The Purpose Driven Life – William Horsburgh
Teesside Minister’s Fraternal
Tuesday 31st October 2006, 10 am.
‘Purpose Driven Christianity’
ORIGIN:
● Brain child of DR. RICK WARREN, pastor of SADDLEBACK CHURCH, LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, since 1980.
BACKGROUND: BORN in SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
EDUCATION:
● BACHELOR OF ARTS CALIFORNIA BAPTIST COLLEGE,
● MASTER OF DIVINITY SOUTHWESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
● DOCTOR OF MINISTRY FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
● Other honours include the Biblical Preaching Award, and two honorary doctorates.
CALL TO MINISTRY:
● FATHER, FATHER-IN-LAW, & GREAT-GRANDFATHER – all pastors.
● 1995 book includes an account of his promise to God at 1973 California Baptist Convention in San Francisco:
“I’d give my entire life to pastoring a single church if that was his will for me.”
W. A. Criswell of First Baptist Church, Dallas, personally prayed for him.
BEGINNING OF SADDLEBACK CHURCH:
WARREN’S DREAM:
● ARRIVED – SADDLEBACK VALLEY IN DECEMBER 1979,
with everything they had in the back of a U-haul truck.
● DREAMED OF PLANTING A CHURCH “where the hurting, the depressed, the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness and encouragement.”
WARREN’S METHOD:
● MANY GOOD BIBLE-TEACHING CHURCHES ALREADY EXISTED
● TURNED TO THOSE WHO DIDN’T ATTEND CHURCH REGULARLY
● BEGAN WITH A SMALL BIBLE STUDY with one other family in their home.
GROWTH
● EASTER 1980, Saddleback Valley Community Church FIRST PUBLIC SERVICE.
● 205 PEOPLE, MOST OF WHOM HAD NEVER BEEN TO CHURCH.
● NOW, MORE THAN 200 MINISTRIES SERVING CHURCH AND COMMUNITY.
● ONE IN NINE PEOPLE IN THE AREA CALL SADDLEBACK THEIR CHURCH.
● TODAY, AVERAGING 22,000 EACH WEEK, a 120-acre campus, and has more than 300 community ministries
● RECENTLY, CHURCH FED 42,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE–3 meals a day – 40 days.
BOOKS BRING INTERNATIONAL FAME:
PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH, 1995:
● PRINCIPLES THAT LED TO THE CHURCH’S SUCCESS.
● FOCUS – FIVE BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH:
worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism.
● OVER 200,000 LEADERS WORLDWIDE trained in purpose-driven philosophy.
● LISTED IN “100 Christian Books That Changed the 20th Century.”
● FORBES MAGAZINE “The best book on entrepreneurship, management, and leadership in print.”
PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE 2002:
● NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST 45 WEEKS sold over 11 million copies
● FOCUSES ON THE TRUTH THAT LIFE IS “not about you,”
● SHOWS HOW GOD CAN ENABLE EACH OF US to live for His purposes.
HIS PASSIONS AND GOALS:
ATTACKING THE FIVE “GLOBAL GOLIATHS”
● SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS,
● EGOCENTRIC LEADERSHIP,
● EXTREME POVERTY,
● PANDEMIC DISEASE,
● ILLITERACY/POOR EDUCATION.
A SECOND REFORMATION
● BY RESTORING RESPONSIBILITY in people, CREDIBILITY in churches, and CIVILITY in culture.
● HE’S A PASTOR, GLOBAL STRATEGIST, THEOLOGIAN, & PHILANTHROPIST.
● OFTEN NAMED “America’s most influential spiritual leader” / “America’s Pastor.”
WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF CHURCHES:
● CONGREGATIONS IN 162 COUNTRIES, 157,000 LEADERS SUBSCRIBE TO his weekly newsletter, Ministry Toolbox,.
GLOBAL STRATEGIST
● ADVISES LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND FAITH SECTORS on leadership development, poverty, health, education, and faith in culture.
● Has been invited to speak at the UNITED NATIONS, the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM in Davos, the AFRICAN UNION, the COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, Harvard’s KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, TIME’s GLOBAL HEALTH SUMMIT, and numerous congresses around the world.
● TIME MAGAZINE NAMED HIM ONE OF “15 World Leaders Who Mattered Most in 2004” and in 2005 one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World.” Also, in 2005 U.S. News & World Report named him one of “America’s 25 Best Leaders”.
THEOLOGIAN
● DR. WARREN HAS LECTURED AT OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE, THE UNIVERSITY OF JUDAISM, THE EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, and numerous seminaries and universities.
● HIS SIX BOOKS ARE KNOWN FOR EXPLAINING THEOLOGY IN UNDERSTANDABLE WAYS and have been translated into more than 50 languages.
Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word
Planned For God’s Pleasure
Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions
The Power to Change Your Life
● DR. WARREN SAYS HE TEACHES THEOLOGY WITHOUT USING THEOLOGICAL TERMS AND TELLING PEOPLE IT IS THEOLOGY.
PHILANTHROPIST
● GIVES AWAY 90 PERCENT OF INCOME THROUGH 3 FOUNDATIONS:
● Acts of Mercy, Serving those infected and affected by AIDS;
● Equipping the Church, Trains church leaders in developing countries.
● The Global PEACE Fund, Fights poverty, disease, and illiteracy.
PEACE stands for Partner with or Plant churches, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, and Educate the next generation.
MEDIA QUOTES:
The Weekly Standard – “clearly among the two or three most influential Americans working from the west coast.”
The Economist – “Rick Warren is arguably the most influential pastor in America.”
The Times ( London) – “Business and political leaders across America are turning to Rick Warren for guidance.”
Forbes – “Were it a business, Saddleback Church would be compared with Dell, Google or Starbucks.”
ABC News – “The Purpose Driven Life is the epicentre of a spiritual shock wave taking root across America in unlikely places like offices and university campuses. It has become a movement.”
TIME – “Movie stars and political leaders aren’t the only ones turning to Rick Warren for spiritual guidance. Millions of people – from NFL and LPGA players to corporate executives to high school students to prison inmates – meet regularly to discuss The Purpose Driven Life.”
CNN MONEY – FORTUNE MAGAZINE ARTICLE
WILL SUCCESS SPOIL RICK WARREN?
America’s new superstar pastor wants to re-brand evangelical Christianity. He’s got the management genius to do it. Here’s where he’s leading his troops.
By MARC GUNTHER October 31, 2005 (FORTUNE Magazine)
After Hurricane Katrina hit, Rick Warren was one busy pastor. He travelled to Houston to preach to 8,000 evacuees in the Astrodome, standing in a skybox next to Oprah Winfrey. He went on the Larry King show to explain how churches were stepping in to do relief work. He lobbied his friends in the White House to release disaster-aid money to religious groups. And in case anybody missed his post-hurricane tour, his publicist issued a press release when it was done.
A protégé of management thinker Peter Drucker, Warren is also cultivating corporate executives. He calls himself Rupert Murdoch’s pastor, he has entertained Jack Welch at his home, and he will meet Bill Gates at a Time magazine conference on global health, where they are both scheduled to speak. He also has forged ties with celebrity activists like Bono, who arranged to make him official pastor of the Live 8 concert last summer in Philadelphia. … If a middle-aged Baptist minister can be said to possess that elusive quality called buzz, Rick Warren has it right now.
Several factors explain why. One is the clout of evangelical Christians. … Warren emerged from the pack of evangelical leaders because his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, has sold 26 million copies since it was published by Zondervan, a unit of Murdoch’s News Corp., in 2002—making it one of the decade’s top sellers, up there with The Da Vinci Code. …
Most of all, Warren gets attention because he is, as he likes to say, a “spiritual entrepreneur.” Using techniques that he learned from Drucker, among others, Warren built Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, California, into one of America’s biggest religious institutions. “Forget any opinions you have about religion and just look at the guy as a CEO, and you’ve got to be impressed,” says Joe Ritchie, a Chicago businessman and Warren ally who once ran the world’s largest options-trading company. Today Saddleback has an annual budget of $30 million, 300 employees, a 120-acre campus, and around 22,000 worshippers each weekend. Warren also founded Purpose-Driven Ministries, a non profit network of about 150,000 pastors, which has its own staff of about 180 people, a $39 million budget, and a thriving website called pastors.com. …
…
… Like a politician who loves the campaign trail, Warren feeds off people. A large, gregarious man with spiky hair and a goatee, Warren dresses in Hawaiian shirts and wears no socks, even on stage at Saddleback. He’s known as Rick or Pastor Rick, not Reverend Warren. “Rick is not sophisticated in any way,” says his wife, Kay. “He’s always been the class clown.” He jokes about his weakness for doughnuts, and he uses one-liners to deflect questions he’d rather not answer. Ask about politics, and he’ll reply, “I’m not left wing and I’m not right wing. I’m for the whole bird.”
In the quarter-century since, Warren has developed an approach to management that drives all his enterprises. He challenges people to think big. He is patient about results. And he builds decentralized organizations.
A student of business, … he says he learned his most important lesson about leadership soon after starting Saddleback. As the church grew, Warren tried to do everything himselfpreaching, weddings, funerals, pastoral counselling, and seeking out new members. He collapsed during a Sunday service and endured a period of depression and doubt. “If you’re going to have a mid-life crisis,” he says, “it’s nice to have it when you’re 26.” He came away with an insight that eludes micro managers everywherethat for an enterprise to grow, the leader needs to give up control.
“In any organization, you have to decide whether you want growth or control,” Warren says. “You cannot have both.” Warren told his flock that he could no longer take care of them and that, from then on, they’d have to care for one another. They would do that by forming small groups.
He had hit upon an organizational structure that has allowed Saddleback to get big and stay small.
Today it has 3,300 small groups organized by neighbourhood, interests, or experiences…. … Saddleback says it was the first church to go on the Internet, and a key function of its website today is to organize the groups, which typically meet weekly to pray, study the Bible, and do good works.
By his own account, Warren is uninterested in operations. He is neither well-organized nor disciplined. “I’m a start up guy,” he says. “I’m not a maintenance guy.” A core team of about a dozen pastors and lay people manages the church and the Purpose-Driven non profit, as well as Warren’s extensive travel and speaking schedule. A colleague explains, “Rick is like a hurricane. Before he blows into a place, some of us are the weather service, preparing for his arrival. Others come in after to clean up.”
PEACE stands for Partner with or Plant churches, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, and Educate the next generation. … Warren would like to make Rwanda the world’s first “purpose-driven nation.” The tiny, mountainous land, which suffered a genocide in 1994, is quietly regenerating itself. Speaking to a rally in Kigali, Warren said, “In the Old Testament, God took a small nation and He blessed the world with it…. Just as God used Israel to bring the Good News to the world, I believe that God wants to use Rwanda, this nation, in the 21st century.”
…
Success has created unexpected problems for Warren. He has to manage his ego (not easy) and his wealth (easier, because he’s giving 90% of his income away—riches have clearly not spoiled this guy). But he has come under intense scrutiny. Toughest of all is the political task he has taken on: He wants to get a broad swath of Americans to use churches to fight poverty at a time when the nation is divided along religious lines by issues like abortion and gay rights.
Warren is grappling with a question familiar to anyone with political ambitions: Once you have made a name for yourself by appealing to a core constituency, how do you broaden your appeal without alienating your base? …
…
…
Warren has attracted flak from traditionalist evangelicals, who accuse him of winning followers by toning down what they say is the core message of the Bible about hell, sin, and the wrath of God. Two books attacking his ideas have been published by Christian presses. “He has been called a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a liar, deceiver, a poison dispenser, a follower of a false god, a compromiser, an occultist, a huckster, and a money-grubbing preacher,” says Richard Abanes, a former staff member at Saddleback who has written his own book, a defence of Warren.
This is so even though Warren is entirely orthodox when it comes to the culture wars: Like other evangelicals, he opposes abortion, gay marriage, stem-cell research, human cloning, and euthanasia. What’s more, on the eve of last year’s Presidential election, he wrote that those five moral issues are “non negotiable” and “not even debatable.” …
………………………………
…Now that Rick Warren has entered those debates, he may or may not be able to resolve the contradictions that his role carries with it. But there is no doubt that he has shown himself to be his generation’s great religious entrepreneur. FEEDBACK mgunther@fortunemail.com
HIS OWN EXPLANATION OF HIMSELF:
CHRISTIAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE:
Event Transcript Myths of the Modern Mega-Church Monday, May 23, 2005 Key West, Florida
As a writer, you never know who is reading your stuff and so I just wanted you to know I am reading you. I read a book a day and I read tons of magazines, tons of articles, and I just devour enormous quantities of material, and thank God for the Internet. I get The New York Times and I get The Wall Street Journal, and I get the local papers in L.A., but the rest I have to read online or in the magazines that I subscribe to.
“Myths of the Modern Evangelical Mega-Church.” I spoke at Harvard last month. I did a series of lectures for the faculty in the Kennedy School and also in the law school. I spoke to several groups of faculty and several groups of students and I started with this quote from Peter Drucker: “The most significant sociological phenomenon of the first half of the 20th century was the rise of the corporation. The most significant sociological phenomenon of the second half of the 20th century has been the development of the large pastoral church – of the mega-church. It is the only organization that is actually working in our society.”
Now Drucker has said that at least six times. I happen to know because he’s my mentor. I’ve spent 20 years under his tutelage learning about leadership from him, and he’s written it in two or three books, and he says he think it’s the only thing that really works in society.
…
There are 6,000 churches that run over 1,000, there are about 750 churches that run over 2,000 – so those are the real mega-churches, the 750 over 2,000. There are about 20 churches in America that run over 10,000 in attendance on a typical weekend. And there are three of us that run over 20,000. The three largest churches in America are Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, outside of Chicago; the Lakewood Church in Houston, which is on television, so you might have seen that one (the pastor is Joel Osteen); and then Saddleback is the largest church in America. We had our 25th anniversary on Easter this year. I did 12 services. We had 45,000 in attendance and I preached 12 services in a row. Two weeks later, we celebrated our anniversary and we had never had the church in one location, so we rented Angel Stadium and had 30,000 at Angel Stadium. I have 82,000 names on the church roll.
…
If I were to drop dead right now, Saddleback Church would keep growing, because it’s not built on me. It is a purpose-driven church, rather than a personality-driven church. We’ve all seen what happens when churches or ministries are built on personality and that guy has a moral failure or he flames out or something and the whole ministry collapses. When I wrote “The Purpose Driven Life,” I took off seven months and I did not preach, and I did not teach, and I did not lead my staff of 300, but I just wrote the book. And while I was gone, the church grew by 800 people because it’s not built on me, it’s built on the 9,200 lay ministers in the church.
We have 9,200 lay ministers who lead 200-plus different ministries all over southern California. I know these numbers are a little overwhelming, but just to give you an idea, we have 2,600 small groups that meet from Santa Monica to Escondido in 83 cities. And so the church gathers on Sunday for a big service and then meets during the week in homes.
Copyright © The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
ABOUT SADDLEBACK CHURCH
Average Attendance Today: 20,000+
New believers baptised in past 10 years: 12,000
Church Campus: 120 acres
Ministries to the community/Orange County: 200+
Members sent on compassion mission projects worldwide: 4,500
WHAT WE BELIEVE – CONDENSED VERSION
God is bigger and better and closer than we can imagine.
The Bible is God’s perfect guidebook for living.
Jesus is God showing himself to us.
Through His Holy Spirit, God lives in and through us now.
Nothing in creation “just happened.” God made it all.
Grace is the only way to have a relationship with God.
Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God.
God has allowed evil to provide us with a choice, God can bring good even out of evil events and God promises victory over evil to those who choose him.
Heaven and hell are real places. Death is a beginning, not the end.
The church is to serve people like Jesus served people..
Jesus is coming again.
WHAT WE BELIEVE – EXPANDED VERSION
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT MAN
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God´s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates man from God. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2
ABOUT ETERNITY
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven´s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords. Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God´s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin´s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security. John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God´s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
PURPOSE:
To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name.
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH: 1995
THE BOOK JACKET:
What Drives Your Church?
EVERY CHURCH IS DRIVEN BY SOMETHING. Tradition, finances, programs, personalities, events, seekers, and even buildings can be the controlling force in a church. BUT RICK WARREN BELIEVES THAT IN ORDER FOR A CHURCH TO BE HEALTHY IT MUST BECOME A:- PURPOSE – DRIVEN CHURCH, built around the five New Testament purposes given to the church by Jesus.
“The Issue is Church health not Church growth:”
declares Warren. “If your church is healthy, growth will occur naturally. Healthy consistent growth is the result of balancing the five biblical purposes of the church.”
You’ll learn the secret behind the fastest growing Baptist church in American History
Saddleback Church grew from one family to over 10,000 in worship attendance in just fifteen years, while planting twenty-six other churches … and without owning a building.
Founding Pastor Rick Warren shares a proven five part strategy
that will enable your church to grow …
warmer through fellowship / deeper through discipleship / stronger through worship / broader through ministry / and larger through evangelism.
Not a Program but a People building process
The Purpose Driven Church SHIFTS THE FOCUS AWAY FROM CHURCH BUILDING PROGRAMS TO EMPHASISING A PEOPLE-BUILDING PROCESS. Warren says, “If you will concentrate on building people, God will build the church.
Discover in these pages the practical insights and helpful principles that Rick Warren has taught in seminars to over 22,000 pastors and church leaders from sixty denominations and in forty-two countries.
BACK COVER:
“This is the best book I’ve ever read on how to do church in today’s world.”
Lyle Schaller – Parish Consultant, Net Results Resource Center.
“This book is destined to become a classic. Rick Warren Has served the church by pioneering a new paradigm for ministry. This is must reading for all pastors and church planters, whether your church is traditional or contemporary.”
Aubrey Malphurs – Professor, Dallas Theological Seminary
“Rick Warren is a master at communicating God’s truth and understanding culture. Listen and learn from him.”
Leith Anderson – Senior Pastor, Wooddale Church.
“Every pastor should read this book! Rick Warren is one of the most thoughtful, biblical, and intentional people I know. Few men have the focus and conscious reasons for actions that he does. The Purpose Driven Church is thoroughly biblical and it works!”
Dr. James Draper – President, Baptist Sunday School Board
“Rick Warren has written a book a wise pastor should read three times. Read it rapidly to grasp its strategy. Read it thoughtfully to understand its principles. Then read it intentionally to put its strategic principles into practice.
Haddon Robinson – The Harold J. Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching Gordon Conwell Seminary
“The Purpose Driven Church was the most helpful seminar I’ve ever attended. Now Rick Warren’s wisdom is available in print. This is the book we’ve all waited for!”
John Maxwell – President, Injoy Ministries.
“Without pretence or apology, Rick Warren charts a course for the church to be the church. Here is a refreshing, straightforward, balanced teaching on church health and growth, which anyone can understand. This book rings with authenticity!”
Robert Coleman – Professor, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
“God could not have given me a more beloved and effective son in the ministry than Rick Warren … . . This book will help every church, regardless of size, to recapture the mission of the New Testament Church.”
From the foreword by Dr. W. A. Criswell – Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Dallas
I dedicate this book
to the bi vocational pastors around the world
shepherds who faithfully and lovingly serve
in churches that aren’t large enough
to provide a full-time salary. You are the
true heroes of the faith in my view.
May this book encourage you.
I also dedicate this book
to seminary and Christian college professors:
educators called to prepare the next generation’s
of pastors. What an awesome, holy task you have!
May God bless and honor your ministry
Finally, I dedicate this book
to the pastors and staff who served
with me at Saddleback Church.
It has been a great adventure together.
I love you deeply.
CONTENTS:
Foreword by Dr. W. A. Criswell … … … … … … . .11
Surfing Spiritual Waves … … … … … … … …13
SURFING IS THE ART OF RIDING WAVES THAT GOD BUILDS. God makes the waves; surfers just ride them. No surfer tries to create waves. If the waves aren’t there, you just don’t surf that day! On the other hand, when surfers see a good wave, they make the most of it, even if that means surfing in the middle of a storm.
A LOT OF BOOKS AND CONFERENCES ON CHURCH GROWTH FALL INTO THE “HOW TO BUILD A WAVE”CATEGORY. They try to manufacture the wave of God’s Spirit, using gimmicks, programs, or marketing techniques to create growth. But growth cannot be produced by man! Only God makes the church grow. Only God can breathe new life into a valley of dry bones. Only God can create waves—waves of revival, waves of growth, and waves of spiritual receptivity.
… …
OUR JOB AS CHURCH LEADERS, LIKE EXPERIENCED SURFERS, IS TO RECOGNIZE A WAVE OF GOD’S SPIRIT AND RIDE IT. It is not our responsibility to make waves but to recognize how God is working in the world and join him in the endeavour.
… …
AT SADDLEBACK CHURCH WE’VE NEVER TRIED TO BUILD A WAVE. THAT’S GOD’S BUSINESS. But we have tried to recognize the waves God was sending our way, and we’ve learned to catch them. We’ve learned to use the right equipment to ride those waves, and we’ve learned the importance of balance. We’ve also learned to get off dying waves whenever we sensed God wanted to do something new. The amazing thing is this: The more skilled we become in riding waves of growth, the more God sends!
… …
ALL LIVING THINGS GROW—YOU DON’T HAVE TO MAKE THEM GROW. It’s the natural thing for living organisms to do if they are healthy.
… …
THE TASK OF CHURCH LEADERSHIP IS TO DISCOVER AND REMOVE GROWTH-RESTRICTING DISEASES AND BARRIERS so that natural, normal growth can occur.
… …
For the past twenty years, I have been a student of growing churches, regardless of their size.
… …
I’ve spent even more time going through the New Testament.
… …
I’ve also loved reading church history.
… …
My greatest source of learning, however, has been watching what God has done in the church I pastor.
… …
THE PRINCIPLES IN THIS BOOK HAVE BEEN TESTED OVER AND OVER, not only at Saddleback Church, but in many other purpose driven churches of all sizes, shapes, locations, and denominations.
… …
WHEN A SURFER WIPES OUT BECAUSE HE DIDN’T RIDE A WAVE CORRECTLY, HE DOESN’T GIVE UP SURFING. He paddles back out into the ocean to wait for the next big wave God sends in. One thing I’ve observed about successful surfers: They are persistent.
You may have experienced a few “wipe outs” in your ministry. I certainly have. You may have missed a few waves. That doesn’t mean you should quit. The ocean hasn’t dried up. On the contrary, at this very moment God is creating in the world the best waves I’ve ever seen. It is my hope, as a fellow surfer, to share a few tips on how to ride what God is doing in his world. Let’s go catch a wave.
PART ONE • SEEING THE BIG PICTURE
1. The Saddleback Story … … … … .… … … . .25
GOD USED DONALD MCGARVEN: THE BRIDGES OF GOD 1955 … . to sharpen my focus on planting the church I would pastor… . . He challenged the conventional wisdom of his day about what made churches grow. I felt God directing me to invest the rest of my life discovering the principles – … – that produce healthy growing churches.
… .
SADDLEBACK VISION: From Pastor Rick’s First Sermon March 30 1980
It is the dream of a place where the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated, and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance, and encouragement.
It is the dream of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the hundreds of thousands of residents in south Orange County.
It is the dream of welcoming 20,000 members into the fellowship of our church family-loving, learning, laughing, and living in harmony together.
It is the dream of developing people to spiritual maturity through Bible studies, small groups, seminars, retreats, and a Bible school for our members.
It is the dream of equipping every believer for a significant ministry by helping them discover the gifts and talents God gave them.
It is the dream of sending out hundreds of career missionaries and church workers all around the world, and empowering every member for a personal life mission in the world. It is the dream of sending our members by the thousands on short-term mission projects to every continent. It is the dream of starting at least one new daughter church every year.
It is the dream of at least fifty acres of land, on which will be built a regional church for south Orange County-with beautiful, yet simple, facilities including a worship center seating thousands, a counseling and prayer center, classrooms for Bible studies and training lay ministers, and a recreation area. All of this will be designed to minister to the local person-spiritually, emotionally physically, and socially-and set in a peaceful, inspiring garden landscape.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND STATE IN CONFIDENT ASSURANCE THAT THESE DREAMS WILL BECOME REALITY. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE INSPIRED BY GOD.
2. Myths About Growing Churches … … … … … .47
MYTH#1: THE ONLY THING LARGE CHURCHES CARE ABOUT IS ATTENDANCE.
We do not focus on attendance, we focus on assimilating all the people God brings us.
Healthy lasting church growth is multidimensional. My definition of genuine church growth has five facets. Every church needs to grow warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship, broader through ministry, and larger through evangelism [Acts 2:42-47]
MYTH #2: ALL LARGE CHURCHES GROW AT THE EXPENSE OF SMALLER CHURCHES.
8o% of our members found Christ and were baptised at Saddleback.
MYTH #3: YOU MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN QUALITY AND QUANTITY IN YOUR CHURCH.
My definitions of Quality and Quantity:-
Quality is the kind of disciple a church is producing.
Quantity refers to the number of disciples a church is producing
MYTH #4: YOU MUST COMPROMISE THE MESSAGE AND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN ORDER TO GROW.
Jesus’ ministry attracted enormous crowds. Why? Because the gospel is good news! It has attractive power when clearly presented. John 12:32. Not only did crowds of adults want to be around Jesus, so did young children. A Christlike church will have the same drawing effect on people.
MYTH #5: IF YOU ARE DEDICATED ENOUGH, YOUR CHURCH WILL GROW.
A favourite myth promoted at pastor’s conferences,.
It takes more than dedication to lead a church to grow, it takes skill. Eccl. 10:10.
While we wait for God to work for us, God is waiting to work through us!
MYTH #6: THERE IS ONE SECRET KEY TO CHURCH GROWTH.
Any time you hear a pastor attribute the growth of his church to one single factor, realize that he is either over simplifying what has occurred, or he may not be recognizing the real reason his church is growing.
Never confuse methods with the message. The message must never change, but the methods must change with each new generation.
MYTH #7: ALL GOD EXPECTS OF US IS FAITHFULNESS
This statement is only half true. God expects both faithfulness and fruitfulness. Fruitfulness is a major them of the New Testament. Jn 15:16,8; Col 1:10; Mt 21:19,43.
MYTH #8: YOU CAN’T LEARN FROM LARGE CHURCHES.
Saddleback’s growth is a sovereign act of God that cannot be replicated. However, we should extract the lessons and principles that are transferable.
PART TWO • BECOMING A PURPOSE-DRIVEN CHURCH
3. What Drives Your Church? … … … … … … …75
Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. NIV
Prov 19:21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’S counsel—that will stand. NKJV
EVERY CHURCH IS DRIVEN BY SOMETHING. THERE’S A GUIDING FORCE, A CONTROLLING ASSUMPTION, A DIRECTING CONVICTION BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS.
Tradition / Personality / Finances / Programs / Buildings / Events / Seekers
A Biblical Paradigm: Purpose Driven Churches
There are two essential elements of this paradigm:
1st, A New Perspective -See everything through the lens of the New Testament
2nd, A Process for fulfilling the purposes of the Church.
STRONG CHURCHES ARE BUILT ON PURPOSE.
You should ask the question, ‘Why do we exist’, until you know you have no foundation, motivation or direction for ministry. In stagnant, declining or discouraged churches your most important task is to redefine your purpose. To recapture a clear vision of what God wants to do through your church family. To many churches and pastors are at crossed purposes.
Win Arn [The Institute for American Church Growth founder] Survey:
89% members said: ‘To take care of my family and my needs’
11% members said:’To win the world for Jesus Christ’.
90% pastors said: ‘To win the world’
10% pastors said: ‘To care for the needs of members’.
Unless the driving force behind a church is biblical, the health and growth of the church will never be what God intended.
4. The Foundation for a Healthy Church … … … …85
Jesus “… I will build my church” Mt 16:18
1Cor 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder,
YOUR FOUNDATION WILL DETERMINE BOTH ITS SIZE AND STRENGTH. YOU CAN NEVER BUILD LARGER THAN YOUR FOUNDATION CAN HANDLE.
A clear purpose not only defines what we do, it defines what we don’t do.
Builds Morale 1Cor 1:10 LB / Reduces Frustration Isa 26:3 TEV /
Allows Concentration Php 3:13 LB / Attracts Cooperation Ezra 10:4 LB
Assists Evaluation 2Cor 13:5
“As Peter Drucker says ‘What’s your business?’ And ‘How’s your business?’ These are the two most critical questions for evaluating your church. Big is not necessarily better, nor is small necessarily better. Better is better!
IF YOU WANT YOUR CHURCH TO BECOME PURPOSE DRIVEN, YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAD IT THROUGH FOUR CRITICAL PHASES:
5. Defining Your Purposes … … … … … … … . .95
1Cor 1:10 Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church… . Be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
NKJV perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
NIV perfectly united in mind and thought.
LEADING YOUR CHURCH TO DEFINE ITS PURPOSES
Study What the Bible Says – On the Church –
It isn’t our job to create the purposes of the church but to discover them.
2 Books help: Dynamic Bible Study Methods by Rick Warren &
Principles for Church Growth by Gene Mims. [See appendice 1.]
Find out What makes an Effective Purpose Statement?
It expresses the New Testament doctrine of the church.
Its specific / Transferable / Measurable
Two Great Scriptures – Jesus summarizes it all in Matthew 22:37-40 and 28:19,20
“A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission
will grow a Great Church”.
THE FIVE PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH
A purpose driven church is committed to fulfilling all five tasks that Christ ordained for His church to accomplish.
Purpose #1: Love the lord your God with all your heart = In One Word – Worship
Purpose #2: Love your neighbour as yourself = In One Word – Ministry
Purpose #3 Go and make Disciples = In One Word – Evangelism
Purpose #4 Baptizing Them = In One Word – Fellowship
Purpose #5: Teaching Them To Obey = In One Word – Discipleship
Saddleback’s Purpose Statement:
WE USE FIVE KEY WORDS TO SUMMARIZE CHRIST’S FIVE PURPOSES FOR HIS CHURCH:
Magnify: we celebrate god’s presence in worship
Mission: We communicate God’s Word through evangelism
Membership: We incorporate God’s family into our fellowship
Maturity: We educate God’s people through discipleship
Ministry: We demonstrate God’s love through service
These key words, … , have been incorporated into our mission statement which reads:
SADDLEBACK’S PURPOSE STATEMENT:
“To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name”
Note – It is stated in terms of measurable results not activities. It encourages participation by every member. They are arranged in a sequential process.
If I were to use business terms I’d say that our church is in the “disciple development” business, and that our product is changed lives – Christlike people.
Its not merely a target that you aim for; it is your congregation’s reason for being.
6. Communicating Your Purposes … … .… … … … .111
An unreliable messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress. Proverbs 13:17 LB
NIV A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
NKJV A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health.
MY CHURCH FAMILY GIVES ME
● God’s purpose to live for [mission]
● God’s people to live with [membership]
● God’s principles to live by [maturity]
● God’s profession to live out [magnify]
7. Organizing Around Your Purposes … … … . . .… . .121
New wine must be poured into new wineskins Luke 5:38 NIV
“WITHOUT A SYSTEM AND A STRUCTURE TO BALANCE THE FIVE PURPOSES, YOUR CHURCH WILL OVER EMPHASIZE THE PURPOSE THAT EXPRESSES THE GIFTS AND PASSION OF ITS PASTOR”.
Circles of Commitment & The Life Development Process p. 130
8. Applying Your Purposes … … … … … … … .137
We trust the Lord that you are putting into practice the things we taught you. 2Th 3:4 LB
NIV We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.
NKJV And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.
GROW THE CHURCH FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, RATHER THAN FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
[Circles of Commitment approach]
“When I began Saddleback, I started by totally focusing on the community, specifically the unchurched in my community.
I then gathered a crowd out of the the community by writing a letter announcing the beginning of our church and mailing it to 15000 homes.
For that first year, about all we tried to do was build a crowd and introduce them to Jesus.
In the second year I began working on turning the believers in our crowd into a congregation.
The third year I instituted a plan to raise the commitment level of our members.
PART THREE • REACHING OUT TO YOUR COMMUNITY
9. Who Is Your Target? … … …… … .… … . .155
Jesus: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” Mat 15:24
Paul: “I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews”.
10. Knowing Whom You Can Best Reach … … … .… . .173
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him. “We have found the Messiah” John 1:41
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with him and his disciples . Mat 9:10
THE PASTOR DOES NOT ATTRACT FIRST TIME VISITORS, BUT HE IS A MAJOR REASON VISITORS COME BACK.
You will attract who you are, not who you want.
11. Developing Your Strategy … … … … … … . .185
Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. 1Cor 9:22 LB
NIV To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
NKJV to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Jesus called out, “Come along with me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men” Mt 4:19 LB
NIV “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
NKJV Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
I HAD READ ROBERT SCHULLER’S BOOK YOUR CHURCH HAS REAL POSSIBILITIES
which told how he had gone door to door in 1955 and asked hundreds of people, ‘Why don’t you go to church?’ and ‘What do you want in a church?’
PART FOUR • BRINGING IN A CROWD
12. How Jesus Attracted Crowds … … … … … …207
Enormous crowds followed him wherever he went. Mat 4:25 LB
NIV Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
NKJV Great multitudes followed Him——from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
The large crowd listened to him with delight Mark 12:37
THE MOST OVERLOOKED KEY TO GROWING A CHURCH: WE MUST LOVE UNBELIEVERS THE WAY JESUS DID.
People need fewer ‘ought to’ sermons and more ‘how to’ sermons.
If you are serious about ministering to people the way Jesus did, don’t be surprised if some of today’s religious establishment accuse you of selling out to culture and breaking traditions.
13. Worship Can Be a Witness … … … … … … . .239
God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth John 4:24
YOUR PREFERRED STYLE OF WORSHIP SAYS MORE ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND THAN YOUR THEOLOGY.
Making a service ‘comfortable’ for the unchurched doesn’t mean changing your theology. It means changing the environment.
14. Designing a Seeker-Sensitive Service … . . .… … . .251
If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 1Cor 14:23 NRSV
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Col 4:5
A CROWD IS NOT A CHURCH. BUT TO GROW A LARGER CHURCH YOU MUST FIRST ATTRACT A CROWD.
15. Selecting Your Music …… … … … … … . .279
He put a new song in my mouth … . Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the Lord. Psalm 40:3 NCV
NIV He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
NKJV He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
MATCH YOUR MUSIC TO THE KIND OF PEOPLE GOD WANTS YOUR CHURCH TO REACH.
There is no such thing as ‘Christian Music’. There are only ‘Christian Lyrics’.
16. Preaching to the Unchurched … … … … … . .293
Be tactful with those who are not Christians, … Talk to them agreeably and with flavor of wit, and try to fit your answers to the needs of each one. Col. 4:5,6 JB
NIV Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
NKJV Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
[Speak] only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph 4:29
THE GROUND WE HAVE IN COMMON WITH UNBELIEVERS IS NOT THE BIBLE, BUT OUR COMMON NEEDS, HURTS, AND INTERESTS AS HUMAN BEINGS.
Each week I begin with a need, hurt or interest and then move to what God has to say about it in His word. Rather than concentrating on a single passage, I will use many verses from many passages that speak to the topic. I call this type of preaching ‘verse with verse’ exposition, or topical exposition.
I honestly don’t think God cares at all whether you teach the Bible book by book or topic by topic, as long as you teach the Bible.
… .
Read Scripture from a newer translation. With all the wonderful translations and paraphrases available today, there is no legitimate reason for complicating the Good News with four hundred year old English.
PART FIVE • BUILDING UP THE CHURCH
17. Turning Attenders into Members (Congregation) . .309
18. Developing Mature Members (Committed) … … .331
19. Turning Members into Ministers (Core) … … … .365
20. God’s Purpose for Your Church … … … … … .393
COMMENTS: [From Paul Alexander's review for 9 Marks Ministries]
Rick Warren understands himself to be an evangelical, he affirms the sovereignty of God, the need for conversion and making disciples, he is passionate about evangelism, affirms the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture, believes in a regenerate church membership and practices church discipline.
Its his method for doing Church which gives rise to concern, its an all enveloping methodology which has become very popular.
THE TROUBLE IS THAT HIS MODEL AND METHODS SEEM TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS FROM TEXTS THAT DON’T NECESSARILY SUPPORT THEM.
● 1 Using Jesus’ Ministry as ‘The’ Model For Felt Needs Evangelism.
His Miracles were Messianic Identity markers Mt 8:14-17; Acts 2:22
When Jesus sensed crowds coming just to have their felt needs met, he left and went elsewhere Mk 1:14,15
● 2. It was Jesus authority which struck people not His preaching style.
● 3. 1Cor 14:23 isn’t about being seeker sensitive, but about edification of believers.
● 4. 1Cor 10:32 isn’t about ‘seeker sensitive’ services but ‘seeker sensitive’ living.
He seems to often over look context and come away with a different point than the one the text makes.
METHODOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES
● 1. The Bible doesn’t ascribe driving power to purposes, but to his Word
Isaiah 55:10,11 makes this clear, in the NT the gospel is the driving power Rom 1:16; 1Cor 1:18.
Warren’s purposes are biblical, but they are not the driving power of the Church.
● 2. The Method and the Message are inseparable
Separating them leads to a ‘whatever works best’ mentality
● 3. Are Sales Techniques, Management Schemes and positive thinking really necessary for successful evangelism?
Jesus was crucified, Peter was jailed, Stephen stoned for presenting the good news!
SUMMARY
Warren’s methods obscure the gospel; lead to false assurance; misunderstands man’s ability and God’s sovereignty in conversion; tries to make the gospel attractive on the world’s terms.
“But this is not what Warren means. Warren’s purpose in cultural exegesis is to make the gospel appear attractive on the world’s terms, as we’ve already seen. But is it possible to make the exclusive cross of Jesus Christ attractive and appealing to a religiously pluralistic, morally relativistic culture by structuring our approach on the blueprint of their preferences? “ Says Paul Alexander’s book review for 9 Marks Ministry.
J. Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS, makes a striking observation. “Liberalism says that the gospel won’t work unless the message is changed. Some evangelicals say that the gospel won’t work unless the method is changed. But biblical Christianity believes that the gospel will work, and that God has given us both the message and the method.” Says Paul Alexander’s book review for 9 Marks Ministry.
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE
“The Best Selling Non-Fiction Hardback in History” – [Publisher's Weekly]
No 1 Best Selling Christian Book in the UK!
BACK COVER:
Rick Warren presents an essential manifesto for Christian living in the twenty-first century.
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE ALIVE AND GOD’S AMAZING PLAN FOR YOU – BOTH HERE AND NOW, AND FOR ETERNITY.
Rick Warren will guide you through a personal 40-day spiritual journey that will transform your answer to life’s most important questions: What on earth am I here for? Knowing God’s purpose for creating you will reduce your stress, focus your energy, simplify your decisions, give meaning to your life, and, most important, prepare you for eternity. The Purpose-Driven Life is a blueprint for Christian living in the 21st century – a lifestyle based on God’s eternal purposes, not cultural values. Using over 1,200 scriptural quotes and references, it challenges the conventional definitions of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. In the tradition of Oswald Chambers, Rick Warren offers distilled wisdom on the essence of what life is all about.
INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE:
This book is dedicated to you.
Before you were born, God planned this moment in your life. It is no accident that you are holding this book. God longs for you to discover the life He created you to live – here on earth, and forever in eternity.
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ …, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Eph 1:11 (Msg) [It also includes v.12, strange its not noted?]
I am grateful to the hundreds of writers and teachers, both classical and contemporary, who have shaped my life and helped me learn these truths. I thank God and you for the privilege of sharing them with you.
CONTENTS:
A Journey with Purpose 11
THIS IS MORE THAN A BOOK, IT IS A GUIDE TO A 40-DAY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY … .
By the end of this journey you will know God’s purpose for your life and will understand the big picture – how all the pieces of life fit together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity.
… .
THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT GOD CONSIDERS 40 DAYS A SPIRITUALLY SIGNIFICANT TIME PERIOD.
Whenever He wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days: Noah; Moses; The spies; David; Elijah; Nineveh; Jesus; His Disciples.
… .
As I wrote this book, I have often prayed that you would experience the incredible sense of hope, energy, and joy that comes from discovering what God put you on this planet to do.
My Covenant 17
MY COVENANT
With God’s help, I commit the next 40 days of my life to discovering God’s purpose for my life.
___________
Your Name
___________
Partner’s Name
____Rick Warren_____
Rick Warren
“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up … Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 (TEV)
WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?
Pro 11:28 MSG A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
NIV Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
NKJV He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Jeremiah 17:7,8 NLT “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD …
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
NIV “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
NKJV “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Day 1 It All Starts with God 21
Col 1:16 MSG For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
NIV For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
NKJV For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless. B Russell, atheist.
ITS NOT ABOUT YOU.
THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE IS FAR GREATER THAN your own personal fulfilment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. .. you won’t discover your life’s meaning by looking within yourself.
YOU MUST BEGIN WITH GOD, your Creator… . You were made by God and for God – and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
YOU HAVE TWO HAVE ONLY TWO OPTIONS. [to discover the purpose you were created for]. Speculation and Revelation. … To discover your purpose in life you must turn to God’s Word, not the World’s wisdom.
Eph 1:11,12 MSG It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
1. You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. …
2. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. …
3. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity. …
Day 2 You Are Not an Accident 28
Isa 44:2a. CEV I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.
NIV This is what the LORD says—he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:
NKJV Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
God doesn’t play dice. Albert Einstein
YOUR BIRTH WAS NO MISTAKE OR MISHAP, AND YOUR LIFE IS NO FLUKE OF NATURE.
YOUR PARENTS MAY NOT HAVE PLANNED YOU BUT GOD DID. He was not surprised by your birth. In fact, He planned it… . . You are alive because God wanted to create you! Ps 138:8 NIV
GOD MADE YOU FOR A REASON, HE ALSO DECIDED WHEN YOU WOULD BE BORN AND HOW LONG YOU WOULD LIVE.
GOD PLANNED WHERE YOU’D BE BORN AND WHERE YOU’D LIVE FOR HIS PURPOSE.
Most amazingly, God decided how you would be born.
God never does anything accidentally, and he never makes mistakes.
God was thinking of you even before he made the world.
WHY DID GOD DO ALL THIS? BECAUSE HE IS A GOD OF LOVE.
BUT THERE IS A GOD WHO MADE YOU FOR A REASON, AND YOUR LIFE HAS PROFOUND MEANING! We discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives.
Rom 12:3b MSG The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
NIV Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
NKJV For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Day 3 What Drives Your Life? 34
Eccl 4:4 LB I observed that the basic motive for success is the driving force of envy and jealousy!
NIV And I saw that all labour and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbour. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
NKJV Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbour. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
The man without purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, no man. Thomas Carlyle.
EVERYONE’S LIFE IS DRIVEN BY SOMETHING, WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE IN YOUR LIFE?
Guilt / Resentment and Anger / Fear / Materialism / Need For Approval /
… . all lead to the same end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life.
THERE ARE FIVE GREAT BENEFITS OF LIVING A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE:
Gives Meaning / Simplifies / Focuses / Motivates / Prepares You For Eternity.
Day 4 Made to Last Forever 45
Eccl. 3:11 NLT God has … planted eternity in the human heart.
NIV He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
NKJV He has put eternity into their hearts.
LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS.
LIFE ON EARTH IS JUST THE DRESS REHEARSAL BEFORE THE REAL PRODUCTION.
One day your heart will stop beating. That will be the end of your body and your time on earth, but it will not be the end of you.
WHILE LIFE ON EARTH OFFERS MANY CHOICES, ETERNITY OFFERS ONLY TWO: HEAVEN OR HELL.
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE ON EARTH, BUT IT DOESN’T END HERE. His plan involves far more than the few decades you will spend on this planet.
Day 5 Seeing Life from God’s View 52
James 4:14b NIV What is our life.
We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. Anais Nin [Ana-eese Neen]
(Anaïs Nin is hailed by many critics as one of the finest examples of writers of female erotica.)
THE WAY YOU SEE YOUR LIFE SHAPES YOUR LIFE.
HOW YOU DEFINE YOUR LIFE DETERMINES YOUR DESTINY.
Your unspoken metaphor influences your life more than you realize.
You will have to challenge conventional wisdom and replace it with the biblical metaphors of life.
THE BIBLE OFFERS THREE METAPHORS THAT TEACH US GOD’S VIEW OF LIFE: A TEST, A TRUST, A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT.
Day 6 Life Is a Temporary Assignment 60
Ps 39:4 NLT Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeting away.
NIV “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.
NKJV “LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.
Ps 119:19 TEV I am here on earth for just a little while.
NIV I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
NKJV I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF YOUR LIFE, YOU MUST NEVER FORGET TWO TRUTHS:
FIRST, COMPARED WITH ETERNITY, LIFE IS EXTREMELY BRIEF.
SECOND, EARTH IS ONLY A TEMPORARY RESIDENCE. You won’t be long, so don’t get too attached.
In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life – longings that will never be fulfilled on this side of eternity. We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be. Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.
Day 7 The Reason for Everything 67
Romans 11:36 LB Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory.
NIV For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
NKJV For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Prov 16:4 NLT The LORD has made everything for his own purposes.
NIV The LORD works out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster.
NKJV The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
Its all for him.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE UNIVERSE IS TO SHOW THE GLORY OF GOD. IT IS THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS, INCLUDING YOU.
WE BRING GLORY TO GOD BY loving other believers,/ becoming like Christ / serving others with our gifts / telling others about him.
WHAT WILL YOU LIVE FOR?
Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, schedule, relationships and everything else.
IN JOHN 12:27,28 JESUS STOOD AT A FORK IN THE ROAD.
WOULD HE FULFIL HIS PURPOSE AND BRING GLORY TO GOD, OR WOULD HE SHRINK BACK and live a comfortable, self-centred life? You face the same choice.
ITS TIME TO SETTLE THIS ISSUE. WHO ARE YOU LIVING FOR – YOURSELF OR GOD… . .
DON’T WORRY. God will give you what you need if you will just make the choice to live for him.
RIGHT NOW GOD IS INVITING YOU TO LIVE FOR HIS GLORY BY FULFILLING THE PURPOSES HE MADE YOU FOR… .
WILL YOU ACCEPT GOD’S OFFER? FIRST, believe. Believe God loves you and made you for his purposes… SECOND, receive. Receive Jesus into your life as Lord and Saviour. Receive his forgiveness for your sins. Receive his Spirit, who will give you the power to fulfil your life purpose.
IF YOU SINCERELY MEANT THAT PRAYER, CONGRATULATIONS! WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!
PURPOSE #1: YOU WERE PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE
– WORSHIP – MAKING GOD SMILE
Day 8 Planned for God’s Pleasure 79
Day 9 What Makes God Smile? 86
Day 10 The Heart of Worship 97
Day 11 Becoming Best Friends with God 108
Day 12 Developing Your Friendship with God 117
Day 13 Worship That Pleases God 127
Day 14 When God Seems Distant 136
PURPOSE #2: YOU WERE FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY
– FELLOWSHIP – TEACHES HOW TO LOVE
Day 15 Formed for God’s Family 147
Day 16 What Matters Most 154
Day 17 A Place to Belong 162
Day 18 Experiencing Life Together 173
Day 19 Cultivating Community 182
Day 20 Restoring Broken Fellowship 191
Day 21 Protecting Your Church 201
PURPOSE #3: YOU WERE CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST
– DISCIPLESHIP – ADOPTING GOD’S VALUES
Day 22 Created to Become Like Christ 215
Day 23 How We Grow 225
Day 24 Transformed by Truth 232
Day 25 Transformed by Trouble 242
Day 26 Growing through Temptation 252
Day 27 Defeating Temptation 263
Day 28 It Takes Time 273
PURPOSE #4: YOU WERE SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD
– MINISTRY – SERVICE TO BELIEVERS
Day 29 Accepting Your Assignment 285
Day 30 Shaped for Serving God 294
Day 31 Understanding Your Shape 302
Day 32 Using What God Gave You 313
Day 33 How Real Servants Act 323
Day 34 Thinking Like a Servant 333
Day 35 God’s Power in Your Weakness 342
PURPOSE #5: YOU WERE MADE FOR A MISSION
– EVANGELISM – SERVICE TO UNBELIEVERS
Day 36 Made for a Mission 353
Day 37 Sharing Your Life Message 364
Day 38 Becoming a World-Class Christian 374
Day 39 Balancing Your Life 385
Day 40 Living with Purpose 394
Appendix 1: Discussion Questions 405
Appendix 2: Resources 408
Appendix 3: Why Use So Many Translations? 410
Notes 412
COMMENTS: [From Paul Alexander's review for 9 Marks Ministries]
LIFE HAS BECOME A FULL-FLEDGED POPULAR PHENOMENON, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BECOMING A MOVEMENT IN ITSELF. Whereas Church sold over a million copies in fewer than ten years, Life has reportedly sold 11 million copies in fewer than two years – that’s 15,068 copies every day for two years!
HIS GOAL IS TO PREPARE THE READER TO ANSWER THE TWO QUESTIONS GOD WILL POSE TO HIM ON THE LAST DAY: What did you do with Jesus, and what did you do with what God gave you (p. . 34)? Since life is about bringing glory to God (p. . 53), the question to be answered is “How can I bring glory to God?” (p. . 55). The answer is by worshipping Him, loving other believers, becoming like Christ, serving others with our gifts, and telling others about Him (p. p. 55-57). The remaining five sections flesh out these ideas respectively. The most useful summary is given by Warren himself on p. 306, working from the Great Commandment (Matt 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20).
WARREN GIVES EVEN THE CAREFUL CHRISTIAN READER A LOT TO AGREE WITH.
First, he combats the self-centeredness and wrong individualism characteristic of Americans today.
Second, Warren is careful to maintain the authority of Scripture.
Fourth, Warren reminds the reader that “worship is not for your benefit” (p. 66).
Fifth, Warren rightly understands the centrality of the local congregation to the growth of the individual believer when he affirms that “love cannot be learned in isolation” (p. 124).
A. INTERPRETIVE DIFFICULTIES
To start at the beginning, we need to read Warren’s last chapter, where he comments on Acts 13:36 as the primary motivating verse for the book.
NIV “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.
BUT THE POINT OF THE PASSAGE IS NOT “DAVID WAS GOOD, SO BE LIKE HIM.”
The point is Christ’s supremacy over David as shown by His resurrection, which proved that Jesus is the Messiah – the true and eternal King of Israel. The application, then, is not that we should emulate David; it’s that we should exalt Christ. The motivating verse is misinterpreted as a moralism.
B. EVANGELISTIC DIFFICULTIES
1. THE AUDIENCE IS AMBIGUOUS.
WARREN SEEMS TO ADDRESS HIS BOOK TO BOTH BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS ALIKE.
The fact that Warren intends to address at least unbelievers is clear from the prayer to receive Christ that he offers them on pp. 58-59. YET Warren tells the reader on p. 44 that “the good news is that God wants you to pass the tests of life, so he never allows the tests you face to be greater than the grace he gives you to handle them.” The cart seems to be in front of the horse.
2. THE GOSPEL IS PRESENTED UNCLEARLY.
THE GOSPEL PRESENTATION ON PP. 58-59 SERVES AS THE FULCRUM OF THE BOOK,
where Warren ends his primer on the question of life’s purpose in chapter seven and begins expounding the five biblical purposes of the Purpose Driven Life in the chapters that remain.
THERE IS NO MENTION OF EITHER SIN OR REPENTANCE. True, Warren does require change. But biblical repentance is always and self-consciously a turning away specifically from sin, not just from amoral priorities or value neutral relationships.
HE GOES ON TO TELL THE UNBELIEVER THAT “Real life begins by committing yourself completely to Jesus Christ. If you are not sure you have done this, all you need to do is receive and believe [quoting John 1:12]” (p. 58). “ALL you need to do is receive and believe”. That is not all – you need to repent as well.
3. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION IS ENCOURAGED PREMATURELY.
WARREN CONTINUES:
Wherever you are reading this, I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity. ‘Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you.’ Go ahead. If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God! You are now ready to discover and start living God’s purpose for your life” (pp58-59).
THE REST OF THE BOOK, THEN, ASSUMES that the unbelieving reader prayed the prayer, and that praying the prayer ensures that the reader is now a bona fide Christian.
4. THE PURPOSES DEGENERATE INTO MORALISMS.
IF ALL THIS IS TRUE, THEN THE REST OF THE BOOK IS A MERE MORALISM FOR THE UNBELIEVING READER, EVEN THOUGH THE PURPOSES ARE CLEARLY BIBLICAL,
BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO PRAYED WARREN’S PRAYER ISN’T REALLY CONVERTED. He has not heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. He has not heard how to respond savingly to that Gospel by the graces of repentance from sin and trust in Christ. Yet he is being invited to “make pleasing God the goal of [his] life” (p76), and being told that “living on purpose is the only way to live” (p312).
5. CONVERSION IS CONFUSED WITH LIVING ON PURPOSE.
BECAUSE THE GOSPEL PRESENTATION IS CLOUDY, CONVERSION IS EASILY CONFUSED WITH LIVING ON PURPOSE.
Starting to use my abilities for God’s pleasure is not a saving response to the Gospel if unaccompanied by repentance. IT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY WORKS.
Surely the greatest tragedy is neither death nor life without purpose, but both life and death without responding to the Gospel in repentance and belief.
REPENTANCE DOESN’T GET ANY MORE TREATMENT UNTIL PAGE 182, as a part of progressive sanctification.
6. Conversion is confused with a deep desire to please God.
“WHAT GOD LOOKS AT IS THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR HEART – IS PLEASING HIM YOUR DEEPEST DESIRE?… WILL YOU MAKE PLEASING GOD THE GOAL OF YOUR LIFE? THERE IS NOTHING THAT GOD WON’T DO FOR THE PERSON TOTALLY ABSORBED WITH THIS GOAL” (P76).
This sounds great, and I agree that God does not look at mere outward appearances, but that our affections and attitudes matter to Him. BUT THE INTEGRITY OR SINCERITY OF MY DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD IS NOT FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT GOD LOOKS AT AS SAVING – OTHERWISE SALVATION WOULD NOT BE WHOLLY OF GRACE, as Warren would wholeheartedly agree, and millions of devout Muslims would be on their way to heaven, which Warren would wholeheartedly deny. A person can have a deep desire to please God, but without repentance from sin and belief in Jesus Christ alone as the one who has paid the penalty for that sin, no one is converted.
DISCIPLING DANGERS
1. ONLY THE GOSPEL HAS DRIVING POWER FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN.
WARREN ASSUMES THAT PURPOSE HAS POWER TO DRIVE THE BELIEVER FORWARD IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
Yet God accomplishes His purposes through the instrumentality of His effective word. Isa 55:10-11,
WE CANNOT RESOLVE THE DIFFICULTY BY SIMPLY EQUATING GOD’S PURPOSE WITH THE GOSPEL: the distinction between the two is clarified here in that God’s word is what accomplishes God’s purposes. The two are clearly distinct in God’s own mind – God sends His word to accomplish His purposes. We see the same active instrumentality of the Gospel in the New Testament (Acts 20:32; Rom 1:16; 1Cor 1:18; Col 1:5-6; Heb 4:12; James 1:18; 1Peter 1:23-25).
What this means, however, is that the Gospel is what enables our participation in God’s purposes. The Christian life is therefore not driven by purpose; it is driven by the Gospel.
2. THE PRIMACY OF THE GOSPEL IS REPLACED WITH THE PRIMACY OF PURPOSE.
THE GOSPEL NOT ONLY ENABLES OUR PARTICIPATION IN GOD’S PURPOSES; IT REGULATES AND INFORMS OUR PARTICIPATION IN THEM AS WELL,
DETERMINING who we seek unity with, who we are discipled by, who we cooperate with in evangelism, how we go about the task of evangelism, and the way we go about fulfilling both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. When the primacy of the Gospel is replaced by purpose, the gospel ceases to regulate our participation in those purposes. We risk getting love that is too tolerant to offend.
3. WORSHIP IS MISUNDERSTOOD AS SURRENDER.
OFFERING YOURSELF AS A SPECIFICALLY LIVING SACRIFICE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE TOTALLY PASSIVE IDEA OF SURRENDER.
Warren does say that sometimes surrendering will mean “doing inconvenient, unpopular, costly, or seemingly impossible tasks” (p. 84).
4. “REAL COMMUNITY” IS DECENTRALIZED FROM THE GATHERED CONGREGATION.
“THE BODY OF CHRIST, LIKE YOUR OWN BODY, IS REALLY A COLLECTION OF MANY SMALL CELLS. THE LIFE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, LIKE YOUR BODY, IS CONTAINED IN THE CELLS. FOR THIS REASON, EVERY CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN A SMALL GROUP WITHIN THEIR CHURCH…. THIS IS WHERE REAL COMMUNITY TAKES PLACE, NOT IN THE BIG GATHERINGS” (P139).
YET EKKLESIA, THE GREEK WORD FOR CHURCH, MEANS “GATHERING”. The church is the community of God, God’s program for both evangelism and discipleship. Jesus may have gathered twelve disciples, but we are never commanded anywhere in Scripture to form small groups, nor are we told that “real community” happens anywhere other than the church gathered, the ekklesia.
5. DISCIPLESHIP IS REDUCED TO DECISIONS.
“WE ALLOW CHRIST TO LIVE THROUGH US. ‘FOR THIS IS THE SECRET: CHRIST LIVES IN YOU.’ HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE? THROUGH THE CHOICES WE MAKE. WE CHOOSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN SITUATIONS AND THEN TRUST GOD’S SPIRIT TO GIVE US HIS POWER, LOVE, FAITH, AND WISDOM TO DO IT…. GOD WAITS FOR YOU TO ACT FIRST” (PP. 174, 175).
I AGREE THAT GOOD DECISIONS ARE PART OF MAKING HEADWAY IN PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION. But if God waited for us to act first, He’d be waiting a pretty long time. We need grace even to make the decision, and that grace comes from God acting first in and for us. God never waits for you to act first (Ezek 36:26-27; Rom 5:8-10; Eph 2:1-6; Php 2:12-13).
6. MINISTRY IS WRONGLY IDENTIFIED AS THE PATH TO SIGNIFICANCE.
“IN GOD’S KINGDOM, YOU HAVE A PLACE, A PURPOSE, A ROLE, AND A FUNCTION TO FULFIL. THIS GIVES YOUR LIFE GREAT SIGNIFICANCE AND VALUE” (P. 228). “SERVICE IS THE PATHWAY TO REAL SIGNIFICANCE” (P. 232).
WARREN SEEMS TO BE GETTING AT OTHERS-CENTERED LIVING AS THE MOST WORTHWHILE WAY TO LIVE. Yet speaking in terms of personal significance is misleading. Personal significance in the Christian life comes from our unchanging status as sons of God, not the task God gives us to do or the varying success with which we meet.
7. GIFTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS GUARANTEES OF GOD’S DESIRES FOR US.
“WHAT I’M ABLE TO DO, GOD WANTS ME TO DO… GOD WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO DEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO A TASK YOU HAVE NO TALENT FOR. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ABILITIES YOU DO HAVE ARE A STRONG INDICATION OF WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE” (PP243-244).
I UNDERSTAND WHAT WARREN MEANS – usually God works according to the gifts and passions that He has given us; agreed. BUT to say without qualification that God wants me to do what I’m able to do is misleading – it leaves no room for either waiting on God’s timing to do what I’m good at, or doing something I actually feel ill equipped to do but still needs to be done. Sometimes God calls us to do precisely those things for which we feel ill equipped just to prove that He is the One Who deserves the credit.
8. EVANGELISM IS SEPARATED FROM PREACHING.
WARREN SAYS THAT “YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN A SERMON, BECAUSE UNBELIEVERS SEE PASTORS AS PROFESSIONAL SALESMEN, BUT SEE YOU AS A ‘SATISFIED CUSTOMER’, SO THEY GIVE YOU MORE CREDIBILITY.
YET PAUL CAN’T CONCEIVE OF SHARING THE GOSPEL APART FROM PREACHING THE GOSPEL (ROM 10:14).
RESPONSES TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHY DOES PASTOR RICK USE SO MANY DIFFERENT BIBLE TRANSLATIONS?
Translating the Bible out of the original Hebrew and Greek languages is a complex challenge.
Most Bible translations are the work of a large committee of highly trained scholars. When Dr. Warren speaks or writes, he deliberately chooses the translation that will best communicate God’s Word to that specific audience. This allows him to benefit from the work of many biblical scholars who have worked for years to bring God’s Word into modern English.
AS AN EVANGELIST, PASTOR RICK IS CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BUILD BRIDGES THAT WILL LEAD PEOPLE INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
Sometimes the wording of one translation is better suited for reaching someone with the Gospel than the other translations. The point is to draw his readers and listeners into the Gospel message, knowing that once they begin the process of discipleship, they will become immersed in the Bible and be able to determine which translation is best for them.
IN ADDITION, MANY PEOPLE – BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS – HAVE BECOME SO ACCUSTOMED TO HEARING CERTAIN SCRIPTURE PASSAGES THAT A DIFFERENT TRANSLATION MAY GIVE THEM A FRESH UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSES.
They can take this fresh understanding and return to their preferred biblical translation with a renewed passion for God’s Word.
NEW OR UPDATED TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE BECOME NECESSARY WHEN PEOPLE NO LONGER UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE.
As we stand at the beginning of the 21st century, language is changing at an incredible speed. That’s why you’re seeing so many new and updated translations in use.
IS PASTOR RICK MARKETING CHRISTIANITY – AND COMPROMISING THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE IN THE PROCESS?
One common misconception about evangelistic/seeker services is that they use a marketing ploy catering to consumers.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT EVERY STYLE OF WORSHIP SERVICE CATERS TO SOMEONE:
A traditional service caters to those who grew up in that tradition, a formal service caters to formal people, and an emotional service caters to emotional people. If you want to know which “consumers” your church is currently catering to, just try changing your worship service next week. You’ll discover very quickly who they are!
THE REAL ISSUE ISN’T WHETHER YOU TARGET BUT WHO YOU TARGET.
We shouldn’t be surprised that most members never bring lost friends with them to church when everything we do in our services is geared to the long-time Christian who understands all the phrases and knows all the tunes. Even in churches that have evangelistic sermons, you often find every other part of the service is aimed at members. When we send mixed messages, we get mixed results.
WHEN PASTOR RICK PLANTED SADDLEBACK CHURCH, HE DELIBERATELY DECIDED TO “NICHE” THE SERVICES: ONE SERVICE FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS, THE OTHER FOR NON-BELIEVING FRIENDS.
The evangelistic service is called “seeker-targeted” or “seeker-sensitive.”
THE EVANGELISTIC SERVICES ARE DESIGNED SO SOMEONE WITHOUT ANY RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND CAN UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT TAKES PLACE.
They’re also designed so members can bring their non-believing friends to the service, knowing that the message will be focused on the Gospel. Our members are constantly on mission to bring their friends and neighbours to these weekend seeker services. As a result, we’ve baptized more than 1,000 new believers each year for the past decade.
IF A TRADITIONAL CHURCH WANTS TO START AN EVANGELISTIC/SEEKER SERVICE, PASTOR RICK’S ADVICE IS THIS:
Don’t throw out your existing service. Instead, add an evangelistic/seeker service to which your members can bring their friends. This will assist your members in being on mission for Christ.
DOES PREACHING TO THE “FELT NEEDS” OF UNBELIEVERS WATER DOWN THE GOSPEL?
Jesus often established a beachhead for evangelism in a person’s life by meeting a felt need.
HE FREQUENTLY ASKED PEOPLE, “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?”
The result was that people crowded around Jesus. They brought him all kinds of needs, and Jesus treated each one as important. He didn’t judge some needs as more legitimate than others, and he certainly didn’t make people feel guilty for coming to him with their needs. He built bridges by meeting needs.
GOD USES ALL KINDS OF HUMAN NEEDS TO GET PEOPLE’S ATTENTION.
Who has absolutely unselfish, unmixed motivations when we ask Christ to save us? We come when we realize he can meet our need. Does it matter why people initially come to Jesus? What matters is that they come to him! Once in his presence, he can work on their motives, values, and priorities.
Ministry is meeting needs in Jesus’ name. We do not limit our ministry to so-called “spiritual” needs only. We believe God cares about every part of a person’s life. James had some strong words on the subject: “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16, NIV) Meeting human needs, regardless of what they are, is being a “doer of the Word.”
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE FEEL THE SAME EMOTIONAL AND RELATIONAL NEEDS: THE NEED FOR LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, FORGIVENESS, MEANING, A PLACE TO EXPRESS THEIR ABILITIES, AND A PURPOSE TO LIVE FOR.
People also are looking for freedom from fear, guilt, worry, resentment, discouragement, and loneliness. If your church is genuinely meeting these kinds of needs, attendance will be the least of your problems. You’ll have to lock the doors to keep people out.
HAS PURPOSE DRIVEN BEEN INFLUENCED BY NEW AGE ‘THEOLOGY’?
Not at all, Purpose Driven is founded on the same beliefs that disciples of Jesus Christ have held for the past 2,000 years.
PURPOSE DRIVEN AFFIRMS:
• There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• The Bible is his inspired, infallible, authoritative Word.
• The Lord Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, born of a virgin, sinless in his life, atoning in his death, bodily raised from the dead, ascended to the Father’s right hand, and personally coming again.
• Lost and sinful people must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit to be saved.
• The Holy Spirit indwells Christians, enabling them to live godly lives.
• One day, both the saved and the lost will be raised, the saved unto life and the lost unto damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
In contrast, “New Age” is a catch-all label for a hodgepodge of primitive religious beliefs accepted by some people who are looking for salvation in something other than Christ.
MANY NEW AGERS BELIEVE IN PANTHEISM – THE IDEA THAT EVERYTHING IS GOD AND GOD IS EVERYTHING.
Notions of karma and reincarnation are fashionable in those circles. Some New Age groups teach that each person is a potential god, others that all religions are equally valid paths to one universal Ultimate Reality.
“But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.” (1 Corinthians 8:6, NLT)
WHAT DOES PASTOR RICK TEACH ABOUT SIN, THE NEED FOR REGENERATION, AND THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE?
Some people assume that a church with lots and lots of visitors must somehow be watering down the gospel in order to attract such crowds.
THEY APPARENTLY THINK IT TAKES A CHRISTIANITY-LITE TO DRAW CROWDS.
BUT THE NEW TESTAMENT RECORDS THAT JESUS DREW ENORMOUS CROWDS (CALLED “MULTITUDES”) WITHOUT COMPROMISING HIS MESSAGE.
He did it by being clear, practical, and loving. And he did it by speaking in ways that those listening to him could understand. That’s one reason Billy Graham has always drawn such large crowds to his evangelistic events.
BEING SENSITIVE TO UNBELIEVERS OR THE UNCHURCHED IN NO WAY MEANS YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE THE MESSAGE OF JESUS.
It simply means you think through ways to communicate with them that will help them understand eternal truth.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU REMOVE ANY UNNECESSARY BARRIERS – THOSE NOT ROOTED IN THEOLOGY – THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING THE GOOD NEWS.
For example, you might add air conditioning to your church building – removing a barrier that would keep some people from coming to your church – but you still preach on the centrality of the cross – a non-negotiable element – even if some people view it as a barrier.
WHEN UNCHURCHED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PRESENT IN A SERVICE, ANY WISE PREACHER CONSIDERS THEIR STRUGGLES AND ASKS GOD HOW TO APPLY HIS WORD TO THEIR LIVES.
We’ve found that the unchurched aren’t asking for watered-down messages; they’re looking for practical truth to guide their lives.
The purpose driven message is that our hope lies in Christ, who died for our sins and rose again, breaking the bonds of death forever – and that all who believe in his name shall have eternal life. This is not a watered-down Gospel; it is the gospel!
Adrian Warnock’s UK Evangelical Blog
“The world changes but the word doesn’t” – Rick Warren
Rick Warren wrote one of two forwards in Dan Kimball’s book Emerging Church – Vintage Christianity for New Generations. I am sure that Dan wouldn’t mind me repeating that he believed he was at the more conservative end of the theological spectrum of the Emergent Church. So perhaps he isn’t a neo-liberal at all.
Anyway Rick nails his colours to the mast quite clearly when he says the following
“In ministry some things must never change whilst other things must be constantly changing. God’s five purposes for his church are non negotiable. If a church fails at worship, fellowship, discipleship ministry and evangelism it is no longer a church. Its just a social club. On the other hand the way or style in which we fulfill these eternal purposes must continually be adjusted and modified, because human culture is always changing….
As a pastor I’ve watched churches adopt contemporary styles in worship programming architecture, music and other elements. That’s OK as long as the biblical message is unchanged.
The only way to stay relevant is to anchor your ministry to unchanging truths and eternal purposes while being willing to continually adapt how you communicate those truths and purposes.
Remember the world changes but the word doesn’t. To be effective in ministry we must learn to live with the tension between these two.”
Now, I have to confess that if those quotes are enough to make Rick Warren a neo-liberal then ironically enough I am one too. But then surely that means anyone who allows a guitar in church must be a liberal (yes I am sure that some of my fundamentalist readers might agree!)
I am all for the church adapting and being “all things to all men” BUT like Warren suggests I would anchor myself on certain truths that will be unchanging unless and until I become convinced that the bible says something different to what I have believed.
The Church Growth Movement & Purpose Driven Church
VERSUS The Bible
A COMPARISON CHART CREATED BY JAMES SUNDQUIST
DISCLAIMER: Not every PDC/CGM church holds to every one of the positions on the chart, but rather the chart is a general guideline to equip and warn the saints.
Position of the CGM & The Purpose-Driven Church Position of the Bible
Man adds to the church daily as should be saved through contemporary marketing methods…
Churches are taking surveys among unsaved and/or unchurched to determine what they do and do not like about the church, then applying the results and statistics to determine how the church should be run. “…And the LORD added to the church daily such as should be saved” Acts 2:47.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another…” 1 John 1:7.
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves” Psalm 127:1-2.
The Church needs a new purpose. The Church already has a purpose since its beginning 2000 years ago. The Great Commission: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15.
“Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” Jude 1:3.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” Mark 16:15-16.
Conform the Church to the image of the world and culture in order to make the church more palatable and comfortable for the unsaved. “Know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God?” James 4:4.
“And be not conformed to this world…” Romans 12:2.
“The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness…” Romans 1:17-18.
Promote self-love. “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” John 12:25.
“Loved their lives not unto death” Revelation 12:11.
The goal of the Church is Happiness and Personal Fulfillment The goal of the Church is Holiness. “Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16.
Do not offend seekers with “religious” words. “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, [even to them] which stumble at the word,” 1 Peter 2:8.
Remove the Cross from the church. Cling to the old rugged Cross. The Cross was in plain view for all to see: “and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced” Zechariah 12:10.
Man made 12-step programs toward psychological healing and deliverance. One-step deliverance program: Being Born Again in Christ. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” John 8:36.
At the most, we could also acknowledge a second “step”: Sanctification, which is the process of perfecting the saints until we are resurrected in our glorified bodies.
Scriptures are insufficient for perfecting the saints. Psychology and sociology help the church where the Bible seems to lack. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Need to discover the key to “Unchurched Harry’s” heart to reach him for Christ. Condition of man’s heart is already known: “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” Genesis 6:5.
Christ’s salvation is equal trade for worth of man and focus on unsaved Harry’s worth. Unequal trade: Man’s worth is zero, Christ’s salvation is worth infinite value. “All our righteousness are as filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6. Christ alone is our refuge and our worth!
Entertain the world into the Kingdom of God. Convict the world unto salvation: “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Corinthians 12:3.
Caters to the flesh. Crucifies the flesh: “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” Romans 8:13.
Pleasers of men. Pleasers of God: “We were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” 1 Thessalonians 2:4.
The answer to low self-esteem is high self-esteem. Concept of self-esteem is nonexistent in Scripture. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” Psalm 51:17.
How to become an “influential Christian” (John C. Maxwell). “But he that is greater among you shall be your servant” Matthew 23:11. We are to be imitators of Christ who made himself of no reputation.
Nature of man: Man is a victim. Nature of man: Man is a sinner: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. “They did not like to retain God in their knowledge” Romans 1:28.
Focus on self. Focus on God, then others: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” John 13:34.
Christians need to be pleasing savor to the world. “For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one (we are) the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life” 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.
Be loved by the world. “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you (from their company), and shall reproach (you), and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” Luke 6:22. “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” I John 3:13.
Seek ye first the felt needs of the world and the Kingdom shall be added unto you. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33.
Different church services for “Churched Harry & Mary” vs. “Unchurched Harry & Mary.” Same church service and message for both church and unchurced at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-11). Same message of repentance to every tribe, tongue and nation: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15. (Same message throughout the Old Testament as well!)
Communion Inclusive. Communion Exclusive to Believers.
Unchurched have rejected church but not necessarily God. All unsaved are in rebellion and have rejected God: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
Shine the salt of earth into a sparkling gem. As the salt of the earth we must be covered with the blood of the Lamb in order to retain savor, remove poison in the world, and preserve the world: “Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” Matthew 5:13.
“Unchurched Harry” will come to church via a good experience. Harry will come to church only by God’s sovereign work of grace: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8.
Self-centered. Self-Sacrifice.
This generation is different from all past generations. This generation is IDENTICAL to all generations.
Asks what we can require of God. Asks what God requires of us.
Seeks personal fulfillment. Seeks obedience to Christ.
Integrates psychology with the Bible. “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” 1 Timothy 6:20. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” Isaiah 8:20. “Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” Colossians 2:8. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies” 2 Peter 2:1.
Integrates Personality Theory and Tests with the Bible, such as Meyer-Briggs Test, S.H.A.P.E., Kiersey-Bates Temperament Sorter, based on occultist and atheist Carl Jung & Sigmund Freud… all based on astrological signs of the Zodiac. “Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come. Behold, they shall be as stubble…” Isaiah 47:13. “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7:16. “For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes” Luke 6:43-44. “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh” James 3:12. “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” 1 Corinthians 10:21.
Unconditional acceptance. Requires repentance; God is not tolerant of evil. Sets in place Elders in church discipline to judge and restore those in the church.
You set boundaries. God sets the boundaries.
Seek a higher power… whatever or whomever that might be for deliverance from disease. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” Acts 4:12.
Journaling is how you keep connected with God. Praying and meditating on God’s Word is how you keep connected with God.
Invites false teachers to pulpit, such as Muslim clerics; or Presents false or contrary teachings in positive light from the pulpit. Shepherds protect and guard the flock from wolves and wolves in sheep’s clothing. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” Acts 20:28-31.
Supports Evangelical and Catholics Together (ECT) and other ecumenical endeavors. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” 2 Corinthians 6:17. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” Romans 16:17. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14.
Stand in counsel of men who are not Christians to implement or finance their new church building plans. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” Psalm 1:1. “But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil ways, and from the evil of their doings” Jeremiah 23:22.
Invokes imaginary Jesus (spirit) with help of spirit guide to search for past wounds, generational curses, and lost memories. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended but one thing, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things with are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13-14.
Never criticize what God is “blessing.” “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” Galatians 1:8. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” Ephesians 5:11. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world” 1 John 4:1.
Principle of Pragmatism: It it works, it must be good! Be faithful to the same message whether they respond or not: “And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear” Ezekiel 3:11.
All truth is God’s Truth. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” John 14:17; 16:13.
Mandatory Signed Pledges & pyramid schemes. (Levels similar to Masonic religion, the Caste system in Hinduism, or Mystery Babylon.) “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” Matthew 5:33-37.
Respecter of persons. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, In truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” Acts 10:34.
Makes the Highway to Heaven as wide as possible. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” Matthew 7:14.
Endorses or teaches Alpha Course. Evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit does not imitate Demon Possession.
A growing church means God is blessing us. Blessing and curse is completely dependent on obedience to God’s Word.
Thinks men seek after God. “There is no one who seeks God” Romans 3:11. God seeks after men: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17.
Promotion comes via completion of courses. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” 1 Peter 5:6. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; he putteth down one, and setteth up another” Psalm 75:6-7.
Preach only “positive” messages from the pulpit. Preach publicly the full counsel of God which includes both the love of God and the wrath of God.
Based on principles of this world and “universal truths.” Church governed by Word of God, based on nothing but the person of Christ and him crucified. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” 1 Corinthians 2:2.
Monitors required tithing or pledge money. “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what they right hand doeth” Matthew 6:3.
Catch people unaware “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” Colossians 2:8. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8.
Lower mind’s resistance. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 1:13.
No silence during church service. “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation” Zechariah 2:13. “The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” Habakkuk 2:20.
Man builds the church. Jesus Christ builds his church: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18.
My strength is made perfect in my “strengths”, i.e. S.H.A.P.E. (personality profiles, Gift profiles, etc.) “My strength is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Fear of the Lord?: “I don’t think fear, as a tactic, really moves people toward faith these days. So, tactically, I think there are better ways to interest the uninterested in the claims of Jesus Christ.” —- Pastor Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church. “And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes” Romans 3:17-18.
IT’S YOUR CHOICE
By Paul Proctor – March 11, 2005 – NewsWithViews.com
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves,…Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 2nd Timothy 2: 1-2, 5-7
James Sundquist, author of a great new book entitled, “Who’s Driving The Purpose Driven Church?” (Which I highly recommend, by the way) recently sent me a copy of Rick Warren’s column from the March 2005 edition of the Ladies Home Journal. What makes this particular piece a must read for any Christian, is how perfectly it illustrates what Pastor Warren REALLY believes and/or wants YOU to believe.
In it, this wolf momentarily steps out of his sheepskin to address what is most important to him; his REAL religion: making people feel good about themselves, which of course, makes them feel good about Rick Warren, and his “ministry.” It is the essence of good marketing: telling people what they want to hear, even if it is a boldface lie; and because he claims to be doing it for Jesus, the “spiritual” end justifies the diabolical means.
You see, a “successful” salesman always makes his prospects feel good. If he accomplishes this, he knows that many, if not most, will reward him by purchasing whatever it is he has for sale because you see, the REAL product for sale IS the salesman. Everything else is just an accessory. The better the customer feels, the more they like the salesman. The more accessories that likeable salesman sells, the more he is acclaimed worthy by the world. Not only that; but the more he is acclaimed worthy by the world, the EASIER his accessories are to sell. In time, the salesman’s growing popularity and the trustworthy image that is perpetuated before the public eye provides all of the necessary momentum to sustain his “success” at least until, for whatever reason, the good feelings wane or the next big thing comes along.
How does a “successful” salesman make you feel good? In a word: Flattery – what we all want to hear from those around us. Flattery And The Big Lie.
In Pastor Warren’s March column, he wrote:
“To truly love yourself, you need to know the five truths that form the basis of a healthy self-image.”
Here he begins by endorsing the very thing conservatives loathed Bill Clinton for: narcissism. Now, keep in mind, this is a “man of God,” a “preacher of the Gospel,” laying out five “truths” for your consideration. But these “truths” came not from the Bible, the Word of God every legitimate shepherd is called to proclaim. No, they came from the world of secular psychology. But, if any preacher or pastor proclaims something other than God’s Word as truth at the expense of the Gospel, he is betraying Christ, not obeying Him.
1. Warren: “Accept yourself…God accepts us unconditionally…”
Does God accept us without Christ? Does He accept us even when we reject Him and/or willfully disobey His Word? Is that not what “unconditionally” means? So, is Pastor Warren implying here that Jesus really didn’t need to suffer and die on a cross two thousand years ago to atone for our sins with His own shed blood to make those of us who belong to Him acceptable to God the Father because God ALREADY accepts anyone and everyone unconditionally? If so, is he also suggesting that Hell is reserved only for the devil and his fallen angels or are they accepted unconditionally, as well?
The truth is; Hell is never mentioned in the article; neither is sin, repentance, redemption or the cross of Christ; only God’s “unconditional acceptance” of everyone reading the Ladies Home Journal, Christian or not.
2. Warren: “Love yourself”
Tell me, who’s more in love with “self” than self? At the very heart of our sinful nature is an unrestrained self-love. Does scripture say: “Thou shalt love thyself with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength?” Of course not! There is a reason for that. We already love ourselves instinctively. We were born with an undying love for self. If it weren’t so, Jesus would not have told us to “…love thy neighbor AS THYSELF.” – Mark 12:31
Even those that commit suicide are doing it for themselves, in spite of the life-altering pain and suffering they inflict on their family and friends. They don’t hate themselves. They’re filled with fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, loneliness, resentment and a desperate need to BE LOVED. If they are simply instructed to “love self,” then their sin and separation from God remains ignored; and not only are they still lost and bound for an eternity in Hell, they are encouraged by false prophets like Warren to love themselves all the more for it! This is the perfect recipe for disaster. It is the anti-gospel and the doctrine of demons.
So, here’s a “minister of the gospel” instructing his readers from every walk of life, Christian or otherwise, not to love others or even to love God as the bible teaches; but instead, to “love yourself.” OK – All you Mary Kay Letourneau, Lynette “Squesky” Fromme, Hillary Clinton, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Brittney Spears types, listen up! I hope you renewed your subscription because the good reverend is about to say something here that I’m quite certain you’re going to like:
3. Warren: “Be true to yourself…consider your heart – what you love to do – as well as the strengths and weaknesses of your personality…Don’t deny your weaknesses…be content with them.”
You might hear that in a Walt Disney movie or on the Dr. Phil Show but you won’t find THAT in your King James, folks. What you WILL find is this:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9
And this:
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself…” – Matthew 16:24
4. Warren: “Forgive yourself…God doesn’t expect perfection…”
If we forgive ourselves without Christ, without confession and without repentance, not only are we fooling ourselves, we are unwittingly condemning ourselves through delusion and have essentially learned how to bypass the conscience God has given us and “seared” it from ever feeling the burden of our sin and guilt again.
Furthermore, if God doesn’t expect perfection from us, Jesus would not have said:
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48
Apparently, somebody’s lying to us. Do you believe Jesus Christ or Rick Warren?
5. Warren: “Believe in yourself…The truth is God has created you with talents, abilities, personality and background in a combination that is uniquely you.”
The Lord has NEVER ONCE instructed us to “believe in ourselves!” This is the world’s religion – the heart of humanism and “the pride of life” that the Bible repeatedly warns us against! There is nothing to gain from believing in oneself but the praise and admiration of the world, which is not only what Rick Warren wants but also what he knows YOU want, even though it could cost you your very soul.
Here’s what the Word of God says about self:
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” – Jeremiah 17:5
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?.” – Matthew 16:24-26
And, here’s what scripture says about WHOM we should believe in:
“Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.” – John 12:44
“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” – John 11:26a
Pastor Warren closes his heretical commentary with the following:
“It’s your choice. You can believe what others say about you, or you can believe in yourself as does God, who says you are truly acceptable, lovable, valuable and capable.”
Amid all these lies, Rick is right about one thing: IT’S YOUR CHOICE. And, what a choice it is! You can believe what God says about you in His Word or you can “believe in yourself” as Warren and every other self-help motivational speaker advises us to do. But ask yourself this: When did God EVER say He believed in you and me? When did He EVER say we were “acceptable, lovable, valuable and capable?”
Here’s what He REALLY said about you and me:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23
And, FIVE TIMES He said this:
“…there is none that doeth good…” – Psalm 14:1, Psalm 14:3, Psalm 53:1, Psalm 53:3, Romans 3:12
But, about Jesus Christ, God the Father had THIS to say:
“And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” – Mark 1:11
…a Son whose precious name was NEVER ONCE mentioned in Rick Warren’s article. THAT ALONE should speak volumes about what he believes and in whom he believes. Sure he used the name “God” throughout the article; but to a Muslim, that’s not Jesus; to a Mormon, that’s not Jesus; to Moonies and countless other followers of the world’s various religions, that’s not Jesus. That’s how he and others like him slip in under the radar. The way he presented “God” in the magazine, “God” could be anybody you want Him to be, including yourself. (Telling you what you want to hear while offending no one) Well friends, he sure offended me, and I HOPE he offended you!
About the name of Jesus Christ, the Bible says this:
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12
According to Time Magazine, Rick Warren is “America’s New People’s Pastor.” Judging by the millions of PDL books sold and the thousands of churches that have embraced him, his programs and his accessories, I am inclined to agree.
YOU, my fellow Christian; whether you’re a preacher, a pastor, an evangelist, a church leader, teacher or simply a layman; after reading here what Pastor Warren wrote in The Ladies Home Journal, have an obligation to take a stand for Jesus Christ and His Word and warn others about Warren’s unbiblical teaching. If you do not, and just sit silent to save your ministry, church, career, family, friends or your own reputation then I would encourage you to re-read Matthew 16:24-26 one more time because he is leading people astray around the world in vast numbers and we are commanded to rebuke him for it with the Word of God and separate ourselves from him and his heresy if he does not repent.
That is our duty as disciples of Jesus Christ. If we accommodate anyone’s lies and deceit for selfish reasons, especially those who call themselves a “brother,” then we show our Lord, the world around us, and that “great cloud of witnesses” that we are not FOR Christ, but are in reality, AGAINST Him.
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.” – Jeremiah 23:1
© 2005 Paul Proctor – All Rights Reserved
FUNDAMENTALIST OR FINAGLER?
By Paul Proctor – March 15, 2006 – NewsWithViews.com
Journalist, Paul Nussbaum recently sent shock waves through a segment of the Christian community after reporting the following comments from Pastor Rick Warren in The Philadelphia Enquirer:
“Warren predicts that fundamentalism, of all varieties, will be ‘one of the big enemies of the 21st century.’”
Warren: “Muslim fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism, secular fundamentalism – they’re all motivated by fear. Fear of each other.”
Apparently those waves were substantial enough that Pastor Warren and/or his staff thought it necessary to post an explanation on Rick’s website, pastors.com, in an article they titled, “Rick Warren on Fundamentalism.”
Here is an excerpt:
“Within Christianity, there’s a large group of believers who affirm that there are certain facts about our faith that must be embraced, even if it isn’t popular to proclaim these facts as true. These are facts such as -
• Jesus was God in the flesh,
• God raised Jesus from the dead, and
• The Resurrection opened the singular path available for men and women to intimately and eternally connect with God.
These are among the fundamental truths of our Christian faith (or, to use another phrase, they are foundational truths to our faith).
Now, if you believe that these fundamental truths are essential to the Christian faith, then you are a “fundamentalist” in the very basic sense of the word, and within that definition and context Saddleback Church is unapologetically fundamentalist.” (Underscore added for emphasis)
They went on to say:
“There is, however, another kind of fundamentalism that has nothing to do with fundamentals of the Christian faith; instead, it is about keeping the right rules in the right way order to please the right people.
I’m not speaking here about the Ten Commandments or any of the other God-spoken standards that light our way on the narrow path; I’m referring to the fanatical pursuit of keeping – and insisting that others keep – rules that are man-made and often culturally influenced, rules that insist all Christians must look, act, and smell the same in order to be considered genuine believers.”
If you type the word “fundamentalism” into Dictionary.com, which searches and cites a number of reputable dictionaries, you will not find one definition that is even remotely close to what is described above as “another kind of fundamentalism.” The truth is; there is no other “kind of [Christian] fundamentalism.” It has nothing to do with the “rules of men,” but rather the inerrancy of scripture.
But, when words get church growth gurus in trouble, they often manufacture new definitions out of thin air and apply them to their uncomfortable situations to give them a lot more wiggle room in the public arena. This is why the church growth movement has its own ambiguous language and terms; so as to protect those who would deceive us with familiar words and phrases so they can quickly jump from one definition to another, if need be, to cover their embarrassing indiscretions, quiet their critics, advance their agenda and shield their marketable image, as if the resulting controversy created by their comments was all just a big misunderstanding.
It is important to note that Rick Warren did not author the above “clarification” himself; at least not officially, even though the article’s title implies that it is HIS position. According to the credits, the “staff” wrote it – whoever that is. Bear in mind, when an anonymous associate is used to defend an errant leader and deflect his critics, that leader can later disavow the associate’s remarks if they don’t play well under public scrutiny without humiliating anyone and adjust them accordingly; offering a revised more acceptable response later as if it were his first. This is another political tactic designed to dodge responsibility and accountability.
You should also know that Pastor Warren made no mention of “another kind of fundamentalism” in his published comments at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life held on May 23rd, 2005. In a transcript taken from this ecumenical meeting of religious leaders, held in Key West Florida, Warren specifically defined for attendees what he considered a “fundamentalist” to be; and in spite of the contradictory “staff” response above, he proudly proclaimed that he is NOT one:
Warren: “Now the word “fundamentalist” actually comes from a document in the 1920s called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity, and when I say there are very few fundamentalists, I mean in the sense that they are all actually called fundamentalist churches, and those would be quite small. There are no large ones…I am an evangelical. I’m not a member of the religious right and I’m not a fundamentalist …Today there really aren’t that many Fundamentalists left; I don’t know if you know that or not, but they are such a minority; there aren’t that many Fundamentalists left in America.” (Underscore added for emphasis)
So, before a very diverse, secular and ecumenical audience, Warren says he IS NOT a fundamentalist. Then, in a later damage-control article, written for the benefit of Christian pastors who subscribe to his website and buy his Purpose Driven products, “Saddleback Church is unapologetically fundamentalist.” Handy, huh?
I don’t think double mindedness is what the Apostle Paul meant by being “all things to all men,” do you?
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” – James 1:8
In fact, it is a perfect illustration of the duplicity that pervades the Purpose Driven paradigm and church growth movement, particularly among those who lead it. These men are shameless chameleons who alter their message as needed to accommodate whatever audience they are presently performing before to get the desired results.
As many controversial and contradictory statements as Warren has made over the years, several of which I have cited in past articles, I cannot recall one example where he has publicly admitted to anything that didn’t ultimately make him look good. On those rare occasions when he admits to past failures and wrongdoings, it’s as if he only uses them to set the stage and showcase all of the marvelous things he is doing now.
He is the consummate name-dropper, self-promoter and personal achievement proclaimer. Even when he is self-deprecating, it is to make YOU laugh and make HIM more likable. This is a person who writes articles on “being authentic” and sells transcripts of his sermons online for four dollars each with titles like: “Maintaining Moral Integrity In The Ministry.”
Worst of all, it is not limited to Pastor Warren anymore. It is systemic and has become commonplace among many of today’s pastors and church leaders in and around the CGM who follow his Purpose Driven lead to do “whatever it takes.” Are these men of conscience and conviction or are they cunning change agents pursuing career, convenience, consensus and control? You tell me.
No longer is it about doing well before the “eyes that run to and fro” for heavenly rewards; it’s about looking good before the eyes of men and protecting your “ministry” (i.e., your rear end) at all costs for earthly rewards – something that doesn’t require any faith in God or knowledge of His Word.
In closing, I’ll leave you with one good old-fashioned “fundamentalist rule” to ponder and pass along to YOUR Purpose Driven pastor:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” – 2nd John 1: 9-11
George Mims book reviewed:
M.A.P. offers visual way to evaluate church practices
By Linda Lawson
May 31, 2001
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A visual model to illustrate how a church can reach people for Christ, mature them as disciples and involve them in service and ministry has been introduced by the LifeWay Church Resources Division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“We wanted a process that churches can visualize, that isn’t complicated and is biblical,” said Gene Mims, division president. The model and process (M.A.P.) is included in a revised and expanded edition of Mims’ book, Kingdom Principles for Church Growth, released in June.
Mims emphasized that M.A.P. is not a cookie-cutter approach but a diagnostic tool to enable a church to identify current practices and determine what changes are needed “to see the lost person transformed to become a Christian minister.”
M.A.P. begins with the mandate of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 to make disciples. The five functions of a growing church-evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship and worship-are delineated. And the necessity for leadership to guide the process and prayer to undergird it are highlighted.
In the beginning stage, believers and unbelievers are grouped together for corporate worship and open groups, which may include Sunday school classes, short-term or ongoing Bible study groups or cell groups. Worship and open groups welcome new people. Worship focuses on celebration, proclamation and evangelism. Open groups include foundational, evangelistic Bible study and opportunities for believers and unbelievers to build and strengthen relationships.
In stage one, unbelievers are introduced to the gospel and, hopefully, are led to Christ.
“Unfortunately, many churches have no strategy to reach lost people,” Mims said, noting that worship services and Sunday school classes may be conducted for believers and not planned to meet the needs of persons interested in learning more about Christ.
“Some churches have a strategy to get unbelievers in the worship services. That’s an improvement. Some seek to get them into a Sunday school class and a worship service.”
The second stage, developing believers, focuses on closed groups designed to equip believers to serve. Equipping may focus on skills, knowledge or both, along with accountability. After being equipped through closed groups, believers move into stage three where they serve on ministry teams that focus on the needs of the church or on missions and service beyond the church walls and around the world.
Results of effective church practices to reach people, develop believers and multiply ministry then include numerical growth, spiritual transformation, ministry expansion and Kingdom advance, Mims said.
In piloting M.A.P., lay leaders of a church were walked through the process and asked to draw their church’s practices in the three stages.
One layman drew the church’s worship service with dotted lines, indicating it was open to unbelievers. His circle for open groups or Sunday school classes was smaller than the worship circle and had dotted lines on half and a solid line on the other half. This layman believed that some Sunday school classes were open to unbelievers and others were not.
His circle for closed groups was tiny, indicating the layman’s conviction that his church was doing very little to equip believers for ministry. For ministry teams, he drew a dotted triangle pointing back to the church to illustrate that the church’s ministry efforts were only targeted to church members and not to people outside the church.
In other groups of leaders, Mims said people often “draw a big circle for worship, a smaller circle for open groups, no circle for closed groups and no diamond for ministry teams.
“Many churches aren’t multiplying their ministry so the pastor and staff or a select group of people are doing all the ministry,” he said. “It’s God’s way for the leaders to equip people for ministry out of the pattern of Ephesians 4:11-16.
“M.A.P. is a framework to enable a church to stop and evaluate,” Mims emphasized.
“Are we reaching people for Christ? Do our worship services lend themselves to having unbelievers come? Are our open groups truly open? Do our closed groups aid people to be transformed? Are we undergirding the spiritual process to see people launched into ministry? Are we multiplying ourselves to reach the whole world for Christ?”
In addition to using M.A.P. as a diagnostic tool, Mims said, “it’s a great way to help people see what the church is all about. You can show people that the reason we do Vacation Bible School is evangelism in an open group that reaches people for Christ. Everything begins to tie together so they have a real understanding of the process. “
In addition to helping individual churches evaluate and strategize, Mims envisions M.A.P. becoming a basis for dialogue between churches and LifeWay. “We’re going after two things, the needs they have and the solutions they require. What we will have for them will be solutions that are biblically based, needs directed and that will bring about positive Kingdom results.”
Mims believes M.A.P. can be used in any style of church-traditional, seeker sensitive, seeker-centered and cell churches.
“There’s no such thing in the New Testament as the way to do church,” he said. “There’s no one way to build a church, no one way to do evangelism, no one way to do worship.
“M.A.P. will help a church discover its needs and answer questions,” Mims continued. “M.A.P. is a simple framework to determine—if the Lord intends us to build the kingdom of God by making and maturing disciples and multiplying ministry — then how are we going to go about that? This is how to determine what you need to do.”
M.A.P. is not “chiseled in stone,” he said. “There are many ways to draw M.A.P. This is just a beginning pattern.”
The revised and expanded edition of Kingdom Principles for Church Growth is available through the LifeWay Church Resources customer service center, 1-800-458-2772, through LifeWay Christian Stores or the online store, www.lifewaystores.com.
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(BP) graphic posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Graphic title: A CHURCH M.A.P.
Copyright (c) 2001 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press
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William Horsburgh
Pickering
