The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren—A Synopsis (continued). Chapter 37—Sharing Your Life Message (pages 289-296) Summary At the moment of a person’s salvation until the day he enters eternity’s door he has been appointed as and given the responsibility of being God’s messenger. Every believer has a life message to share with the world, and it is within his God-given purpose to share the unique life experiences that make up his life message with others, both saved and lost. A believer’s life message is composed of the following: · His testimony. Each believer has a testimony on how Christ has made a difference in his life, which: 1. Needs only to be shared (relayed) according to the facts, not proven as in a court of law. 2. Is totally unique—one-of-kind—upon the earth. 3. More credible than a sermon to many listeners, since it comes from a “satisfied customer” and not a “professional salesman.” 4. Easier to relay than principles. 5. Captures the attention of many listeners. 6. Bypasses the intellectual defenses of many listeners. Each believer should be ready at any occasion to share his testimony. A good way to prepare for “any occasion” is to write down and memorize the following four points of the testimony: 1. Life prior to Christ. 2. Realization of the need for Christ. 3. Personal salvation experience. 4. Differences Christ has made. · His life lessons. Each believer has truths to share that, through his contact with God, have given him personal insights, which will assist others to gain knowledge and wisdom. These truths (life lessons) may entail what God has taught through personal failure, lack of finances, pain and sorrow, depression, being patient, illness, disappointment, family, friends, the church, and other relationships.   · His godly passions.   Each believer, as he grows closer to God, will be given a passionate concern from God to share with the world. Such a passionate concern may be about championing a cause (an abuse, an addiction, depression, a disease, etc.), or speaking up for a group (unborn, poor, imprisoned, etc.), or spreading God’s Word in a specific manner (starting new churches, training Christian leaders, Bible teaching and/or translating, etc.), or for a specific geological location. God has myriad tasks to be performed upon earth, and He uses His children through the assignment of passionate concerns to accomplish them. · The gospel message. Each believer is personally assigned the God-commanded mission to share the salvation message with the lost of the world, that by faith alone in Christ alone a person is granted eternal life by the grace of God. Of the five purposes that a believer has for his life (membership in the family of God, model Christ, magnify God’s glory, minister God’s grace, and messenger of the gospel message), it is the sharing of the salvation message that alone is totally unique to temporal life on earth. The time to do this is limited for each believer. Quotes “Sharing your testimony is an essential part of your mission on earth because it is unique.” (pg. 290) “Your personal testimony is more effective than a sermon, because unbelievers see pastors as professional salesmen, but see you as a “satisfied customer,” so they give you more credibility.” (pg. 290) “While is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. There isn’t enough time to learn everything in life by trial and error.” (pg. 292) “God gives us different passions so that everything He wants done in the world will get done.” (pg. 293) “God has never made a person He didn’t love.” (pg. 294) “We must care about unbelievers because God does. Love leaves no choice.” (pg. 294) Scriptures 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:17b; 1 John 5:10a; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 1:8; 22-26; 1 Peter 3:15, 16; Psalm 119:33; 106:43; Proverbs 25:12; Psalm 51; Philippians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 1:4-10; Psalm 40; Psalm 119:71; Genesis 50:20; Matthew 12:34; Psalm 69:9; Jeremiah 20:9; Galatians 4:18; Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 14; 1 John 4:18; 2 Peter 3:9; Colossians 4:5. Conclusion/Comments Every believer has the privilege, the opportunity and the responsibility of sharing his personal life message with others on earth, which is composed of his testimony (salvation experience), his life lessons (personal insights from experiences with God), his godly passions (personal God-given concerns in life), and the sharing of the gospel message with unbelievers. Although all four components are important, nothing supercedes the believer’s efforts to bring the lost to Jesus Christ by means of sharing the salvation message, which is faith alone in Christ alone.