Griggs Church Sermons Griggs Church

Psalm 1 is a unique psalm. It lacks a stated author or a corresponding event in its preface. Unlike other psalms, there are no commandments like "go and do this or that." It is simply a reflection of the author's observations.

What has the author observed? Possibly the entirety of the Psalms. Many scholars believe that Psalm 1 was written after most of the Psalms were collected and was intentionally placed first in the book.

It's as if someone meditated on the majority of the Psalms and, like an explorer who first enters a new land, returned to the border to set up a grand, glorious sign marking the territory, indicating what you will find as you explore further.

Psalm 1 serves as a grand, glorious gateway to the Psalms.

It's similar to driving into Disney World. If you ever visit Orlando, you will drive through an entrance to the Disney property where there is a giant Mickey and Minnie sign. Above them, it says, "The most magical place on earth."

We went to Florida a couple of months ago and didn't tell the kids where we were going. But as soon as we drove through the Disney entrance, they knew exactly where they were and what they would find. They screamed for joy, and my ears are still ringing.

As we drive through the gate of Psalm 1, we pass under a sign with a few observations that let us know where we are and what we will find as we enter the land of the Psalms. The observations are these:


It's a land of two options.
One of these options is good news.
These options don’t play out quite like you’d think, but their endings are certain.

That's what's on the sign, the gateway of Psalm 1. Although Psalm 1 doesn’t tell us to pick an option, it leaves us wondering which one we will choose. The essence of the Psalm is to choose wisely.

Many people have a favorite Psalm, including myself. Even more people have a favorite verse from a single Psalm. That’s great.

However, focusing in on a single Psalm, or a single line from a Psalm is great in the way having a sea shell is great. It’s beautiful, it’s special, you can make jewelry out of it and wear it wherever you go.

But when we behold the entire book of Psalms (The Psalter), understanding the reason these poems, songs, and prayers are ordered the way they are, and how the various sections of the Psalms work together — it’s like we have the whole ocean along with the entire shoreline.

We understand our favorite Psalms more richly when we see that it’s just one chapter of a book (The book of Psalms). And that book has a message. That message is the good news that God is with us when the waves are raging or when the sea is calm and tranquil.

Not only is he with us, he is bringing us through the waters. He turns disorientation into reorientation. He turns our burdens into blessings.

He does this through prayer and he does this through a king like David (JESUS!) who conquers the enemy and reigns with mercy and justice.

Titus 3:9-15

Titus 3:1-7

Titus 2:11-15

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Titus 2:1-10



We’re all trying to follow Jesus, but Lifestage plays a part in how we do this. So as a Father, I have to follow Jesus by correcting my children even when I dont feel like having a fight. As a teenager, following Jesus might be trying to care about school, even though you don’t…but that’s where God has you. Both mean following Jesus by mimicking his selflessness and endurance, but it plays out differently based on Lifestage. The point of the text we’re going through here is this:

The church is at its strongest when we’re all following Jesus according to the life stages that we’re individually in and when we help others do the same.

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