Psalm 119 is the longest psalm of the 150 Psalms. If considered chapters, Psalm 119 would be the longest chapter of the Bible – in both verses and words. It is longer than several books of the Bible. The psalm contains 176 verses that are divided into 22 stanzas. Each stanza is eight verses long. These sections are arranged into an acrostic poem using every letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In most Bible translations, you will find the word or symbol for Aleph above verse 1. Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Aleph begins each word that begins a line in verses 1-8. The pattern continues with Beth in verses 9-16, Gimel in verses...

Matthew 4:23 reports: “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” In almost identical language, Matthew 9:35 reports: “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.” Matthew records various episodes of Jesus teaching, preaching, and healing between these two progress reports. Jesus had compassion for hurting, harassed, and helpless people. Verses 37-38 record his response: “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out...

High-profile churches garner much attention. That can be a good thing. Model congregations should be spotlighted to challenge and encourage others. But it is not a good thing to highlight unhealthy churches. Some prominent preachers and churches should be ignored at best and censured at worst. Instead, they are endorsed, promoted, and celebrated as they defy God’s word in Christ’s name. We live in a reality TV culture where people are famous for being famous. The same is true of some churches. What is a church worth talking about? 2 Corinthians 8:1 answers: “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.” Then, Paul testifies to the generosity of the Macedonian churches. Generosity...

John 19:28 reports two details about Jesus' dying moments. The verse tells us what Jesus knew: “Jesus, knowing that all was now finished.” Many die with so much they don’t know.  You may not know why you were born.  You may not know the reason for your death.   You may not know what happens when you die.  Not so with Jesus! Jesus was a man on a mission. He was born to die. His death was the completion of a redemptive plan, not the conclusion of a human life. As Jesus drew his final breaths, he knew his mission had been accomplished. John 19:28 also tells us what Jesus said: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said...

 It was the Passover, the annual celebration of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. It was the Last Supper Jesus would have with his disciples before his death on the cross. During dinner, Jesus announced, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The sorrowful disciples asked, “Is it I, Lord.” In Matthew 26:23-24, Jesus answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”  Jesus demonstrates...

I love the church! This is not the party line I am paid to repeat because I’m a pastor. With deep conviction and unwavering confidence, I believe the church is the hope of the world! And I am not merely talking about the idealized universal church, made up of all true believers in all places at all times. I am talking about the local church, warts and all.  The church matters to me. And the church should matter to you! Why does the church matter?  Jesus builds the church. The first statement about the church in the Bible is from the...

Will it last? That is the most crucial question of any building project. While there are other factors to consider, nothing matters more than whether that building will stand the test of time. The same principle applies to the church. The size of a church may impress people.  The gifts of a church may attract people.  The work of a church may benefit people.  That will not matter in the end. What is done for Christ and the church only has legitimate value if it has lasting value.  You may build great cathedrals large or small, You may build skyscrapers grand and tall, You may conquer all the failures of your past, But only what you do for Christ will last. Will it last? That...

Is it right for Christians to sue one another? We live in a litigious society. If we suffer an actual or perceived wrong, we may not take matters into our own hands, but we will take you to court. Whether the opposing party is a fellow Christian is irrelevant. We feel we should not allow someone to take advantage of us if we can do something about it. To ask if it is right is a strange question to us. But just because a thing is legal does not mean it is moral. And it does not mean it is the Christian thing to do.  1 Corinthians 6 addresses the ethical dilemma of Christians suing one another. The disputes were civil, not criminal. No...

Matthew 16:13-20 predicts the sovereign construction of the not-yet church: “I will build my church.”Ephesians 4:11-16 explains how the church is built up in Christ.  Ephesians 4:1-3 exhorts the church to walk in unity: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the body of peace.” Verses 4-6 states the grounds of unity: “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to...

A disgruntled reader wrote the editor of his local newspaper, arguing that the paper was not what it used to be. The editor replied, “It never was.”   The same can be said about the church. In a real sense, the church at its birth was the church at its best. But we should not look back wistfully for some non-existent “golden age” of the church. The church has never been perfect. It will not be perfect until the Lord presents it to himself without spot or blemish. Until then, the church is in the process of becoming. We are reformed and being reformed. The Lord is building his church. But we must work together through our growing...

In the late 1800s, a small church in Mayfield County, Kentucky, had two deacons who hated each other. One Sunday, one of those deacons nailed a small wooden peg to the back wall for the pastor to hang his hat. When the other deacon saw the peg, he was outraged that he had not been consulted. An argument ensued, and the members took sides. The church split was called the Anti-Peg Baptist Church.  Some things we laugh at because they’re funny.  Some things we laugh at because they’re true.  Some things we laugh at to keep from crying.  Churches fight, split, and die because of congregational conflict. There are...

Acts 2 records the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost. As the disciples prayed in the Upper Room, the sound of hurricane-force winds swept through Jerusalem. Investigating the sound, the crowd found the disciples praising God in languages they had not learned.  The crowd dismissed the disciples as drunk. Then Peter arose and addressed the crowd. The disciples were not drunk but filled with the Holy Spirit. He proclaimed that Jesus – whom they crucified but God raised from the dead – was the Messiah. Cut to the heart, the people repented of their sins and trusted Christ for salvation. Acts 2:41 says, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:42-47 picks up the story. It is a summary of...