Worth Books - Summary and Analysis of The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For?: Based on the Book by Rick Warren

Summary and Analysis of

The Purpose Driven Life

What on Earth Am I Here For? Expanded Edition

Based on the Book by Rick Warren

Contents

Context

Originally published in 2002, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? was written as a follow-up to pastor Rick Warrens first book, The Purpose Driven Church .

The Purpose Driven Life spent more than 20 months on the New York Times bestseller list and led to several other versions, including study guides and a childrens devotional.

Eleven years and millions of copies later, Warren introduced a new edition of his bestselling The Purpose Driven Life , noting it is the responsibility of the elders to pass on what they have learned, and every new generation must rediscover Gods purposes for themselves.

In the most recent edition, published in 2013, Warren added new features for readers. For each chapter, there is now a video introduction available via QR code, and an audio Bible study link listed at the end, which adds up to 30 bonus hours of instruction. Readers receive two new chapters addressing the most common barriers to living with purpose. And, as would be expected given todays technology and social media channels, readers also now have the option to access The Purpose Driven Life online community for questions and additional support.

Overview

Predicated on the Biblical notion that God considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period, The Purpose Driven Life Expanded Edition: What on Earth Am I Here For? is divided into 40 daily chapters. Author Rick Warren recommends readers focus on one chapter per day to best incorporate the books material into their daily lives. The expanded edition includes nine special features: five from the original publication and four new to the expanded edition.

• A Point to Ponder: Each chapter contains a corresponding daily sound bite which sums up the lesson for the day.
• A Verse to Remember: Each chapter includes a Bible verse directly related to the days topic.
• A Question to Consider: Questions to guide readers in discovering how each days lesson fits into their lives.
• A Message to Hear: Forty-two audio messages from the authorone per chapteraccessed online and running an average of 45 minutes each.
• A Video Introduction: QR codes connect readers to corresponding video introductions for each chapter.
• An Audio Bible Study: A new Audio Bible Study component offers more than 30 hours of additional teachings from the author.
• Access to an Online Community: Readers can share their journey, join in the conversation, and get support via this active online community.
• Two Bonus Chapters: Two extra chapters exploring some of the most common barriers to living a purpose-driven life.

In this book, youll learn Gods five purposes for your earthly life: God made you as a member of his family, a model of his character, a magnifier of his glory, a minister of his grace, and a messenger of his Good News to others. There is an introductory section followed by five purpose-driven sections as follows:

Purpose #1For Gods pleasure: Worship

Purpose #2For Gods family: Fellowship

Purpose #3For becoming like Christ: Discipleship

Purpose #4For serving God: Ministry

Purpose #5For a mission: Evangelism

Summary

What on Earth Am I Here For?

Day 1: It All Starts with God

Author Rick Warren begins by reminding readers their time on this planet is a direct result of Gods will. He created us to serve his purpose, and focusing on our hopes, dreams, and goals will never lead us to discovering our earthly purpose. The answer to knowing your lifes purpose is not within youit is within God.

There are only two ways to go about discovering your purpose: speculation and revelation. Warren looks first at speculation, as he thinks this is what most people choosethe self-help route. They guess. They waffle. They wonder. They read lots of books that claim to provide important answers. They grasp at straws trying to find their higher purposeto no avail. Speculation doesnt work.

Fortunately theres another option: revelation. We can look to God to help us understand. His teachings reveal our five purposes, providing us with an Owners Manual of sorts for living our best lives. It is only through recognizing we are here because God put us herewe exist by and for Godthat we can begin to make sense of our purpose.

Need to Know: Its not about you its about God.

Day 2: You Are Not an Accident

God created us on purpose and for a purpose. He created each of us for his purpose.

He decided your how, when, where, and why before you were even born. Make no mistake, he didnt need to create you, dear reader. He wanted to create you, because God is love. And he created you to exist in that love.

Need to Know: You are here for a reason you are not an accident.

Day 3: What Drives Your Life?

Everyones life is driven by something. Warren says the five most common drivers are:

1. Guilt: Are you running from regrets and hiding your shame? The author tells us people who are driven by guilt are manipulated by memories. Consciously or unconsciously, people driven by their guilt are allowing the past to rule the present. But God is all about new beginnings and fresh starts. And while we are, each of us, a product of our past, we dont have to remain so in our present.
2. Resentment and anger: Do you hold onto old hurts? Do you have a hard time forgiving those you believe have wronged you? Resentment hurts you much more than it hurts anyone else. By forgiving your transgressors you are releasing yourself from the pain and anger. They can only continue to hurt you if you continue to stew.
3. Fear: Do you play it safe more often than not? Do you worry about things you cant control (which is practically everything)? Warren says that if youre driven by fear, youre in a self-imposed prison and its holding you back from realizing Gods plan for you.
4. Materialism: Do you desire to acquire? Warren reminds us our self-worth and our net worth are not one and the same. Material goods will not bring us security. Security manifests through your relationship with God.
5. Need for approval: Do you do things just because you want to be liked? Do you worry about what others think of you? Are you afraid of disappointing people? Being controlled by what others think is the surest way to miss your God-given purpose. Warren reminds us that Jesus said, No one can serve two masters . (Matthew 6:24 NLT)

Warren follows the five drivers with five benefits to living a purpose-driven life:

1. Without purpose, life has no meaning. Adding a purpose gives us hope.
2. Living a purpose-driven life simplifies things and makes the decision-making process much less stressful.
3. Purpose adds focus to our lives, allowing us to concentrate our energies and efforts on things that really matter to us.
4. Purpose motivates us and energizes us to be our best selves.
5. A purpose-driven life prepares us for eternity by ensuring we dont waste time creating our own earthly legacy, but instead focus on creating an eternal legacy.

Need to Know: Gods two crucial, eternal questions:

• What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?
• What did you do with what I gave you?

Day 4: Made to Last Forever

Warren tells us Christians will spend far longer on the other side of deathin eternitythan in the here and now. Earth is merely a staging area for the real show, which is your life in eternity. And while life here on earth offers us many options for living, eternity offers only two: heaven and hell. Your relationship with God, while on this planet, directly determines your eternal future.