"Purpose Driven"
The Purpose Driven Church is a book written by Rick Warren, a pastor and author who is widely known
for his influential work in the field of Christian leadership and ministry. Published in 1995, the book has
had a profound impact on the way many churches approach their mission and ministry, and it continues
to be a relevant and important resource for pastors, church leaders, and anyone interested in the
growth and health of Christian communities.
In this comprehensive review of The Purpose Driven Church, I will explore the key themes and insights
presented in the book, as well as its strengths and limitations. I will also consider how the book has been
received by its audience and how its ideas have been put into practice in various contexts.
Overview
The Purpose Driven Church is organized around what Warren calls the "five purposes" of the church:
worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. These five purposes form the foundation of
Warren's approach to church leadership and ministry, and he argues that they are essential to the
growth and health of any Christian community.
The book begins by laying out the case for why these five purposes are so important. Warren argues
that many churches have lost sight of their true mission, and that they have become preoccupied with
activities that are not central to the gospel message. He writes, "When the church loses sight of its real
purpose, it becomes just another organization, with a mission statement and a board of directors. It
loses its passion, its urgency, its sense of direction. It becomes stagnant, and eventually dies."
To avoid this fate, Warren believes that churches must be intentional about pursuing these five
purposes. Each purpose is defined and discussed in detail, with practical advice and examples provided
for how churches can incorporate them into their ministry.
Worship
The first purpose of the church, according to Warren, is worship. He argues that worship is not just a
Sunday morning activity, but a way of life for Christians. He writes, "Worship is the fuel for ministry. It's
what keeps us going, what sustains us in the midst of difficulty and discouragement."
Warren believes that churches should prioritize worship in everything they do, from the music they sing
to the way they structure their services. He emphasizes the importance of creating an atmosphere of
reverence and awe, where people can encounter God and experience his presence.
Fellowship
The second purpose of the church is fellowship. Warren defines fellowship as "the mutual support and
encouragement that Christians give to one another as they live out their faith together." He argues that
fellowship is essential to the spiritual growth and health of believers, and that it should be a priority for
every church.
Warren provides practical advice for how churches can foster fellowship among their members,
including small group ministries, mentoring programs, and social events. He emphasizes the importance
of creating a sense of community where people feel accepted and loved, and where they can grow in
their relationships with God and with one another.
Discipleship
The third purpose of the church is discipleship. Warren defines discipleship as "the process of becoming
more like Christ in our thoughts, feelings, and actions." He argues that discipleship should be the central
focus of every church, and that everything else should be designed to support this goal.
Warren provides practical advice for how churches can facilitate discipleship, including Bible studies,
mentoring programs, and classes on spiritual disciplines. He emphasizes the importance of intentional,
structured discipleship programs that help people grow in their relationship with God and become more
like Jesus.
Ministry
The fourth purpose of the church is ministry. Warren defines ministry as "using our gifts and talents to
serve others and meet their needs." He argues that ministry is an essential part of the Christian life, and
that every believer should be involved in some form of ministry. The fourth purpose of the church is
ministry. Warren defines ministry as "using our gifts and talents to serve others and meet their needs."
He argues that ministry is an essential part of the Christian life, and that every believer should be
involved in some form of ministry.
Warren provides practical advice for how churches can encourage and facilitate ministry, including
creating opportunities for people to serve, identifying and equipping leaders, and developing a culture
of service within the church. He emphasizes that ministry should be done in love, with a focus on
meeting the needs of others and bringing glory to God.
Evangelism
The fifth and final purpose of the church is evangelism. Warren defines evangelism as "sharing the good
news of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know him." He argues that evangelism is the ultimate
goal of all the other purposes of the church, and that it should be a priority for every believer and every
church.
Warren provides practical advice for how churches can engage in evangelism, including creating
evangelistic events, training members to share their faith, and building relationships with non-believers.
He emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to evangelism, where the message of the gospel
is shared with love and respect for others.
Warren suggests that a healthy church is established by clearly defining its purpose and organizing
around it. After laying the foundation of the biblical purpose, the pastor should communicate, define,
and apply their purposes. Warren then explains the process of implementing the theological and
theoretical perspective by targeting the evangelistic audience, attracting the un-churched crowd, and
building up the church.
To achieve maximum evangelistic effectiveness, Warren advises that the local church strategically
targets the local population segment that best matches its current make-up. By targeting the lost sheep
of Israel, the Jews, and the Gentiles, as practiced by Jesus, Peter, and Paul, respectively, and the target
audiences of the four written gospels, we must target our audience geographically, demographically,
culturally, and spiritually. This target analysis is used to develop a strategy that makes it easy and
attractive for people to become Christians while never compromising the message.
To attract an unbelieving crowd, Warren advises us to love people, meet their needs, and teach them in
interesting and practical ways. We must be seeker sensitive in our worship while remaining biblical. This
includes creating a separate weekly service that is intentionally designed to appeal to unbelievers,
where the music style and preaching focus on showing the benefits of knowing Christ.
To build up the church, Warren encourages pastors to make local church membership meaningful by
implementing a mandatory new members’ class, asking people to sign a membership covenant, and
encouraging them to participate in small groups. Spiritual maturity is achieved by learning certain
spiritual exercises and being disciplined to do them until they become habits. Warren encourages the
establishment of a ministry placement process, providing on the job training, and delegating decisionmaking authority to develop vibrant lay ministry. The pastor should focus on fulfilling the purposes of
the church while expectantly trusting God to cause the growth, emulating David in serving God’s
purposes in our own generation. Successful ministry is defined as building the church on the purposes of
God in the power of the Holy Spirit and expecting the results from God
Strengths
One of the key strengths of The Purpose Driven Church is its emphasis on intentionality and purpose.
Warren argues that churches must be deliberate and intentional about their mission and ministry, and
that they must prioritize the five purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism.
This focus on purpose has helped many churches to clarify their vision and direction, and to stay focused
on what matters most.
Another strength of the book is its practicality. Warren provides numerous examples and case studies of
churches that have successfully implemented his ideas, and he offers practical advice for how any
church can incorporate the five purposes into their ministry. This practical approach has helped many
churches to make tangible changes and see real results.
Finally, The Purpose Driven Church is written in a clear, accessible style that is easy to understand and
follow. Warren presents his ideas in a logical, organized manner, and he uses simple language and
concrete examples to illustrate his points. This has made the book widely accessible to a broad audience,
from pastors and church leaders to laypeople and new believers.
Limitations
One potential limitation of The Purpose Driven Church is its focus on the American context. Many of
Warren's examples and case studies come from large, suburban churches in the United States, and some
of his ideas may not translate easily to other cultural or geographic contexts. Additionally, the book was
written in 1995, and some of its ideas may feel dated or out of touch with current trends in church
leadership and ministry.
Another potential limitation is the book's emphasis on a "one-size-fits-all" approach to church
leadership and ministry. While Warren acknowledges that every church is unique and will have its own
particular strengths and challenges, he presents a fairly rigid framework for how churches should
prioritize and structure their ministry. Some critics have argued that this approach can lead to a lack of
flexibility and creativity, and that it may not work for every church or context.
Reception and Impact
Despite its limitations, The Purpose Driven Church has had a profound impact on the way many
churches approach their mission and ministry. The book has sold millions of copies and has been
translated into multiple languages, and it has inspired countless pastors and church leaders to prioritize
the five purposes and to focus on intentional, purpose-driven ministry.
The book has also spawned a larger movement known as the Purpose Driven Network, which includes a
variety of resources and training materials designed to help churches implement Warren's ideas. The
network has helped to create a community of like-minded pastors and leaders who are committed to
intentional, purpose-driven ministry
Conclusion.
The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren is a seminal work in the field of church leadership and
ministry. Warren's emphasis on the five purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and
evangelism has helped many churches to clarify their mission and vision, and to focus on intentional,
purpose-driven ministry.
While the book has some limitations, such as its emphasis on the American context and its "one-sizefits-all" approach to ministry, it remains a valuable resource for pastors and church leaders around the
world. The book's practical advice, clear writing style, and focus on purpose and intentionality have
inspired countless churches to make positive changes and to have a greater impact on their
communities.
Overall, The Purpose Driven Church is a must-read for anyone involved in church leadership or ministry.
Its insights and ideas have stood the test of time, and its message of intentional, purpose-driven ministry
remains as relevant today as it was when the book was first published