Sermons & Devotionals by Hymn Stories

Author --Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226 English Translation --William H. Draper, 1855-1933 Music --From the Geistliche Kirchengesäng of 1623 Tune Name --"Lasst Uns Erfreuen" Scripture Reference --Psalm 145 "All Thy works shall praise Thee, 0 Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of t... Read More

Author --Edward Perronet, 1726-1792. Altered by John Rippon, 1751-1836 "Coronation" Tune --Oliver Holden, 1765-1844 "Miles Lane" Tune --William Shrubsole, 1760-1806 Scripture Reference --Revelation 19:12, 16 "Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: For Thou hast created all th... Read More

Text --Irish hymn, c. 8th century Translated by Mary E. Byrne, 1880-1931 Versified by Elanor H. Hull, 1860-1935 Music --Irish Melody Arrangement --Norman Johnson, 1928-1983 Tune Name --"Slane" "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18 "Vi... Read More

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. . . .Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." -Hebrews 10:22-23 The Scriptures teach that we can know with absolute certainty that we have the life of God within us (1 John 4:13). This... Read More

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." -Hebrews 10:25 "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." -John 4:24 The apostle Paul's favorite name for fellow ... Read More

Author --J. Edwin Orr, 1912- Music --Maori melody Arranger --Norman Johnson, 1928-1983 Tune Name --"Maori" Scripture Reference --Psalm 139:23, 24 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" -1 John 1:9 The author of this hymn t... Read More

Christian Henry Bateman, 1813-1889 "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." (Psalm 95:1) A New Testament church should always be a singing church, for sacred song is the natur... Read More

"I desire to do your will, 0 my God; your law is within my heart" Psalm 40:8 Into the heart, the will, the cross, the joy, the love of Jesus--deeper and deeper I go . . ." These beautifully worded fines with their soulful melody flowed from the heart of Oswald J. Smith after many difficult experienc... Read More

Text --From Munster Gesangbuch, 1677. 4th verse translated by Joseph A. Seiss, 1823-1904 Music --From Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842. Adapted by Richard S. Willis, 1819-1900 Tune Name --"Crusaders' Hymn" "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invis... Read More

Author --John Newton, 1725-1807 Composer --Franz Joseph Haydn, 1732-1809 Tune Name --"Austrian Hymn" Scripture Reference --Psalm 87:3 and Isaiah 33:20-21 "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the who... Read More

Author --John Newton, 1725-1807 Composer --Franz Joseph Haydn, 1732-1809 Tune Name --"Austrian Hymn" Scripture Reference --Psalm 87:3 and Isaiah 33:20-21 "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the who... Read More

Julia H. Johnston, 1849-1919 "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20,21) God's grace is not merely a sufficient grace; it is an ab... Read More

Author --Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934 Composer --George C. Stebbins, 1846-1945 Tune Name --"Adelaide" Scripture Reference - Jeremiah 18:3,4 "But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand." Isaiah 64:8 It really doesn't matter what y... Read More

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." - Psalm 23:2-3 Becoming a Christian is a thrilling experience--that time when one initially trusts in the redemptive work of Christ and becomes aware of a personal relationship with his Creator. Then ther... Read More

Author and Composer --Alfred H. Ackley, 1887-1960 "He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matthew 28:6 "Why should I worship a dead Jew?" This challenging question was posed by a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings ... Read More

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." -Matthew 10:19-31 "How can I be discouraged when my heavenly Fath... Read More

From the Te Deum, c. 4th century, Attributed to Ignace Franz, 1719-1790 English Translation by Clarence Walworth, 1820-1900 "In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your name forever." (Psalm 44:8) Much of the origin of this noble expression of praise and worship is lost in obscuri... Read More

Author --Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836-1879 Composer --Ethelbert W. Bullinger, 1837-1913 Tune Name --"Bullinger" "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7 "I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus--Trusting only Thee." This is another of the child-like, but beau... Read More

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" -1 John 5:13 There is much about the spiritual life we do not fully understand, but we can still live with certainty and triumphant faith. The apostle Paul understood when he excla... Read More

An American Folk Hymn taken from Ingall's Christian Harmony, 1805 "O love the Lord, all ye saints." (Psalm 31:23) "Blest be Thy love, dear Lord, that taught us this sweet way, Only to love Thee for Thyself, and for that love obey." --J. Austin Secular songs of romantic expressions abound on this day... Read More