S
Sean
Guest
I was recently given this book by my D-Now host family(whole other thread), I haven't begun to read it yet just because I'm already reading two books for school. But has anyone read it? If so, was it any good?
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
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https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
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destiny
Member
stovebolts
Member
IMHO...
It's Skim Milk that can easily turn sour. If you have a good Biblical background, it can assist, encourage and motivate you. If you don't have a solid foundation... Proceed with caution...
It's Skim Milk that can easily turn sour. If you have a good Biblical background, it can assist, encourage and motivate you. If you don't have a solid foundation... Proceed with caution...
.
Be careful of the ones who come disguised as Christianity.
Just because there is part truth doesn't mean it is whole truth.
I hear many pastors saying this is the New age religion of pick and choose what you like out of the bible, don't insult the audience because it will offend the offering plate, type of religion. I hear it is the type of religion that entertains and focuses on selling product instead of really focusing on the word of God from out of scripture. It focuses on the book as the main study source, and the bible is only secondary to the product he is selling. Be careful of those candy coated books.
Learn how to decipher the word before you let any pastor or book do the teaching for you. Rely on the truth in the word by reading the bible and learning it and comparing the word from the bible "in context" to what any book or pastor says.
The bible is priority, not the study material.
I heard a sermon by Pastor Alistair Begg this evening. This sermon in no way even mentions the purpose driven church or book at all. I just thought this sermon was a good one to listen to in regards to being on alert to the things of this world and it is a good sermon to listen too so as to help instill the importance of learning how to discern the spirit and the words of others.
Pastor Alistair Begg is a pastor from my area here in Cleveland, but he is also on the radio everyday. His sermons are for free. He doesn't focus on the tithe like so many of these other ministers do in order to make their ministry grow so they could have huge churches and fancy cars and houses. Be careful of those kind of ministers.
Here is a link to the series he is teaching now. It is a very good one in regards to Christian behavior and detecting the type of character and the truth in the word of those around you.
Listening to the Word of God - Part B
Alistair Begg
Date: 3/30/2005; Individual message from 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
you need real audio player needed to listen to this. Or, you can go to his web site to listen to it in windows media via the link at the bottom of this post.
In this expositional study of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, we see a paradigm for pastoral ministry, emphasizing the life-changing content of the gospel and concerns of Paul’s heart for their healthy spiritual growth. Having established the believers in good Biblical theology, Paul clearly addresses issues of practical Christian behavior.
http://resources.christianity.com/s...l&id=57170&storeid=truthforlife&filetype=.ram
I didn't write all of them down but here are some of the bible references he refers to in the sermon.
Galatians 1: 6-9
Matthew 7:15
Jude 12-25
Here is a link to past radio shows that are relative to this one above:
http://resources.christianity.com/truthforlife/searchItems.jhtml?JServSessionIdroot=dp01qxqj91
Please be careful! Don't get pulled into the Materialism type christianity that distracts you from the truth in the word. They are the ones to be careful of. Learn what authentic Christians are as opposed to those who are into it for their own personal gain and nothing else.
.
Be careful of the ones who come disguised as Christianity.
Just because there is part truth doesn't mean it is whole truth.
I hear many pastors saying this is the New age religion of pick and choose what you like out of the bible, don't insult the audience because it will offend the offering plate, type of religion. I hear it is the type of religion that entertains and focuses on selling product instead of really focusing on the word of God from out of scripture. It focuses on the book as the main study source, and the bible is only secondary to the product he is selling. Be careful of those candy coated books.
Learn how to decipher the word before you let any pastor or book do the teaching for you. Rely on the truth in the word by reading the bible and learning it and comparing the word from the bible "in context" to what any book or pastor says.
The bible is priority, not the study material.
I heard a sermon by Pastor Alistair Begg this evening. This sermon in no way even mentions the purpose driven church or book at all. I just thought this sermon was a good one to listen to in regards to being on alert to the things of this world and it is a good sermon to listen too so as to help instill the importance of learning how to discern the spirit and the words of others.
Pastor Alistair Begg is a pastor from my area here in Cleveland, but he is also on the radio everyday. His sermons are for free. He doesn't focus on the tithe like so many of these other ministers do in order to make their ministry grow so they could have huge churches and fancy cars and houses. Be careful of those kind of ministers.
Here is a link to the series he is teaching now. It is a very good one in regards to Christian behavior and detecting the type of character and the truth in the word of those around you.
Listening to the Word of God - Part B
Alistair Begg
Date: 3/30/2005; Individual message from 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
you need real audio player needed to listen to this. Or, you can go to his web site to listen to it in windows media via the link at the bottom of this post.
In this expositional study of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, we see a paradigm for pastoral ministry, emphasizing the life-changing content of the gospel and concerns of Paul’s heart for their healthy spiritual growth. Having established the believers in good Biblical theology, Paul clearly addresses issues of practical Christian behavior.
http://resources.christianity.com/s...l&id=57170&storeid=truthforlife&filetype=.ram
I didn't write all of them down but here are some of the bible references he refers to in the sermon.
Galatians 1: 6-9
Matthew 7:15
Jude 12-25
Here is a link to past radio shows that are relative to this one above:
http://resources.christianity.com/truthforlife/searchItems.jhtml?JServSessionIdroot=dp01qxqj91
Please be careful! Don't get pulled into the Materialism type christianity that distracts you from the truth in the word. They are the ones to be careful of. Learn what authentic Christians are as opposed to those who are into it for their own personal gain and nothing else.
.
M
Mordecai
Guest
I think the book is a complete waste of money. I've read it a couple of times and it just seemed like Rick Waren thought that he could make a lot of money off of something and ran with it.
.
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN HOSTAGE
By Paul Proctor
March 26, 2005
NewsWithViews.com
A friend called me on my cell phone a couple of weeks ago to share some amazing quotes from the Purpose Driven hostage shortly after her story broke and shot to the top of the human-interest charts. Before he could even finish reading the pertinent excerpts from the article he found, we both agreed that those who stood to benefit the most from this “miracle of God†would exploit it to the very limits of believability and in doing so, further legitimize Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven products, now captivating and confusing the spiritually lame, biblically ignorant and ecclesiastically ambitious around the world.
Of course we all know that nothing sells books, tickets, movies, merchandise, programs, popcorn, cotton candy and Kleenex like a life and death drama with a happy ending. That’s why so many victims and perpetrators who come out of obscurity to suddenly find themselves before the TV cameras end up in some carnivalesque corner of the entertainment industry trying to capitalize on their newfound notoriety and turn it into a cash-producing and/or agenda-advancing career.
If history has taught us anything, it is that pop culture products, performances and personalities don’t have to be good, credible, accurate or even real as long as they stimulate and motivate the masses. That’s why the most popular household appliance sold in America today is not the dishwasher or the clothes washer, but the brainwasher; that big screen fantasy machine that talks you through the highs and lows of life each day like an electronic psychiatrist, while you recline on the couch for hours on end.
When you consider that five corporations control today’s mainstream media, it’s much easier to understand how a nation and even the world can be controlled into thinking, speaking and doing whatever the architects of illusion desire.
Things just don’t happen by chance, they happen by design; and the powers-that-be have carefully planned your future and mine from cradle to grave. By way of seduction and suggestion we are steered deeper into a socialized slavery each day while laughing and crying our way through the facts, feelings and fantasies of a perceived reality called “television.†Their slogan may be: “you decide†but rest assured, they’ve already decided FOR YOU what will and won’t be seen on TV and what commentary and captions will accompany the compelling images they provide.
I’d wager to say that very few, if any Purpose Driven puppets ever really heard or understood what was being taught them in Ashley Smith’s emotionally charged interview as recorded by CNN. Most, I suspect, were just elated to learn that the “People’s Pastor†had finally been validated in secular society by a Purpose Driven “miracle.â€Â
But, now that the euphoria has subsided somewhat, look again and reconsider carefully what she actually said:
SMITH: “We went to my room. And I asked him if I could read. He said, ‘What do you want to read?’ ‘Well, I have a book in my room.’ So I went and got it. I got my Bible. And I got a book called ‘The Purpose-Driven Life.’ I turned it to the chapter that I was on that day. It was Chapter 33. And I started to read the first paragraph of it. After I read it, he said, ‘Stop, will you read it again?’ I said, ‘Yeah. I'll read it again.’ So I read it again to him. It mentioned something about what you thought your purpose in life was. What were you -- what talents were you given? What gifts were you given to use? And I asked him what he thought. And he said, ‘I think it was to talk to people and tell them about you.’"
You see, Ashley made a significant choice that day between the Word of God and the words of Warren. Like millions of others who keep Bibles around the house for a second opinion, she chose to read to her captor from Warren’s book instead of God's Word. And because she made that choice and is still alive today, Ashley is now a hero in the eyes of a nation; and the media has proudly declared hers to be a salvation story and a miracle of deliverance from Almighty God.
I dare say if she had read something Jesus Christ had said, quoting scripture to Mr. Nichols from her Bible and lived to tell about it, the networks wouldn’t have even allowed her on the air, much less made a big deal out of it. What was the subtle message the architects were teaching us?
Be a hero! – Be Purpose Driven!
No wonder sales of the PDL book spiked! Who wouldn’t want to be a TV hero and a media darling?
When Brian Nichols told Ashley that he thought his purpose was “to talk to people and tell them about you,†I’m sure that made her feel very special; but the absurd implication of that statement seemed to escape most teary-eyed Christians I know; that God had four people shot dead at the courthouse that day in Atlanta just so Nichols could spend the rest of his life telling everyone about Ashley Smith. If it hasn’t registered yet, that’s horizontal worship, aka: idolatry; and THAT, my friends, is what the church growth movement is all about; worshiping one another and our collective achievements in the name of Jesus. That's why the emphasis is always on relationships rather than righteousness.
SMITH: “But after we began to talk, he said he thought that I was an angel sent from God. And that I was his sister and he was my brother in Christ. And that he was lost and God led him right to me to tell him that he had hurt a lot of people.â€Â
Well, in spite of Brian Nichols’ thoughts and feelings, Ashley is not “an angel sent from God.†She is quite human and has, as Warren admitted on Larry King Live, a less than angelic past. In addition, Mr. Nichols might consider himself to be a “lost brother in Christ,†but I assure you; THERE IS NO SUCH THING. He is either lost OR he is a brother in Christ. He cannot be both simultaneously. Furthermore, a brother in Christ does not gun down innocent people in a court of law, flee for his life, take hostages and threaten to kill them.
SMITH: "I said, 'Do you believe in miracles? Because if you don't believe in miracles -- you are here for a reason. You're here in my apartment for some reason. You got out of that courthouse with police everywhere, and you don't think that's a miracle? You don't think you're supposed to be sitting right here in front of me listening to me tell you, you know, your reason here?' I said, 'You know, your miracle could be that you need to -- you need to be caught for this,' Smith continued. 'You need to go to prison and you need to share the Word of God with them, with all the prisoners there.'"
This is not the Gospel of Christ being shared, friends; this is a frightened woman appealing to a desperate man through his ego, using anything she can think of including God, sympathy, flattery, family, food and friendship to win his trust and just stay alive. Under the circumstances, I don’t fault her for any of this; but let’s just call it what it is. I also don’t fault either of them for their confusion about God, His miracles and His purpose for their lives, considering their obvious lack of biblical knowledge, discernment and understanding.
I do, however, find it absolutely outrageous that a degree-holding, seminary educated, mega-church pastor like Rick Warren would take advantage of this terrible tragedy and the gross ignorance and confusion of those involved and twist it into something he can use to plug his book, his programs and his upcoming faith-based global socialist P.E.A.C.E. Plan! That is unacceptable behavior and he ought to be ashamed!
The real travesty that day was this: The Gospel of Christ was not proclaimed, no one repented and no one was saved; at least not spiritually, which would have been a miracle indeed. According to the reports and interviews I’ve read, Smith and Nichols discussed a lot of heartwarming things in their lives but not Jesus Christ, the cross, His death, burial, resurrection, shed blood or redemptive plan for mankind. From what I can ascertain, their focus was, like Warren’s, on a Purpose Driven Life, not eternal life in Christ.
Nichols did not surrender to Jesus Christ or anyone else for that matter; he was turned in to the authorities by his hostage and taken into custody without incident a short time later. The reason he did not kill her was because she kept her cool and chose to be kind, helpful and cooperative as a survival mechanism; something ANYONE can do, Christian or not.
It just blows my mind that the church today thinks they have a monopoly on kindness and generosity; that displaying such things to strangers somehow MEANS you’re an official “child of God! This is the counterfeit Christianity that the world is just wild about today; the new paradigm for the postmodern church: a religion of relationships, social service and psychology, offered up in the name of our Homeboy, Jesus.
This kind of Christianity doesn’t even need a Divine Savior or the Word of God, and is slowly and subtly replacing both at church with what amounts to religious volunteerism – a politically correct value system and service organization comprised of smiley-faced worker bees that embrace no real doctrine, theology or belief beyond a luv for fellow man.
For a kind word and a drink you can get THAT at any bar in town! One of the most loyal, unpretentious, unselfish people I know in this life is an atheist. He would give you or me the shirt off his back and do almost anything for anyone, yet he claims no God exists. When is the dumbed down church of horizontal worship and service going to wake up from this Purpose Driven delusion and realize that our good deeds and human relationships mean nothing without a knowledge of, belief in, and obedience to, the Word of God?
Larry King mentioned during his interview the other night with Warren that a copy of The Purpose Driven Life was found in the back seat of Scott Peterson’s car. They concluded that, in light of the outcome, he must not have read it. Here we have support from the LIBERAL media and it’s premier talk show host, an agnostic! That right there ought to tell you something’s askew! How do we know Scott Peterson DIDN’T read it? Maybe the absence of tears and remorse the media and their expert psychologists condemned him for was really Scott gracefully accepting his newfound purpose in life on death row? That killing his wife and unborn son is what made it all possible. Same logic…
Michael Schiavo apparently believes HIS purpose in life is to see to it that his wife loses hers. After all he’s been through over the last fifteen years, he’d probably call her DEATH a miracle – an event that would free him up to marry his live-in girlfriend and be a legitimate father to their two kids. Why doesn’t somebody ask him if HE has a copy of Rick Warren’s book? If anyone ever had a purpose, it's Michael Schiavo!
Anyway, call the Purpose Driven hostage outcome anything you want; but it was not a miracle. It was only reported as such because the book she chose to read from that day is published by a subsidiary of one of those big five corporations I mentioned earlier. They have a vested interest in Warren’s success and nonein Jesus Christ’s.
I am thrilled that Ashley escaped with her life and that no one else was killed, including Mr. Nichols; but don’t let the media hype this into something it was not. If I’ve learned anything about the “wide gate and the broad way,†it’s that the crowd is ALWAYS wrong.
I wish only the best for Ms Smith and her little girl; and sincerely hope that Brian Nichols confesses, repents and surrenders to the One who works REAL miracles and doesn’t end up a Purpose Driven hostage himself.
© 2005 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved
.
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN HOSTAGE
By Paul Proctor
March 26, 2005
NewsWithViews.com
A friend called me on my cell phone a couple of weeks ago to share some amazing quotes from the Purpose Driven hostage shortly after her story broke and shot to the top of the human-interest charts. Before he could even finish reading the pertinent excerpts from the article he found, we both agreed that those who stood to benefit the most from this “miracle of God†would exploit it to the very limits of believability and in doing so, further legitimize Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven products, now captivating and confusing the spiritually lame, biblically ignorant and ecclesiastically ambitious around the world.
Of course we all know that nothing sells books, tickets, movies, merchandise, programs, popcorn, cotton candy and Kleenex like a life and death drama with a happy ending. That’s why so many victims and perpetrators who come out of obscurity to suddenly find themselves before the TV cameras end up in some carnivalesque corner of the entertainment industry trying to capitalize on their newfound notoriety and turn it into a cash-producing and/or agenda-advancing career.
If history has taught us anything, it is that pop culture products, performances and personalities don’t have to be good, credible, accurate or even real as long as they stimulate and motivate the masses. That’s why the most popular household appliance sold in America today is not the dishwasher or the clothes washer, but the brainwasher; that big screen fantasy machine that talks you through the highs and lows of life each day like an electronic psychiatrist, while you recline on the couch for hours on end.
When you consider that five corporations control today’s mainstream media, it’s much easier to understand how a nation and even the world can be controlled into thinking, speaking and doing whatever the architects of illusion desire.
Things just don’t happen by chance, they happen by design; and the powers-that-be have carefully planned your future and mine from cradle to grave. By way of seduction and suggestion we are steered deeper into a socialized slavery each day while laughing and crying our way through the facts, feelings and fantasies of a perceived reality called “television.†Their slogan may be: “you decide†but rest assured, they’ve already decided FOR YOU what will and won’t be seen on TV and what commentary and captions will accompany the compelling images they provide.
I’d wager to say that very few, if any Purpose Driven puppets ever really heard or understood what was being taught them in Ashley Smith’s emotionally charged interview as recorded by CNN. Most, I suspect, were just elated to learn that the “People’s Pastor†had finally been validated in secular society by a Purpose Driven “miracle.â€Â
But, now that the euphoria has subsided somewhat, look again and reconsider carefully what she actually said:
SMITH: “We went to my room. And I asked him if I could read. He said, ‘What do you want to read?’ ‘Well, I have a book in my room.’ So I went and got it. I got my Bible. And I got a book called ‘The Purpose-Driven Life.’ I turned it to the chapter that I was on that day. It was Chapter 33. And I started to read the first paragraph of it. After I read it, he said, ‘Stop, will you read it again?’ I said, ‘Yeah. I'll read it again.’ So I read it again to him. It mentioned something about what you thought your purpose in life was. What were you -- what talents were you given? What gifts were you given to use? And I asked him what he thought. And he said, ‘I think it was to talk to people and tell them about you.’"
You see, Ashley made a significant choice that day between the Word of God and the words of Warren. Like millions of others who keep Bibles around the house for a second opinion, she chose to read to her captor from Warren’s book instead of God's Word. And because she made that choice and is still alive today, Ashley is now a hero in the eyes of a nation; and the media has proudly declared hers to be a salvation story and a miracle of deliverance from Almighty God.
I dare say if she had read something Jesus Christ had said, quoting scripture to Mr. Nichols from her Bible and lived to tell about it, the networks wouldn’t have even allowed her on the air, much less made a big deal out of it. What was the subtle message the architects were teaching us?
Be a hero! – Be Purpose Driven!
No wonder sales of the PDL book spiked! Who wouldn’t want to be a TV hero and a media darling?
When Brian Nichols told Ashley that he thought his purpose was “to talk to people and tell them about you,†I’m sure that made her feel very special; but the absurd implication of that statement seemed to escape most teary-eyed Christians I know; that God had four people shot dead at the courthouse that day in Atlanta just so Nichols could spend the rest of his life telling everyone about Ashley Smith. If it hasn’t registered yet, that’s horizontal worship, aka: idolatry; and THAT, my friends, is what the church growth movement is all about; worshiping one another and our collective achievements in the name of Jesus. That's why the emphasis is always on relationships rather than righteousness.
SMITH: “But after we began to talk, he said he thought that I was an angel sent from God. And that I was his sister and he was my brother in Christ. And that he was lost and God led him right to me to tell him that he had hurt a lot of people.â€Â
Well, in spite of Brian Nichols’ thoughts and feelings, Ashley is not “an angel sent from God.†She is quite human and has, as Warren admitted on Larry King Live, a less than angelic past. In addition, Mr. Nichols might consider himself to be a “lost brother in Christ,†but I assure you; THERE IS NO SUCH THING. He is either lost OR he is a brother in Christ. He cannot be both simultaneously. Furthermore, a brother in Christ does not gun down innocent people in a court of law, flee for his life, take hostages and threaten to kill them.
SMITH: "I said, 'Do you believe in miracles? Because if you don't believe in miracles -- you are here for a reason. You're here in my apartment for some reason. You got out of that courthouse with police everywhere, and you don't think that's a miracle? You don't think you're supposed to be sitting right here in front of me listening to me tell you, you know, your reason here?' I said, 'You know, your miracle could be that you need to -- you need to be caught for this,' Smith continued. 'You need to go to prison and you need to share the Word of God with them, with all the prisoners there.'"
This is not the Gospel of Christ being shared, friends; this is a frightened woman appealing to a desperate man through his ego, using anything she can think of including God, sympathy, flattery, family, food and friendship to win his trust and just stay alive. Under the circumstances, I don’t fault her for any of this; but let’s just call it what it is. I also don’t fault either of them for their confusion about God, His miracles and His purpose for their lives, considering their obvious lack of biblical knowledge, discernment and understanding.
I do, however, find it absolutely outrageous that a degree-holding, seminary educated, mega-church pastor like Rick Warren would take advantage of this terrible tragedy and the gross ignorance and confusion of those involved and twist it into something he can use to plug his book, his programs and his upcoming faith-based global socialist P.E.A.C.E. Plan! That is unacceptable behavior and he ought to be ashamed!
The real travesty that day was this: The Gospel of Christ was not proclaimed, no one repented and no one was saved; at least not spiritually, which would have been a miracle indeed. According to the reports and interviews I’ve read, Smith and Nichols discussed a lot of heartwarming things in their lives but not Jesus Christ, the cross, His death, burial, resurrection, shed blood or redemptive plan for mankind. From what I can ascertain, their focus was, like Warren’s, on a Purpose Driven Life, not eternal life in Christ.
Nichols did not surrender to Jesus Christ or anyone else for that matter; he was turned in to the authorities by his hostage and taken into custody without incident a short time later. The reason he did not kill her was because she kept her cool and chose to be kind, helpful and cooperative as a survival mechanism; something ANYONE can do, Christian or not.
It just blows my mind that the church today thinks they have a monopoly on kindness and generosity; that displaying such things to strangers somehow MEANS you’re an official “child of God! This is the counterfeit Christianity that the world is just wild about today; the new paradigm for the postmodern church: a religion of relationships, social service and psychology, offered up in the name of our Homeboy, Jesus.
This kind of Christianity doesn’t even need a Divine Savior or the Word of God, and is slowly and subtly replacing both at church with what amounts to religious volunteerism – a politically correct value system and service organization comprised of smiley-faced worker bees that embrace no real doctrine, theology or belief beyond a luv for fellow man.
For a kind word and a drink you can get THAT at any bar in town! One of the most loyal, unpretentious, unselfish people I know in this life is an atheist. He would give you or me the shirt off his back and do almost anything for anyone, yet he claims no God exists. When is the dumbed down church of horizontal worship and service going to wake up from this Purpose Driven delusion and realize that our good deeds and human relationships mean nothing without a knowledge of, belief in, and obedience to, the Word of God?
Larry King mentioned during his interview the other night with Warren that a copy of The Purpose Driven Life was found in the back seat of Scott Peterson’s car. They concluded that, in light of the outcome, he must not have read it. Here we have support from the LIBERAL media and it’s premier talk show host, an agnostic! That right there ought to tell you something’s askew! How do we know Scott Peterson DIDN’T read it? Maybe the absence of tears and remorse the media and their expert psychologists condemned him for was really Scott gracefully accepting his newfound purpose in life on death row? That killing his wife and unborn son is what made it all possible. Same logic…
Michael Schiavo apparently believes HIS purpose in life is to see to it that his wife loses hers. After all he’s been through over the last fifteen years, he’d probably call her DEATH a miracle – an event that would free him up to marry his live-in girlfriend and be a legitimate father to their two kids. Why doesn’t somebody ask him if HE has a copy of Rick Warren’s book? If anyone ever had a purpose, it's Michael Schiavo!
Anyway, call the Purpose Driven hostage outcome anything you want; but it was not a miracle. It was only reported as such because the book she chose to read from that day is published by a subsidiary of one of those big five corporations I mentioned earlier. They have a vested interest in Warren’s success and nonein Jesus Christ’s.
I am thrilled that Ashley escaped with her life and that no one else was killed, including Mr. Nichols; but don’t let the media hype this into something it was not. If I’ve learned anything about the “wide gate and the broad way,†it’s that the crowd is ALWAYS wrong.
I wish only the best for Ms Smith and her little girl; and sincerely hope that Brian Nichols confesses, repents and surrenders to the One who works REAL miracles and doesn’t end up a Purpose Driven hostage himself.
© 2005 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved
.
.
Files on the Purpose Driven Life and Church--A Critique
Click here: http://www.biblebb.com/files/purpose.htm
Content:
The Purpose Driven Church - A Review
The Purpose Driven Life - Readers' Reviews
The Purpose Driven Life - Book Review
The Purpose Driven Life - A seriously flawed view of God
Church Growth Gone Mad
The Gospel According to Hybels and Warren
• A STATEMENT FROM GRACE TO YOU:
John MacArthur on CNN's NewsNight with Aaron Brown
.
Files on the Purpose Driven Life and Church--A Critique
Click here: http://www.biblebb.com/files/purpose.htm
Content:
The Purpose Driven Church - A Review
The Purpose Driven Life - Readers' Reviews
The Purpose Driven Life - Book Review
The Purpose Driven Life - A seriously flawed view of God
Church Growth Gone Mad
The Gospel According to Hybels and Warren
• A STATEMENT FROM GRACE TO YOU:
John MacArthur on CNN's NewsNight with Aaron Brown
.
A
Agarash
Guest
what? wheres a book called "purpose driven hostage" ??? I read the book, and I thought it was GREAT. the values all backed up by scripture. Ill read up more on this.
M
MrVersatile48
Guest
"METHINKS MANY PROTEST TOO MUCH.."
http://www.southportelim.abelgratis.com is a church in UK's 2nd most popular retirement town - with several retired Pentecostal pastors & missionaries who know the Bible even better than this graduate of 2 Bible Colleges & son of a Bible College grad mum & a lay preacher dad - who knew his Bible even better than her
We are VERY Berean - "search the Scriptures to see if these things are true" & "let 2/3 prophesy & let the others weigh carefully what is said" & "test all things: hold fast to the good"
We began 2004 with 40 days of prayer & studying Purpose Driven Life
We are this week ending 40 days of Rick's "Better Together" - I've read ahead & finished it already, in my usual manner
Both books are conscientious about thorough Biblical base & exposition in terms of the Bible as a whole - "the best commentary on Scripture is other Scripture"
I've conscientiously taken notes of every message of both courses & made sure I've studied the Bible & added more verses as God brought them to mind
As Martin Luther famously said, "If I am wrong, show me from the Bible!"
UK cinemas haven't yet hjad the Luther movie, so pray it comes here, OK?
God bless!
Ian
http://www.southportelim.abelgratis.com is a church in UK's 2nd most popular retirement town - with several retired Pentecostal pastors & missionaries who know the Bible even better than this graduate of 2 Bible Colleges & son of a Bible College grad mum & a lay preacher dad - who knew his Bible even better than her
We are VERY Berean - "search the Scriptures to see if these things are true" & "let 2/3 prophesy & let the others weigh carefully what is said" & "test all things: hold fast to the good"
We began 2004 with 40 days of prayer & studying Purpose Driven Life
We are this week ending 40 days of Rick's "Better Together" - I've read ahead & finished it already, in my usual manner
Both books are conscientious about thorough Biblical base & exposition in terms of the Bible as a whole - "the best commentary on Scripture is other Scripture"
I've conscientiously taken notes of every message of both courses & made sure I've studied the Bible & added more verses as God brought them to mind
As Martin Luther famously said, "If I am wrong, show me from the Bible!"
UK cinemas haven't yet hjad the Luther movie, so pray it comes here, OK?
God bless!
Ian
I am only on chapter 6. However, other than the erroneous references to immediatelife after death, I have found nothing wrong or 'new age-y' about what is inside. He uses scripture quite frequently to make his point and this is nothing that other authors like Lucado or Yancey would right.
What's the big hoopla over?
What's the big hoopla over?
Read Macarthur's book called "hard to believe", then compare to the "purpose driven life/church."
It's about self denial. 8-)
"hard to believe" Read the first chapter here.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078526 ... ulletinboa
It's about self denial. 8-)
"hard to believe" Read the first chapter here.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078526 ... ulletinboa
G
Gary
Guest
Great book by John MacArthur.... makes Rick Warren's little book seem like skimmed milk!
G
Gary
Guest
Re: "METHINKS MANY PROTEST TOO MUCH.."
Sure.
God's character: little wrath
Warren takes care to edit out mentions of God's wrath. For example, Warren has a Bible verse under the title in chapter 7 which says, "The LORD has made everything for his own purposes" (Proverbs 16:4 NLT). The whole verse in NAS is: "The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil." At the end of the same chapter, he quotes, "Whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!" (John 3:36 Msg). The whole verse in the NIV is "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (chapter 7, note 24).
In chapter 29, he does quote a verse about God's wrath, "He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves" (Romans 2:8 NLT), but then softens it in his interpretation. He says that for Christians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards. It would have been better for him to repeat his point on page 228 about questioning whether or not you are a Christian if you are living for yourself. Look at the context of Romans 2:6-8 and you'll see what I mean. (chapter 29, note 16).
Read more: http://www.purposeverses.com/
:o
MrVersatile48 said:
Sure.
God's character: little wrath
Warren takes care to edit out mentions of God's wrath. For example, Warren has a Bible verse under the title in chapter 7 which says, "The LORD has made everything for his own purposes" (Proverbs 16:4 NLT). The whole verse in NAS is: "The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil." At the end of the same chapter, he quotes, "Whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!" (John 3:36 Msg). The whole verse in the NIV is "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (chapter 7, note 24).
In chapter 29, he does quote a verse about God's wrath, "He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves" (Romans 2:8 NLT), but then softens it in his interpretation. He says that for Christians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards. It would have been better for him to repeat his point on page 228 about questioning whether or not you are a Christian if you are living for yourself. Look at the context of Romans 2:6-8 and you'll see what I mean. (chapter 29, note 16).
Read more: http://www.purposeverses.com/
:o
Why must the negative be emphasised? The purpose of the book is not to give a theological discussion on the fate of the wicked or righteous. If I am in Christ, what happens to the wicked is of no consequence for me. The purpose of the book is for BELIEVERS to experience the most out of their Christian walk!
If my sermon is about the joys of heaven for the righteous, why should I bring in the eternal torments of the wicked?? If my purpose for a book is to promote good family values, why should I bring up broken homes and how many husbands beat up their wives and kids? Focus on what the message of the book is about and who it is for, not whether you feel they are laying everything out on the table theologically.
The purpose of the book is for positive reinforcement for the believers. Who cares about God's wrath?? God's wrath doesn't fall on us and is of no consequence!
If my sermon is about the joys of heaven for the righteous, why should I bring in the eternal torments of the wicked?? If my purpose for a book is to promote good family values, why should I bring up broken homes and how many husbands beat up their wives and kids? Focus on what the message of the book is about and who it is for, not whether you feel they are laying everything out on the table theologically.
The purpose of the book is for positive reinforcement for the believers. Who cares about God's wrath?? God's wrath doesn't fall on us and is of no consequence!
G
Gary
Guest
guibox said:
If you had read the web site you would have seen that the classification is into:
Truth with good Bible support
This is a true statement with excellent use of the Bible to back it up. I believe that more than half of The Purpose Driven Life is made up of statements like this.
Half-truth
This is a statement that is only half-true. By leaving out part of the truth, it becomes a dangerous error which looks good from one side. There are several of these in The Purpose Driven Life.
Clear error
This is a statement which is clearly wrong. Like distinguishing between a thistle and a rose, it is usually easier to identify these errors. There are very few clear errors in The Purpose Driven Life.
Culturally accepted error
This is a statement which appears to be true because it is taught by American culture. However, it is actually an error. There are a fair number of these in The Purpose Driven Life.
Truth with bad Bible support
This is a true statement with a Bible verse which does not actually support the statement. There are many of these in The Purpose Driven Life. Such careless use of the Bible is very dangerous because it leads to errors such as the ones above. It also leads to subtle distortions of truth.
http://www.purposeverses.com/
.
It's about self denial. Again, read the first chapter of "Hard to believe" here...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078526 ... ulletinboa
Also, keep this in the back of your mind when thinking of Rick Warren.
Communist goals 1963:
27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."
Social religion, sounds just like a church that doesn't preach hell, judgement, sin, or Jesus. We'll just "Olsteen" ourselves into a proper self esteem and live the good life. :o
Rick Warren teaches another gospel. If you seek to save your life, you will lose it. Lose your life (deny self) for Jesus and you will find it.
"it just seemed like Rick Waren thought that he could make a lot of money off of something and ran with it."
I think this comment is harsh especially since Rick Warren is not keeping all the money. He does not even receive a salary as minister of his church. He prefers to live by modest means while he could easily live as a millionaire.
Second, I have read the book and I think it is very good at directing people to God and His purpose. It was written so both the Christian and nonChristian could understand it. Thus, it is not a book on theology. Everyone I have known who has read it has benefitted from it a lot. I would recommend the book.
I think this comment is harsh especially since Rick Warren is not keeping all the money. He does not even receive a salary as minister of his church. He prefers to live by modest means while he could easily live as a millionaire.
Second, I have read the book and I think it is very good at directing people to God and His purpose. It was written so both the Christian and nonChristian could understand it. Thus, it is not a book on theology. Everyone I have known who has read it has benefitted from it a lot. I would recommend the book.
S
Sothenes
Guest
I'm against the book "Purpose Driven Life" and I've been working at creating material about the book.
My points would be as follows:
1. Cattle are Driven and sheep are led. Christians should be Word driven and not purpose driven.
2. The Message Bible is used to circumvent scripture because it is a paraphrase and a half commentary on the Bible.
3. You don't become a Christian by finding a purpose. You become a Christian through faith and believing in Jesus alone. You don't choose your religion through consumerism but you are born again by the engrafted Word of God.
4. Seeker Sensitive topics are holding back entire congregations because pastors are concerned about attracting non-Christians to church while at the same time not fully educating Christians and non-Christians about the Word of God.
5. One of Rick Warren's partners left Africa because it was about the money.
6. Ken Blanchard is reportedly back into the New Age and he reportedly still works with Rick Warren.
7. When the truth came out about Ashley Smith, it was because she gained the trust of the courthouse shooter by giving him methamphetamines. The courthouse shooter reportedly converted to Islam in prison. That is the fruit of this adventure.
http://www.letusreason.org/BookR12.htm
I have more to say but I have to get up early.
My points would be as follows:
1. Cattle are Driven and sheep are led. Christians should be Word driven and not purpose driven.
2. The Message Bible is used to circumvent scripture because it is a paraphrase and a half commentary on the Bible.
3. You don't become a Christian by finding a purpose. You become a Christian through faith and believing in Jesus alone. You don't choose your religion through consumerism but you are born again by the engrafted Word of God.
4. Seeker Sensitive topics are holding back entire congregations because pastors are concerned about attracting non-Christians to church while at the same time not fully educating Christians and non-Christians about the Word of God.
5. One of Rick Warren's partners left Africa because it was about the money.
6. Ken Blanchard is reportedly back into the New Age and he reportedly still works with Rick Warren.
7. When the truth came out about Ashley Smith, it was because she gained the trust of the courthouse shooter by giving him methamphetamines. The courthouse shooter reportedly converted to Islam in prison. That is the fruit of this adventure.
http://www.letusreason.org/BookR12.htm
I have more to say but I have to get up early.
jgredline
Member
To learn the truth about Rick Warren and his cultish teachings read here.
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/chu ... ml#rwarren
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/chu ... ml#rwarren