Posted June 12th, 2008
The gospel, the good news of Jesus’ death for our sins and new life in Him, is sometimes regarded as a message that only unbelievers need to hear. When we preach about Jesus’ death for sinners only at “outreach” or “evangelistic” events or when we think to ourselves “I’ve heard this a hundred times… can’t we move on?” we demonstrate this kind of thinking. We tend to act as if Jesus’ death only has relevance in getting us in the doorway of the Christian faith. But scripture paints a much bigger picture than this. The gospel’s relevance stems from its inception in eternity past when God devised a plan to redeem people from the sin they would plunge themselves headlong into. The first verse of this song explores the themes of God’s sovereign plan of salvation and the death and resurrection of Jesus. The second verse remembers how the gospel arrived into our lives at conversion and goes on to remind us that even now we stand forgiven before God and do not need to get on God’s “good side” or get out from being on God’s “bad side.” Lastly, we rejoice in the fact that the gospel affords us our only true hope and comfort in death and will be the subject of our songs of worship for eternity as we sing the praises of the Lamb who was slain for our sin. May God’s glorious gospel of grace be sung and cherished in our lives and in our churches!
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Posted June 10th, 2008
O weary saint is a song written particularly for those facing despair at the prospect of their own death or upon the death of a loved one. We are convinced that death is one topic that Christians don’t sing enough about; not what lies beyond death – the glories of heaven – but death itself. Even though Christians have the assurance that death has been conquered and its sting removed (1 Corinthians 15:54-57), we still face physical death and the fears and sorrows that accompany it. This song allows us to confront our grief but offers the encouragement of how Christ can transform it into hope so that we do “not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Notice that the song is written in a chiastic structure – the second verse is the crux through which the gloom and despair of the first verse are transformed into faith and hope of future promises. O believer, since you are in Christ you will rise again one day in soul and body to everlasting joy!
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Posted June 9th, 2008
A Christian is one who loves Jesus (John 8:42). Even though the Bible defines love in terms of obedience and character in such places as John 14:23 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, love must also contain affection. It is far too easy to make the Christian life about growing in knowledge and performance rather than growing in affection for and adoration and worship of our precious Lord Jesus. Consider Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” When a person finds the kingdom of God manifested in the person of Jesus, he will recognize it as so supremely valuable that he is willing to trade everything in His life of any worth to obtain it. There is a preciousness, an unfathomable worth to Jesus that drives the believer to cherish Him and long to be with Him. Perhaps this was one of the verses that motivated Johann Franck to write this hymn in the 17th century. May this arrangement and the chorus written in response to the original lyrics help us keep our love for Jesus warm as we express to Him how worthy He is of all of our affection!
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Posted May 27th, 2008
Precious Bible! what a treasure
Does the Word of God afford!
All I want for life or pleasure,
Food and tonic, shield and sword;/Food and med’cine, shield and sword:
Let the world account me poor-
Having this I need no more.
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Posted May 23rd, 2008
This song is intended to be used as a congregational plea for the Holy Spirit to bring His divine light to three areas: our personal spiritual growth, our ministry to the poor and needy, and our evangelism and missions work. Too often songs calling for the Spirit’s presence and power stop at the first area, our personal affections and holiness. While that is certainly an important work of the Spirit, without which we would be left to our own cold-heartedness and indifference to spiritual things, the Spirit must also empower our outreach as well. Acts 1:8 says “you [disciples] will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” We see that the purpose of the Spirit’s power in this instance was given in order to send them out to the mission field and make their gospel labors effective. May the church today cry out for the Spirit’s presence and power to animate and enliven every aspect of her ministry!
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Posted May 20th, 2008
This hymn by one of the greatest hymn writers of all time is a moving invitation for all to behold the work of Jesus on the cross and embrace His death in personal faith and repentance. He reminds us that Jesus bore our sorrows and suffered the penalty for our sins, not his. What’s more, as He died He prayed that we might be pardoned through His blood so that, in effect, we can “hear the blood speak that has answered for me.” May all who hear these glorious truths embrace God’s grace revealed to us through His Son’s death and resurrection!
The music for this text was written for a traditional hymn competition and won an honorable mention. The tune is named MAGISTER (which means teacher in Latin) because of the impact Wesley’s hymns have had on David’s songwriting.
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Posted May 20th, 2008
This short hymn is an adaptation of the Lord’s Prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13.
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Posted May 20th, 2008
A hymn for worship in our homes
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Posted May 20th, 2008
Verses 1, 2, & 4 Joseph Hart; Verse 3 David L. Ward
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Posted May 20th, 2008
Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls me near,
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer.
That rich, atoning blood,
Which sprinkled 'round I see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all-prevailing plea.
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