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The #1 New York Times Bestseller, with over 3 million sold, now available in a large print edition The Purpose Driven Life is a blueprint for a lifestyle based on God's eternal purposes, not cultural values. Well-grounded in Scripture, it offers fresh insights on worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. This is a book of hope and challenge you will read and re-read.
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Also by Rick Warren The Purpose-Driven® Church
R ICK WA R R E N THE
PURPOSE
DRIVEN
®
W H AT ON E A RT H A M I H E R E FOR ?
The Purpose-Driven® Life Adobe® Acrobat® eBook Reader® format Copyright © 2002 by Rick Warren This title is also available as a Zondervan audio product. Visit www. zondervan.com/audiopages for more information. Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 ISBN 0-310-25482-5 The Scripture versions cited in this book are identified in appendix 3, which hereby becomes a part of this copyright page. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Illustrations by Michael Halbert, Copyright © 2002 Michael Halbert Interior design by Jim Dobbs, Mary Deschenes, Julie Head Printed in the United States of America
This book is dedicated to you. Before you were born, God planned this moment in your life. It is no accident that you are reading this book. God longs for you to discover the life he created you to live—here on earth, and forever in eternity. It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ, . . . he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)
I am grateful to the hundreds of writers and teachers, both classical and contemporary, who have shaped my life and helped me learn these truths. I thank God and you for the privilege of sharing them with you.
CONTENTS
A Journey with Purpose My Covenant 13
9
WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
It All Starts with God 17 You Are Not an Accident 22 What Drives Your Life? 27 Made to Last Forever 36 Seeing Life from God’s View 41 Life Is a Temporary Assignment 47 The Reason for Everything 53
PURPOSE #1: You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14
Planned for God’s Pleasure 63 What Makes God Smile? 69 The Heart of Worship 77 Becoming Best Friends with God 85 Developing Your Friendship with God Worship That Pleases God 100 When God Seems Distant 107
PURPOSE #2: You Were Formed for God’s Family Day 15 Formed for God’s Family 117 Day 16 What Matters Most 123 Day 17 A Place to Belong 130
92
Day 18 Day 19 Day 20 Day 21
Experiencing Life Together 138 Cultivating Community 145 Restoring Broken Fellowship 152 Protecting Your Church 160
PURPOSE #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ Day 22 Day 23 Day 24 Day 25 Day 26 Day 27 Day 28
Created to Become Like Christ 171 How We Grow 179 Transformed by Truth 185 Transformed by Trouble 193 Growing through Temptation 201 Defeating Temptation 209 It Takes Time 217
PURPOSE #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God Day 29 Day 30 Day 31 Day 32 Day 33 Day 34 Day 35
Accepting Your Assignment 227 Shaped for Serving God 234 Understanding Your Shape 241 Using What God Gave You 249 How Real Servants Act 257 Thinking Like a Servant 265 God’s Power in Your Weakness 272
PURPOSE #5: You Were Made for a Mission Day 36 Day 37 Day 38