Purpose Driven Church

Purpose driven church ~ Rick Warren

Chapter 1~ The Saddleback story

“Not how you start that matters BUT how you end.”

 The Bible says, “Love never fails (1^st Corinthians 13:8)”

“If you minister out of love you can never be considered a failure.”

In the beginning of this book I was impressed with so much and ended up highlighting more then you could imagine. Warren begins with a reflection of a great Pastor, W.A Criswell. Renowned for pastoring the largest Baptist church and leading a fifty year ministry, authoring fifty three books as well as developing the Church model of the century. I appreciate when Warren points out that Criswell’s ministry was incredibly innovative, but that only became known as tradition AFTER everyone copied him.

Warren takes you back to the start of his church Saddleback and is honest about the mistakes he made along the way. He points to a change in his thinking and focus, as he was determined on resolving to understand the principles, Biblical, cultural as well as leadership to produce a healthy growing church ministry.

It was thru fervent prayer that he and his wife stayed focus on what God was telling them as to: where to go and when to go. This passion in obedience and faith in prayer led the Warrens to experience immense blessings and to be of service to God.

Chapter 2~ Myths about growing Churches

Warren begins this chapter poking fun at the silly myths we all grow up under, Santa and the Easter bunny or even the tooth fairy pointing to the possibility of the harm it may bring to us if we believe these or not.

The Bible is clear when it says, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you FREE! John 8:32.

Warren then gives us ten myths that dispel some wrong thinking on how to grow a healthy, strong church. I will pick one out that spoke to me.

Myth: You must choose between Quality and Quantity in your church.

Warrens starts by answering this question and defining the terms.

Quality, in this context refers to the kind of disciples the church is producing.

Example is the transformation into the likeness of Christ genuine?  Is the word the foundation of their beliefs?  What is the maturity level of growth and using of talent in ministry and in service? Are they faith sharing regularly?

Quantity, on the other hand refers to the number of disciples a given church is producing.

Example what is the number of people being brought to Christ being developed and matured as well as mobilized for ministry and missions?

If you read the definitions over again that Warren uses, you will see that the two are not in disagreement but rather commonly relevant. There is not necessarily a need to choose one over the other but rather strive for both in producing a healthy church.

Warren liken it to going fishing and concentrating on just one either the quantity of the fish you catch or the on only the quality of the Fish.  You want both….. Don’t you?