the fundamental attitude necessary for EVERY aspect of contagious Christianity.” (Pg. 115)
He proposes, “THE DIRECT METHOD: This approach to redirecting conversations does just what it says. It doesn’t wait for opportunities to avail themselves; it CREATES them. The way it works is simple. You Straightforwardly raise a spiritual topic and then see if the person is interesting in talking about it. While you don’t force anyone to discuss matters of faith, you do open wide the doorway to doing so.”(Pg. 138)
He cautions, “People want to talk WITH you, not be talked at BY you. Sometimes when we get an opportunity to talk about our faith, we get a little excited and blurt out a monologue of whatever we think they need to hear. But now that you’re aware of that danger, do whatever you can to prevent it. The best way to avoid shifting into speech-mode is to ask questions first and then listen attentively to the answers. Then when it’s your turn to talk, watch the other person to see if they’re following you.” (Pg. 193)
He argues, “Some seekers have serious intellectual questions that are preventing their progress toward Christ. Others just act like that’s their situation, and they use philosophical-sounding objections in an effort to keep the focus off of their ordinary, old-fashioned sin. What often happens is that the person will lead off with a couple of honest question. But when he sees that there are good answers, he gets nervous. That’s when he… can start raising every random issue that comes to his mind n order to keep you---and God---at arms’s length.” (Pg. 175)
He concludes, “Let me implore you, for your own benefit and for the sake of your lost friends, if you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength: stick to the people business. Say to the Holy Spirit each day: ‘Today, let me do more than merely catch fish. Help me to do more than just sell a product. Inspire me to go beyond providing a service. Enable me to touch a human life. Work through me to reach a man or woman for you. I want to be in the people business!’ This is the mindset of a contagious Christian.” (Pg. 214)
This book will appeal to Christians interested in evangelistic techniques.
William ‘Bill’ Hybels is the founding and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. (He left the position under allegations of misconduct.) Mark Mittelberg was the original evangelism director at Willow Creek.
Hybels wrote in the first chapter of this 1994 book, “In their heart of hearts, I think all true followers of Christ long to become contagious Christians. Though unsure about how to do so or the risks involved, deep down they sense that there isn’t anything as rewarding as opening a person up to God’s love and truth. But though we might like the idea of having a spiritual impact on others, we won’t take decisive action unless we first raise our motivation level. And one of the best ways to do that it to get God’s perspective on the matter. Let’s begin with two lessons… One is from the realm of science, the other is from the world of business.” (Pg. 13)
He begins, “the Anthropic Principle implies that when we look at the world around us, it would SEEM… that the universe was somehow DESIGNED to support and nourish human life. The lesson we can draw… is this: SOMEONE mut have gone to a lot of effort to make things just right so that you and I could be here to enjoy life. In short, modern science points to the fact that we must really matter to God!” (Pg. 13-14)
For the second lesson, he states, “Businesses, if they’re going to be successful for the long haul, must pull their attention of for themselves and refocus their energies on their only reason for existence---to serve their customers… So if the lesson from science is that people matter to God, then the lesson from business is ‘they’d better matter to us, too.’ Only as we begin to value those outside our Christian circles will we be truly fulfilled and functioning according to God’s purpose for us.” (Pg, 15)
He notes, “Spiritual Growth… is one of the most important, but often overlooked, benefits of contagious Christianity. Often I meet Christians who are in spiritual malaise… Bible study has become a chore; prayer is a dry routine… And going to church is---well, it’s something they just DO… But when these lethargic believers break out of spiritual isolation and meet some spiritual seekers… they begin to notice a sort of inner renewal taking place.” (Pg. 30)
He observes, “Most people won’t come right out and say it, but you’d better believe they’re thinking it. They’re not interested in committing their lives to Christ unless they observe attractive and consistent patterns of living in the Christians they know.” (Pg. 54)
He records, “‘So tell me, what are you doing to help poor people in your neighborhood? Do you have any programs to feed the hungry or to clothe the needy or to shelter the homeless?’ As I’ve … to talk about what Willow Cree, … is doing to reach irreligious people, these kinds of questions inevitably come up. I’m glad that they keep getting asked. That’s because I find it encouraging that so many people … understand that caring for the tangible needs of human beings is part-and-parcel of genuine Christianity.” (Pg. 67)
He cautions, “Don’t be surprised if … some of the people closest to you … who have seen you go through all kinds of phases before … [are] a bit calloused to the latest claims. The question is, are you willing to prove them wrong by making the sacrifice of living a consistent, high-integrity, Christian life, not just for a season, but for the long haul?” (Pg. 89-90)
He suggests, “All of us go to gas stations, restaurants, dry cleaners, grocery stores … and other places for the necessities of everyday life, right? Well, with a little foresight, these mundane errands can be turned into evangelistic adventures. The first step is to approach the people working in these places not as objects to serve us but as people who matter to God and are worthy of our love and concern. That’s the fundamental attitude necessary for EVERY aspect of contagious Christianity.” (Pg. 115)
He proposes, “THE DIRECT METHOD: This approach to redirecting conversations does just what it says. It doesn’t wait for opportunities to avail themselves; it CREATES them. The way it works is simple. You Straightforwardly raise a spiritual topic and then see if the person is interesting in talking about it. While you don’t force anyone to discuss matters of faith, you do open wide the doorway to doing so.”(Pg. 138)
He cautions, “People want to talk WITH you, not be talked at BY you. Sometimes when we get an opportunity to talk about our faith, we get a little excited and blurt out a monologue of whatever we think they need to hear. But now that you’re aware of that danger, do whatever you can to prevent it. The best way to avoid shifting into speech-mode is to ask questions first and then listen attentively to the answers. Then when it’s your turn to talk, watch the other person to see if they’re following you.” (Pg. 193)
He argues, “Some seekers have serious intellectual questions that are preventing their progress toward Christ. Others just act like that’s their situation, and they use philosophical-sounding objections in an effort to keep the focus off of their ordinary, old-fashioned sin. What often happens is that the person will lead off with a couple of honest question. But when he sees that there are good answers, he gets nervous. That’s when he… can start raising every random issue that comes to his mind n order to keep you---and God---at arms’s length.” (Pg. 175)
He concludes, “Let me implore you, for your own benefit and for the sake of your lost friends, if you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength: stick to the people business. Say to the Holy Spirit each day: ‘Today, let me do more than merely catch fish. Help me to do more than just sell a product. Inspire me to go beyond providing a service. Enable me to touch a human life. Work through me to reach a man or woman for you. I want to be in the people business!’ This is the mindset of a contagious Christian.” (Pg. 214)
This book will appeal to Christians interested in evangelistic techniques.
Read
March 14, 2014I've attended the Global Leadership Summit for the past few years and always walked away from Bill Hybels talks ready to do something crazy with my life. General George Patton once said, "My theory is that a commander does what is necessary to accomplish his mission and that nearly 80 percent of his mission is to arouse morale in his men." I think by General Pattons standards and in my own small mind Bill Hybels is an excellent commander.
That being said, this book is jam packed with theoretical situations which are great if you're trying to discover what following Christ looks like in a practical way, which I am always, but the multitude of theoreticals was a bit overwhelming. I had been one a role with picking books which opened my mind and heart to things I had smashed into dark corners and was hoping this would continue along that path.
I didn't finish. On a personal level I'd give it a three but it deserves at least a four. I'm just a crab.
That being said, this book is jam packed with theoretical situations which are great if you're trying to discover what following Christ looks like in a practical way, which I am always, but the multitude of theoreticals was a bit overwhelming. I had been one a role with picking books which opened my mind and heart to things I had smashed into dark corners and was hoping this would continue along that path.
I didn't finish. On a personal level I'd give it a three but it deserves at least a four. I'm just a crab.
May 8, 2011
Employing this level of calculation and deliberateness when engaging others seems a little creepy. That said, I've known people with a gift for approaching people with these kinds of methods and for some reason they do not come off as insincere. I took some good things from this book, and I hope those who come to know me benefit from that.
"Such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing." - Thomas Paine
"Such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing." - Thomas Paine
September 2, 2013
Lot of food for thought and many challenges that will encourage you that you can be yourself and still reach out to others in the name of Jesus.
August 12, 2019
Reread this book and it was just as good the second time around.
November 28, 2023
This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were some insights here that I did agree with and found thoughtful. There were also some parts that I found less helpful or just didn't like the way things were presented. There is also Hybels own misconduct that has surfaced over the years that undermines some of his very arguments from this book. This leaves you with a book that can be frustrating, but also does have good points as well.
This is primarily a book about Evangelism, about leading people to a relationship with God and Jesus Christ. It's not a subject I'm in love with as too often this gets presented in some kind of formulaic, cookie cutter way. This book is no exception to that in many ways. The main structure of the book is a formula. A better formula than most books present I'll grant, but still a formula. For those curious the formula is High Potency (HP) + Close Proximity (CP) + Clear Communication (CC) = Maximum Impact (MI). He then spends a good portion of the book unpacking these ideas and showing how they help present Christianity to others.
What I did like about the book is that he does present the need to actually be in relationship with people. That our relationships and the trust we built with those we interact with are the best tool to be able to share our faith. I think he's spot on here. He also emphasizes that we need to be in relationship with more than just church people, because we can't really share our faith if we are too insulated.
Even with these good aspects in the book, Hybels also goes into trite Christian ideas like Christianity being different than religion, simplistic presentations of salvation, and things like that. While I understand what he's getting at and see how it could be helpful for some, these are the things that I find less useful in all honesty.
There is also a pretty big elephant in the room reading this book years later. Hybels places a lot of stock in living in a way that makes you a Contagious Christian. He talks about making sure our lives match up to what we're saying and that when they don't we need to own up to it. Hybels says this, but doesn't really seem to live up to his own standards. He has been accused of sexual misconduct and a leadership style that was not all that Christlike and those accusations have been found to have merit and yet as far as I can find Hybels hasn't confessed or repented of his actions in the least. Sure he resigned, but that's not the same thing.
The good thing here is that it doesn't change the truthfulness of what he and his coauthor wrote, but it does make it a very hard book for me to recommend. It's not a bad book and does have some good points to make, but it also has other part that I didn't find quite as helpful. I'm sure there are better books of this nature that don't have the baggage that this one now does.
This is primarily a book about Evangelism, about leading people to a relationship with God and Jesus Christ. It's not a subject I'm in love with as too often this gets presented in some kind of formulaic, cookie cutter way. This book is no exception to that in many ways. The main structure of the book is a formula. A better formula than most books present I'll grant, but still a formula. For those curious the formula is High Potency (HP) + Close Proximity (CP) + Clear Communication (CC) = Maximum Impact (MI). He then spends a good portion of the book unpacking these ideas and showing how they help present Christianity to others.
What I did like about the book is that he does present the need to actually be in relationship with people. That our relationships and the trust we built with those we interact with are the best tool to be able to share our faith. I think he's spot on here. He also emphasizes that we need to be in relationship with more than just church people, because we can't really share our faith if we are too insulated.
Even with these good aspects in the book, Hybels also goes into trite Christian ideas like Christianity being different than religion, simplistic presentations of salvation, and things like that. While I understand what he's getting at and see how it could be helpful for some, these are the things that I find less useful in all honesty.
There is also a pretty big elephant in the room reading this book years later. Hybels places a lot of stock in living in a way that makes you a Contagious Christian. He talks about making sure our lives match up to what we're saying and that when they don't we need to own up to it. Hybels says this, but doesn't really seem to live up to his own standards. He has been accused of sexual misconduct and a leadership style that was not all that Christlike and those accusations have been found to have merit and yet as far as I can find Hybels hasn't confessed or repented of his actions in the least. Sure he resigned, but that's not the same thing.
The good thing here is that it doesn't change the truthfulness of what he and his coauthor wrote, but it does make it a very hard book for me to recommend. It's not a bad book and does have some good points to make, but it also has other part that I didn't find quite as helpful. I'm sure there are better books of this nature that don't have the baggage that this one now does.
July 18, 2022
The book is dated, both by the fact that it was written in 1994, well before social media or even widespread internet, and by the revelation that the author didn't always live by the principles that he wrote. But there's still good stuff here.
All Christians are called to share the Good News, but are usually not told how. In the book, he lays out how. It can be summed up in one formula:
HP (high potency) + CP (close proximity) + CC (clear communication = MI (maximum impact)
People are "not interested in committing their lives to Christ unless they observe attractive and consistent patterns of living in the Christians they know." That's why it's important to work on your own walk with God and living a life of authenticity, compassion, and sacrifice.
Close proximity is important because most people don't want to have deep, personal conversations with people they don't know. But they will with good friends.
And clear communication is vital because if someone is going to accept the Gospel, you have to be able to explain it as well as demonstrate it.
Hybels gives good examples for each of these things. Again, some of his examples are dated, but you can apply the principles to today.
All Christians are called to share the Good News, but are usually not told how. In the book, he lays out how. It can be summed up in one formula:
HP (high potency) + CP (close proximity) + CC (clear communication = MI (maximum impact)
People are "not interested in committing their lives to Christ unless they observe attractive and consistent patterns of living in the Christians they know." That's why it's important to work on your own walk with God and living a life of authenticity, compassion, and sacrifice.
Close proximity is important because most people don't want to have deep, personal conversations with people they don't know. But they will with good friends.
And clear communication is vital because if someone is going to accept the Gospel, you have to be able to explain it as well as demonstrate it.
Hybels gives good examples for each of these things. Again, some of his examples are dated, but you can apply the principles to today.
June 29, 2018
As a session, we read this book on a Saturday with a an accompanying video which led discussion topics. I found the book to be very informative and relatable to today's society. Throughout this book study, one learns the benefits of becoming a contagious Christian, how to impact others by being yourself, how to deepen relationships and conversations, telling your story, communicating God's message, and helping friends cross the line of Faith. I would recommend a church leadership group to read this book together to create a plan of impact, and ultimately a plan of growth for your church family.
June 13, 2020
This was a very useful resource that simplified the daunting and overwhelming task of evangelism into a practical equation. As someone who tends to surround themselves with fellow Christians, this book illuminated the necessity for me to share the Gospel with non-believers in my life. The authors present logical arguments with accurate and ample Scripture that feels like a heartfelt conversation with a caring coach. Plus, in spite of being twenty-five years old, I found the principles presented in the book to match Biblical timelessness and truth.
September 14, 2017
I was shocked to learn that I was already heading in the right direction while reading this book! My main problem is with talking to people about Christ but I feel a little more confident. It's all about being yourself when you minister to someone and I found it very refreshing that Bill Hybels came out and gave the reader permission to be himself/herself. I definitely think this book helped me understand better what it takes to be a true Christian.
March 27, 2020
This book does a great job highlighting evangelism theory. I was intrigued by the way it changed my approach to evangelism and understanding exactly what it means to share Jesus. The meat of the book happens in the last 6 chapters however the first 10 chapters offer great foundational principals for anyone interested in the topic of evangelism.
November 17, 2020
This book is one that I need to revisit frequently to maintain the level of attention to being a Christian all the time not just most of the time. Very well written and goes great with a group of Christians from your church or beyond to visit with weekly as you read through it and work to implement methods into your lifestyle.
August 29, 2021
This is a very practical and powerful message on reaching others for Christ. It is very theologically sound without trying to sound theologically sound. It does a great job of walking through the process of evangelism and sharing common obstacles and challenges you’ll face in the practice of it. Must read for the Christian who’s ready to be used to gather His people.
November 1, 2019
I think this is the first of Hybels books that I read. It is essentially a book about evangelism and since Hybels built one of the biggest churches in America, he is a voice to be heard. Well worth my time.
December 8, 2017
this is a good book and I will use this book as reference to educate my team to love others and share Jesus with others.
May 4, 2017
It was a good book but just did not really keep me hooked throughout it. Some parts were really well done and others just made me struggle reading it.
May 31, 2018
A comprehensive how-to guide to fulfilling your potential to go and make disciples of all nations and people. A classic rendering, but still relevant and useful today.
April 22, 2019
Great book on practical tips for evangelism for Christians of all personalities!!
March 6, 2020
Read this back in 2002, and found lots of helpful and encouraging things in it.
October 4, 2021
It's a good book on how to reach out the lost. There are practical tips and strategies! Highly recommended for discipleship references.
June 15, 2022
See TH Book List for review. But overall, a great book that helped me see and grow my personal relationship with Christ in a more realistic way.
November 22, 2024
Super helpful!! I’ve already begun to implement some things and have seen payoff
May 15, 2025
I’ve found the author to be much more engaging in person than in the written word. I did find this book challenging me to share my faith openly, rather than just living my faith in silence.
November 12, 2025
It was ok. I disagreed with the doctrine of the book. Also it wasn't as inspiring as I would have hoped.
December 7, 2010
Hybels has written a book to encourage Christians to become effective witnesses for Christ. He begins his book by stating the reason for evangelism, namely that people matter to God and there are great rewards for becoming a “contagious Christian.” In the rest of his book he goes on to explain how a person can become a better evangelizer by using this formula: High Potency + Close Proximity + Clear Communication = Maximum Impact.
This book is aimed for new Christians or older Christians that have not had much experience in evangelizing. It explained some great application points about how to begin conversations with people. I also appreciated how he mentioned that Christians have different gifts when it comes to how they interact with people. Hybels encourages the Christian to excel in the gifts God has given. He provided some excellent stories that caste vision for becoming a “Contagious Christian.” The simplicity of the book was both a weak and strong point. I felt the book dragged on at times, however it was often refreshing to hear the Gospel in simple terms.
Quote from the book
“Second, before you’ll be able to initiate these kinds of discussions, you must start with the heart-felt assurance that not only is your life better now than it was before you knew God, but the lives of others will be better, too, even through the tough times. Without this assurance, it’s almost impossible to motivate yourself to take any meaningful action. You’ll also need a desire to spread His message that’s strong enough to move you to pray regularly for opportunities and then to watch for them throughout each day.” p. 138
This book is aimed for new Christians or older Christians that have not had much experience in evangelizing. It explained some great application points about how to begin conversations with people. I also appreciated how he mentioned that Christians have different gifts when it comes to how they interact with people. Hybels encourages the Christian to excel in the gifts God has given. He provided some excellent stories that caste vision for becoming a “Contagious Christian.” The simplicity of the book was both a weak and strong point. I felt the book dragged on at times, however it was often refreshing to hear the Gospel in simple terms.
Quote from the book
“Second, before you’ll be able to initiate these kinds of discussions, you must start with the heart-felt assurance that not only is your life better now than it was before you knew God, but the lives of others will be better, too, even through the tough times. Without this assurance, it’s almost impossible to motivate yourself to take any meaningful action. You’ll also need a desire to spread His message that’s strong enough to move you to pray regularly for opportunities and then to watch for them throughout each day.” p. 138
August 20, 2019
Hybels likes to speak in business terms, so he breaks down sharing your faith with others to an equasion: HP+CP+CC=MI or High Potency + Close Proximiity + Clear Communication = Maximum Impact.
It's fairly simple and I tend to agree with his main ideas. If you want to share your faith with others, it makes sense that you would need to be in tune with God yourself (high potentcy). It also makes sense that you would need to be intentional about building genuine relationships with non-Christians (close proximity). I think that this is the most needed piece of advice that Hybels gives. He encourages Christians to get out of their "Christian bubble" and engage with the rest of the world. He suggests joining a gym, community group or book club that is not associated with a Christian organization or church--he advises us to take Christ's advice to be "in the world". The chapter on clear communcation points out different ways to bring up your faith and explain your faith and then lastly, Hybles explains how to encourage and nurture someone who has decided to become a Christian.
All in all, the book is a little dated. It doesn't really address the challenges that post-modernism has created for evangelism and his use of the equation as an explanation makes evangelism seem a little cheap. Ultimately, the main point is a good one... Christians need to be thoughtful and intentional about sharing their faith.
It's fairly simple and I tend to agree with his main ideas. If you want to share your faith with others, it makes sense that you would need to be in tune with God yourself (high potentcy). It also makes sense that you would need to be intentional about building genuine relationships with non-Christians (close proximity). I think that this is the most needed piece of advice that Hybels gives. He encourages Christians to get out of their "Christian bubble" and engage with the rest of the world. He suggests joining a gym, community group or book club that is not associated with a Christian organization or church--he advises us to take Christ's advice to be "in the world". The chapter on clear communcation points out different ways to bring up your faith and explain your faith and then lastly, Hybles explains how to encourage and nurture someone who has decided to become a Christian.
All in all, the book is a little dated. It doesn't really address the challenges that post-modernism has created for evangelism and his use of the equation as an explanation makes evangelism seem a little cheap. Ultimately, the main point is a good one... Christians need to be thoughtful and intentional about sharing their faith.
April 23, 2007
Mittleberg, Strobel and Hybels are really good guys. They are kind and they are well-intentioned. But that said, I find some of the aspects of the evangelism taught here a little creepy. I'm pretty sure if we knew our Hindu friend had a piece of paper with our name on it and all the possible conversation topics he could use with us, specifically, to preach his Hinduism and the different books he could recommend to us, etc., etc. ... we might be a little freaked out (and we get mad when Scientologists target movie stars?). It's all really structured, paint-by-numbers and not at all organic. In fact, even the testimonies are dominated by a "before-and-after" feel, which just doesn't ring sincere for a lot of people. The bottom line is that this book (it's a reprint) has been really "successful" for people, but I don't think it's teaching a way of looking at our faith and salvation that is healthy.
July 23, 2011
Hmmm... My feelings are mixed about this book. In terms of readability, its certainly not a difficult read, and Hybels does a good job of summarizing the key issues pertaining to the whole area of Evangelism. In particular, I liked his emphasis on being an Authentic Christian, and also his reminders scattered throughout the book to be seeker-sensitive.
I guess my main dislikes about the book is how it came across to me as seemingly too pat... I'm sure that Hybels and the many people he mentioned have their fair share of failures, and while these mentioned, they are quickly put aside. Being a book promoting evangelism, I can understand why this is the case... still, I think more examples of his failures would have helped me. After all, we learn as much from failure as from success right?
Still, its a good book covering the fundamentals of evangelism... no deep theology here... just basic principles on why and how we are to share our faith.
I guess my main dislikes about the book is how it came across to me as seemingly too pat... I'm sure that Hybels and the many people he mentioned have their fair share of failures, and while these mentioned, they are quickly put aside. Being a book promoting evangelism, I can understand why this is the case... still, I think more examples of his failures would have helped me. After all, we learn as much from failure as from success right?
Still, its a good book covering the fundamentals of evangelism... no deep theology here... just basic principles on why and how we are to share our faith.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews