The Purpose Driven Life Original Book by Rick Warren What on Earth am I here for? It all starts with God You Are Not an Accident What Drives Your Life? Made to Last Forever Seeing Life from God's View Life Is a Temporary Assignment The Reason for Everything Purpose #1 : You Were Planned for God's Pleasure Planned for God's Pleasure What Makes God Smail? The Heart of Worship Becoming Best Friends with God Developing Your Friendship with God Worship That Pleases God When God Seems Distant Purpose #2 : You Were Formed for God's Family Formed for God's Family What Matters Most A Place to Belong Experiencing Life Together Cultivating Community Restoring Broken Fellowship Protecting Your Church Purpose #3 : You Were Created to Become Like Christ Created to Become Like Christ How We Grow Transformed by Truth Transformed by Trouble Growing through Temptation Defeating Temptation It Takes Time Purpose #4 : You Were Shaped for Serving God Accepting Your Assignment Shaped for Serving God Understanding Your Shape Using What God Gave You How Real Servants Act Thinking Like a Servant God's Power in Your Weakness Purpose #5 : You Were Made for a Mission Made for a Mission Sharing Your Life Message Becoming a World-Class Christian Balancing Your Life Living with Purpose ============================================================ 1 It is not about me. Colossians 1 * 16b In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself? 2 I am not an accident. Isaiah 44 * 2 I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept? 3 Living on purpose is the path to peace. Isaiah 26 * 3 What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be? 4 There is more to life than just here and now. 1 John 2 * 17 Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today? 5 Life is a test and a trust. Luke 16 * 10a What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me? 6 This world is not my home. 2 Corinthians 4 * 18 How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now? 7 It is all for Him. Romans 11 * 36 Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God's glory? 8 I was planned for God's pleasure. Psalm 149 * 4a What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus? 9 God smiles when I trust Him. Psalm 147 * 11 Since God knows what is best, in what areas of my life do I need to trust him most? 10 The heart of worship is surrender. Romans 6 * 13b What area of my life am I holding back from God? 11 God wants to be my best friend. Psalm 25 * 14a What can I do to remind myself to think about God and talk to Him more often throughout the day? 12 I am as close to God as I choose to be. James 4 * 8a What practical choices will I make today in order to grow closer to God? 13 God wants all of me. Mark 12 * 30 Which is more pleasing to God right now --- my public worship or my private workship? What will I do about this? 14 God is real, no matter how I feel. Hebrews 13 * 5 How can I stay focused on God's presence, especially when He feels distant? 15 I was formed for God's family. Ephesians 1 * 5a How can I start treating other believers like members of my own family? 16 Life is all about love. Galatians 5 * 14 Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are? 17 I am called to belong, not just believe. Romans 12 * 5 Does my level of involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and am commited to God's family? 18 I need others in my life. Galatians 6 * 2 What 1 step can I take today to connect with another believer at a more genuine, heart-to-heart level? 19 Community requires commitment. 1 John 3 * 16 How can I help cultivate today the characteristics of real community in my small group and my church? 20 Relationships are always worth restoring. Romans 12 * 18 Who do I need to restore a broken relationship with today? 21 It is my responsibility to protect the unity of my church. Romans 14 * 19 What am I personally doing to protect unity in my church family right now? 22 I was created to become like Christ. 2 Corinthians 3 * 18b In what area if my life do I need to ask for the Spirit's power to be like Christ today? 23 It is never too late to start growing. Romans 12 * 2b What is one area where I need to stop thinking my way and start thinking God's way? 24 The truth transforms me. John 8 * 31-32 What has God already told me in His Word that I have not started doing yet? 25 There is a purpose behind every problem. Romans 8 * 28 What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me? 26 Every temptation is an opportunity to do good. James 1 * 12 What Christlike character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face? 27 There is always a way out. 1 Corinthians 10 * 13b Who could I ask to be a spiritual partner to help me defeat a persistent temptation by praying for me? 28 There are no shortcuts to maturity. Philippians 1 * 6 In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent? 29 Service is not optional Ephesians 2 * 10 What is holding me back from accepting God's call to serve Him? 30 I was shaped for serving God. 1 Corinthians 12 * 6 In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it? 31 Nobody else can be me. 1 Peter 4 * 10 What God-given ability or personal experience can I offer to my church? 32 God deserves my best. 2 Timothy 2 * 15 How can I make the best use of what God has given me? 33 I serve God by serving others. Matthew 10 * 42 Which of the 6 characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me? 34 To be a servant I must think like a servant. Philippians 2 * 5 Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others? 35 God works best when I admit my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12 * 9a Am I limiting God's power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others? 36 I was made for a mission. Matthew 28 * 19-20 What fears have kept me from fulfilling a mission God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good News? 37 God wants to say something to the world through me. 1 Peter 3 * 15b-16 As I reflect on my personal story, who does God want me to share it with? 38 The Great Commission is my commission. Psalm 67 * 2 What steps can I take to prepare to go on a short-term missions experience in the next year? 39 Blessed are the balanced. Ephesians 5 * 15 Which of the 4 activities will I begin in order to stay on track and balance God's 5 purposes for my life? 40 Living with purpose is the only way to really live. Acts 13 * 36 When will I take the time to write down my answers to life's 5 great questions? When will I put my purpose on paper? ============================================================ It all starts with God Focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. You were made by God and for God -- and until you understand that, life will never make sense. You Are Not an Accident Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God. What Drives Your Life? Nothing matters more than knowing God's purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them. If you want your life to have impact, focus it! You were not put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity. Made to Last Forever This life is preparation for the next. When you live in light of eternity, your values change. Seeing Life from God's View Character is developed and revealed by tests, and all life is a test. The more God gives you, the more responsible he expects you to be. Life Is a Temporary Assignment Your identity is in eternity, and your homeland is heaven. Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better. The Reason for Everything Living for God's glory is the greatest achievement we can accomplish with our lives. When anything in creation fulfills its purpose, it brings glory to God. Jesus will give you everything you need to live for him. Planned for God's Pleasure Anything that you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. Worship is far more than music. What Makes God Smile? What God wants most from you is a relationship. Trusting God completely means having faith that he knows what is best for your life. God enjoys watching every detail of your life. The Heart of Worship Offering yourself to God is what worship is all about. Surrender is best demonstrated is obedience and trust. Surrender is not the best way to live; it is the only way to live. Nothing else works. Becoming Best Friends with God Knowing and loving God is our privilege, and being known and loved is God's greatest pleasure. Everything you do can be "spending time with God" if he is invited to be a part of it and you stay aware of his presence. Developing Your Friendship with God God does not expect you to be perfect, but he does insist on complete honesty. Bitterness is the greatest barrier to friendship with God. The more you become God's friend, the more you will care about the things he cares about. Worship That Pleases God God-pleasing worship is deeply emotional and deeply doctrinal. We use both our hearts and our heads. The best style of worship is the one that most authentically represents your love for God. Real worship is rooted in the Word. When God Seems Distant God admits that sometimes he hides his face from us. The most common mistake Christians make in worship today is seeking an experience rather than seeking God. When you feel abandoned by God yet continue to trust Him, you worship Him in the deepest way. Formed for God's Family Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Being included in God's family is the highest honor and the greatest privilege you will ever recieve. What Matters Most Relationships are what life is all about. The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. A Place to Belong We discover our role in life through our relationship with others. The church will outlive this universe, and so will your role in it. Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; He has promised to build His church. Experiencing Life Together Real fellowship happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. Everytime you understand and affirm someone's feelings, you build fellowship. Cultivating Community When conflict is handled correctly, we grow closer to each other. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. The fellowship of the church is more important than any individual. Restoring Broken Fellowship God expects you to make the first move. In resolving conflict, how you say it is as important as what you say. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem. Protecting Your Church Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than his church. We must passionately love the church in spite of its imperfections. We protect the fellowship when we honor those who serve us by leading. Created to Become Like Christ God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. Your character is essentially the sum of your habits. God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do. How We Grow We become whatever we are commited to. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act. Transformed by Truth The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. Many who claim to believe the Bible "from cover to cover" have never read it from cover to cover. The truth will set you free, but first it may make you miserable. Transformed by Trouble Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days. Everything that happens to you has spiritual significance. What happens outwardly in your life is not as important as important as what happens inside you. Growing through Temptation God develops the fruit of the Spirit by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you are tempted to express the exact opposite quality. We think temptation lies around us, but God says it begins within us. Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you, not a sign of weakness or worldliness. Defeating Temptation The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you. The truth is, whatever you can't talk about is already out of control in your life. Do not ever try to argue with the Devil. He is better at arguing than you are, having had thousands of years to practice. It Takes Time While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow. There is no growth without change, no change without fear or loss, and no loss without pain. God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. Accepting Your Assignment If I have no love for others, no desire to serve others, I should question whether Christ is really in my life. Spiritual maturity is never an end in itself. We grow up in order to give out. Service is the pathway to real significance. Shaped for Serving God God never wastes anything. An unopened gift is worthless. When you are doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you. Understanding Your Shape What I am able to do, God wants me to do. It feels good to do what God made you to do. For God to use your painful experiences, you must be willing to share them. Using What God Gave You You will never know what you are good at until you try. God wants you to enjoy the shape He has given you. How Real Servants Act Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant's heart will reveal your maturity. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. Thinking Like a Servant Real servants do not try to use God for their purposes. They let God use them for his purposes. The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself. God's Power in Your Weakness If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done. Your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts. Made for a Mission Jesus calls us not only to come to him, but to go for him. The Great Commission was given to every follower of Jesus. It is easy to get distracted, because Satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith. Sharing Your Life Message Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to others. While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. God gives us different passions so that everything He wants done in the world will get done. Becoming a World-Class Christian It has never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world. People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers. "You can't take it with you" --- but the Bible says you can send it on ahead by investing in people who are going there! Balancing Your Life A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make you a great Christian. You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you fulfill His purposes on earth. Living with Purpose When God is at the center of your life, you worship. When He is not, you worry. Before most unbelievers accept the Bible as credible they want to know that we are credible. You can start living on purpose today.