The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren—A Synopsis (continued). Chapter 8—Planned for God’s Pleasure (pages 63-68) Summary Every person on earth is important to God. Everyone is significant. Why? It is because God created everyone individually for His pleasure, not as a “play thing,” but so that He could receive pleasure from the existence and communion (fellowship) with His created child. Each person individually, of all His creation, has the capability and capacity to bring pleasure to God Almighty. This, above all else, establishes the worth of each individual on the face of earth. Each individual exists for God’s benefit, His glory, His purpose and His delight. And bringing enjoyment to God, living for His pleasure, is the primary purpose (reason) for each person’s life. Each person has been given a great gift—each has been “wired” with five senses and emotions to enjoy them. Why? It is so that everyone may enjoy life. God has emotions, and this is well established in the Bible. And every person is created in God’s image. Worship brings pleasure to God. All that a person does that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. Worship is many-sided, like a multifaceted cut diamond. It is also natural—innately a part of man—to want to connect to God. The desire has been implanted within every person because God seeks worshipers. Worship is more than church activities. Understanding that worship is more than those activities only associated with church attendance (praying, music and various other activities) is important. It is true that all church activities are worship, but there’s more. It is also true that God takes pleasure in different forms of worship—for instance both slow and upbeat music—as long as it is offered to God in spirit and truth. God enjoys variety. As for music, it is the words, not the tune, that makes it Christian. Worship is for God’s benefit. Christians often feel that worship is for their benefit. But the truth is it is for God’s benefit, to bring pleasure to Him. A person who feels that he “didn’t get anything out of the ‘worship service,’” attended for the wrong reason. He should realize that he wasn’t there for himself; he was there solely to please His Creator. It is not tradition that pleases God; it is passion and commitment. Worship should include the totality of a Christian’s life. The Bible instructs God’s children to worship Him continually, not just in a “church service.” This means that worship may be evident at home, at work, at play, in bed, everywhere. A Christian should begin the morning with praise and end with it at night. Worship is every activity when it is done in order to please God—a product of attitude (intending it for Christ’s benefit) and accompanied by prayer. A worship-attitude for Jesus Christ is somewhat similar to the attitude one has when he first falls truly in love on earth. His thoughts of Christ will dominate his life, and he’ll stay in continuous communication with Him. Quotes “You were planned for God’s pleasure.” (pg. 63) “Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.” (pg. 64) “If it is offered to God in spirit and truth, it is an act of worship.” (pg. 65) “There is no such thing as ‘Christian’ music; there are only Christian lyrics. It is the words that make a song sacred, not the tune.” (pg. 66) “God’s heart is not touched by tradition in worship, but by passion and commitment.” (pg. 66) “Praise should be the first activity when you open your eyes in the morning and the last activity when you close them at night.” (pg. 67) “Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God.” (pg. 67) Scriptures Revelation 4:11; Psalm 149:4a, Ephesians 1:5; Genesis 6:6; Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 32:36; Judges 2:20; 1 Kings 10:9; 1 Chronicles 16:27; Psalm2:4; 5:5; 18:19; 35:27; 37:23; 103:13; 104:31; Ezekiel 5:13; 1 John 4:16; Psalm 147:11;John 4:23; Isaiah 29:13; Psalm 105:4; 113:3; 119:147; 5:3; 63:6; 119:62; 34:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23; Romans 12:1. Conclusion/Comments All creation exists for the pleasure of God, and an individual primarily pleases God through worship, which is an activity conducted in spirit and truth with passion and commitment by a Christian who genuinely strives to do all things for the praise and glory of Jesus Christ—an attitude that is continuously accompanied by prayer resulting in thoughts and activities that conform to Bible doctrine and practice.