“Remember today what you have learned about the Lord

      through your experiences with Him.”      Deut. 11:2 (TEV)

ABOUT GOD?

1.   THAT IT’S ALL ABOUT GOD, NOT ME

      “God is the one who made all things, and all things are for

      His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory…”

                                                            Heb.  2:10a (NCV)

      “Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.”                                                                                                                           Col. 1:16 (Msg)

2.   THAT GOD STILL DOES MIRACLES

      “You are the God of miracles and wonders! You still

      demonstrate Your awesome power.”     Ps. 77:14  (LB)

ABOUT LIFE?

1.   THAT LIFE IS PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY

      “God has planted eternity in the human heart.”           

                                                                        Eccl. 3:11 (NLT)

2.   THAT WE’RE PUT ON EARTH FOR 5 PURPOSES

      “The Lord has made everything for His purpose.” 

                                                                        Prov. 16:4 (NLT)                                                                 

                I WAS….                 BIBLE WORD:

Planned for God’s pleasure                   Worship

Formed for God’s family                         Fellowship

Created to become like Christ            Discipleship

Shaped to serve God                                  Ministry

Made for a mission                                      Evangelism

ABOUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

1.   THAT WE GROW THROUGH MAKING COMMITMENTS

      “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

                                                                                    James 2:17 (NIV)

2.   THAT WE GROW THROUGH FELLOWSHIP

      “As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.”

                                                                                    Prov. 27:17 (NCV)

      “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received

      and heard… and the God of peace will be with you.”

                                                                                    Phil. 4:9 (NRSV)

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY?

1.   THAT PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR SPIRITUAL TRUTH

      “Look around you! Vast fields of human souls are ripening all

      around us, and are ready now for reaping.”                 John 4:35 (LB)

                                      NOW WHAT?

START LIVING WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED!

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you

do them.”                                                                      John 13:17 (NIV)

“Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the

meaning of life but as those who do.”                               Eph. 5:15 (Ph)          

“Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it!”             Phil. 3:16 (Msg)

PASS IT ON!

“Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who

can be trusted to tell others.”                                          2 Tim. 2:2b (CEV) 

“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for every one of you

because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the

whole world.”                                                                 Rom. 1:8 (GW)

© Copyright Rick Warren, 40 days of Purpose Campaign

Jesus: “In the same way that you gave Me a mission in the

world, I give them a mission in the world.”      John 17:18 (Mes)

“As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” John 20:21 (NIV)

“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the

work that the Lord Jesus gave me – to tell people the Good News

about God’s grace.”                                      Acts 20:24 (NCV)

MY 5th PURPOSE IS TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS

     “Evangelism”

“You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and

Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”          Acts 1:8 (NIV)

“Jerusalem”                    =   the people closest to me

“Judea/Samaria”           =   people near but different from me

“Ends of the earth”        =   everybody else!

“This was God’s plan for all of history which He carried out

through Christ Jesus our Lord.”                        Eph. 3:11 (GW)

    COMPLETING MY MISSION

1.   I MUST SHARE WITH THOSE IN MY WORLD.

“‘Go back home and tell people how much God has done for

you.’ So the man went all over town telling how much Jesus had

done for him.”                                              Luke 8:39 (NCV)

“Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to

explain the hope you have in you.”                   1 Peter 3:15 (TEV)

“…God does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people

to change their hearts and lives!”                   2 Peter 3:9 (NCV)

2.   I MUST DARE TO REACH BEYOND MY WORLD.

“Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with

him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ

save him.”                                                   1 Cor. 9:22b (LB)

“Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share

their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.”  Gal. 6:2 (Msg)

“Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the

Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their

plight…”                                                      James 1:27 (Msg)

“I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me

a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I

was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared

for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.”    Mt. 25:35-36 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “Let me assure you that no one has ever given up

anything… for love of Me and to tell others the Good News, who

won’t be given back, a hundred times over…”  Mark 10:29 (LB)

3.   I MUST CARE ABOUT THE WHOLE WORLD.

Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and

tell the Good News to everyone.”                  Mark 16:15 (NCV)

“If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who

throw away their lives for My sake and for the sake of the Good

News will ever know what it means to really live.” Mark 8:35 (LB)

“David served God’s purposes in his own time…”

Acts 13:36a (TEV)

“Send us around the world with the news of Your saving power

and Your eternal plan for all mankind.”               Ps. 67:2 (LB)

© Copyright Rick Warren, 40 days of Purpose Campaign

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good

works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Eph. 2:10 (NIV)

“Your hands shaped me and made me.”               Job 10:8 (NIV)

Spiritual Gifts   Heart   Abilities   Personality   Experiences

“Each one should use whatever gift he’s received to serve others.”

                                                                        1 Pet. 4:10 (NIV)

                                    MY 4^th PURPOSE IS TO

                        SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS

                                      “Ministry”

Jesus: “Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be

served, but to serve…”                                      Matt. 20:28 (LB)

                   LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE JESUS

1.   SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE.

“Two blind men… shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ … Jesus

      stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’

      He asked.”                                                              Matt. 20:30-32 (NIV)

“Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can

      help them now.”                                           Prov. 3:28 (TEV)

 1^st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

Phil. 2:4 (MSG)

2^nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything

       done.”                                                        Eccl. 11:4 (NLT)

3^rd Barrier: MATERIALISM

“No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve both

      God and money.”                                         Luke 16:13 (NIV)

2.   SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING GRATEFUL.

      “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have

      heard Me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this for the

      benefit of the people standing here…’”    John 11:41-42 (NIV)

      “Serve the Lord with gladness.”                     Ps. 100:2 (KJV)

        “It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work not because

      we deserved it but because that was His plan…”  2 Tim. 1:9 (LB)

1^st Barrier: COMPARING & CRITICIZING

“Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? The Lord will

      determine whether His servant has been successful.”

                                                                        Rom. 14:4 (GW)

2^nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS

“When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you

      won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.”  Matt.  6:1 (CEV)        

3.   SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING FAITHFUL.

“I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You

      gave me to do.”                                           John 17:4 (NIV)

      “The one thing required of servants is that they be faithful…”

1 Cor.  4:2 (TEV)

“Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that

      nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.” 

1 Cor. 15:58 (MSG)

“He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how

      you have shown your love to Him by caring for other

      Christians.”                                                  Heb. 6:10 (NLT)

“’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful

      with a few things so; I will put you in charge of many things.

      Come and share your master’s happiness!”    Matt. 25:21 (NIV)

© Copyright Rick Warren, 40 days of Purpose Campaign

“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to

       Him – and He knew who would – should become like His Son…”

Rom 8:29 (LB)

        “God wants us to grow up … like Christ in everything.”                                                                                                                                                                Eph. 4:15 (Msg)

MY 3^rd PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST

                                      “Discipleship”

      “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him,

      who have been called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28 (NIV)

                   THREE UNEXPECTED TOOLS

1.   GOD USES TROUBLE TO TEACH US TO TRUST HIM.

      “…troubles produce patience. And patience produces

      character, and character produces hope.”        Rom 5:3-4 (NCV)

      “They came to a garden called Gethsemane and Jesus said to

      His disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ … Distress and anguish

      came over Him, and He said, “The sorrow in My heart is so great

      that it almost crushes Me.”                           Mark 14:32-34 (TEV)

      “Father,” He said, “everything is possible for you. Please take

      this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want your will, not

      mine!”                                                        Mark 14:36 (NLT)

• Keep a spiritual journal

      “At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their

      progress.”                                                    Num. 33:2 (NLT)

• Remember the reward

      “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an

       eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”      2 Cor. 4:17 (NIV)

2.    GOD USES TEMPTATION TO TEACH US TO OBEY.

      “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted

      by the devil.”                                                  Matt. 4:1 (NIV)

      “’Get out of here, Satan’ Jesus told him. ‘The Scriptures say,

      Worship only the Lord God. Obey only Him.’”  Matt. 4:10 (LB)

• Keep focused on good thoughts

      “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.”

                                                                        Phil. 4:8a (LB)                                                                                                                           

• Get a spiritual partner

      “You’re better off to have a friend than to be all alone… If you

      fall, your friend can help you up.”                   Eccl. 4:9-10 (CEV)

3.   GOD USES TRESPASSES TO TEACH US TO FORGIVE.

      “People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at

      Jesus … and the elders made fun of Him… Even the bandits who

       had been crucified with Him insulted Him in the same way.”                                                                                                                           Matt. 27:39-44 (TEV)

        “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these people, because they don’t

      know what they are doing.’”                          Luke 23:34 (NLT)

• Remember God has forgiven me

      “Forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”                                                                                                                           Eph. 4:32 (CEV)

• Remember God is in control

      “You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to

       save the lives of many people, which is being done.”

                                                                        Gen. 50:20 (NCV)

        “We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go

      through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to

      go through the good times with Him.”                Rom. 8:17 (Msg)

        “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

                                                                                            Phil. 2:5 (NIV)

© Copyright Rick Warren, 40 days of Purpose Campaign

“God is the one who made all things, and all things are for

His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory…”

                                                             Heb.  2:10a (NCV)

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His

own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”                                                                                                                                   Eph. 1:5 (NLT)

“Love your spiritual family!”                     1 Pet. 2:17b (Msg)

MY 2^nd PURPOSE IN LIFE IS FELLOWSHIP.

“The person who loves God must also love other believers.”

1 John 4:21 (GW)

FELLOWSHIP is loving God’s Family.

“I’m writing… so you’ll know how to live in the family of God.

That family is the church…”                   1 Tim. 3:14-15 (NCV)

FOUR LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP

LEVEL 1: MEMBERSHIP:  CHOOSING TO BELONG

“…You are members of God’s very own family… and you belong

in God’s household with every other Christian.”   Eph. 2:19 (LB)

“In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member

belongs to all the others.”                                   Rom. 12:5 (NIV)

“This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were

baptized. Each of us is now a part of His resurrection Body.”

1 Cor. 12:13 (Msg)

“That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we

are  lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when

we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of

Jesus.”                                                                                                  Rom. 6:3 (Msg)

LEVEL 2: FRIENDSHIP: LEARNING TO SHARE

“All the believers met together constantly and shared

everything with each other.”                     Acts 2:44 (LB)

• OUR EXPERIENCES

“People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.”

Prov.  27:17 (TEV)

• OUR HOMES

“Open your homes to each other.”               1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)

• OUR PROBLEMS

“Share each other’s troubles and problems.”            Gal. 6:2 (NLT)

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together.  Instead,

let us encourage one another…” Heb. 10:25 (TEV)

LEVEL 3: PARTNERSHIP: DOING MY PART

“We are partners working together for God.”         1 Cor. 3:9a (TEV)

“The whole Body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does

its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the

whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Eph. 4:16 (NLT)

“Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are

members of my family, you did it to Me.”             Matt. 25:40 (NRSV)

LEVEL 4: KINSHIP: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY

“…they were like family to each other.”                Acts 2:42a (CEV)

“Be devoted to each other like a loving family.”     Rom. 12:10 (GW)

“We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for

us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian

brothers and sisters.”                                        1 John 3:16 (NLT)

“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that

you are My disciples.”                                       John 13:35 (LB)

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Gal. 3:26 (NLT)

© Copyright Rick Warren, 40 days of Purpose Campaign

“You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”            Rev. 4:11b (NLT)

“Love the Lord your God… This is the first and greatest commandment.”                            Matt. 22:37-38 (NIV)

MY 1^st purpose IN LIFE is to WORSHIP GOD

“Because of God’s great mercy to us… Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer.”            Rom. 12:1 (TEV)

1. WORSHIP is MY RESPONSE to God’s love

2. WORSHIP is GIVING BACK to God.

 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”                                                                     Mark 12: 30 (NCV)                                              

GOD WANTS ME TO LOVE HIM…

 THOUGHTFULLY                               “with my mind”

 PASSIONATELY                 “with my heart and soul”

PRACTICALLY                               “with my strength”

1.   WORSHIP IS FOCUSING MY ATTENTION ON GOD.

“You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You  know when I am resting or when I am working…You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.”           Ps. 139:1-3 (CEV)                                                                                                          

“Focusing on yourself is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God.” Rom. 8:7 (Msg)             

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.”                                                                     Rom. 12:2a (Msg)

“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.”                                             Matt 6:6 (Msg)

“Worship Him continually.”                              Ps. 105:4 (TEV)                      

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!”                               Isa. 26:3 (NLT)

2.  WORSHIP IS EXPRESSING MY AFFECTION TO GOD.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.”     1 John 4:19 (KJV)                                  

“I don’t want your sacrifices — I want your love! I don’t want your offerings –I want you to know Me!”                                                                        Hosea 6:6 (LB)

“He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.”                      Ex. 34:14b (NLT)

“Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life.”        Rom. 6:13 (NLT)

3.   WORSHIP IS USING MY ABILITIES FOR GOD.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”                                                         Col. 3:23 (TEV)                                                                                          

“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”         Rom. 12:1a (Msg)          

“So we make it our goal to please Him…”          2 Cor. 5:9 (NIV)

© Copyright Rick Warren, 40 days of Purpose Campaign

WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?

LIFE’S 3 GREATEST QUESTIONS

1.   QUESTION OF EXISTENCE: WHY AM I ALIVE?

“Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow,

to end my life in disgrace?”                                   Jer. 20:18 (TEV)

“The Lord has made everything for His own purpose.”

Prov. 16:4a (GW)

“Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in

mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made

whole and holy by His love.”                      Eph. 1:4 (Msg)

GOD: I WAS CREATED TO BE LOVED BY GOD.

2.  QUESTION OF SIGNIFICANCE:  DOES MY LIFE MATTER?

“My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for

nothing and for no purpose at all.”             Isa. 49:4a (NLT)

“I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were

born.”                                                              Isa. 44:2 (CEV)

“You… scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.

Every day was recorded in your book!”     Ps. 139:16 (LB)

“His plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally.”

Ps. 33:11 (GN)

GOD: I WAS MADE TO LAST FOREVER.

“When this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn

down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home

he himself has made, which will last forever.”  2 Cor. 5:1 (TEV)

“Leave your impoverished confusion and live!  Walk up the

street to a life with meaning.”                     Prov. 9:6 (Msg)

3.   QUESTION OF INTENTION:  WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?

“Why did you create us? For nothing?”     Ps. 89:47 (NCV)

“Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding.”

Pr. 9:10b (LB)

GOD: I FIND MY PURPOSE BY GETTING TO KNOW GOD.

“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible

and invisible…everything got started in him and finds its

purpose in him.”                                           Col 1:16 (Msg)

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living

for… part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything

and everyone.”                                                          Eph. 1:11 (Msg)

“It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if

you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.”

Acts 10:35 (Msg)

© Copyright Rick Warren, 40 days of Purpose Campaign