Bill Hybels
February 4, 1999
7:15 pm
Message Summary
For almost six years, Bill Hybels prayed for his sailing buddy, Dave, to become a Christian. After a Christmas party at Hybel's house just over a month ago, Dave said to him, as he walked out the door, "I'm in." Hybels says the moment he realized Dave accepted Christ was one of the most joyful moments of his life. Hybels remembers thinking about what Dave said to him, "there's no way this could have happened without you." In fact it is amazing how people are effected by our actions, words, prayers etc. He stressed here the importance of becoming a witness of Christ.
Hybels stated, "if you take up the challenge, we can change the world, if you don't you can watch the lights go out one at a time." He continually encouraged Christians to reach out of the "holy huddle syndrome" and consciously interact with the non believers around them. He commented that "Christ wants me to have a heart that says I have never locked eyes with someone who God doesn't care about... and if all these wayward folks matter so much to the Father then they should matter to me."
He went on to say that in order to reach the seeker, you must stop trying behavioral modification and focus on internal transformation. You also must be prepared to "answer the hard questions" and operate a ministry that makes people feel normal, to avoid the "cringe effect." He said that we all should be involved in the seeking process, and should long for the day when we all can hear a friend say at the door, "I'm in."
Student Response
For me, Hybels further emphasized the importance of reaching out on a personal basis to non believers. Often we do lock ourselves in our "holy huddles" when the people who need our company most are the ones who walk past the huddles with confused and disgusted looks on their faces. Instead of trying to change the behavior, the attitude, we must communicate love and salvation.
—Sarah E Moore, Freshman, Communications/Print Media major