The purpose driven church

[Guest Calamity]

http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Foun...fbcAnalysis.htm

http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Foun...on/fbcsdlbk.htm

Here are a couple of links that have "analyzed" the Purpose Driven material. I can't say I agree with everything on the site, because I only read these two articles. If they are correct, then I believe the Purpose Driven material is lacking and somewhat unbiblical in certain areas.

[Kay]

Dear Bro and Sis

Rick Warren has spoke in our church; long before his books became so popular.

I am currently attending a bible study that is following THE Purpose Driven Life

and so far it has taught me that God has made me for a reason; and the basic reason is to worship Him; and develop the gifts He has given me for His Church.

My pastor requires all Leaders to read the Purpose Driven Church. We are nondenominational; and have 5000+ members. However, the bible study I am attending is taught by my bro in law; and they attend a baptist church.

If it brings all christian churches together for the good of Jesus, then ??? what up as my son would say

If I remember correctly Rick Warren is very conservative; and follows God's word to the tee, Down on homosexuality, and biblical on all of the following

This has also been my experience too sis Marilyn!!! thank you for your point of view!!!!!

LOVE all of YA

Kay

[Kay]

[The Bible study my friend attended was really a Purpose Driven Life study group.  The Purpose Driven Life book they were studying referenced Bible passages that sounded off base. He was told that if he was going to attend the study, he would have to leave his Bible at home, because the issues he brought up were disruptive to the group. He chose to quit instead.

WE follow in the bible as we read the book; to check for validation

KAY

[Marilyn777]

Dear Bro and Sis

Rick Warren has spoke in our church; long before his books became so popular.

I am currently attending a bible study that is following THE Purpose Driven Life

and so far it has taught me that God has made me for a reason; and the basic reason is to worship Him; and develop the gifts He has given me for His Church.

My pastor requires all Leaders to read the Purpose Driven Church. We are nondenominational; and have 5000+ members. However, the bible study I am attending is taught by my bro in law; and they attend a baptist church.

If it brings all christian churches together for the good of Jesus, then ??? what up as my son would say

If I remember correctly Rick Warren is very conservative; and follows God's word to the tee, Down on homosexuality, and biblical on all of the following

This has also been my experience too sis Marilyn!!! thank you for your point of view!!!!!

LOVE all of YA

Kay

Thanks Kay I think Rick is teaching the basics to unsaved people who need to know the Lord in a way that they will understand. The ultimate goal is to bring them into the Kingdom of God!! And the programs that the church has set up at Saddleback are amazing they have included all ages, all forms of Biblical intruction. I think if you can't find a group of some kind at Saddleback where you fit in then ya ain't tryin.

God Bless

Marilyn

[stevehut]

[The Bible study my friend attended was really a Purpose Driven Life study group.

[Yahsway]

I have read and re-read both books. But I also read C. Peter Wagners "Churchquake" years ago and it is all about seeker-sensitive, mega-marketing, mega-churches.

The pentegon has just ordered 26,000 copies of Purpose Driven Life. Rick Warren has said his last mission here on earth is to bring about "Globel Peace". Am I missing something here? Yeshua is the prince of Peace and is the only One who will bring this about.

I think we are in the days of people running to and fro to different pastors and leaders who will tickle their ears. Yeshua is sensitive to those seeking Him, but we should not compromise our walk to water down the word for those who might be offended by the gospel.

I too have seen in my own assembly the compromise of the word, eveything preached from pulpit is mixed with the new reality shows, the football games, verses taken out of context and the things of the world added with it the word of God. A half truth is still a lie. Does anyone preach repentance anymore?

I believe in a Holy Spirit driven life. His purpose for my life, not my own purpose. I too found good things in these books but i found them lacking as they mixed Gods word with mans philosophy. I believe these books are on the leading edge of New age philosophy.

If any of you get a chance to read "churchquake" then please do for I believe it was this book and thinking that has started us all down the slippery sloap that we are in.

I believe the preaching of another Jesus has begun.

[Spiritual Warrior]

I read Purpose driven church.

I understand that many people enjoyed this book and would say that it helped them create growth and it enlightened them to an understanding of the importance of having a purpose in leadership. I am not ashamed to say that I am not one of them. Although I did find nuggets of truth, I found some of the book to be somewhat contradictory. (I will explain later)

Writing a book about how to develop a church to be purpose driven is strange to me to say the least. If you don't understand the Church's purpose, I would venture to say that you're not called into the ministry. It seems to me that there are two types of growth: Spiritual and numerical. Spiritual growth can only come through the hard preaching of the truth (calling sin sin). Numerical growth can come about many ways. This book focuses primarily on the later, which in my opinion can be dangerous.

I appreciate Mr. Warren's eagerness to share with others what worked for him and his ministry. And I agree with him when He states that "Churches offer a message that emphasizes the benefits of the gospel while ignoring the responsibility and cost of following Christ" (p.56). and "Church is not a business".

However this is about where my agreement with the book ends. Warren's choice of interpretations (in my opinion) were questionable. I noticed that He quoted Proverbs 20:18 out of the TEV which states "get good advice and you will succeed". The NIV states "Make plans by seeking advice: if you wage war, obtain guidance". So where is the word succeed. And there are many other instances in which I don't have enough days to write them down.

Warren makes a statement on page 48 that "you won't grow large if that is all you care about." I disagree, there are many churches that sacrifice Spiritual growth for numerical growth every day and their numbers are skyrocketing as a result.

John MacArthur states, "We live in a marketing society, if you want bigger burgers,Done, if you want more flavors, Done, if you want more cup holders in your van, Done.....Give the customer what they want and they will be happy and they will keep coming back." Unfortunately this mentality has crept into the Church, and according to Warren we need to preach the positive (as if there is a negative side of the gospel). Is there any virtue in avoiding preaching against sin for the sake of making someone feel accepted or comfortable. Of course not.

I notice that Warren states that He refuses to debate what type of evangelism works best...as long as it is ethical (I noticed that He omits what He considers ethical). Yet He criticizes some traditional methods of smaller churches (see p.255)

(contradiciton)

I believe it is important to understand the meaning behind I Corinthians 3:6&7, which states "I have planted, Apollos watered; but GOD gave the increase. So then neither is He that planteth any thing, neither He that watereth; but GOD that giveth the increase." Proverbs 21:30 - "there is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."

There is no formula for growth. God calls, you follow, end of story. I like what mother Theresa said, "God doesn't call us to be successful, just faithful". What makes us think that we need to add to or take away from the truly unique gospel to make it more "appealing" or "more attractive"?

After reading this book, it seems like in some parts of this book that Warren was ready for this argument and said just enough to cover his bases, but forgot to cover them very well.

I feel that there is too much preaching on the cure and not enough on the disease. If a man doesn't know he is sick, why should he desire to have the cure. No matter how popular the gospel is or isn't. It is still the truth. I realize that we must be able to relate to people. but, Warren says in his book on page 253 that we should make our services more attractive, more appealing and relevant. (1 out of 3 ain't bad). If you have to add your own spices to the gospel to make it more flavorable, aren't we thereby questioning the power of the gospel itself?

BTW: I don't mean to come across as, "I hate Rick Warren". I don't! I appreciate his enthusiasm to share with others his opinion about what works and doesn't work in the ministry." just my 2 cents.

[ServingHim]

This purpose can be broken up into 5 areas: worship, loving other believers, becoming more like Christ, serving others, and telling others.

thank you for sharing your views...I've just discovered this thread so forgive me if these things have already been discussed. Frankly, I live in the heart of 'Saddleback' Country! In fact, Rick Warren lives in the very community that I do. Though I don't go to Saddleback (aka, the feel-good church, from what many call it, though I wouldn't know because I don't go there), I do know many wonderful loving people that do go there.

I started reding this book, and couldn't finish it, for it really just got to me when he started talking about making God 'happy'... it's so sappy, IMHO...again, it's MHO... you say that it's broken into: worship, loving other believers, becoming more like Christ, serving others, and telling others.

I just have a problem with the 2nd thing you said ... 'loving OTHER believers'. Does 'loving neighbor' include ONLY other believers, or is it ALL of mankind. Are we to just 'stick with our own kind'...is that what it teaches...that 'believers' are better, more worthy of our love? I just have trouble with that because if someone is HUNGRY, what difference does it make if they are a 'believer' or not. They might become a believer just by you LOVING them through your actions of giving food and comfort, regardless! I believe our PURPOSE is to serve Christ by serving OTHERS...regardless of their 'religious affiliation'. To me, all these 'study groups' are worthless unless people actually take what they've learned and go out in the world and 'serve Christ' by 'serving others'...for Matt 25:31-46 is very clear about our purpose!

[ServingHim]

I have read and re-read both books. But I also read C. Peter Wagners "Churchquake" years ago and it is all about seeker-sensitive, mega-marketing, mega-churches.

The pentegon has just ordered 26,000 copies of Purpose Driven Life. Rick Warren has said his last mission here on earth is to bring about "Globel Peace". Am I missing something here? Yeshua is the prince of Peace and is the only One who will bring this about.

I think we are in the days of people running to and fro to different pastors and leaders who will tickle their ears. Yeshua is sensitive to those seeking Him, but we should not compromise our walk to water down the word for those who might be offended by the gospel.

I too have seen in my own assembly the compromise of the word, eveything preached from pulpit is mixed with the new reality shows, the football games, verses taken out of context and the things of the world added with it the word of God. A half truth is still a lie. Does anyone preach repentance anymore?

I believe in a Holy Spirit driven life. His purpose for my life, not my own purpose. I too found good things in these books but i found them lacking as they mixed Gods word with mans philosophy. I believe these books are on the leading edge of New age philosophy.

If any of you get a chance to read "churchquake" then please do for I believe it was this book and thinking that has started us all down the slippery sloap that we are in.

I believe the preaching of another Jesus has begun.

I agree...

[ServingHim]

I appreciate Mr. Warren's eagerness to share with others what worked for him and his ministry. And I agree with him when He states that "Churches offer a message that emphasizes the benefits of the gospel while ignoring the responsibility and cost of following Christ" (p.56). and "Church is not a business".

have you ever seen the mega-plex at Saddleback, with the children's amazing 'parting sea' and the multi-multi million dollar facilities...to say it is not a business I think contradicts it's very nature...it's an incredible place, on acres and acres of land. I know people who through that church go to 'Generous Giving' SEMINARS...and come back feeling guilty that they don't 'give enough' to their Church. Hmmm...