The Purpose Driven Life Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! {{short description|2002 bible study book by Rick Warren}} {{Infobox book |name = The Purpose Driven Life |image = Pupose.jpg |caption = Cover |author = [[Rick Warren]] |cover_artist = |country = United States |language = English |subject = [[Bible study (Christianity)|Bible study]] |publisher = [[Zondervan]] |release_date = 2002 |media_type = Print |pages = |isbn = 9780310803065 |oclc = 51813195 }} '''''The Purpose Driven Life''''' is a [[Bible study (Christian)|bible study]] book written by Christian pastor [[Rick Warren]] and published by [[Zondervan]] in 2002. The book offers readers a 40-day personal spiritual journey and presents what Warren says are God's five purposes for human life on Earth. ==Background== Warren was encouraged by [[Billy Graham]] in his 20s after he wrote his first book: ''Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods''. This greatly inspired Warren when he had "little confidence" in his writing ability: {{Quote |text=The Purpose Driven Life might have never been written if Billy Graham had not believed in me.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://outreachmagazine.com/features/evangelism/26876-rick-warren-billy-graham-shaped-life-ministry.html|title=Rick Warren: How Billy Graham Shaped My Life and Ministry|date=27 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206223740/https://outreachmagazine.com/features/evangelism/26876-rick-warren-billy-graham-shaped-life-ministry.html|archive-date=6 December 2019|access-date=6 December 2019|first=Rick|last=Warren|url-status=live|website=outreachmagizine.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/5169730/billy-graham-rick-warren/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222031009/https://time.com/5169730/billy-graham-rick-warren/|archive-date=22 February 2018|first=Elizabeth|last=Dias|access-date=20 December 2019|date=22 February 2018|url-status=live|title='Billy Was My Hero.' Pastor Rick Warren Remembers His Mentor Billy Graham|website=time.com}}</ref>}} The 2002 book ''Purpose Driven Life'' is a sequel to his 1995 book ''The Purpose Driven Church''. ==Summary== The book is intended to be read as a daily inspiration, with each of the 40 short chapters read on consecutive days.<ref>George Thomas Kurian, James D. Smith III, ''The Encyclopedia of Christian Literature, Volume 2'', Scarecrow Press, US, 2010, p. 630</ref><ref>Alex Murashko, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/10th-anniversary-edition-of-the-purpose-driven-life-redesigned-for-millennials.html 10th Anniversary Edition of 'The Purpose Driven Life' Redesigned for Millennials], christianpost.com, US, June 14, 2012</ref> Each chapter contains a personal application section at the end with a "point to ponder," a verse to remember, and a question to consider over the course of that day. Rick Warren described his book as an "anti-self-help book." The first sentence of the book reads, "It's not about you,"<ref>Warren, Rick, ''The Purpose Driven Life'', 2002, p. 17</ref> and the remainder of the chapter goes on to explain how the quest for personal fulfillment, satisfaction, and meaning can only be found in understanding and doing what God placed you on Earth to do.<ref>Warren, Rick, ''The Purpose Driven Life'', 2002, p. 25</ref> The book's 40 chapters are divided into six major sections, with the following titles:<ref>Warren, Rick, ''The Purpose Driven Life'', 2002, Table of Contents</ref> *What on Earth Am I Here For? *Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure ([[Christian Worship]]) *Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God's Family ([[Christian Fellowship]]) *Purpose #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ ([[Discipleship]]) *Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God ([[Christian Ministry]]) *Purpose #5: You Were Made for a Mission ([[Christian mission|Christian Mission]]) In later versions of the book, 2 additional chapters were added about the 2 biggest reasons why Christians don't live purpose driven lives, envy and "people pleasing." == Reception == ===Sales=== The book topped the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' best seller charts as well as ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' charts. ''The Purpose Driven Life'' was also on the ''New York Times'' Bestseller List for over 90 weeks.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Faith-Based Publishing|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/28/books/review/faithbased-publishing.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2004-11-28|access-date = 2016-02-11|issn = 0362-4331|first = Rachel|last = Donadio}}</ref> It had sold over 18 million copies by 2008,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wayoflife.org/database/a-review-of-purpose-driven-life.php |title = A Review of Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life"}}</ref> and 32 million copies within its first decade, by 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/religion/article/54912-purpose-driven-life-gets-a-10th-anniversary-makeover-pw-talks-with-rick-warren.html|title=Purpose Driven Life Gets a 10th Anniversary Makeover: PW Talks with Rick Warren}}</ref> According to both the author and publisher Simon & Schuster, 50 million copies had been sold in more than 85 languages by 2020.<ref>Accessed on April 18, 2020 https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Rick-Warren/39904606</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1884038,00.html |title = Rick Warren's Magazine: A Publishing Leap of Faith |magazine = Time|date = 10 March 2009|last1 = Sullivan|first1 = Amy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2020/04/12/saddleback-church-pastor-rick-warrens-easter-message-during-coronavirus-pandemic-on-faith-that-works-when-life-doesnt/|title = Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren's Easter message during coronavirus pandemic on faith that works when life doesn't|website = [[Los Angeles Daily News]]|date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> ===Impact=== A May 2005 survey of American pastors and ministers conducted by [[George Barna]] asked Christian leaders to identify what books were the most influential on their lives and ministries. ''The Purpose Driven Life'' was the most frequent response. ''The Purpose Driven Church'', written prior to ''The Purpose Driven Life'', was the second most frequent response.<ref> {{Cite web |url=https://www.barna.com/research/survey-reveals-the-books-and-authors-that-have-most-influenced-pastors/ |title=Survey Reveals The Books and Authors That Have Most Influenced Pastors |date=30 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117185457/https://www.barna.com/research/survey-reveals-the-books-and-authors-that-have-most-influenced-pastors/ |archive-date=17 November 2018 |access-date=6 December 2019|url-status=live|website=barna.com}}</ref> [[Billy Graham]] described the book as one that would "guide you to greatness—through living the [[Great Commandment]] and the [[Great Commission]] of [[Jesus]]."{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}} In 2005, after reading the book, the President of Rwanda, [[Paul Kagame]], invited Warren to develop the [[P.E.A.C.E. Plan]] in the country. <ref> Cynthia Mcfadden, Ted Gerstein, [https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=5479972&page=1 Rick Warren's 'Long-Term Relationship' with Rwanda], abcnews.go.com, USA, July 31, 2008</ref> ===Criticism=== Biblical scholar [[Robert M. Price]] criticized Warren for applying [[eisegesis]], which includes [[quoting out of context|quoting]] various translations of the Bible and [[cherry picking (fallacy)|selectively choosing]] whichever paraphrase or translation [[confirmation bias|supports]] his theses.<ref>Price, Robert M. ''The Reason-Driven Life'' pp. 307–312</ref> Jason Harris criticized the book for providing the scripture citations only in end notes, making it harder for readers to know the context of the passages it cites.<ref>Harris, Jason. InFocus. [http://teaminfocus.com.au/the-purpose-driven-life-by-rick-warren/ ''"The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren'']</ref> ===In popular culture=== NFL legend [[Ray Lewis]] gave the book to 23-time Olympic gold medalist [[Michael Phelps]] when he went to rehab.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-ray-lewis-tweets-strange-thing-about-michael-phelps-medal-count-deletes-it-20160810-story.html|title=Ray Lewis tweets strange thing about Michael Phelps' medal count, deletes it|publisher=Baltimore Sun|access-date=2016-09-09|website=baltimoresun.com|archive-date=2016-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913085548/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-ray-lewis-tweets-strange-thing-about-michael-phelps-medal-count-deletes-it-20160810-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Phelps was deeply touched by the book. He read it while in rehab, even to other patients, earning him the nickname "Preacher Mike".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2016/august/purpose-driven-life-saves-olympian-michael-phelps-from-suicide|title=Olympian Michael Phelps: 'This Is the Best Place I've Ever Been In My Whole Life'|date=14 August 2016|access-date=15 November 2019|publisher=CBN News|website=cbn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://aleteia.org/2016/08/11/for-michael-phelps-all-that-gold-couldnt-glitter-until-he-found-god/ |title=For Michael Phelps, all that gold couldn't glitter until he found God |date=11 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907130342/https://aleteia.org/2016/08/11/for-michael-phelps-all-that-gold-couldnt-glitter-until-he-found-god/ |archive-date=7 September 2019 |access-date=6 December 2019|url-status=live|website=aleteia.com}}</ref> The book occupies an important place in the film ''[[Captive (2015 film)|Captive]]'' released in 2015.<ref>Joe McGovern, [http://ew.com/article/2015/09/22/captive-ew-review/ 'Captive': EW review], ew.com, US, September 22, 2015</ref> This fact-based film tells the story of Ashley Smith, a young single mom of [[Atlanta]], being held hostage by [[Brian Nichols]], in her apartment for seven hours. Smith reported to news outlets that during this time she read chapter 32 of ''The Purpose Driven Life'' to Nichols, which she credited as influencing his decision to release her from captivity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-hostage: 'I wanted to gain his trust'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/14/smith.transcript/index.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=1 December 2012}}</ref> In 2012, Smith also stated that she had been struggling with drug addiction at the time, and she gave Nichols drugs to calm him down. Smith had to decide whether to do the drugs with Nichols. Smith chose not to, and she hasn't touched drugs since.<ref>{{Citation|last=Saddleback Church|title=Day 2 – What On Earth Am I Here For Pt. 1|date=2012-10-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWIEyQTlqNA&t=3185|access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref> Sales of ''The Purpose Driven Life'' rose greatly, with the book becoming Amazon's second-best-selling book after news of Smith's captivity and release was announced.<ref>{{cite news|title=Purpose Driven Life sales pick up pace in Upstate|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c9YpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4609,491106&dq=ashley-smith+purpose-driven-life&hl=en|accessdate=1 December 2012|newspaper=Herald-Journal|date=Mar 17, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rick Warren: The Purpose-Driven Pastor|website = NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99529977|publisher=NPR|accessdate=1 December 2012}}</ref> == See also == * [[Biblical literalism]] * [[Cafeteria Christianity]] * [[Christian literature]] * [[Saddleback Church]] == References == {{reflist|30em}} ===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |title=The Purpose Driven Life |url=https://archive.org/details/purposedrivenlif00rick |url-access=registration |first=Rick |last=Warren |year=2002 |publisher=Zondervan |location=Michigan|isbn=9780310803065 }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Purpose Driven Life, The}} [[Category:2002 books]] [[Category:Evangelical Christian literature]] [[Category:Books by Rick Warren]] [[Category:Self-help books]] [[Category:Zondervan books]] Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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