Finishing Week One

Today, Saturday, February 16, 2008, marks the end of the first week of a Purpose Filled Easter! During the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday, March 23 our church is focusing on renewing our purpose as followers of Christ.

We are encouraging everyone to read The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren. This book is an excellent devotional guide to all who are participating in this exciting spiritual adventure. This book is extremely well written and serves as a very helpful tool in an individual’s spiritual journey. (If you somehow came across this blog and you don’t attend Southwest Church, then I want to invite you to read this extremely practical book as well and contact me if you need a copy!)

You will find encouragement, inspiration and challenge in each of the daily readings. Although you will find it difficult to read only one day at a time, please take the time to pause, pray and contemplate the personal application of each day’s reading.

As with any other book, it is always best to evaluate each claim of the author in light of the Scriptures listed and others to be found on that particular subject. For the most part, Rick Warren does an excellent job of supporting principles within this book with scripture references. These references are listed in the notes section beginning on page 327.

Additional scripture references for a simple and yet thorough explanation of God’s plan of salvation is listed below. Please consider these verses in light of the author’s explanation on page 58 and 59 of day 7.

Believe. We must put our faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior. (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 3:23; 5:1-10)

Repent. Our faith must result in a change of heart and mind. (We must decide to turn from a self-directed life, to a Christ-directed life.) (Matthew 4:17; Acts 3:19; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11)

Confess. Our faith must lead us to verbally identify ourselves with Christ by confessing him as our Lord and Savior. (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9)

Be Baptized. Our faith must lead us to visibly identify ourselves with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus by being baptized (immersed in water). (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41; 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-10)

If you have additional questions or remarks concerning this book or the upcoming 40 Days of a Purpose Filled Easter, then please feel free to contact me at roger@southwestchurch.org or simply make a comment on this blog.