NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For Christians to fulfill the purpose of their lives, they must care about what God cares about most: that his lost children are found, Rick Warren said during a presentation based on his "Purpose Driven Life" book, Feb. 11 at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

Warren, pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., underscored the urgency for Christians to reach out "to the whole world for the global glory of God, and really, every single area in the world is now available to you."

Every Christian's main role is to bring pleasure to God, he said, and within that role, each is a member of God's family and charged to become like Christ.

Warren, whose church draws 16,000 worshippers each weekend, stressed the necessity of church membership.

"The Christian life is far more than just believing in something; it's belonging," Warren said. "And belonging to a church necessitates loving the church, which is called fellowship. … We're meant to practice now what we'll be doing for eternity, which includes fellowshipping with other believers."

God wants his people to be godly, Warren said, stressing that the Almighty is far more interested in Christians' character than their comfort. All problems have a purpose, "And if God is going to make you like Jesus, he's going to take you through the same problems Jesus endured."

Tough circumstances, he added, shaped Jesus' character just as they'll change Christians' character. "He didn't spare his own Son through those problems. Why would he spare you?"

To grow as a Christian, Warren said each person has to use his or her spiritual gifts and unique experiences to reach others.

"Who can better help the parents of a Down syndrome child than parents who have a Down syndrome child? Who can better help an alcoholic than someone who has been an alcoholic? Who can better help somebody who's going through the pain of a divorce than someone who went through a divorce?" Warren asked. "The very thing you resent most in life has the greatest potential for your ministry."

Christians who know their purpose will automatically want to fulfill the Great Commission, and anyone who knows and loves God must care about others the way Jesus does, Warren said.