The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is a 40-day devotional which takes the reader on a personal spiritual journey. The book presents what Warren says are God’s five purposes for human life on Earth. The book describes itself as a “blueprint for Christian living in the 21st Century.”

This book is intended to be read on a daily basis. There are 40 short chapters to be read on consecutive days. Each chapter contains a personal application section at the end with a “Point to Ponder,” a “Verse to Remember,” and a “Question to Consider” over the course of the day. The forty chapters are divided into six major sections, with the following titles:

What on Earth am I Here For?

Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure (Worship)

Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God’s Family (Fellowship)

Purpose #3: You Were Created to Become Life Christ (Discipleship)

Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God (Ministry)

Purpose #5: You Were Made for a Mission (Mission)

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE AND THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH

The book takes the same five purposes which Rick Warren applied to the church in another book, The Purpose Driven Church (which I reviewed), and shows how they make a personal application to every Christian. I believe this book is well written. The book progresses nicely and moves the reader through greater commitments each day through the 40 days. An observer of Rick Warren’s ministry will notice that the daily devotionals recycle many of his sermons he has preached through the years.

Some have criticized Warren’s use of different translations for the verses he quotes throughout the book. They point to his use of eisegesis, selectively using verses that support his thesis. Warren was aware of that criticism and explained his reasoning in an appendix to the book. I use different translations and see no problem with that, per se. However, the fact that the book contains footnotes to these verses and doesn’t quote them in the text prevents the reader from making his or her own determination about how the verses are used. One has to flip to the back of the book to find out which verse Warren has used. This is extremely frustrating and gives support to the argument of Warren’s critics.

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, EXTENDED EDITION

The book has since been expanded. In 2012, The Purpose Driven Life was expanded for a new digital generation. Each chapter contains a QR Code which links to videos online. This new edition includes all the wisdom of the original book, plus new insights Warren has gleaned since he first wrote The Purpose Driven Life.

The subtitle What On Earth Am I Here For? is the new title for this expanded edition, containing two new chapters. Forty days is almost six weeks. Adding two more chapters makes the book easier to organize in a church campaign, which Warren uses often. I personally believe that this book can be used to enhance church health. Using this book in a church-wide campaign helps the church to grow together.

Despite the criticisms, this book provides a way for Christians to see that their life has purpose and meaning. The book challenges Christians to increase their commitments, and that is always a great thing for a book to do. Allowing the reader to see the Bible through the lens of the five purposes is helpful because it simplifies the Bible purpose. If this book helps more people to read the Bible for their daily encouragement and to increase their commitment to God in the church, then it serves its purpose indeed.

I have also reviewed Warren’s books The Purpose Driven Church here, and The Daniel Plan here.