The Purpose Driven Life has been used successfully as a course book in churches for several years. Its aim is to take individual members through the principles of the course over a period of forty days so that it will impact on the church as a whole.
The Purpose Driven Life Course Book divides into five purposes for living in a spiritual context:
- Planned for God’s Pleasure
- Formed for God’s Family
- Created to Become like Christ
- Shaped for Serving God
- Made for a Mission
These five purposes are broken down into a total of forty days for individual study, but it is also a good course to study together as a church. There are videos available of Rick Warren talking about material from each week’s studies, so church members might meet during the week to listen to it together. There is then time for discussion of all the points raised by the study. The sermon at the Sunday Service can be built around the material, focusing on that week’s main Purpose, to bring cohesion to each part.
Using the Purpose Driven Life in a Church
One church in Scotland began the course just over six weeks before Easter one year, so that they could finish on Easter Sunday with a meal together.
The study proved a turning point in many ways and was more challenging than expected. It brought new people to the church, it occasioned three study groups, instead of the usual one, and it encouraged more people to enjoy fellowship with each other. Most of all it was personally challenging for many individuals.
Questions and Answers Raised by the Forty Days of Purpose
Regular daily reading and study of Bible-based material usually requires discipline and a sacrifice of time. The Purpose Driven Life is not a short, ‘one-page Bible verse and homily’ type of study material that many can happily work into busy lives. At the very least, there are five pages to read in a day, sometimes eight or nine, full of Bible verses to supplement the study.
Like many spiritual books and guides, it throws up as many questions as answers and some lively discussion. Committed Christian and church member David has previously run an Alpha course. He felt the 40 Day Purpose Driven Life course took a different approach: “The 40 Days of Purpose focused more on our relationship to God and fleshed out our responsibilities. It was challenging. But at times there was an assumption it was being addressed only to believers.”
Challenges of Personal Study
From the oldest to the youngest church member, most people were challenged in some way. Ethel, a Christian for about sixty years, was surprised by the course. “It began quite slowly but the more I went on, it became like a feast, then like a piercing sword. I had my eyes opened to personal challenges.”
Ian, on the other hand, was still seeking answers to his questions about Christianity. “Some were answered during the course and it made me think more deeply. The fellowship was a positive experience.” Each study group met at different times, including an afternoon meeting. Children and youth also got involved, through Sunday school and Youth Fellowship.
Benefits of Studying the Purpose Driven Life
In some churches following the course, new faces became familiar and the groups enjoyed discussion with inquiring minds. One parishioner who had been away from church for many years found the course personally challenging, saying, “It brought a daily discipline of Bible study into my life. Reading this course material has encouraged me to set aside regular time to read the Bible.”
After the Purpose Driven Life course is completed, the idea is to apply the five purposes to every area of the church, so that it might shape its worship, discipleship, fellowship, ministry and evangelism. It soon becomes obvious that life is not only about schedules and targets. It challenges some people's Christian faith.
The very first sentence of chapter one says: “It’s not about you.” Rather it all starts with God and that can bring a new purpose to some people’s lives, when it is God-centred rather than self-centred.
Sources:
Warren, Rick, The Purpose Driven Life, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2002.
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