Summary of "Day 1 - What Will You Do With the Rest of Your Life"

Summary — main ideas and lessons

Pastor Rick Warren introduces Saddleback Church’s 40 Days of Purpose series (message given from Kigali, Rwanda).
Central theme: use the rest of your life for the purposes God intends rather than living aimlessly or centering life on temporary things.

Hezekiah’s story (2 Kings 18 / Isaiah 38): God extended Hezekiah’s life after Hezekiah appealed to God.

If God offered you more years, would you use them for God’s purposes?
The lesson: the past is past; focus on future purpose.

Worship — Center your life on God
- More than giving God a “slice” of life; God should be the hub/center (Matthew 22: love God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength).
- Evidence your life is centered on God: worry decreases; peace increases (Philippians 4:7).
Fellowship — Connect with other believers
- God hates loneliness; Christians are meant to live in community (Hebrews 10:25).
- Biblical pattern (Acts 2): believe → be baptized → be added to the church → commit to teaching/fellowship → worship publicly and meet in small groups.
- Small groups are essential for growth and for the 40 Days experience.
Discipleship — Cultivate spiritual maturity
- Grow beyond baby faith; mature Christians reproduce spiritually (Hebrews 5–6).
- Problems and trials are opportunities to grow — ask “what is God teaching me?” rather than only “why?”.
Ministry — Contribute to others (use your gifts)
- Serve others with your abilities, personality, and experiences (1 Peter 4:10).
- Significance comes from service, not status or wealth; everyone is a minister (not everyone a pastor) — we are made to give away our lives.
Mission/Outreach — Communicate God’s love and the gospel
- The one purpose you can only fully perform on earth: tell people about Christ (2 Corinthians 5).
- Saddleback’s outreach emphasis is called “the Peace Plan” (tell everyone about reconciliation with God).

The church’s order for becoming connected and growing:
1. Believe (put trust in Christ).
2. Be baptized publicly.
3. Be added to a local church (join membership or take a membership class, e.g., Class 101).
4. Commit to the apostles’ teaching (study the Bible) and to fellowship (small groups).
5. Participate in large-group worship AND small-group meetings.
Specific commitments requested for the 40 Days:
- Join or start a small group (three sign-up methods: on-site table, saddleback.com group finder, phone).
- Pray this week for five friends who don’t know Christ and invite them to your small group or church during the 40 Days series.
- Fill out the commitment card: options include committing life to Christ, baptism, joining the church, starting/joining a small group.
How to approach life’s problems:
- Don’t ask only “why me?”; ask “what is God teaching me?” — every problem can make you better (or bitter).
Outreach encouragement:
- Use the 40 Days period to invite people, as many will be open; the book has reached millions, but many still need to hear.

Your earthly life is a tiny fraction of eternity; practices of worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry prepare you for heaven.
God will not force you to live by these purposes; you have freedom to choose, with eternal implications.
Living by God’s purposes provides stability when life’s “earthquakes” come.

Decide your next spiritual step and record it on the commitment card (options: commit life to Christ, baptism, join church/Class 101, start or join small group).
Sign up for a small group this week (final week to do so before the series starts).
Pray for five non-Christian friends and invite them to the 40 Days small group/church service.
Live out the five purposes: center on God, connect, grow, serve, and share the gospel.

Pastor Rick Warren — main speaker (Saddleback Church)
Testimonial participants: Eric; Bruce Minambo; Josephine; James; Vedast
Biblical figures referenced: Hezekiah, Isaiah, David, Solomon
Mentioned (not speaking): President Paul Kagame (referenced as having mentioned the book)