The Purpose-Driven Church: What on Earth Is Your Church Here For? |  | Author: Rick Warren
Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company
Category: Book
List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $14.95
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Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 285668
Format: Large Print
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 528
ISBN: 0310272203
Dewey Decimal Number: 253
EAN: 9780310272205
ASIN: 0310272203
Publication Date: November 30, 2008 (In 51 Days)
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Availability: Not yet published
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Product Description
This condensed version covers the first half of the book, including a five-point strategy for attracting and spiritually maturing the unchurched, and is read by the author, the pastor of Saddleback Church. Read by Rick Warren.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Medicine and Poison February 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Warren is a passionate, motivated pastor, who sees a strong need for congregation to have a purpose. To Warren, being purpose driven builds morale, reduces frustration, allows concentration, attracts cooperation, and assists evaluation (Chapter 4). Warren's book is sanctification-centered, focusing on the Christian life at the congregational level. That's why he shows Jesus as an example for evangelism (pgs 157 ff) or even how to preach a sermon (pg. 230), not as a Savior.
Despite Warren's zeal, which I admire, I find his use of poor translations (or paraphrases!) to build the foundational premises of his book as vexing. Here are only two examples:
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 (pg. 97, Living Bible): "Let there be real harmony so that there won't be splits in the church. . . . Be of one mind, united in thought and purpose." This is Warren's linchpin to have a "purpose-driven church." Being purpose driven may be something good, but he should not use a paraphrase to build a premise that the scriptural text does not support. Paul used the word katarizo, often used to "repair" or "mend" a net. Paul was exhorting the Corinthians to restore their unity by involving their mental abilities (nuos) and their ability to evaluate facts (gnoma), not having a congregational purpose.
- Ephesians 4:29 (pg 295, New International Version): "[Speak] only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen." Warren focuses on the word "their" to preach to people's "felt needs." Yet, the English Standard Version and New American Standard Bible accurately translate the meaning of the Greek respectively: "for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace . . ." and "for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace . . ." Notice that the scriptural text is not about "felt needs" but salvation, that is, "grace."
Although only touched on slightly toward the end of the book, Warren's idea of a "niche" is useful. He writes, "Everyone needs a niche . . ." (pg. 314). Every congregation is different and is in a different location. The nexus of congregation and community form a unique niche for a congregation as a corporate body, apart from individual vocations, to interface in the community it is in. How does the congregation as a whole want to make its presence known in the community? Such an understanding, coupled with Warren-like evangelistic zeal, can stir a congregation to find news ways to share the Gospel to the community. This is something that Warren's book can help a congregation to do--if these facts are taught judiciously, stressing that evangelism is "conversion, not by transferring Christians from other churches" (pg 52).
Also, Warren's statements about not compromising the mission or the message are especially useful in our age (pgs 55, 238). Today, some want to separate mission from message and message from mission. Jesus mandates both for His Church! And Warren is right to say so.
I find Warren's use of what Jesus did and not what He commanded to shape his doctrinal worldview troubling. For example, in preaching, Warren uses how Jesus taught others to override what Jesus told His apostles to preach! Jesus said to preach "repentance and forgiveness of sins" (Luke 24:47, ESV), not preaching to people's felt needs (pgs 199-200, 297-298).
Also, Warren's emphasis when he quotes the "Great commission" is misguided: "Go and make disciples . . ." He misses the point that "go" is a participle in the Greek, not an imperative, and that discipling takes place by baptizing and teaching. Warren changes the emphasis from justification, "Discipling by baptizing and teaching" to sanctification, "Go and make!"
Likewise, Warren has little idea of the Holy Spirit working through the means of grace. But it still needs a mention. Rather than "felt needs," the Apostle Paul says, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17, ESV). Rather than purpose-driven principles, the Apostle Paul wrote to Pastor Titus about baptism: "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5, ESV). Warren writes, "We've been able to maintain a warm fellowship in spite of the enormous growth our church has experienced because our members are committed to a common purpose" (pgs 88-89). Christians assert that our fellowship is based on Jesus Christ and who we are in Him, not human-made principles.
The Purpose Driven Church has its strength and weaknesses. Yet its weaknesses are so many that I would not use it in a congregational setting. For doing so would imply an endorsement of the book. Instead, I would take what is good from the book and teach that in separately written lessons. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" (1 Corinthians 5:6, ESV)
 It is nothing like the "Purpose Driven" which is awesome; this book is kinda vague..sorry December 26, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I guess I love the tapes so much that I thought this book was going to be like THE PURPOSE DRIVE; our reasons for being here. I just love those tapes..I really cannot figure out what the author wants me to know in this book. It is different from his other writings; in that, his message is not clear.
"Yes," I understand the purpose of the church, but what does the author want me to know about its purpose.
If the purpose is "fellowship" what type? He mentions discipleship, make it plainer please. His message wants me to think about a "healthy" church; in what way??? I mean how can people build a church without their donations, and attendance, etc. That's all they know. And Rick Warren does not tell me how to replace this with something specific.
 Clear and simple introduction to Biblical church purpose August 30, 2005
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
Excellent quick start to the book of the same title. It has a similar feel to the Purpose Driven Life CDs. It certainly whet my appetite to want to read the book ASAP.
A very biblical and balanced look at the Church February 5, 2005
5 out of 14 found this review helpful
I was saddened but hardly surprised to read the mocking and somewhat childish review -- bashing, The Purpose Driven Church (review titled, Compromising God...). Missing from that review is even one example of how Rick Warren supposedly compromises the Bible in any way. As a pastor and graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary I was thrilled to read a book that makes the heart of Christ for His Bride (the Church) so understandable and applicable for the everyday Christian.
The mark of an excellent teacher is one that can take the complex truths of scripture and say them in a way that is understandable to the masses yet 100% uncompromising to the Word of God. Rick did just that. Truly, I am hard pressed to find anything in the book that was biblically off base.
To the negative reviewer I would say - remember, there was a time several hundred years ago when people were burned alive for translating the Bible from the original languages (Hebrew and Greek) and even Latin, to modern day (at the time) English. Hopefully, you're grateful for the Bible you have. If so, you have men of conviction and courage (like Rick Warren) to thank for it.
Excellent source for Christ-centered churches August 13, 2004
4 out of 11 found this review helpful
In reading the previous review I concluded that there will be differing reactions to this book based on the readers' perspectives on the Bible and the need for Jesus in individual lives. Rick Warren is an evangelical pastor who believes that the Bible is absolutely true and accurate and that everyone needs the presence of Jesus Christ in his or her life. His Saddleback church congregation is (contrary to many modern Christian churches) focused on reaching those who have no history of faith in Jesus. I believe Rick does an excellent job in his discussion of effective ways that Saddleback uses to reach out to these folks. He is quick to point out that different congregations with differing demographics or area of the country will have to take these factors into consideration. He uses the five purposes which are the foundation for his book, The Purpose Driven Life, to show how Saddleback approaches worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism. Surely there is something here that any pastoral team can use to identify the needs of their congregation and plan for meeting those needs. The only negative that I felt as I read the book was my reaction to the author's references to other mass-marketed resources he has written, but if you can look past those references (you are not required to buy any of them) then there are plenty of nuggets here for pastors and church leaders.
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