THE GOSPEL IN HYMNS | Frank Becker

Week Eight, 2024

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves and make music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ( Ephesians 5:19-21).

I love to sing hymns, but they have faded away in many churches today. Hymnals have disappeared from the pew racks and music has been replaced by “contemporary” gospel music. I like some of that too, though sometimes repetitious. I heard that when someone asked what another did for a living, he said: “I write Christian music. I write Christian music. I write Christian music.”

My bride and I both attended separate churches, but neither church was exactly evangelical. We never heard the Gospel from the pulpit. When we got married, we decided to join an evangelical church where we heard about salvation and the Gospel. Years later, she figured out that in our former churches, we heard the Gospel in song. That’s what hymns are ….. songs about the Gospel.

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured – There where the blood of the Lamb was shed. “Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin..grace that will pardon and cleanse within.”

Think of the top hymns… Be Thou my Vision… Abide with Me… Love Divine… Eternal Father, Strong to Save… How Great Thou Art… Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.

Recently, we were having a Christmas hymn sing in our home and when I heard “Born to give us second birth”, I thought that’s the Gospel message of Christmas.

Originally modelled on the Book of Psalms and other poetic passages (commonly referred to as “canticles”) in the Scriptures, Christian hymns are generally directed as praise to the Christian God. Many refer to Jesus Christ either directly or indirectly.

What is the most popular hymn of all time? “Amazing Grace” has been recorded thousands of times. it was written by poet and pastor John Newton in 1772. Newton’s biographer, Jonathan Aitken, estimates that “Amazing Grace” is performed 10 million times worldwide every year.

Hymns are songs of praise. The term ‘hymn’ originates from the Greek word ‘hymnos,’ which means ‘songs of praise’. Isaac Watts (born July 17, 1674) is regarded as the father of English hymnody. Christian hymnody derives from the singing of psalms in the Hebrew Temple. Gospel music in hymns can be traced to the early 17th century.

I don’t know about you, but I think I am going to start a campaign to bring the hymns back, because churches with them are losing a very sacred kind of worship.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

One of the best summary comments on 2023 I have seen is how the world has turned upside down because now old folks are sneaking out of the house and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors! What a total reversal of life!

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Abortion Was the Leading Cause of Death Worldwide in 2023, Killing 73 Million People

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Words of wisdom from Edgar Aponte:

• Christ’s grace extends to us even when we are neither expecting nor asking for it.

• There is a cost to follow Jesus, but the cost to not follow Him is infinitely more.

• Jesus is not like a used car salesman trying to trick you to buy anything.

• Discipleship is living a life with Jesus.

• There is a cost to follow Jesus but there is also an urgency.

• Jesus paid an incredible cost for our redemption. Be prepared to pay a cost for being His disciple.

• A call to follow Jesus is a call to count the cost and to commit to Him completely. Follow Him now.

• Conditional acceptance is a complete rejection and delayed obedience is disobedience. Follow Him today.

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“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:15).

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 AM for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access. Tim Keller

The Lord expects and invites us to ask of Him without reservation and at all times. Pray! Edgar Aponte

When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do. A. C. Dixon

Love others the way God loves you and the way you want others to love you. Edgar Aponte

Write down the name of a friend who you greatly admire. Now write down one thing you admire most about your friend. Almost 100% of the time 100% of the people write down a quality that has to do with attitude.

How many lives have been shattered— all because of the tongue? Dan Shock

The word heaven appears 549 times in the Bible. It must be important.

Can you think of a moment when someone’s words drastically impacted your life? Maybe this moment came from a parent, a teacher, or mentor. Maybe it came from a doctor, a coach, or a friend. For better or worse, words can have a huge impact on the way we live our lives. They can make or break someone’s day. Our words have so much power and influence, much more than we often give them credit for. How you choose to use this super-power can make the biggest difference in someone else’s world.

Beware lest you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. Deuteronomy 8:17

Halfway obedience is disobedience, and it brings tragic consequences. Dan Shock

We are not our best intentions. We are what we do.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Corrie ten Boon

We often put ourselves in some pretty miserable positions because we move ahead without seeking God. Dan Shock

We all still do stupid things. And we think we can hide from God and not suffer the consequences. But God is omnipresent and sees us and will shout that He knows where we are. That shout will come by any means He sees fit to get our attention. We will be held accountable. Rich Jensen

Lasting satisfaction is not found in pursuing pleasure, obtaining possessions, or amassing wealth. Those things within themselves will leave us empty, unfulfilled, and feeling futile. So, learn to enjoy the blessing of today. Preacherman

Write it on your heart that this day is the best day of year. Because it’s the only day you have. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Most of us look at our days in the wrong way: We exaggerate yesterday. We overestimate tomorrow. We underestimate today. The truth is that the most important day you will ever experience is today. Today is the key to your success. John Maxwell

When you don’t understand God, you should still trust him. Jim Denison

Suffering is at the very heart of the Christian faith. It is not the only way Christ became like us and redeemed us, but it is one of the main ways we become like him and experience his redemption. And that means that our suffering, despite its painfulness, is also filled with purpose and usefulness. Timothy Keller

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