The Bible is the most quoted book in the world. Why? Maybe it’s because the Bible has been around so long. Or maybe it’s because the Bible is so big. But most likely it’s because the Bible contains wisdom that has touched the lives of so many people throughout the ages and throughout the world. Join me in this series on the top 20 passages from the Bible and why people turn to them again and again. The series started on November 7th, 2010.

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Introduction to the Top 20: In the weeks ahead, I’d like to explore each of these top 20 passages with you, as well, starting with number 20--the Christmas story from Luke chapter 1--and working our way to number 1, which just might surprise you!
Number 20: The Christmas Story: We’re looking at the Top 20 passages in the Bible--those chapters that people turn to again and again for God’s wisdom--and we’re starting today with number 20, the beginning of the Christmas story from Luke chapter 1 (it continues in chapter 2).
Number 19: Making The Best Use Of The Time: How do you make the best use of the time God has given you here on earth? That’s what we’re going to learn today as we look at Ephesians chapter 5--the 19th highest ranking passage of the Top 20 passages in the Bible.
Number 18: God's Love For You: One of the most difficult things to do in the world is to grasp God’s love for you. Whether it’s because of difficult circumstances you’re facing, or sin in your life whether in the past or in the present, or something that someone has done to you, or a poor example of what a loving Father looks like, or a hundred other reasons, it can be incredibly hard to get a handle on God’s unlimited love for you.
Number 17: The Gospel In A Nutshell: If you were to look at a list of the top 100 verses in the Bible, you’d find that a verse from John chapter 3 is at the very top. It’s the most quoted verse that Jesus ever spoke, and it’s the most quoted verse in the Bible...
Number 16: The Power Of God For Salvation: If I had to choose one passage from the Bible that God has used most to change my life, it would be Romans chapter 1. It’s not my favorite passage in the Bible, because Romans 1 is not particularly cheery or uplifting. In fact, it contains some of the worst news I had ever heard in my life!
Number 15: Walking In A Manner Worthy Of Your Calling: One of the benefits of reading the Bible is that it acts as a counselor of sorts, giving you advice on how to handle the situations you face in life. In fact, the Holy Spirit is often called the Counselor, and He does some of His best counseling work as you read through the pages of the Bible.
Number 14: God Knows You: If you've ever wondered if God knows what you're going through--if He can see into your heart and know what you're thinking and feeling and experiencing in your life, then you'll want to read Psalm 139.
Number 13: Like A Tree Planted By Water: Several years ago I was praying about what I could do with my life for God. I wanted to serve Him in some great way, and was willing to go or do whatever He had in mind. One day a friend of mine was praying for me. As he prayed, he said he saw me as if I were a tree, not necessarily going or doing anything, but standing still and growing tall. And as I grew, people would come and rest under the shade of my branches.
Number 12: Don't Be Anxious: If you’re feeling anxious or worried about anything today, Philippians 4 is a good place to look for help. I like this passage because the Apostle Paul, who wrote these truths of God, doesn’t just tell you not to be anxious, he tells you why you don’t need to be anxious; he doesn’t just tell you not to dwell on your problems, but he tells you what to dwell on instead.
Number 11: A Living Sacrifice: What are some things that you feel passionate about? Some things that you like to do that bring joy to you--and joy to those around you? Chances are, you may have been gifted by God to do those very things. And when you do them, you bring joy to Him as well.
Number 10: The Reality of Heaven: I’d like to share a conversation I had with a man on a small plane in the Philippines. My wife and I were on a missions trip, flying between two of the islands, and an elderly man was seated next to us. His wife, unfortunately, had recently passed away.
Number 9: Need Wisdom? Ask God!: When people write to me asking for prayer about what to do in their situations, I often include a quote from James chapter 1 in my reply. That’s because James states clearly and emphatically that God loves to pour out His wisdom on those who ask for it.
Number 8: Will God Really Reward You?: I got a letter in the mail one day from Isaac Asimov, the famous science fiction writer. It wasn’t a personal letter, but rather a fund raising letter he had written for an atheistic organization. The letter began by saying: “You’ll get your reward in heaven!” Asimov then followed up that quote with his own words: “We’ve all heard that empty promise before.” But Jesus said something completely different.
Number 7: Where Should I Start?: If someone were to ask you where they should start reading the Bible, if they had never read it before, what would you tell them? For many people, their answer would be to start with the book of John--and for good reason.
Number 6: The Best Sermon Ever: I’ve just been reading what is perhaps the best sermon ever. It was delivered by Jesus to a crowd of thousands on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee. It’s often called “The Sermon on the Mount,” and it spans three chapters in the book of Matthew, starting in chapter 5.
Number 5: God's Protection: There’s a difference between “believing in God” and “believing God.” You can believe in God yet still keep Him at a distance. But when you believe God--when you take Him at His Word and put what He says into practice in your life--you enter into a relationship with Him, a relationship that is up close and personal; a relationship where every step you take is wise and purposeful because you’re keeping in step with Him.
Number 4: God Works For Your Good: God is for you. He loves you. And He can work all things together for good, when you love Him and are called according to His purpose. These concepts are found throughout the Bible. But they’re also stated--clearly and succinctly--in Romans chapter 8.
Number 3: From Cover To Cover: This is a true story: A young preacher once invited an older preacher to his church to share a sermon with his congregation. The sermon was powerful and many people were touched deeply by the message. Afterwards, the younger preacher asked the older preacher the secret of his success.
Number 2: Savoring Every Word: Last week I talked about the value of reading the entire Bible from cover to cover. This week I’d like to focus on another approach to reading the Bible: savoring every word. For the goal of reading the Bible is not just to get through it all, but to get it all through you!
Number 1: The Love Test: There’s a philosophy in ethics called “enlightened self-interest.” It’s the intriguing idea that many of the “good deeds” that we do are not motivated entirely for the benefit of others, but that many of those good deeds somehow serve our own self-interests as well.
Conclusion: Don't Forget--Jesus Is STILL Alive!: If you’ll remember back to when we started our look at “The Top 20 Passages in the Bible,” we were looking at a passage that described what happened on the very first Christmas: the birth of Christ. Today, as we conclude this study, I’d like to focus on what happened on the very first Easter morning: the resurrection of Christ.
The Royal Wedding Sermon: I was touched by the sermon that the Bishop of London gave at the Royal Wedding this weekend, and thought you might like to read the text of it today. I'll share three things I liked about his message here, then you can read the full text of his message below.
Your Prayers Matter: Do you ever wonder if your prayers make a difference? If when you pray, your prayers ever make it any farther than the sound of your voice, or beyond the ceiling of your room? I want to assure you today that your prayers matter. That when you pray, your prayers ripple throughout eternity, causing a shift in events and lives--even beyond your own lifetime.
5 Tips for Sharing Your Faith on the Internet: Today we’re celebrating, “Internet Evangelism Day,” which is simply a day to remind you to use this great tool known as the Internet to share your faith with others. The Internet was made specifically for delivering messages, and we as Christians have one of the greatest messages to deliver...our hope and faith in Jesus Christ!
My Prayer Closet: It’s not easy to find a quiet place in our house with all of our kids. But I’m always encouraged when I think of Susanna Wesley who had 19 children. When she needed time with God she would sit in a chair and throw her apron over her head. Her children knew not to disturb her during her prayer time.