40-day study has religious purpose
No, not that Good Book. But certainly one that they say helps them understand the messages of the Bible in a clear, no-nonsense way.
The book, "The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For," has taken a large swath of the nation by storm. Written by Rick Warren, senior pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., it has sold 7 million copies and is on The New York Times best-seller list. More than 4,500 churches across the country are participating in "40 Days of Purpose," a program in which congregations go through the book together.
In the Puget Sound area, many churches, primarily evangelical, also are taking part.
"It's almost like a communitywide thing in the Christian community," said the Rev. Linda Skinner, associate pastor at Washington Cathedral, a midsize church that began the six-week program two weeks ago. "Everyone is doing it at the same time. No matter where you're going, you can say: Are you doing 'The Purpose Driven Life?' "
The appeal, Skinner says, is in Warren's ability to take the messages of the Bible — the same ones that have been taught for centuries — and present them in a clear, easily digestible way that people can apply to their lives.
The book is divided into 40 sections, each a few pages long. Each section is based on one message, one thought — almost like an affirmation — that readers are supposed to meditate upon that day.
For instance, on Day 8, the "Point to Ponder" is: "I was planned for God's pleasure." Warren also includes a "Verse to Remember" for each of those points (for Day 8 it's: "The Lord takes pleasure in his people"), and a "Question to Consider": "What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?"
"It's like you're getting a road map for how you should go through things," said Bill Schoenknecht, 38, a member of Washington Cathedral. "It's a lot more specific and focused than the Bible. It's gotten me to slow down, focus on my relationship with God."
At Washington Cathedral, members gather on Wednesday nights to hear a pastor give an overview. Then during the week, members read the book and ponder its points on their own, or in one of the many small groups within the congregation.
"It really clarifies what a Christian needs to do in daily life," said Fred Jeschke, 42, of Bothell.
At Redmond's Overlake Christian Church, which attracts about 5,000 people to services regularly, the congregation already is at the end of the 40-day program.
Its effect, said Senior Pastor Rick Kingham, has been "remarkable. It really focuses everyone's concentration on the same themes and ideas."
Overlake pastors decided to use the book because "we found it consistent with what we were trying to teach and we wanted to maximize the popularity of the best-seller book," Kingham said.
Going through the book together, as a congregation, has not only helped individuals' spiritual lives but the church as well, he said. Members organized 400 small groups to study the book, many of them formed with neighbors, friends and others who weren't members of Overlake. Most of those groups will likely continue, Kingham believes.
For Joanne Gates, 60, of Redmond, going through the program made her see God as a friend, not as someone remote and unreachable. "This course really brings it down to earth, makes it a one-on-one relationship. God's a buddy."
Janet I. Tu: 206-464-2272 or jtu@seattletimes.com