In Chapter 10 (“Just Say the Word”) of The Power of a Whisper, Pastor Bill Hybels relates the wonderful example of Gerry Crouchman, a South African whose response to God’s whisper was life-altering on numerous unforeseen levels. Although Gerry had grown up in a mainline denomination, his spiritual life was theoretical rather than practical. As […]
In Chapter 8 (“When God Speaks Through Others”) of The Power of a Whisper, author Bill Hybels asserts that “everybody needs a Nathan” to help us apply God’s Word to difficult situations in our lives, such as a ministry downsizing or position loss. Just as King David needed (and heeded) the wise counsel of Nathan […]
During my senior year at Luther South High School in Chicago, IL, I was the accompanist for the 71-voice A Cappella Choir, South’s concert ensemble. As December approached, we had the opportunity to record a Christmas album for Delta Records. The sessions took place on 2 midweek evenings following a full day of classes. The […]
Pastor Bill Hybels concludes Chapter 6 of The Power of a Whisper by reflecting on Jesus’ darkest night, in the Garden of Gethsemane. When darkness encroaches, the author states, “God will be near, he’ll seek us out and he’ll speak words of insight that cast light into darkened souls.” One seldom-noted moment in the Garden […]
Pastor Bill Hybels continues Chapter 6 of The Power of a Whisper by discussing 3 truths about God that he has learned through his dark nights of the soul: Truth #1- God is near. When Bill’s son Todd was a young boy, he had the habit of leaving his blanket (a nocturnal necessity) on the opposite […]
In Chapter 6 (“Light for Dark Nights of the Soul”) of The Power of a Whisper, Pastor Bill Hybels relates some dark nights he experienced early in Willow Creek’s church history. Willow Creek Community Church was 4 years old and had embarked on a building program that stretched church finances. At the same time various […]
In Chapter 5 (“God’s Written Whispers”) of The Power of a Whisper, author and pastor Bill Hybels discusses Romans 8:28 in a section entitled “The Truth about Trials”. He begins by describing a trial he went through several years ago. While in Asia, Pastor Hybels picked up a virus. After wrestling with that virus for […]
At the conclusion of Chapter 11, Bill Hybels offers one final point concerning God’s promptings or whispers: despite any fear and/or doubt that may arise, be sure to obey- regardless of the cost. Pastor Hybels states that he has staked his entire adult life on following God’s still, small voice. He walked away from a […]
Pastor Bill Hybels discusses 4 practices we should consider when sensing any promptings from God throughout certain periods of our lives in Chapter 4 of The Power of a Whisper: 1. Ardently and repeatedly ask God to improve our hearing; to increase our capacity to perceive His voice. 2. Reduce the ambient (surrounding; on all […]
In Chapter 4 (“How to Know When You’re Hearing from God”) of The Power of a Whisper, author Bill Hybels clearly states that, while God’s whispers rarely are tangible, there are specific and concrete steps (aka “the whisper test) we can take to discern “if we’re hearing from God or hearing from the sushi we ate last […]
Bill Hybels devotes Chapter 3 (“Evidence from Everywhere”) of The Power of a Whisper to stories of people who have listened to God’s whispers. While there were many remarkable stories of obeying God’s promptings, the following story really touched my heart. A woman named Bev owned a condo that she had rented to her daughter. […]
Toward the end of Chapter 2 of The Power of a Whisper, Pastor Bill Hybels reflects on the New Testament account of the apostle Paul’s conversion, noting that Paul made the decision to listen to God’s whisper. Because Paul chose, through the Holy Spirit’s power, the path of obedience to God, he had a profound […]