7-Week Study & Discussion Guide

The Purpose Driven Life

by Rick Warren·56 discussion questions

Lead your group with the discussion already prepared: a reading plan, thoughtful questions, and printable handouts for everyone.

Last updated August 16, 2026

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Week 1 — FreeRead the Introduction and Days 1–3 of The Purpose Driven Life. Key Scriptures: Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28–30

Discussion question your group will work through:

1.Warren's first sentence is: "It's not about you." How did you react when you first read that? Did it feel liberating, offensive, or somewhere in between — and why?

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About This Study Guide

At a glance: this is a 7-week study and discussion guide for The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, with 56 questions organized by reading assignment. Week 1 is free to read, with no card required.

This study guide accompanies Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life with a seven-session plan. The schedule begins with the introduction and Days 1–3, then explores worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission before a final review. Read the assigned section in your own copy of the book before each meeting.

Use the questions to move from understanding Warren’s argument to examining your own choices. Write down a passage you want to discuss and one question you are still considering. Groups can follow the weekly schedule below or allow more time for a section that needs further conversation.

Using the printable study guide

For each meeting, choose a discussion question that connects the assigned purpose to an ordinary part of life. Invite participants to name a specific action to try before the next session, then make time to discuss what they learned when you meet again.

The free public sample lets you try the questions first. Paid access includes the complete study guide PDF and printable weekly handouts with the reading assignment, questions and space for notes.

Introduction — It's Not About You (Days 1–3)

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Read the Introduction and Days 1–3 of The Purpose Driven Life. Key Scriptures: Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28–30

Warren opens with a challenge that cuts against everything our culture tells us — that life is not ultimately about us. Sit with that claim this week and see how it lands.

1.Warren's first sentence is: "It's not about you." How did you react when you first read that? Did it feel liberating, offensive, or somewhere in between — and why?

2.Warren argues that self-help books, introspection, and even philosophy cannot tell you the purpose of your life because the creation cannot discover its purpose by examining itself — only the Creator can reveal it. Do you find that argument convincing?

a.What methods have you personally tried to find meaning or direction in your life?

b.How have those methods succeeded or fallen short?

3.In Day 1, Warren uses the analogy of a product and its manufacturer: you discover a product's purpose from the owner's manual, not by asking the product. How does this image shape the way you think about reading Scripture as a source of life's meaning?

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All 7 weeks, 56 questions, closing prayers, and printable weekly handouts — plus the full PDF — so your prep is reading it over, not writing it from scratch.

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Week 1 sample · first 3 questions

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7-Week Schedule

Purpose One — You Were Planned for God's Pleasure (Days 4–10)

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Read Days 4–10 of The Purpose Driven Life. Key Scriptures: Revelation 4:11; John 4:23; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 11

1.Warren defines worship as "bringing pleasure to God" and says it happens whenever you enjoy, honor, or reflect God's character — not just in church. How does this broader definition change the way you've thought about worship?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Purpose Two — You Were Formed for God's Family (Days 11–18)

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Read Days 11–18 of The Purpose Driven Life. Key Scriptures: Ephesians 2:19; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Hebrews 10:24–25; 1 John 4:11–12

1.Warren says, "You were made for community." He argues that the church is not a building or a service but a family — and that God intends for us to experience life deeply together. How does this compare to how most people in your experience actually relate to their local church?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Purpose Three — You Were Created to Become Like Christ (Days 19–27)

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Read Days 19–27 of The Purpose Driven Life. Key Scriptures: Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22–23; James 1:2–4

1.Warren states that God's ultimate goal for your life is not comfort, happiness, or success — it is Christlikeness. How does that goal differ from what you most often find yourself pursuing?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Purpose Four — You Were Shaped for Serving God (Days 28–36)

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Read Days 28–36 of The Purpose Driven Life. Key Scriptures: Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:4–8; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12

1.Warren argues that you were not saved to sit — that every Christian is called to ministry, whether or not they are in paid church work. How have you understood the word "ministry" up to now, and how does Warren's definition expand it?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Purpose Five — You Were Made for a Mission (Days 37–40)

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Read Days 37–40 of The Purpose Driven Life. Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Romans 10:14–15

1.Warren says that "the Great Commission is your commission" — not a special calling for missionaries and pastors but the mandate of every Christian. How have you understood your own responsibility for evangelism up to now?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Review & Reflection — What on Earth Am I Here For?

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Review your notes, journal entries, and any highlighted passages from the full 40 days of The Purpose Driven Life

1.Warren opened with the declaration, "It's not about you." After 40 days of reading, journaling, and discussing — how has your answer to "What on earth am I here for?" changed or deepened? Try to put your answer into your own words.

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

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About the The Purpose Driven Life guide

How many weeks is the The Purpose Driven Life study guide?

This study guide covers The Purpose Driven Life in 7 weeks, with week-by-week discussion questions, reading references, and closing prayers for each session.

How many discussion questions are included?

The complete guide includes 56 discussion questions across 7 weeks — an average of 8 questions per week, designed for group conversation.

Can I use this guide for a book club?

Yes — the questions are written for group discussion and work well for small groups, book clubs, church studies, and couples reading together.

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