One of the biggest selling books of the year in the US is an openly Christian title that encourages readers to serve God and become like Christ. Now The Purpose Driven Life is helping churches in Sydney to grow.

Number one on the New York Times Best Seller list is not a bad recommendation for The Purpose Driven Life. Many people would already be familiar with Rick Warren as author of The Purpose Driven Church, which detailed his strategy for the planting and growth of Saddleback Valley Community Church in California.
His new book comes as part of a fully integrated program, aimed at churches and individuals, to be completed over 40 days. It includes a program of sermons,  music, and small group videos with study guide.

Earlier this year, the program was used by the seven churches in the ‘City of Willoughby Anglican Churches’ network.

the book
The Purpose Driven Life addresses the individual through 40 daily devotional readings. Each ‘purpose’ is examined in detail over a seven-day period.
Warren’s aim is to help the reader discover ‘what on earth am I here for?’ Week One sets the agenda with that question. Then the answer follows: you were planned for God’s pleasure; formed for God’s family; created to become like Christ; shaped for serving God; made for a mission.

The 40 day division is deliberate, given the Bible’s emphasis on this period of time for spiritual transformation. But it also fits in with the wider use of the book as part of the ’40 Days of Purpose’ Campaign’ (visit [url=http://www.purposedriven]http://www.purposedriven[/url]. com). The book is stimulating on its own, but it is in the context of the campaign that it really has impact.

It’s not a hard read and you will be tempted to go straight to the next chapter. Resist! Re-read the current chapter, review the references, and reflect on the message!

Given the longing for meaning in our society at large, The Purpose Driven Life is a good book to give away. Warren pulls no punches about the failures of secular pursuits for purpose and he continually points the reader back to the Lord.
Buy it and set aside 40 days!

the program
‘40 Days of Purpose’ came across my path via Geoff Bates at St John’s,Wilberforce, who was thinking of running the course last year. Later, he enthused about the impact it had on their church life. “40 Days of Purpose changed St John’s Wilberforce,” he now says. “We have grown in our relationship and service for Christ. We had a taste of what church could be like and now we know what to aim for.”

As a creature of God, your purpose in this world is to worship God, fellowship with his family, become like Christ, serve God and evangelise the lost. Warren clearly believes that this is the purpose of every person.

The program is not designed for outsiders. It’s a campaign for church members. So some people may have been under the sound of the gospel but not been called upon to make a commitment. Rick Warren calls on people to make that commitment now in the first group video.

The seven churches in Willoughby are different sizes and have different resources. With a CD full of material backed up by a web site of music, artwork and sermon resources, the options are gargantuan. We didn’t do everything, except keep to the five transforming principles.

The overwhelming response was positive. In fact many people have been saying their groups are going to go over the material again in full.

The Rev Ross Nicholson is rector of Willoughby Anglican Church