Do you know where to find the longest chapter in Scripture? With 176 verses, it’s longer than some biblical books. The theme of the entire chapter is introduced in the very first verse: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!” As the ESV Study Bible introductory note says, this chapter celebrates the gift of God’s “covenant instruction” as “the perfect guide for life.” Perhaps you will recognize some of the better known verses...
Psalm 103 is a portion of Scripture every believer should know well. Why? It tells us of God’s character: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (v. 8, ESV). It assures us of God’s forgiveness: “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgression from us” (v. 12). It teaches us that God is like a daddy: “As a father has compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who...
When is the last time you read and reflected on the words of Psalm 100? Perhaps they are for you today. 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give...
In his ground-breaking book, The Purpose Driven Church (1995), Rick Warren recounts a study he made a few years ago of the 100 largest churches in the United States. He writes: “Although I discovered that large, growing churches differ widely in strategy, structure, and style, there were some common denominators. My study confirmed what I already knew . . . : Healthy, large churches are led by pastors who have been there a long time. I found dozens of examples. A long pastorate...
