Rick Warren writes bestselling books about religion, finding your purpose, and understanding God’s plan. If you could use a little more inspiration and faith in your life, these books are perfect.
In 1980, Rick Warren founded Saddleback Church with his wife, Kay Warren, where he was the lead pastor. He retired in 2021 at the age of 67 after 42 years at the evangelical Baptist church.
During his time in the church, Warren wrote many self-help books focused around God and the bible. Many of Warren’s books became bestsellers, including The Purpose Driven Life and The Daniel Plan.
Though Warren is now retired from the church, that doesn’t mean that he’s retired from writing. In fact, Warren released a book very recently in April 2023 titled Created to Dream. He also has a podcast titled Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope and continues to write his Daily Hope Devotional.
If you’re interested in hearing what Rick Warren has to say about God and life, you can listen to his podcast and read the novels that he’s published. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Best Rick Warren Books
God’s Power to Change Your Life (Living With Purpose)
Rick Warren has been a pastor for many years, and people always ask him: “Why can’t I change?” The question is simple, but people struggle with the answer, trying to figure out why it’s so hard to change their lives.
God’s Power to Change Your Life is Warren’s anecdote on how you can get out of whatever rut you’re experiencing and make positive changes. He brings up truths from the bible that will empower you to finally make those changes, and he gives you the tools and steps to do so.
This book focuses on many ways that you can change. Warren talks about becoming more joyful, finding peace, being kind, learning self-control, and the best ways to truly enjoy life.
You can find God’s Power to Change Your Life by Rick Warren here.
The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For?
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren explores the reasons that we might be here on Earth. He goes in-depth about how God had a purpose for youeven before you were born, and how there isa reason that you are here on this Earth. In this New York Times bestselling novel, Warren uncovers those reasons and helps you learn how to live the way you were made to.
The Purpose Driven Life will take you on a spiritual journey, helping you learn to live your full potential. You may notice that you are less stressed, more satisfied, and more sure of yourself after making these life changes and discovering your true purpose.
You can read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren here.
God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions (Living With Purpose)
In this book, Warren focuses on how the bible has answers to many of life’s difficult questions. He tells stories from scripture, bringing up the ways that these people faced similar problems to those that we are facing now.
By seeing how these biblical figures navigated their dilemmas, Warren gives us hope that we, too, can overcome our challenges. Through these stories, Warren offers realistic and inspiring solutions to many issues in life.
In this book, Warren gives insight into how you can respond better to tough situations, fight off loneliness, find encouragement, and overall change your life for good.
You can purchase God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions by Rick Warren here.
Created to Dream: The 6 Phases God Uses to Grow Your Faith
In this short but information-packed book, Warren goes through the six phases of faith. In the bible, many people make their God-given dreams come true, but only after experiencing these six phases. Warren’s goal in this novel is to help you understand those phases so that you can grow spiritually and make your dreams a reality, too.
Here are the six phases described:
God gives you a dream
You decide to chase that dream
There are delays that God allows before achieving your dream
You face difficulties along the way that help you grow
You hit dead ends that make the dream seem impossible
The dream is ultimately fulfilled in the end
Knowing and understanding these six phases is critical in changing your outlook and will help you approach situations in a more positive way.
Created to Dream by Rick Warren can be found here.
The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life
The Daniel Plan is a lifestyle that incorporates diet, fitness, friends, and faith and is meant to lead to a healthier life. Not only will this book encourage you to make healthy choices when it comes to food and fitness, but it will also inspire you to build a supportive community and to have a deeper relationship with God.
Topics that are covered in The Daniel Plan include discovering exercise that you actually like, fighting off cravings, finding healthy replacements for foods you enjoy, and overall living a healthier, more fulfilling, and more energetic life.
The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life by Rick Warren can be purchased here.
The Lord’s Prayer: Words of Hope and Happiness
In this book illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson, The Lord’s Prayer is brought to life. With amazing images that are vibrant and detailed, this book is perfect for children and adults alike.
The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission
Rick Warren was the pastor of one of the largest churches in the USA, and in this book, he gives a 5-part strategy that will help any church grow and flourish.
Each church has something that drives it. Whether that be money, tradition, personalities, programs, or anything else, every church is different. But Warren believes that for a church to be healthy, it should become a purpose driven church by Jesus.
In this book, he talks about what that means along with his 5 step plan, giving helpful and practical advice on building your church. Warren believes that building your relationship with the people is the most important, saying, “If you will concentrate on building people, God will build the church.”
The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren can be purchased here.
40 Days in the Word
Pastor Rick Warren has created six methods all about love, learning, and existing with God’s ideals. This is a 200-page study guide and bible study, but it’s not intimidating. Warren makes it easy to understand and learn while still helping you find a deeper meaning in the scriptures.
This book is meant to be studied alongside Warren’s 40 Days In The Word DVD, which includes teachings and prompts for the lessons. The first half of the book is a workbook, and the second half has information and guides that will help you continue to study the bible.
You can find 40 Days in the Word by Rick Warren here.
Everything is Possible With God
This is a six-session bible study that will help you understand and recognize the ways that God shapes you and helps build character. It is designed to be used with the Everything is Possible With God DVD, where Rick Warren provides video overviews of the topics.
This bible study ultimately asks the question, “How strong is your faith?”. Warren talks about how faith needs to be exercised to stay strong, and he brings up the pattern that God uses to test your faith. Warren calls this The Six Phases of Faith.
This study guide will help you understand and therefore participate in what God has planned for your life, and it includes many discussion starters and guides to learning.
You can purchase Everything is Possible With God by Rick Warren here.
The Purpose of Christmas
In this book, Rick Warren dives into the history of Christmas, why we celebrate, and what the purpose of it all is. Warren brings us back to the birth of baby Jesus, where it all began, and talks about what is really being celebrated on Christmas day.
Warren also talks about peace, inspiring readers to find what brings them peace as well as what drains it away. Warren teaches that believing that God is guiding you will help take away feelings of defeat when something is robbing you of peace. Instead, you will understand that it is all part of the plan, and God is guiding you along the way.
Find The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren here.
40 Days of Love
This is a six-session bible study that focuses on what you value most in life. It is meant to go with the 40 Days of Love DVDand it teaches that loving God should be one’s deepest desire.
In this bible study, Warren gives advice on how to fully and authentically love God, and therefore the people around you, as a way of life. He teaches about patience, kindness, forgiveness, and truth, ultimately showing that love is one of the most important life values there is.
God’s Great Love For You is a children’s book, but can be enjoyed by readers of any age. It features beautiful illustrations from Chris Saunders, bringing the text alive for a more immersive experience.
This book takes readers on a journey, teaching that God is with you wherever you go. As a child goes on a quest, they learn that God loves them greatly and will always love them. The text is written in simple terms so that it’s easy to understand, but it still provides great insight into a world of faith.
God’s Great Love For You by Rick Warren can be found here.
The Daniel Plan Cookbook: Healthy Eating for Life
You might’ve guessed that The Daniel Plan Cookbook goes with The Daniel Plan, and it has more than 100 recipes that will inspire you to not only eat healthier, but to actually enjoy it.
This cookbook focuses on delicious recipes that recreate classics like pancakes, pizza, and mac n cheese in a more healthy way. It also has other foods like chile verde chicken and Mongolian beef. Whatever the occasion, this cookbook has something delicious and healthy that will be a great fit.
This book also has tips, facts, and insight from the creators that will give you the tools you need to create your own healthy and balanced recipes.
You can purchase The Daniel Plan Cookbook by Rick Warren, Dr. Mark Hyman, and Dr. Daniel Amen here.
Planned For God’s Pleasure
Planned For God’s Pleasure takes the message from Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life and writes it in a way that inspires everyone to find meaning in our purpose on this earth.
This book teaches that God loves us because we are part of his family. It teaches that we all fail as humans, and that failing doesn’t mean we are bad. It’s a small book, perfect for a gift for anyone you see fit.
You can find Planned for God’s Pleasure by Rick Warren here.
FAQs
What church is Rick Warren a part of?
Rick Warren was at the Saddleback church for 42 years before he retired in 2021. Saddleback Church is an Evangelical Baptist church based in Lake Forest, California, but it has multiple locations. It is the largest church in California and one of the largest churches in the USA.
Why did Rick Warren retire?
Rick Warren states that he retired partly from his declining health. Warren has been suffering from an autoimmune disease that is supposed to go away eventually, but it causes him chronic muscle pain.
How much weight did Rick Warren lose on the Daniel Plan?
According to CNN, Rick Warren lost 60 lbs while he was on the Daniel Plan. He changed his diet to avoid carbonated drinks, dairy, and fast food and started eating what was allowed on the Daniel plan. Warren also worked out twice a day with help from his personal trainer, Tom Wilson.
Freya grew up in Portland Oregon and still resides there now. She has been reading for as long as she can remember, and loves that books allow you to escape into someone else’s reality for a little while. When she is not writing or reading she enjoys playing piano, baking, and going outside.
