We were honored to have Bill Hybels speak at the five year anniversary at The Church at LifePark.   (Hybels is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, one of the most attended churches in North America.  He is the founder of the Willow Creek Association and the Global Leadership Summit.  Hybels is also the author of a number of  books, especially on the subject of Christian leadership.)

Bill shared his vision for the local church and for the first 18 years of his life, the one word he used to describe the church was “hopeless.”  One of his college professors, however gave him a vision of what the church could be as he painted a picture of an Acts 2 church and his perspective changed from “hopeless” to “hopeful.”  His professor challenged them, “why can’t someone in this classroom lay aside their life plan and give their life to building a local church like this?”

Bill was seized by a vision of what the church could be.  He moved to Chicago to help a friend build a youth group and started to create an Acts 2 community as depicted in Acts 2:42-47.  As he saw God at work he moved from “hopeful” to the conviction that “the local church is the hope of the world.”   What are some of the characteristics of an effective church?   One factor is the devotion of the people as depicted in Acts 2:42,

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The Greek word translated “continually devoting” is προσκαρτερέω (proskartereō) and it literally means “to be strong towards” (pros, “towards” and kartereo, “to be strong”).  It is often translated to endure in, or persevere in, to be continually steadfast, or to be devoted to a person or a practice.

Although this word only occurs ten times in the New Testament it is commonly used to refer to prayer:

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.  (Acts 1:14)

“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  (Acts 6:4)

rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, (Romans 12:12)

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)

 What are you strongly devoted to?  The hope of the world is not government, academia, business, but the church because it is to the church that God has entrusted the message of salvation, which truly changes people’s lives and hearts.

Bill gave up his Friday evening to fly down to Mt. Pleasant because he has a passion to see every church reach its full redemptive potential.   What gives us confidence that the church will endure to the end of history?  Many empires and massive companies that seemed durable have evaporated.  Why will it be different for the church?  The reason is because Jesus is building the church,

I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  (Matthew 16:18)

What is the vital role Jesus has for you as in building His church in this world?  He’s been preparing you all of your whole life for this mission.  How do you say no to an offer like that from God?

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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