May 22, 2022
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1 Peter 1:13-21
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hymns
The lyrics to this hymn were written by Elvina M. Hall (1820-1899). On a Sunday in 1865, while sitting in the choir loft, Elvina’s mind wandered during the pastor’s rather lengthy prayer. She begin to think of our need for salvation and the price Jesus paid for it. Words began to form themselves. She had to get them down. But she had no paper., so she started scribbling on the blank flyleaf of her hymnbook, writing, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”
In the apostle Peter’s first letter, he challenged believers to live in such a way that always remembered the precious blood of Jesus that paid for their sins. We can live in such a way remembering that Jesus paid for our sin.
May 19, 2022
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Isaiah 6:1-8
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holy, hymns
The lyrics to this hymn were written by British pastor and poet, Reginald Weber. Weber was born in Cheshire, England, in 1783. He was a “preacher’s kid,” and later succeeded his father in the church his father once pastored. He later felt God’s calling to the mission field and in 1822, at the age of 40, he was appointed to oversee the Church of England’s ministries in India. While in the village of Trichinopoly on April 3, 1826, he preached to a large crowd in the hot sun, and after trying to cool off in a pool, suffered a stroke and died.
It was later that same year after his death, that his widow found 57 hymns he had written among his belongings that had never been published. Among them was “Holy, Holy, Holy,” which she had published along with her husband’s other hymns.
In Isaiah chapter six, the Lord gave the prophet a revelation of His holiness. We can understand what it means that God is holy.
May 8, 2022
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1 John 5:11-15
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hymns
The lyrics to the hymn, Blessed Assurance, were written by Francis Jane Crosby, or as she was commonly known, Fanny Crosby. The tune was written by her friend, Phoebe Knapp. Fanny Crosby was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. She was a prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns. She is also known for her teaching and her rescue mission work in NYC. By the end of the 19th century, she was a household name. Crosby was known as the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers.”
Do you know the blessed assurance of belonging to Jesus? Are you sure of your status with God? Do you have confidence that you’ll spend eternity in heaven? To be “assured” of something means “to be certain, to be confident of a thing.” It means to feel “secure” that what God has promised in Jesus is truly yours. Do know this blessed assurance today?
May 2, 2022
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Ephesians 2:4-10
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hymns
“Amazing Grace” was written by English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725–1807) and was published in 1779. It is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world. Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction but his life’s path was formed by a variety of twists and turns that were often caused by his own rebellious insubordination. He was pressed into the Royal Navy and became a sailor, eventually participating in the slave trade. Towards the end of his sailing career he was a slave ship captain. One night a terrible storm battered his vessel so severely that he became frightened enough to call out to God for mercy, a moment that marked the beginning of his spiritual conversion.
Do you know this amazing grace that Newton wrote about? In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he reminded them of God’s amazing grace. We can understand why God’s grace is so amazing.
May 1, 2022
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Psalm 104
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hymns
In today’s sermon, we’re going to look at the hymn “How Great Thou Art.” This hymn has quite an involved history. It was written by Swedish poet, Carl Gustav Boberg, in 1885. He had the poem printed in a Swedish newspaper and an unknown man put it to music, using the melody is an old Swedish folk song. In 1949, it was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by George Beverly Shea during Billy Graham crusades in 1957.
Boberg is said to have written the words after a thunder storm suddenly appeared on a walk home. A severe wind began to blow, a driving rain and darkness fell. After Mr. Boberg arrived home, wet and chilled to the bone, the storm stopped as suddenly as it came. He looked out his window over the clear bay and heard church bells ringing in the distance. A sense of profound wonder and peace came over him as penned the words O Store God (Swedish for O Great God) — O LORD, my God, When I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands hath made..
Today, we’re going to look at a psalm that expresses that same sense of awe. In Psalm 104, David wrote to encourage himself and others to praise the Lord for His greatness. We can be encouraged by praising the Lord for His greatness.
October 3, 2010
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Psalm 104:1-9
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hymns
The hymn, “How Great Thou Art” was written through the contributions of many people. In the conclusion of this series, we are looking at Psalm 104, a poetic retelling of the creation story that reveals how great our God truly is.
September 26, 2010
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Lamentations 3:17-24
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hymns
Pastor Gary continues our sermon series inspired by the great hymns. The inspiration for the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is found in Lamentations. God is faithful to join us in our deepest places of discouragement and need.
September 19, 2010
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Romans 9:14-33
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hymns
Pastor Gary continues our sermons inspired by some of our favorite hymns. This week, we learn how to give our lives over to God’s Will.
September 5, 2010
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Ephesians 2:4-10
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hymns
Pastor Gary continues our series on Hymns on one of the most famous hymns of all time, “Amazing Grace.”
August 29, 2010
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John 6:35-40
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hymns
Pastor Gary Combs begins a new sermon series entitled “HYMNS – Why Following Jesus Makes Us Sing.” This sermon is called “Just As I Am.”