Online Bookstore: Zondervan The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Book

Average Rating:

1.) It promotes some basic spiritual disciplines and practices that will assist in one's walk with Christ and there is a much needed focus on understanding what it means to be a Christian in the Church.

2.) It outlines in a memorable way the basic fundamentals of Christian living: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission.

However, the book has several weaknesses as well. The use of multiple translations without any explanation for using a particular translation in one case vs. another can potentially mislead readers. Literal translations should always be the primary translation and paraphrases should only be used when they do not contradict literal translations.

Also, the author's theology is fine if you are a non-sacramental modern baptist Christian. However, the presentation on baptism and on salvation would not be considered biblical by Catholics (like me), Orthodox, Lutherans, or Anglicans, nor necessarily by Calvinists and Methodists either. So it really is limited in its ecumenical prospects. Warren's views on Baptism and salvation are assumed to be true but not biblically justified (because they can't be).

The book primarily speaks to Christians in "seeker" and megaChurches who embrace modern american christianity. It is a helpful corrective to more self-centered books that focus on personal happiness and success, american style. In fact, Warren's best quote is "God is more interested in your holiness than your happiness."

I recommend that Christians read this with a bit of caution since I think there is something to be gained by it. But like all works written by men, it should be approached thoughtfully and critically.

Well, there is a solution, and Rick Warren points us all to the answer. Mr. Warren has created the first self-help book at looks outside the self.

What do all self-help books suggest? The answer lies within you. Your problem and solution are within you. Really?

Let me ask you a question, that the author poses. If I gave you an invention, some device lets say, and I asked you to figure out how it worked, what would you do?
Ask the person who created the device?
How about look up how the device works in some form of an instruction manual?
Well, when it comes to you, where is your instruction manual? One didn't pop out of the womb when you were born.
Well, actually the creator of you, and all of us did leave an instruction manual of sorts.

Its the bible.

The very word of God. Its his message to us. What God expects from us. How to live our life. What awaits us in the next life and eternity.

Rick Warren has put together the most comprehensive manual on how to live like a Christian. He's divided the book into
40 chapters, and suggests that you read only one chapter a day. The chapters breakdown a particular area of subject matter, backed by very appropriate passages from the New Testament. Each chapter ends on a reflection for the reader to think and pray about.

The author poses 5 points that a Christian should live by in order to not only life a fulfilling Christian life, but also have a meaningful relationship with God and a fulfilling life in heaven. The main points are belief in Jesus Christ and how you live your Christian life.
The first point determines if you are going to heaven. The second point determines what you are going to be doing in heaven.

The remaining points the author makes help clarify what is expected of us Christians. Many Christians these days don't go to church, or go to church only 1 day a week. God doesn't want you one day a week. He wants you every moment of the day.
The author suggests in our daily activities, no matter what they are to do them in remembrance of the Lord. By doing so, he suggests that we are in fact worshipping God. Also, its important to attend Church to maintain fellowship with other Christians.
Fellowship can't be stressed enough as it helps us all in our walk.

Prayer? Many of us don't pray enough. Rick Warren gives some great suggestions on improving prayer. I'm finding that I pray more often than I've prayed before. I thank God for Rick Warren's ideas.

Purpose Driven Life is a great book, but I did have some problems with it.

What I didn't like about the book?

I understand that Rick Warren would like to make money from this book. Hey, how else is he going to pay the bills and upkeep.
The first chapter and final section in Purpose Driven Life covers all the Purpose Driven Life branded items you can buy along with this book.
Purpose Driven calendar with inspirational quotes.
Purpose Driven date book.
Purpose Driven mouse pad, coffee mug...etc...etc.
I found commercial aspect of these sections to border on the tacky. It wasn't enough to detract from the book and the message
presented, but it sort of put me off initially. Perhaps a single page in the end of the book with a web address to a site that sells these items would be more appropriate.

Also, the author claims that God has changed many people's life in the course of 40 days. He gives a number of biblical examples from Noah, to Daniel, to Jesus Christ. Yes, God does work miracles in our lives over time, but to make a claim that God is going to change your life in 40 days is a bit preposterous. God works on his time, not ours. How do you know that someone may read this book in 1 day and not be
changed by its word in a week? How about a year? A few years? First time Christians or even those that are seeking the Christian life may be let down in expectations that God is going to change them in 40 days.

Overall I highly recommend Purpose Driven Life to the new as well as the old Christian alike. I've been a born-again Christian for about 3 years and I feel that Mr. Warren's book has added a new dimension to my relationship with
God that I've overlooked.