Rick Warren Quotes

That's the big difference between Christianity and other religions. The difference between Works and Grace or Do and Done.

Sacrifice is the essence of love, which is the essence of God.

I think any apparent contradiction in scripture is my limited capacity. Me trying to understand God is like an ant trying to understand the Internet. I don't have the brain capacity.

The key is really just saying my brain isn't big enough to figure out why everything happens. It would be like an ant trying to understand the internet.

God has a purpose behind every problem.

The Bible makes it really clear that if I am not receptive to the grace of God I am headed toward wrath.

If you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Prune away even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. You can be busy without a purpose, but what's the point?

Love leaves legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth.

Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time. Trust requires a track record.

You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus is knocking at your door. Take hold of the better life by letting him into your life. Make him the boss of your life. It'll change everything.

The more you care about the powerless, the more power you have. The more you serve those with no influence, the more influence God gives you. The more you humble yourself, the more you're honored by others.

Jesus modeled a purpose-driven life, and he taught others how to live it, too. That was the "work" that brought glory to God.

If God only used perfect people, nothing would get done. God will use anybody if you're available.

Whenever you feel unimportant, unloved, or insecure, remember to who you belong.

If you prayed as much as you worry, you'd have nothing to worry about.

Today there really aren't that many Fundamentalists left; I don't know if you know that or not, but they are such a minority; there aren't that many Fundamentalists left in America. ... Now the word "fundamentalist" actually comes from a document in the 1920s called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith . And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity, and when I say there are very few fundamentalists, I mean in the sense that they are all actually called fundamentalist churches, and those would be quite small. There are no large ones.

God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls and coal into diamonds using time and pressure. He's working on you, too.

God wants to produce the character of Christ in our lives because he knows that the more we become like him, the more fulfilled we will be.

Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, he expected it.

The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve.

Every time you make a bad choice, it becomes harder to make a good one.

What is the glory of God? It is who God is. It is the essence of His nature; the weight of His importance; the radiance of His splendor; the demonstration of His power; the atmosphere of His presence.

All things work for bad for those living in opposition to God and insist on having their own way.

Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.

You do not grow stronger by accident - you grow stronger by intention.

Keeping your body in shape is a spiritual discipline. Its not just about losing a few pounds, wanting to live longer, or trying to look nicer.

I added up all the money the church paid me for the first 25 years and gave it all back.

Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God.

If you are a member of a small group or class, I urge you to make a group covenant that includes the nine characteristics of biblical fellowship: We will share our true feelings (authenticity), forgive each other (mercy), speak the truth in love (honesty), admit our weaknesses (humility), respect our differences (courtesy), not gossip (confidentiality), and make group a priority (frequency).

Three enemies that will weaken your ministry over time: Self-indulgence, bitterness, and carelessness. Strong people discipline their desires, restrain their reactions, and keep their commitments.

Then Jesus changed the situation. When he paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the temple that symbolized our separation from God was split from top to bottom, indicating that direct access to God was once again available.

My hermeneutics is when I see verses in Scripture that are "apparent" contradictions - I don't believe they are contradictions - I believe them both. I believe them both. I believe take up your cross and deny yourself and follow me, and I believe come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. They are different sides of the same thing.

For God to mend your broken heart you must give him ALL the pieces. You can't hold any back.

The problem is that tolerant has changed its meaning. It used to mean 'I may disagree with you completely, but I will treat you with respect. Today, tolerant means - 'you must approve of everything I do.' There's a difference between tolerance and approval. Jesus accepted everyone no matter who they were. He doesn't approve of everything I do, or you do, or anybody else does either. You can be accepting without being approving.

Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren't rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice.

We're a nation of laws, but the good thing about America, is that laws reside in the people and people can change the laws.

It is a fatal mistake to assume that God’s goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success, as the world defines it. The abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance, and faithfulness to God does not guarantee success in a career or even ministry. Never focus on temporary crowns.

It takes no courage to say or do what's popular.

Remember how far you've come, not just how far you have to go.

A father, finding time for what is most important is the true marker of a successful person.

If someone broke your heart it doesn't mean you should build a wall around it and quit loving. Redirect your love.

Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church.

When Jesus started His ministry, the very first thing He did was form a small group.

My first reaction in pastoral care is not to explain. And again, I don't think the primary purpose of the Bible is to explain suffering. I never have, because the actual explanations are often inadequate. I think the primary purpose of Scripture is to say I am all you need in this suffering and I need comfort.

Taking risks in older age is more courageous because you have more to lose. When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose.

In God's eyes, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity.

Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and out future is secured.