The remaining five sections flesh out these ideas respectively. The answer is by worshiping Him, loving other believers, becoming like Christ, serving others with our gifts, and telling others about Him (pp55-57). His goal is to prepare the reader to answer the two questions God will pose to him on the last day: What did you do with Jesus, and what did you do with what God gave you (p34)? Since life is about bringing glory to God (p53), the question to be answered is “How can I bring glory to God?” (p55). Warren’s first section serves as a primer to the question. The question is broad enough to address both believer and unbeliever alike, which may in part explain the width of its appeal. The Purpose Driven Life is designed as a forty day spiritual journey – one chapter a day – with the goal of answering the question “What on earth am I here for?” (p15). If any Christian book has been wildly popular among both evangelical circles and the culture at large, this is it. But Life has transcended the evangelical community, rising to the top of both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists, and being featured on display tables at Barnes & Noble’s and even in the aisles of Wal-Mart. Whereas Church sold over a million copies in fewer than ten years, Life has reportedly sold 11 million copies in fewer than two years – that’s 15,068 copies every day for two years! Pastors are giving it two thumbs up from the pulpit, quoting it at length and encouraging Bible study groups to read it together. Hardcover, $19.99), Life has become a full- fledged popular phenomenon, almost to the point of becoming a movement in itself. Even more than its predecessor The Purpose Driven Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.
But the one that has weighed in most heavily of late is Rick Warren’s recent release The Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002 hardcover, $19.99). The shelves of Christian bookstores bow under the weight of myriad titles promising freedom from bondage, secrets of debt free living, keys to loving other people, and a whole host of other practical matters. Books on living the Christian life are a dime a dozen.
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