Comments on "Purpose-Driven Life"

[Gotterdammerung]

Our church is starting a 40-day campaign using Rick Warren's latest book (The Purpose Driven Life) to show us how to know what our purpose is here on earth as Christians. Could this be a gimmick to get people interested in Church? Just the title sounds like something from Corporate America. What are your thoughts?

[drstevej]

Haven't read The Purpose Driven Life but I found Warren's The Purpose Driven Church well worth my while in reading. Lot's of good insights.

Don't judge a book by it's ~title~.

[LiteKeeper]

bump

[restornu]

How's Brunhilde?:)

[Gotterdammerung]

To: Gotterdammerung

How's Brunhilde?:)

I had an old Mercedes 450SL, blonde, and I called her Brunhilde. Loved her. She met the press. Magic Fire couldn't keep that dame down.

[Gotterdammerung]

I think that because churches have scrapped catechisms, creeds, and doctrine, people are hungry for knowledge. They'll take one modern man's authority over an ancient church counsel. For example, in most catechisms, the question of our purpose is dealt with therein.

[drstevej]

Have you read Rick's Purpose Driven Church? I was personally impressed with the biblical focus of the book and his implementation of timeless principes in a contemporary setting.

[RnMomof7]

Haven't read The Purpose Driven Life but I found Warren's The Purpose Driven Church well worth my while in reading. Lot's of good insights

We disagree. .I have read "The Purpose Driven Church " and worked up a program based on their "program" which was bought from them by my former church.

It is just a sales and marketing gimmic..finding the "target" group to market your church to,then building your worship and programs to them

I had always thought that Jesus Christ built his church..but Rick disabused me of that foolishness..all we need is good demographics and we too can have a mega church..

But God always has the last say..Many of us had grave concerns over the methods used in the program. When they were expressed to that Pastor he brushed them off

Today that church of 300 that was looking to double its size has 20 members..........guess the Pastor missed the target huh?

[RnMomof7]

Sorry meant to flag you to 8

[jude24]

Was this at the Naz?

Lots of churches in Buffalo are declining. ABC lost 1/3 of its membership since last September. We're wondering what to do next....

[drstevej]

I still think there is good material in the book. Like any book I pick and choose that which I believe is biblical and leave the rest. At a garage sale I feel it is a success if I find several items that will be of use. I never expect to bring everything home.

Not sure about the dynamics of the church you mention, but if his primary goal was to have a mega church I am not surprised he hit problems. If his goal was to equip people as disciples and train them for evangelism I would be far more optomistic. Merely transplanting a program into a different setting is not wise. It was the underlying principles of the PDC that I found usefull.

In any case, we can disagree without hitting the abuse button on each other and whining to the management. :0)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Having been to Warren's service several times, I found too many Hawaiian shirts and not enough Scripture.

As a therapist, he's very good. But church as therapy is not what it's supposed to be about.

[RnMomof7]

Was this at the Naz?

The 'purpose driven' pastor has his own purposes..those that left are not unchurched..they have not left Christ..most are going to Eastern Hills or Amherst Baptist. I had not seen anyone from there in a couple of months. I was amazed at the turn of events it had been like a family ..but I was not surprised at the stated problem or reason for their leaving .

That is the question that you need to ask at the ABC have they left the Lord or just the church..

If they have only left the church it is time to pray about why God would lead them out of there. Quick fixes and new programs are not going to be a long range help. If they come for that they will leave as soon as someone else has a better program.

[RnMomof7]

As a therapist, he's very good. But church as therapy is not what it's supposed to be about.

I got the same impression from the book and material they sell for their "method" . I have heard the same complaint from others that have visited there (multi big screans with no real message).

I do not want to demean Warren..He may be a very godly man but he is interested in quanity..that is his purpose.When that is your goal then the quality has to suffer,,it is easier to give them a bottle than to cut up the meat on a plate..

Can a church grow that focuses on doctrine and scripture ? yep look at pipers Church..