My church is doing yet another 40 days program...

[yankeedownsouth]

I found out last week that our church will be starting another 40 days campaign in January. This year it was the purpose-driven life (sigh), and now it's going to be something like 40 days of bridgebuilding. Has anyone heard of this program? Is it like the purpose-driven life? I think it's written by Warren, but I'm not sure.

I'd love to hear feedback.

One thing that really bugs me about it is that our home team has recently started a study on the book of Acts. I had to PUSH them to get them to do a study on a book of the Bible, rather than a canned study (like marriage or handling stress). This study on Acts has been good, and folks are learning a lot. But now we're going to have to cut our study short so we can do this new study. That makes me :mad because we're stopping a study on the BIBLE to do a study on a non-Bible book. :frusty :frusty

I keep praying for God to lead my husband out of this church...

[Mercy4Me]

I may get :fish for this this, but I wouldnt touch any of it with a 10-foot pole.

Kinda sad when the Bible is no longer the main teaching tool, but rather any other book that comes down the pike and claims to be able to do this or that.

Wonder how all those centuries of Christians before us survived with just the Bible...


Just a snippit from the 40 days website caught my eye:

EXPONENTIAL THINKING
This kind of thinking stretches your faith. It is thinking so big that you are forced to completely depend on God because you know you cannot reach your goal on your own power. This "faith factor" is what takes the 40 Days of Purpose out of the realm of "What we've always done" or "What we think we could do" and instead expects God to do something that's never been done before in your church.



Sounds a bit WoFish to me.


Just from reading some of of the sites it seems the primary focus of this is to grow a church to staggering proportions, and less to do about growing the Christian closer to God. :sigh

Actually the bottom line would appear to be money.

[antsinmypants]

Dana, then If ya get fish slapped for it, I'm standing with you for solidarity, because I wouldn't touch it for all the money in the world. What I have read has been very "Prayer of Jabez" and "WOF"...

We need to Be Bereans. Commentary is "OK" If it compliments the bible, but the Bible is said to be our main teaching tool & good for "doctrine and reproof" according to the letters to Timothy.

:thumb

[nooneuno]

wow-- interesting info. I'd like to hear more feedback here from others who are doing this Purpose Driven Life.

( I just bought the CD's to listen to in my car.)

Yes..I do think that sometimes we are looking for bigger and better ways to improve ourselves with directions from books on how to use the Bible better. thoughts??

[tractsforchrist]

I'm typing real small because I don't want to admit that I am reading the Purpose Driven Life because I see a lot of people condemn it....

Ants, I have never read Prayer of Jabez but can you tell me what was wrong with it? It was reccommended by another book and I thought of buying it. Please let me know in case I should stay away from it

[antsinmypants]

I have the prayer of Jabez & the devotional book.

The problem, we're focusing for a month to a whole year on one man's life and prayer, and doing the "WOF" type prayer of it on us.. each week another part of his prayer.

His prayer centers around his name "Jabez" -- "one who causes pain"-- where he's mentioned by being a good man, and praying to G-d "Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory that I might not cause pain"..

Y'shua said our prayers should be "Our father who art in heaven..."--

Center on G-d, Bless/Praise G-d, ask His will over everything, Our Daily needs, Forgiveness of us and others, Prayer for "firm footing" on our spiritual walk.


WOF usually focuses on "me and myself and then G-d"...

Bible study as a Berean focuses on G-d, Others THEN "me".

:thumb

[DJHere]

Ants what do you know about Purpose driven life? Our Pastor is recommending it but I have heard good and bad. Will people who know about it kindly share your thoughts about it with me.

[tractsforchrist]

Wait a minute... I thought the book was about eternal rewards :twitch

I had read a book called "Teen's life that God rewards" about how God rewards us eternally in heaven for the good things we do now (Like helping out at a soup kitchen and stuff like that) . In the back was an insert saying that the Prayer of Jabez was an expanded study on eternal rewards

:twitch

Is there another book out there about eternal rewards that is sound to the bible..

(No joking by responding: the bible, please :P: )

The purpose driven life has brought me closer to God. I reject what sounds kooky and respect what sounds right. I have not done the 40 days, I just keep on reading several chapters in one night to get it in my head..

[yankeedownsouth]

I'm really looking for info on the 40 days of bridgebuilding (or something like that). We did the PDL in January, I didn't care for it. And now we're getting into a whole nother 40 days. I'm scared it's going to be like the PDL series.

[DJHere]

Originally posted by yankeedownsouth
I'm really looking for info on the 40 days of bridgebuilding (or something like that). We did the PDL in January, I didn't care for it. And now we're getting into a whole nother 40 days. I'm scared it's going to be like the PDL series.

What was it you didn't like about PDL?

[blitzkreig]

Technically that would be 80 Days 'O Praise :D:

Would this be a remedial course for those who flunked the first 40?

[antsinmypants]

I cannot find ALL Of my stuff on PDL but here is a good response, and I couldn't put it any better.

http://www.biblebb.com/files/gathw.htm


The Cutting Edge (cuttingedge.org) had something on the PDL, but I think I have that somewhere in the depths of my email account.

It is a gross watering down and very "Seeker Sensitive" -- let's abandon ship from the older believers (you know, meat and potatoes kind) and go all out to the little boats to feed the ones needing porridge and oatmeal.

Now, I'm not saying it's bad to feed those seeking-- but we HAVE to have a healthy balance of milk, porridge, meat and potatoes & bread for everyone!!!!!!!!

Any good preacher, Paul the Apostle included was able to feed them all, and using his own material : the Bible.

No other book can help us understand our purpose better than the bible.

[BusyMom]

Check the thread in this forum called "Church Growth Information Links" by LLee. (I'll bump it up so you can find it easier - not sure how to get a cut and paste to work.)

We have discussed this topic a few times on RR and LLee has compiled a list of enlightening information regarding this Purpose Driven/Church Growth stuff.

Happy Hunting!!

[The Bearen]

Oneplace.com has a good radio programme entitled:

'critical issues commentary' with pastor Bob Deway.

When you get to the website click complete ministry links and then go to the alphabetic listing under,' C' and yo will see it listed.

There are some excellent disscussions on the 'Seeker Sensitive Movement'.And the roots of this movement and the strong influence from robort shuellar'.
:wacko

[Crescendo]

We had our last 40 days meeting last night. While I didn't get too revved up about Rick Warren's personal philosophies (neither good nor bad, just not my style), it did get a group of fourteen of us together weekly, outside of church, to fellowship and discuss His word. Between meetings, we all read the book chapters but they often lead us to further Bible readings as well. I don't think our church, your church or even Rick Warren is suggesting that his FDP book should replace the Bible as the main teaching tool. Its sort of like a textbook that brings together a variety of passages from scripture that alone I might not have linked together. Or taken the time to commit to a study of that length.

[yankeedownsouth]

So I guess no one's heard of the bridge building series. I'm :frusty about it, because I know I've seen something about it somewhere (not here on RR), and I wish I could remember where.

[duckdogger]

Go listen to the Judd's song "Love can build a bridge". Maybe that will help. Seriously, is the program about increaing fellowship between church members? Is it ecumenical to bring different denominations todether? To adapt the Scriptures to a modern world?

Could be very beneficial or very bad.

I personally believe churches do not need canned programs. They need expository teaching to help us be effective followers of Christ.

[DJHere]

Thanks for all the responses.

[yankeedownsouth]

Originally posted by duckdogger
Seriously, is the program about increaing fellowship between church members? Is it ecumenical to bring different denominations todether? To adapt the Scriptures to a modern world?

Could be very beneficial or very bad.

I personally believe churches do not need canned programs. They need expository teaching to help us be effective followers of Christ.

I wish I knew more about the purpose of the program! I've only heard that we're doing it, and I only heard because our home team leader told us we wouldn't be able to finish our Acts study because of it. :cry

I guess I'll have to wait till January to find out. I hate not knowing! I'm NOT a patient person.

I don't like programs either, and from what I've heard, our church is going to do one at the beginning of every year. Blach.

[antsinmypants]

Yankee, I did a search on Google.com and nothing came up.

Have you checked your local Lifeway (or their website) to see if they have something on it? Lately, they've been carrying EVERY "purpose" or 40 day programme, regardless of who wrote it and why.

I've also noticed a lot more WOF and Catholic books in there... (I thought it was a Baptist based book store? :confused)...

[Rebecki]

The purpose driven life has brought me closer to God. I reject what sounds kooky and respect what sounds right.

While I'm glad that you feel closer to God, I would like to know how you decided what "sounds kooky" or what "sounds right?" How do you discern these two? When reading the book are you comparing what you read to Scripture or are you leaning on your own understanding and accepting what is said without question? I'm just curious. I don't want to cause trouble I'm just making a point that we, as humans, tend to "go with the flow" or accept whatever trend comes our way just because it "looks" or "sounds" biblical. There have been many of them in recent years... The Prayer of Jabez, Experiencing God, and now The Purpose Driven Life. They are the "trendy" thing to do. It's important to remember that just because some book is written by a Christian, it doesn't mean that he/she has their theology/doctrine correct. We must compare what we read against Scripture. I'm just now studying "The Purpose Driven Life" and since there is so much out there against the PDC/L I'm not about to read it without the Word of God right next to it, checking to make sure Rick Warren is accurate.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5


I personally believe churches do not need canned programs. They need expository teaching to help us be effective followers of Christ.

A big fat AMEN to that statement Duckdogger!! All we need is the Word of God. I have nothing against books though because sometimes they can help, however, I again say that when reading a book by man, use discernment and the Holy Word to test man's words against.

[BarbT]

Ants, I have never read Prayer of Jabez but can you tell me what was wrong with it? ....... Please let me know in case I should stay away from it A good booklet on the subject is "The Cult of Jabez" {and the falling away of the Church of America} by Steve Hopkins.


:thumb

[Rebecki]

A good booklet on the subject is "The Cult of Jabez" {and the falling away of the Church of America} by Steve Hopkins.

Hey BarbT, where do you get that booklet? My pastor's name is Steve Hopkins. Is this booklet written by a Calvary Chapel pastor?

[tractsforchrist]

Well when warning flags go up...

I guess I am in the minority of those who can only digest spiritual milk at the moment. So this is why also this is a good book for those milk drinkers who would throw up if they ate too much meat at once...

I am not saying that the 40 pdl is good going with the bible, I saw as a prayer helper. <-- I really sometimes can't understand the bible. I like books that explain the meaning of the scriptures.
I understand the basics and the intermediate but some contexts I miss out

Well I was just saying that I thought this Jabez thing (never heard of it before the ad) was about eternal rewards.. Let me go look up what it said...

Ok.. My book is
"A Life God Rewards for Teens"
[this book was one that I picked up when I was coming back to the faith. I did not seriously read this except it showed how to do good things for God]

The book is by Bruce Wilkinsan and it has a little footnote that says "with David Kopp"

OK! The ad is for "A Life that God Rewards"
by Bruce Wilkinson..

Ok not the prayer of Jabez (thats on the next page I didn't look interested in it) Is the life that God rewards heresy too? (probably because of the author, but please tell me if it was still good)

[cameron222]

The Forty Days of Purpose is written by using Biblical principles. The author even gives chapter and verse. It is not "his" philosophy or a "substitute" for the Bible.

The study is designed to show us our purpose for being here and the study points out that its all about God.....not us!! To me that is a refreshing change.

As with any study, if you have doubts about it, check out what is said by the Word of God. If it doesn't match, then look out. But I see nothing wrong with being taught that we were made for God's purpose and pleasure and learning that this life is designed as preparation for the life to come.

This is a great study.

[Rebecki]

I forgot to mention, when reading a book and comparing the scripture verses given, don't just read the verse quoted, but read the whole chapter. Context is VERY important, the verse could be talking about something completely different than what it is quoted for in the book.

:):

[joyttw]

For the person who asked for feedback on PDL, here are my thoughts on it. Our church just finished it, and it is an excellent book for new believers.

However, most of the stuff discussed in the book is stuff most seasoned Christians should already know. It's not about us, it's about God, which Cameron keeps mentioning. Yes, that is a good reminder, and can be life-changing for someone who was not a very committed Christian or a brand-new Christian. But in my church, many of the mature Christians (my family included) are leaving because there is no depth and no steps towards depth in the church. After two years there, we are now attending a church that goes through the Bible verse by verse with expository teaching and we are snarfing down the solid food we've been missing for two years!

And we are praying for a Calvary Chapel to get started in our area... there are so many starving sheep around here. I hope the church we are leaving doesn't leave these baby sheep at the same level of maturity for too long.

[LLee]

Church growth links:

http://www.geocities.com/christianconcerns/index.cgmlinks.htm

Purpose driven life:

http://www.geocities.com/christianconcerns/index-pdl.htm


Bridge building (sorry, couldn't find anything specific, but you might glean something here):

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%2240+days+of+purpose%22+%22bridge+building%22&btnG=Google+Search