Just Walk Across the Room

Author: Bill Hybels

Publisher: Zondervan 2006

Reviewed by: Suzanne Collins

Bill Hybels is the founding and senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, USA.

I found this to be a practical, inspiring book to read.

It is divided into four parts, with no more than three chapters in each part. The practical aspect is two-fold.

Firstly the contents with the many examples Bill Hybels gives can easily fit into any Christians world. Secondly after each chapter there is a set of study questions. These are reflective of the chapter just read and also a gauge to where we are in pointing people to faith.

This book is all about living every day, believing that your friend, co-worker and neighbour would be better off it they knew God. It’s about “Walking across the Room,” and being people who are willing to seize every opportunity that comes our way. This walk across the room can happen in so many ways, for it’s not out of a ‘have to’ or anything ‘religious.’ It’s simply listening to the Holy Spirit and to the many promptings He brings our way in a day. All we are doing is scattering the “seed”  and believing that God will give the increase.

I love this quote: “My objective is not to contrive ways to “get someone saved”;  rather, my objective is to walk when He prompts me to walk, talk when He says to talk, fall silent when I’m at risk of saying too much, and stay put when He leads me to stay put. If I can lay my head on the pillow at night knowing that I have cooperated with the promptings of the Spirit that day, I sleep like a baby.”

 Part two introduces “Living in 3D.”

This is as follows:

1. •Develop friendships
   

2. •Discover stories
   

3. •Discern next steps
   

The practical application can be seen very clearly by using the “3Ds.” We can walk into people lives by building relationships. In this is the challenge of the “be with” factor. This factor is described in this way. “Which of your friends or family members would testify that you are in it for the long haul with them – relating with them, knowing them, loving them, consistently pointing them towards faith.”

Part three deals with the four main criticisms of faith stories. It’s the ‘power of a story.’

These criticisms are...

1. •Long windedness
   

2. •Fuzziness
   

3. •Religiousness
   

4. •Superiority
   

Then the author illustrates different ways to present what God’s love did for us. Three different illustrations are given, all an effective way sharing God’s story.

Part four shows the Grander Vision Living.

Here Bill Hybels deals with two biblical characters and their availability to walking into people’s lives.

Firstly he looks at Peter, (James and John) and the invitation they received to become “Big Fishermen.” The day of their biggest catch the call comes to follow Jesus. A quote from  Pastor  Bill: “Are you going to throw your one and only life into pursuing small fish, or will you risk tossing your nets out there in anticipation of catching the human-sized ones?” This one question Jesus is still asking today. What is the ‘mission’ in life that is worth pursuing – it can only be the one on finding the lost.

Secondly Matthew and the party he threw for his buddies. Mathew thought about and wanted to reach them and getting creative he invited them home for a party. With Jesus there he knew in some sort of way they would get acquainted with the only one who can give life. This becomes a great tool for us to use in inviting our friends and workmates.

I enjoyed this book. You know the author writes what he does daily and inspires each of us to become a person who will Walk-Across-the Room into the lives of people all around us.

 A great read – try it and what a life of adventure you will have!