Prophet of Purpose: The Life of Rick Warren

by Jeffery L. Sheler

Book Overview

In this biography of Rick Warren, arguably the most influential man in American religion today, Sheler traces the road Warren has traveled, the influences in his life, his trials and temptations, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385523955
• ISBN13: 9780385523950
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Doubleday Religion
• Length: 325 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

An amazingly interesting story

Once someone becomes famous and starts appearing on TV chat shows, my cynicism reflex kicks in, and I actually thought that I had about enough of Rick Warren in my life until I read this book. I found the story so engaging that I was unable to put the book down. The book tells the whole story of Rick's life, from his parents' marriage through to his prayer at the inauguration of US President Obama. There are many useful lessons to be learned from Rick's life. One is that a floundering marriage can be made to work if both parties are prepared to put a lot of effort into communication. Another is the importance of doing plenty of research and groundwork when planting a new church. Another is the necessity of trusting in God during the hard times that will inevitably come. Another is the advantages that networking can bring to your ministry. Rick Warren is an extraordinarily creative person and capable leader. There is much to be admired about his church and his global PEACE plan. Even if you do not agree with everything he says and does, there are many great lessons to be learned from studying what he has done and why. I think this book should be compulsory reading for every church leader.

How America's Most Influential Preacher Reached That Status--and the Landmines Ahead

I'm a journalist as is biographer Jeffrey Sheler, who formerly covered religion for U.S. News and World Report and earlier wrote a great nonfiction book about evangelical America: Believers: A Journey into Evangelical America. So, as journalists, we don't say it lightly that Rick Warren is America's most influential religious leader in 2010. Whether Warren remains at that influential pinnacle remains to be seen. Sheler's fascinating biography of Warren ends with an honest assessment of the forces that propelled Warren to this status--including occasional elements of sheer luck like a breaking-news story about a woman reading his "Purpose Driven Life" to calm her deadly abductor. Then, Sheler also points out the challenges Warren faces from both more progressive Americans--and from foes he's made among the Religious Right. Beyond that timely political and cultural analysis, this is simply a great read about a fascinating American. Like Warren or hate him, the guy's story grows on you as you read about early fits and starts in his life. While he seems so self-assured, regularly addressing tens of thousands of men and women in such a confident way, the fact is that he's faced quite a few dilemmas himself. Finally, I think it's fascinating to read how "The Purpose Driven® Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" went from a good idea for an inspirational book--to best-seller status that ranks up in the stratosphere of Harry Potter. Obviously, Rick Warren's life is far from finished, but if you're looking for a great book to understand this influential American, this is the best you're going to find. And, I know you'll enjoy the experience of meeting him through Sheler's lens--whatever your personal attitude toward Warren's work.

A Reverent Look at the Reverend - Needs More Analysis of Warren's theology

I thought this was book was great, very interesting and compelling all the way through. Jeffrey Sheler discusses Warren's parents and his father's call into the ministry. He portrays Rick as a charming child from the get-go, a child who always had a flair for the dramatic and who always had an awareness of the divine. You will follow Rick into high school and to the time he dedicates his whole life to serving Christ. You will follow him into pulpits across California, and you will marvel at the opposition he gets from his own pastor, who does not think that Rick should be licensed as a minister (the home pastor literally tosses the license at Rick across the pews!). Rick rushes into engagement and marriage to Kay Lewis, and the book is frank about the discord in his marriage and how he put $1500 on a Mastercard to pay for the counseling that saved his marriage. You also read about the rare disorder that causes Warren to pass out or get dizzy whenever he has adrenaline rushes. Yet God's grace was sufficient for him through the years he ministered in the pulpit. You also read of the starting of Saddleback, the rapid rise and growth of the congregation, the struggle to acquire land for his church to build a sanctuary/campus, and the stress associated with all the changes. Sheler also covers the fabulous success and influence of Warren's books: The Purpose Driven Church and especially The Purpose Driven Life. He also discusses Warren's assuming the mantle of evangelical influence that Billy Graham once had in America. Sheler also writes of Warren's critics from the left as well as from the right, and those who opposed him praying at President Obama's inauguration. The book was fabulous, but more needed to be mentioned about Rick's theology and hermeneutics. One of the major criticisms of Warren's sermons and books is how often he takes Scripture verses out of context and how he uses biblical paraphrases that say what he wants the text to say rather than what the text probably says. Rick wrote a valuable resource on Bible study methods, and it is occasionally astonishing to see how he departs from these methods in his own sermons and writings. More should have said about Warren's understanding of the gospel. John Macarthur and others have noticed that in the one place that the Purpose Drive Life mentions the gospel, nothing is said about repentance, little is said about the shed blood of Jesus Christ to wash away our sins, and very little is said about the significance of Christ's resurrection and ascension. In short, Sheler ignores the considerable consternation that some have about Warren's watering down of the gospel message. In spite of this, I still thought the book was great, and a biography of this great Christian pastor was long overdue.

Great overview of a tremendous pastor

I enjoyed Sheler's book on Rick Warren especially seeing how Warren's church background and ministry involvement as a teenager were formative in his vocation as a church planter and pastor. Rick Warren and I share the same birth year and we are both pastors and as I read the book I reflected on my own life and ministry during the same time period. I heartily recommend this biography to students of American religious history and those especially interested in the evangelical movement.

Informative book

This is a very informative book about the life of Rick Warren. He is an extremely popular, influential, and controversial person not just in the evangelical Christian world, but also in politics, humanitarian work, etc. Sheler certainly addresses some of the controversies surrounding Warren's initiatives (such as his booked trip to North Korea, the trip to Syria, the inauguration prayer, etc.) I found, however, that this book shied away from the controversy surrounding some other initiatives--especially The Purpose-Driven Life. While Warren is repeatedly described as the leader of American evangelicalism, it doesn't address the fact that many American evangelicals have serious issues with the theology portrayed in The Purpose-Driven Life and his methods of church growth. Nor does the book go any further with the Southern Baptist connection outlined in the beginning of the book. A bit more detail in some specific areas would have made this book a more even biography. I do recommend this book, however, to anyone interested in seeing the bigger picture of how Rick Warren came to be the prominent figure he is in the world today.