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Rick Warren
About The Purpose Driven Life
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The Book

The most basic question everyone faces in life is Why am I here? What is my purpose? Self-help books suggest that people should look within, at their own desires and dreams, but Rick Warren says the starting place must be with God and his eternal purposes for each life. Real meaning and significance comes from understanding and fulfilling God's purposes for putting us on earth.

The Purpose-Driven Life takes the groundbreaking message of the award-winning Purpose-Driven Church and goes deeper, applying it to the lifestyle of individual Christians. This book helps readers understand God's incredible plan for their lives. Warren enables them to see the big picture of what life is all about and begin to live the life God created them to live.

The Purpose-Driven Life is a manifesto for Christian living in the 21st century...a lifestyle based on eternal purposes, not cultural values. Using biblical stories and letting the Bible speak for itself, Warren clearly explains God's five purposes for each of us:

  • We were planned for God's pleasure
    • so your first purpose is to offer real worship.
  • We were formed for God's family
    • so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship.
  • We were created to become like Christ,
    • so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship.
  • We were shaped for serving God
    • so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry.
  • We were made for a mission
    • so your fifth purpose is to live out real evangelism.

This 10th anniversary edition, with emphasis on the question What on Earth Am I Here For? is the life-message of Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church. Written in a captivating devotional style, the book is divided into 42 short chapters (six weeks) that can be read as a daily devotional, studied by small groups, and used by churches participating in the nationwide 40 Days of Purpose campaigns.

Click to learn more about the Church Wide Campaign and Small Group Study, What on Earth Am I Here For?

Free Purpose Driven Life Resources


Free resources mentioned in The Purpose Driven® Life

Welcome to the free resources section of The Purpose Driven Life. These resources are designed to support you on your journey to live a purpose-driven live.

"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." Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)

How Can You Know God Personally (PDF)
Here's how you can know God personally; there are four main points.

Your First Steps to Spiritual Growth (PDF)
This will help you plan out a meaningful daily Bible study time and give you encouragement to get started.

Find a helpful list of books, both classic and current, listed by each of the five purposes, for further study.

Personal Daily Bible Reading Plans (PDF)  30 Days | 90 Days | 1 Year
Sometimes it helps to know where to read in the Bible. These are daily Bible reading plans that will chart your way through the New Testament in 30 days, a little more manageable plan through the New Testament in 90 days, or for you long-term plodders, a plan that will have you finishing the whole Bible through in one year of daily readings. Choose the plan that suits you best!

How to Pray for Missionaries (PDF)
This link is a helpful guide for those who want to pray knowledgeably for missionaries to other cultures and countries. It contains information about the typical needs of missionaries and even has a suggested weekly prayer plan.

Keep On Praying (PDF)
Why be persistent? How come my answers sometimes don't come immediately? Why should I keep on praying when the answer doesn't come in my time table?

The Purpose Driven Life Health Assessment (PDF)
Want to find out how your life measures up to the five purposes of the Purpose Driven Life? Take this simple test. Also helps you create a plan to help grow.

Sample Life Purpose Statements (PDF)
Sample some of the tools Rick uses to create his own personal life statements and evaluations in the areas of mission, family, vocation, and community ministry.

Celebrate Recovery
This link takes you to the Celebrate Recovery home page where you can find everything you need to know about this unique Christ-centered recovery program for purpose-driven churches, including finding a CR program near you.

HIV&AIDS Initiative
Compelling stories from individuals living with HIV/AIDS and practical ways to get involved in caring for those who come face to face with HIV on a daily basis.

Orphan Care Connection
You are God's hope for the orphan! Saddleback Church has made Orphan Care a signature issue of our church because it is clear in God's Word, God never forgets the orphan. God cares for the orphan. God wants us to care for the orphan. You can get involved in your local community.

The PEACE Plan
Ordinary people empowered by God making a difference together wherever they are.

The Church-Wide Campaign

Learn more about participating in the What on Earth Am I Here For? Small Group Study that includes six video session taught by Pastor Rick Warren, as well as a Study Guide with extras and discussion questions.

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1 days ago
Ask God for a Repeat Performance
1 days ago
Posted by Rick Warren

"King Jehoshaphat went and stood before them and prayed aloud." (2 Chronicles 20:5b-6a NLT)

There is no problem that is too big or too small for you to pray about. Chronicles 20:5-6 says, “King Jehoshaphat went and stood before them and prayed aloud.” That's a good thing to do!

It's important when the odds are stacked against you to pray a certain way that is different from the way you normally pray. Jehoshaphat gives us a model of the three things you need to pray when you feel overwhelmed. 

  1. Remind yourself who God is. "O Lord God of our ancestors, you rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty, and no one can oppose you" (2 Chronicles 20:6). Before you talk to God about the problem and focus on it, remind yourself that God is bigger than the problem you are facing. King Jehoshaphat realizes that three enemy nations are coming at him, yet he stops and says, "You're bigger than all the nations, God. You are bigger than anything I will ever face."
     
  2. Remind yourself of what he has done in the past. Think of the times when God has helped you and the miracles he's already done in your life. “When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Israel, your friend, to be theirs forever” (2 Chronicles 20:6). Jehoshaphat recalled all the ways God had worked in Israel's past.
     
  3. Ask God for help now. How about a repeat performance, Lord? Do it again! In verse 9, Jehoshaphat mentions three kinds of situations: war, epidemic, and famine. He says, “None of this is too hard for you. You've helped us in the past, so do it again!” 

His prayer is built around three questions: Are you not? Did you not? Will you not?

“Are you not God?” Yes, you are in charge, and you're big enough to handle it.
“Did you not help us in the past?” Yes, you did help us in the past.
“Will you not do it again?” Yes, you will do it again!

That's the way you need to pray when you're overwhelmed. No matter what the situation is, remind yourself first who God is, what he's done, and then ask him to do it again. Once you've done that, you're ready to talk about your problem.

Talk It Over

  • How will remembering that God is bigger than your problems change your perspective on the difficult situation you're facing?
  • What is the difference in praying in expectation? How do the three questions about God help you pray expectantly?
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