Category Archives: Hymn Study

The Cost of Discipleship and “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” (#191)

In the Gospels, we don’t often read of Jesus calling on people to “believe” in Him or to “receive” Him.  What we do find, however, is Jesus regularly calling on people to “follow” Him.  This means that being a Christian … Continue reading

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Creation’s Beauties and “This Is My Fathers World” (#190)

One of the wonderful topical sections in all hymnals has to do with creation.  Psalm 19 calls us to rejoice that “the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament (the skies) shows His handiwork.”  If we will open … Continue reading

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Jesus’ Love and “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” (#189)

The theme of God’s love is one of the most prominent and beautiful in all of scripture.  There is not an event, a person, a book, or a page in which we cannot see His love revealed and chronicled.  Countless … Continue reading

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The Magi and “Wise Men, They Came to Look for Wisdom” (#188)

Matthew’s account of the arrival of the Magi is intriguing in many ways.  For some, it has almost become part of the “once upon a time” character of the nativity story.  But these were real historical figures whom we are … Continue reading

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The Magi at Epiphany and “Saw You Never in the Twilight” (#187)

Most non-liturgical “free churches” do not observe Epiphany, though they do observe the Christmas and Easter seasons.  But it is a day worth recognizing, since it marks a wonderful historical event in the Gospel record, the first manifestation (from the … Continue reading

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Welcoming a New Year and “A Few More Years Shall Roll” (#186)

One of the pleasant memories many of us share of New Year’s Eve is a watchnight service at church.  We would gather for a covered dish dinner in the fellowship hall after the sun had set.  Then after dinner we … Continue reading

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A New Year’s Prayer and “I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow” (#185)

When we come to the New Year observation, we naturally look back and also look forward as Christians.  Paul did this (though from prison, not a New Years!) when he wrote in Philippians 3:13-14, “But one thing I do: forgetting what … Continue reading

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The Sussex Carol, “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing” (#184)

What would Christmas be like if we weren’t singing carols?  Apparently the origin of this kind of folk song at this time of year is found back in medieval Europe in pagan songs sung at the winter solstice celebration, as … Continue reading

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The Manger Where “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” (#183)

Artists and movie makers and greeting card makers have created many pictures of Mary and Joseph with the baby.  These scenes are beautiful and sentimental, and powerful in the way they have stuck in our minds.  In contrast to those … Continue reading

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Gloria in Excelsis Deo and “Angels We Have Heard on High” (#182)

Isn’t it interesting that many of our Christmas carols have something to say about angels?  We sing of them directly in “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” and also in “Angels We Have Heard on … Continue reading

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