Sermons & Devotionals by Amazing Hymn Stories

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, Germany. That date was sometimes called the “4th of July of Protestantism.” It symbolized the start of the Protestant Reformation. And the single most powerful hymn of the Protestant Reformat... Read More

This beloved hymn of comfort and trust was written by a pastor who was sickly and unwell most of the time. Henry F. Lyte pastored a seashore church in England, among the rough sailors and uncultured villagers. And this made outsiders often wonder. But they loved him and he loved the work. However, h... Read More

Isaac Watts was born July 17, 1674, at Southampton, England. He was born into the home of “non-Conformists” in the days when Dissenters and Independents were persecuted by the Church of England. Fortunately this intolerance lasted only a short while after his birth. His father, twice jailed during t... Read More

From the grateful heart of a devoted Italian monk in the year of 1225 came this beautiful message. As a great lover of nature, Saint Francis of Assisi saw the hand of God in all creation. He demonstrated through his own life all the tender, humble, forgiving spirit and absolute trust in God that his... Read More

Rev. E. P. Scott was a missionary to India. One day he saw on the street a man of so strange an appearance that he inquired about him, and learned that he belonged to a wild mountain tribe among whom Christ had never been preached. Mr. Scott prayed over the matter, and decided to visit that tribe. A... Read More

This beloved hymn came from the grateful heart of Fanny Crosby after she had received a direct answer to her prayer. One day when she desperately needed five dollars and had no idea where she could obtain it, Fanny followed her usual custom and began to pray about the matter. A few minutes later a s... Read More

The hymn, “Almost Persuaded,” was suggested to P. P. Bliss after hearing a sermon by Mr. Brundage, who, as he finished his discourse, said, “He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost.” In the Scripture, King Agrippa said to apostle Paul: ‘Almost thou p... Read More

Isaac Watts, who wrote this hymn, was the father of hymn-writing in the English language. He was born in England. His father was not a member of the state church, and was twice thrown into jail for opposing it, so that when he was a baby his mother often carried him in her arms to visit his father i... Read More

On one occasion John Vassar, the great soul winner, was going from house to house distributing tracts and talking with people about their souls. One woman who heard about this strange man and what he was doing said: If he comes to my house, he will get the door slammed in his face. Without knowing t... Read More

It was the early summer of 1893. The Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America, was in full swing. A group of teachers and professors from Wellesley College , stopped off in Chicago enroute to Colorado. Among them was thirty-four-year-o... Read More

Not many hymns begin with a question as does this one. However, it is not an expression of doubt but of wonder and awe. · How can it be that the shedding of Jesus’ blood 1900 years ago is relevant to me today? · How was it possible for the Song of God to have died for me? · Why should our Lord empty... Read More

This hymn was written by John Mason Neale. In 1840 Neale became a minister of the Church of England. He was a man of mystical temperament, and his practices were so close to Roman Catholicism that he aroused much popular prejudice. At one time he was attacked by a mob as he was attending the funeral... Read More

This ancient 8th century hymn text from Ireland is still meaningful for us today with its expression of a yearning for the presence and leading of God in our lives. The earnest prayer is enhanced by such quaint but tender phrases as “Lord of my heart, Thy presence my light, and heart of my heart.” T... Read More

In the late 1960s, while expecting their third child, Bill and Gloria Gaither were going through a rather traumatic time in their lives. Bill was recovering his strength from a bout with mononucleosis. They, along with thseir church, were the objects of accusation and belittlement. Gloria was experi... Read More

Blessed Assurance was composed by Mrs. Joseph Knapp, an amateur musician. She was the wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and a close personal friend of Fanny Crosby. One day Mrs. Knapp played a melody for the blind poetess, and asked: “What does this tune say?” Fanny res... Read More

At the age of 16, John Fawcett and his new bride Mary, began their ministry at an impoverished Baptist church in Wainsgate. After seven years of devoted service in meager circumstances, they received a call to the large and influential Carter’s Lane Baptist Church in London. They decided to move. Af... Read More

Miss Mary Artemisia Lathbury, the author of this beautiful hymn, was born in Manchester, N.Y., August 10, 1841, the daughter of a Methodist minister. She was a woman of great beauty of character, and every one loved her that came to know her. Her expressive face and gentle, modest bearing had a pecu... Read More

Harriett Buell wrote the words for A Child of the King one Sunday morning while walking home from her Methodist church service. She sent her text to the Northern Christian Advocate, and it was printed in the February 1, 1877 issue. Romans 8:16-17 … we are the children of God: And if children, then h... Read More

The whole system of Christianity rests upon the truth that Jesus Christ rose from the grave. This resurrection hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” has been one of the church's most popular Easter hymns. It was first written by Charles Wesley one year after his heart-warming experience at the Alder... Read More

During the Easter season of 1874, while having his devotions one evening, Robert Lowry was impressed with the events associated with Christ's resurrection, especially with these words recorded in Luke 24:6, 7—He is not here, but is risen. Soon Robert Lowry found himself seated at the little pump org... Read More