The purpose of the Bible is changed lives! The purpose of preaching is changed lives!

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”  (Proverbs 19:21, NIV)

Few pastors have become more influential in shaping church life today than Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Southern California’s Orange County. Under his leadership, the church grew from the Warren family alone to regular worship attendance of more than 15,000 each weekend. Warren has taken the insights he learned at Saddleback and shared them in the book The Purpose-Driven Church, which has become one of the most popular Christian books of recent years.

Rick says “The bigger the church gets the more important the pulpit becomes because it is the rudder of the ship. Where else do you get an hour of undivided attention with all these people on a weekly basis? Yet, I find most pastors do not understand the power of preaching. But even more important than that is they don’t understand the purpose of preaching.”

Rick says he probably has the largest library of books on preaching in America. He has read over 500 books on preaching. And as Rick has read these books, he has come to realize that “the vast majority don’t really understand that preaching is about transformation, not information.”

Can you or your pastor benefit from what Rick Warren teaches about preaching?
If so, what is your next step?

Prayer Power
Father God, I praise You as the God of transformation. Thank You for Pastor Rick Warren and his gifted ability to preach and teach. Multiply his message about preaching for life change in churches throughout Culpeper, Virginia, and America. Do I mighty work in the hearts of pastors. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Purpose-Driven Preaching: An Interview with Rick Warren – by Michael Duduit
[http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=3419]

Blessings to see many pastors throughout the world preaching for life change!