Sermons & Devotionals by Amazing Hymn Stories

What would you like for a Christmas present? T To any young girl such a question would evoke delighted visions of long-wished-for possessions. But to Dolly the answer to her father, John Byron, was, “Please write me a poem.” And so, on Christmas morning in 1749, Dolly found on her plate at breakfast... Read More

He was a professor in the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary where he taught courses in the history of missions to career missionaries. James Edwin Orr was born in 1912. His education includes earned doctorates from universities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, including the... Read More

Turning to the young Robert Robinson, the bleary-eyed gipsy fortune-teller pointed a quivering finger and said, “And you, young man, you will live to see your children and your grandchildren.” Robert Robinson suddenly paled and said, “You’re right. She’s too drunk to know what she’s saying. Leave he... Read More

Thomas Moore, who wrote the beautiful hymn was one of the strangest of all men to write hymns. He was an Irishman, a Roman Catholic, born in Dublin, May 28, 1779. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he studied law in London, but his poetical success decided him to make literature his life-work. Thi... Read More

This is one of our most popular opening hymns, yet little is known of its background. The song appeared anonymously in London, England, about 1757 to commemorate Trinity Sunday. About fifteen years earlier the British national hymn, “God Save Our Gracious King,” first came into general use. Both of ... Read More

One of the finest of harvest hymns is that written by Dean Alford, “Come, ye thankful people, come.” When Alford was sixteen years old, he wrote these noble words upon the fly-leaf of his Bible: “I do this day, in the presence of God and my own soul, renew my covenant with God, and solemnly determin... Read More

This beautiful hymn was written by one of the prolific gospel song writers of the past century, a Methodist lay preacher named Johnson Oatman. In addition to his preaching and the writing of more than 5,000 hymn texts, Oatman was also a successful business man, engaged in a shipping business and in ... Read More

This worshipful text is the combined effort of two distinguished Anglican clergymen, each of whom desired to write a hymn of exaltation to our suffering but now victorious Lord. Matthew Bridges' version first appeared in 1851 with six stanzas. Twenty-three years later Godfrey Thring wrote six additi... Read More

The waves of revival that swept the Scandinavian countries during the latter half of the nineteenth century were greatly influenced by the wealth of fine hymns which flowed from the pen of Lina Sandell. Born on October 3, 1832, in Sweden, Lina was a daughter of a pastor. When she was twenty-six year... Read More

Frank E. Graeff was a minister in the Methodist denomination and served some of its leading churches, in the Philadelphia Conference. Throughout the district, he was known as the sunshine minister. In spite of his outwardly-cheery disposition and winsome personality, Graeff was often called upon to ... Read More

Nearly every English­ speaking Protestant congregation unites at least once each Sunday in this noble overture of praise. It has been said that the Doxology has done more to teach the doctrine of the Trinity than all the theology books ever written. The author of this text was a bold, outspoken 17th... Read More

“Mother, that is a beautiful song. Let’s write to America and get a copy.” Those were the words of a young lad in the Philippine Islands in 1962 as he listened with his mother to the Lutheran Gospel Hour. His mother had recently become a Christian and was being ridiculed for her newfound faith in Ch... Read More

A pastor, his wife, and Grant Tullar had made their last call on the sick one afternoon in 1898. They hurried to their home, wanting to have a bit of supper together before going to an evangelistic meetings. Tullar was assisting in those revival services. In their hurry to get supper on the table, s... Read More

Little is known of the origin of this cherished hymn. Associated with it are several popular legends which cannot always be substantiated by research. One of the best-known accounts is that it was called the Crusaders’ Hymn. Some think that it was sung by the twelfth century German Crusaders, especi... Read More

The history of the Christian faith is a rich heritage of countless people whose faith in God was considered more dear than life itself. The three stanzas found in our hymnals are very usable for evangelical worship. These can be reinterpreted to challenge our commitment, and loyalty to the gospel th... Read More

Bill and Gloria Gaither are faithful members of a local church in Alexandria, Indiana, and the church body is very dear to them. A young family in their congregation, Ron and Darlene Garner and their three children, inspired the writing of the Gaithers’ song The Family of God. As Gloria tells it: It... Read More

This stirring hymn was written by John Samuel Bewley Monsell, LL. D., who was born at St. Coumb’s, Londonderry, Ireland, March 2, 1811. He died on April 9, 1875, at Guildford, England, where he fell from the roof of his church, which was being rebuilt All of Dr. Monsell’s hymns are full of beauty an... Read More

Life was never to be a bed of roses for Richard Blanchard. A severe lung problem developed, and Blanchard was left with one-third of his lung capacity. But a diminished physical well-being did not stop young Blanchard. In 1953, he became the pastor of a church in Coral Gables, Florida, and one day, ... Read More

This beautiful summer hymn, full of the spirit of field and forest, was written by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, about whose life we can learn little. He was born in Bath, England, October 7, 1835, and obtained his education at Queen’s College in Cambridge University, graduating with classical honors... Read More

“Write something for us to sing at the service tomorrow morning,” Dr. Shepley, vicar of Wrexham, said to his son-in-law, Reginald Heber, in 1819. Dr. Shepley was to preach next day in behalf of foreign missions, and he was chatting over the subject of his discourse with a few friends. Heber, already... Read More