Posts Tagged ‘songs’
The Song “Blessed Assurance”
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. This song declares the praises of our Savior A. What is meant by saying this is my story? B. The foundation of this song is II Corinthians 3:1-6 1. The Christians in Corinth were the living proof of the work of the apostle Paul. 2. They have confidence towards God, not from themselves, but from…
Read MoreI’m unsure about a line in the hymn “Count Your Many Blessings”
Question: I’m unsure about the line: “angels will attend, help and comfort give you to your journey’s end” in the song “Count Your Many Blessings.” Would it be unscriptural to sing that verse if we don’t exactly know how angels are “sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation,”…
Read MoreReflecting on “Hoods in My Hymnal”
by Matthew W. Bassford The other day, Steve Wolfgang sent me a link to this article, “Hoods in My Hymnal.” In it, the author points out that James D. Vaughan, founding father of the Southern gospel genre of hymnody (though not the author of “Love Lifted Me”, despite what the article implies) was a leading…
Read MoreHow does copyright work with translated songs?
Question: I would like to seek your guidance, brother, regarding the translation of English hymns into another language. Here in the local congregation where I belong, we are working on a project to create a new hymnal (words only) where the text is in a local dialect. All of my work (written or translated) are…
Read MoreGod’s Unchanging Hand
by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we,…
Read MoreWorshiping like the Psalms
by Matthew W. Bassford The other day, I saw an article by a professor of Old Testament studies in which he compared the content of the book of Psalms to the content of Top 25 Christian contemporary music. He observed that many of the most prominent themes of the Psalms, like God’s help for the…
Read MoreReview of Songs for Worship and Praise
by Wayne S. Walker The newest general hymnbook published for use among churches of Christ is Songs for Worship and Praise, edited by Robert J. Taylor Jr., and published in 2010 by Taylor Publications of Montgomery, TX. Brother Taylor has been active in church music for many years. I believe that he set the type for…
Read MoreIs the song “Follow Me” wrong?
Question: Would it be considered false teaching to sing “Follow Me” in worship? I always thought that Simon carried the cross for Jesus because of this song. While reading the article “Where did Jesus carry his own cross?” it was brought to my attention that the Bible doesn’t say why they made Simon carry Jesus’s…
Read MoreJust as I Am
by Doy Moyer Just as I am without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bids’t me come to Thee O Lamb of God, I come. by Charlotte Elliot I have long thought that “Just as I am” is a beautiful, inspiring hymn. While I don’t know that it…
Read MoreShouldn’t we be skipping some verses in Ten Thousand Angels and Amazing Grace?
Question: In the song “Ten Thousand Angels,” the last words in the fourth verse states: “Salvation’s wondrous plan was done.” In the preceding words, He gave himself to die, followed by Salvation’s wondrous plan was done gives the idea that there was nothing left for Christ to do in order for salvation to be accomplished.…
Read MoreO for a Faith Such as This!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/OForAFaithSuchAsThis.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 56 I. Read the song “O for a Faith That Will Not Shrink” by W. H. Bathhurst (#462) II. A faith without fear A. Most of our fears of our own imagination – Psalm 53:5 1. When our dreads are elusive, we make things up, and what we imagine is almost always…
Read MoreHow do I get a hold of hymns written by members of the churches of Christ?
Question: Do you know of any way to get a hold of a collection of hymns written by members of the churches of Christ? I very recently joined the church and have been wondering why we sing songs that were written by unsaved people? I actually love these old hymns like “Sweet Hour of Prayer”…
Read MoreIs it acceptable to use songs that have humming for one or more of the parts in worship?
Question: Good evening brother Jeffrey, I pray this email finds you in good health. May God favor you for blessing us and teaching us. You and many have given me so much knowledge in God’s word and increased my faith. I am a member of the Church of Christ. I wanted clarification about how some…
Read MorePrecious Memories
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PreciousMemories.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:97-104 I. This lesson actually started out as a challenge to myself. I had read yet another article that talked about how “Precious Memories” was a poor song, lacking in scriptural foundation. A. But I could think of several applicable verses, so I decided to do a lesson based…
Read MoreMore questions about Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
Question: Just curious regarding Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs: what are your thoughts on the genre that many of the new “brethren hymns” are written in? That’s a big chunk of the “other 300”, maybe pushing 1/3 of it by a wild guess? For my own edification, and I take a lot of interest in hymnody,…
Read MoreWhat do you think of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, Praise for the Lord, and Songs for Worship & Praise?
Question: I read your excellent review of the Jeffcoat Sacred Songs of the Church songbook. Our congregation is considering changing books and we are considering several of the more traditionally focused books. Have you had the opportunity to review and consider the Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs by Sumphonia? We are also considering the Praise for the Lord and Songs for Worship…
Read MoreShould pitch pipes be used before a song?
Question: I have a very hard time worshiping in song after someone uses a pitch pipe. I have discussed it with brethren in our congregation. Some agree they don’t like it either. If we visit other places for gospel meetings, it’s to me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I heard a few sermons that try…
Read MoreShould some songs not be sung?
Question: I read your review of Jeffcoat’s songbook and have some questions about certain songs in general. What are your thoughts on the following songs: My God and I Jesus hold my hand I come to the garden There’s a royal banner (vs. 3 from Praise for the Lord). These are songs I struggle with. The first…
Read MoreA Review of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
by Wayne Walker Wolfgang, Steve, general editor. Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (published in 2012 by Sumphonia Productions LLC, 41601 Epping Green Sq., Aldie, VA 20105). A new hymnbook has been published this year. It is intended primarily for use in Churches of Christ but could be used by anyone, primarily those who still prefer…
Read MoreShould songs be used by a writer who was improperly divorced?
Question: I noticed in our songbook that a few of the songs written are by Amy Grant. I don’t know if you are familiar with her, but she is a singer and songwriter who divorced because of “irreconcilable differences” and promptly remarried. My question is, do you think it is appropriate to sing songs that…
Read MoreWhat do you think of Songs of Faith and Praise?
Question: Hello, I am writing to you because I came across a blog you had on your web site concerning your review of the Songs for Worship and Praise hymnal. I have owned the hymnal for a couple of months and also own Songs of Faith and Praise and Praise for the Lord. I am trying to find a good hymnal…
Read MoreIt is sad that the hymnbook is being abandoned
Question: Greetings. I appreciated your article “Sing with Understanding.” David, the Bible’s great hymn-writer, by the inspiration of the Spirit of God, was concerned about that too (Psalms 47:7). And it’s really the purpose of my blog on hymns, to help with this. Your examples are good. This is the kind of thing that might…
Read MoreWhere can I find lyrics to some of James D. Vaughan’s songs?
Question: I’m looking to see if you have a link or know where I can find full songs so that I may write the lyrics down. I’m looking for James D. Vaughan’s songs. It’s so we can sing it at our church. Answer: James David Vaughan mostly wrote music to other people’s lyrics. There are…
Read MoreI enjoyed the songbook review, even though I didn’t agree with all of it
Question: Having just read your review of Jeffcoat’s new songbook, I just thought I would drop you a note to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the review. I didn’t agree with all your comments, but I enjoyed them. Answer: I’m glad you found it useful.
Read MoreAre Christians commanded to only sing the psalms?
Question: I recently was made aware of an old acquaintance who is now part of a house church. In a message he sent to me giving a short explanation, he said, “…after a lot of study, I have come to the understanding that we are only authorized to sing inspired songs from the book of…
Read MoreSing with Understanding
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/SingWithUnderstanding.mp3 Text: I Corinthians 14:15-20 I. Singing is an expression of joy – James 5:13 A. It is form of worship and a way of teaching – Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17 B. Of course, people sing things all the time without thinking about what they are saying – just ask kids today what are the lyrics to…
Read MoreThe Gospel Songs of Philip Paul Bliss
by Wayne S. Walker Philip Paul Bliss was born in a log cabin near Rome in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 1838. Always interested in music, he was carrying items from his family’s home into town to sell and heard a lady playing the piano in a house along the way. Walking into the…
Read MoreThe Gospel Songs of Charles H. Gabriel
by Wayne S. Walker One of the most prolific composers of gospel songs in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, who was born on Aug. 18, 1856, in a prairie shanty at Wilton, Iowa, and spent the first seventeen years of his life on an Iowa farm. Expressing a keen…
Read MoreWhy do we use songs by writers who did not believe the truth?
Question: The part I am not really understanding is why we choose to use songs by Fanny Crosby or Isaac Watts etc. They didn’t even believe the truth. Using the words of false teachers in praise to our heavenly Father? There are other choices. I will be continuing to pray and study this subject. I…
Read MoreHow do we know that the songs we are using are acceptable to God?
Question: Thank you for your review of Sacred Songs of the Church. Some of your comments really got me to thinking about the songs we sing in our worship services. I love God with all my heart and pray that I am doing what He commands. Maybe you can help me understand this a little better since…
Read MoreWhere can I find acapella recordings for the songs in our songbook?
Question: I had a cassette collection of the Songs of the Church Acapella and I think they were sung by the Meistersingers. I moved and my tapes were lost and are sorely missed. Do you know of any source where I could buy another set? I am a song leader in a small church of…
Read MoreReview of Sacred Songs of the Church
by Wayne S. Walker The first new hymnbook among churches of Christ for the 21st century (notwithstanding the late Alton H. Howard’s Songs of the Church 21st Century Edition which actually came out in 1990) is now available. It is Sacred Songs of the Church, edited by William D. Jeffcoat, copyrighted in 2007 by Psallo Publications LLC (3642 Peachtree…
Read MoreA Review of the Hymnbooks
by Wayne S. Walker Originally published in Torch, October 1988 Please understand that my review is of necessity going to be biased by my own view of what constitutes a good hymn selection. With that in mind, I shall begin by saying that I grew up using the old “brown book,” Christian Hymns II (edited by…
Read MoreThe Songs and Hymns of Robert Lowery
by Wayne S. Walker Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia, PA, on Mar. 12, 1826, and educated at Bucknell University where he graduated with high scholastic honors in 1854. Afterward, he served as a Baptist minister, first at West Chester, PA, near Philadelphia, from 1854 to 1858, then in New York City, NY, from 1859…
Read MoreNotes on the Words and Terms Used In Our Songs
by Roger and Becky Williams -A- Abba – Aramaic for father; Mark 14:36 abhor – to shrink away from with disgust abide – to continue to stay; remain; wait abode – a dwelling place; home acclamation – strong approval or loud applause accord – being in agreement; harmony adoration – devoted love, respect, and honor…
Read MoreEvaluating New Songs
by Mark Roberts in Abundant Life via Meditate on These Things For the longest time, it seemed brethren were fairly certain Sacred Selections contained just about every hymn that needed to be sung. Like it or not, that has certainly changed. Many congregations are now using some other hymnal other than Sacred Selections. Many congregations have also added…
Read MoreSons of Jacob (Children’s Class Song)
by Jeanie Pratt Please feel free to use the following lyrics which I wrote many years ago. I could not remember the usual version and wanted the order of birth. I sing this to the tune of Jesus Loves Me. I have a poster board with the song. I color code the boys’ names by…
Read MoreThe Songs That We Sing
by Wayne S. Walker As I was growing up, I loved to join in the singing of hymns and gospel songs during church services and other occasions where people gathered together to praise God in song, and through the years with my general love of music I have maintained an active interest in the songs…
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