Hymns of the Church (Part VIII) – What’s Your Story?

Sermon Title: Hymns of the Church – What’s Your Story?

Good News Statement: God includes us in His story

Summary: Telling Stories is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world…

Preached: Sunday, November 2^nd, 2025, at Dogwood Prairie & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): 1 John 4:13-21 Today’s scripture reading comes from 1 John 4:13-21, which invites us to consider what elements from God through Jesus Christ are part of our story. May the reading and hearing of scripture add meaning and understanding to your life.

 

¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. ¹⁶ So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. ¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. ¹⁹ We love^[a] because he first loved us. ²⁰ Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

 

 

Introduction[1]:

For almost two thousand years, Christians have used music as a way to worship. In the Bible the Apostle Paul writes: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” In the Book of Psalm we read these words, “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 98:4 and Psalm 100:1). For the past two thousand years, music has been used across denominational boundaries, beliefs, religious practices, and traditions as a means to embrace and celebrate the lessons of scripture. Needless to say, music has become an essential practice of one’s faith.

Hymns originated in ancient cultures and evolved through Jewish, Greek, and Roman practices, eventually becoming systematic in early Christianity with Latin chants. The roots of hymns can be traced to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and India. The word “hymn” comes from the Greek word “hymnos” which means “a song of praise”. Originally, hymns were written to honor various gods of varying traditions. The first recorded hymn, found in Exodus 15, is the Song of Moses in the Old Testament, celebrating the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea. Later on, in the same chapter, Miriam, Moses’ sister, encourages those around with tambourine in hand to “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously…” (Exodus 15:21).

Hymnody—the singing or composition of hymns—has evolved and changed since that first hymn in the Old Testament as well as over the centuries and has been affected by new thinking and developing religious beliefs. For example, throughout the history of the church, whenever there has been renewal, a revival or restoration, new songs of worship have appeared. During the Middle Ages hymnody developed in the form of Gregorian chant or ‘plainsong’. It was sung in Latin and most often by monastic choirs. But in the 16th Century, church goers were given much greater access to hymns as a result of the invention of the printing press and the influential German theologian, Martin Luther, who began encouraging people to sing together in congregations. As one resource noted, “Martin Luther in the 16th Century revolutionized Christian hymnody by encouraging congregations to sing hymns in their own languages (vernacular) rather than just Latin, a movement that spread widely with the invention of the printing press.”[2]

In England the non-conformist minister Isaac Watts (1674-1748) began a transformation of congregational singing. Watts believed strongly that hymns should express the religious feelings of the people and he became a prolific writer, creating hundreds of new hymns—such as “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Joy to the World.” Watts has been described as “the liberator of English hymnody” as his hymns moved people away from simply singing Old Testament psalms to inspiring people to sing from the heart with great faith and understanding.

In the same time period, another significant movement affected the hymns of the church: the Methodist movement, led by John Wesley. Wesley and especially his brother Charles used simple rhythms and sing-able melodies to help congregational singing. It has been noted that Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime from 1707-1788, and most of the hymns that he wrote were written to accompany specific sermons by John Wesley to convey a particular theological message. Some of Charles Wesley’s 6,000 hymns are still sung today in churches around the world: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” and “ Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” and probably his two most famous hymns are “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and “Hark! The Harold Angels Sing.”

Then in the late 19th Century a new style of hymnody known as “gospel” emerged. These songs were usually characterized by a strong lead vocal and exciting harmonies, and were a great influence on later contemporary worship worldwide. Then in twentieth and twenty-first centuries we have seen an explosion of new hymn writers and approaches. Old texts have been refreshed by new tunes. African American spirituals, especially those during the slave era, are now found in hymnals and churches around the world, and lots more contemporary hymns have sprung up. In the non-traditional church movement there has been a move away from the previous style of congregational singing to worship led by one singer or a worship band. Instrumentation has become more popular and musical styles have become much freer. The church today is richer than ever in musical resources and continues to bring congregations together through song.

It is clear, that throughout history—from Old Testament times to Gregorian Chants to Luther’s reformation to the thousands of hymns composed by Charles Wesley to spirituals to gospels and finally to contemporary music—hymns have been an essential building block of and for the church. But the question that we will be exploring is not necessarily about the history of hymns but of what hymns has the church found to be foundational all these years: “What hymns have shaped the church of yesterday for today?”

 

Body:[3]

“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.” Michael Margolis, author and trusted advisor to Google, Meta, and NASA, is described as “one of the most thought-provoking speakers” who has been quoted saying, “The stories we tell literally make the world. If you want to change the world, you need to change your story.” Along the same lines, Italian medievalist, philosopher, semiotician, novelist, cultural critic, and political and social commentator, Umberto Eco has been recorded saying, “To survive, you must tell stories.” Stories are part of our life: they do lead to change and they are what keep ideas and memories alive of events and people. Have any of you ever told a story before? When was the last time you read or heard a good story that changed your life?

Growing up, being read stories and reading stories was something that was part of my daily routine. My mother read I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt all the time. This specific story reassures children of a parent’s unconditional love through a series of imaginative scenarios where a mother tells her son she would love him even if he were a stinky skunk, a swamp creature, a cyclops, a dinosaur, or even a bug eating alien. My dad enjoyed reading Robert Scotellaro’s book, Daddy Fixed the Vacuum Cleaner, which tells about a father who fixes a vacuum cleaner so well that it sucks up everything in its path—from flowers and laundry to a baby’s diaper and even the family’s pets—and ends with these words: to fix the vacuum cleaner, maybe daddy shouldn’t “have used the engine from his truck.” Just the other day, in my family group chat, my sister sent us a picture of a book that was always on the bookshelf. The book was written by Mercer Mayer in 1968; and the story follows a boy as he decides to face his fear, only to discover that the nightmare is just as scared as he is. The title of this book is There’s a Nightmare in My Closet. When my nieces and nephews were younger, I read them the book Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg, which teaches children that even a mistake, like a spill or torn piece of paper, can become a new work of art.

Besides the ones mentioned above, there is another story that I loved as a child (and still do to this day.) It’s a story about a jazz band seeking a new beat, a new sound. The title of the story is The Jazz Fly. The book features characters like the Jazz Bugs, Willie the Worm, Nancy the Gnat, and Sammy the Centipede, and its story is about a fly using animal sounds to create music for his band, which was on the verge of being kicked out of the club. The club’s Queen Bee sat down with the band and said, “I want a new beat or this band is out!” The best part about this story is that the main character, the fly, was a drummer! I was given this book in 2001 by my eldest brother who wrote in the book, “May you read this and want to read more.”

Throughout my life, I have read numerous stories: some good and some bad, some loving and some fearful, some adventurous and some calm, some exciting and some boring, some a few pages long and some hundreds of pages long, and some with pictures and some without pictures. I have even read a book about an old lady who swallows a fly. And today, when Emily and I take trips, we listen to her favorite book series, Harry Potter, as we drive. Stories have been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Stories are part of our life. Do you have a favorite story that was read to you while growing up or even one that you read to your children and now your grandchildren? What sort of story are you writing and telling today? The eighth hymn we examine is titled “Blessed Assurance”, which in its chorus reminds us that “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” The message we need to hear today is “What story has God written for you that has allowed you to give Him praise?”

 

Movement One: “Blessed Assurance”…

Let’s learn a little about the hymn “Blessed Assurance” written by Fanny Crosby. Fanny Crosby was born on March 24, 1820, in the village of Brewster, about 50 miles north of New York City. At six weeks old, she caught a cold and developed inflammation of the eyes. Because of this illness, Crosby became blind. But, the blindness didn’t stop her. She did what she could do in love for her Savior. She wrote poems, many of which became hymns. In fact, she wrote some 8,000 hymns in her lifetime, and has been called the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers.”

Within The United Methodist Hymnal, there are seven hymns composed by Crosby which is tied with the Gaithers but significantly less than Charles Wesley. Her hymns would often be written when a visiting minister of the gospel, who would often give her a subject to write about. “Fanny, how about a song about redemption!” And soon afterwards, she writes the hymn “Redeemed”: “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through his infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.” “Fanny, how about a song about God and his glory.” And soon afterwards, she writes “To God Be the Glory”: “To God be the glory–great things he has done! So loved He the world that he gave us His Son who yielded his life an atonement for sin. And opened the life-gate that all may go in.” “Fanny, how about a song about staying close to the cross.” And soon afterwards, she writes “Near the Cross”:  “Jesus, keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain. Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain.”

Well, on one occasion, a close friend of hers (an amateur musician) came and played a little melody for Fanny. And when he had finished playing, he asked her, “What does this tune say?” And she replied, “Why, that says: ‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine.'” And thus came the famous hymn, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”[4] This hymn is indeed the heartbeat of many stories in the Bible. But the one that comes to mind is found in 1 John. The Book of 1 John is all about assurance. The purpose statement of 1 John is found in chapter 5 and verse 13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” Nowhere in the epistle does the emphasis upon assurance come through as in our text this morning. The question that is before us is, “What is blessed assurance and why is it important in our life?”

 

Movement Two: Nine Blessed Assurances…

Let’s take a look at our scripture passage for today. First John was written between the years 85AD and 95AD in the city of Ephesus, according to traditional scholarship. What this means is that John was writing while the early church was forming and growing and overcoming opposition all while more and more people from all walks of life and nations were learning about Jesus. So, John takes it upon himself to help the church and the people come to terms with how they are blessed knowing that Christ is in their life. First John 4:13-21 states, “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” From this text there are eight things that resemble what it means to have a “blessed assurance.”

First, we have the Spirit (verse 13). First John 4:13 notes, “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” For starters, John has already spoken at length about abiding in chapter 2 verse 24: “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.” In other words, if you take the teaching of the gospel, that eternal life comes through faith in Jesus Christ and that teaching abides in you, which means that you fully embrace it deep down to the bottom of your soul, then it means that you are genuinely trusting in Christ alone to forgive your sins. And, here is the good news: if you trust in him and abide in him through your trust, then he promises to abide within you today, always, and forever, from all ends of the earth.  And as he abides in us, so will his Spirit.

It is through the Holy Spirit of God that we know (and experience) the presence of Jesus Christ.[5] In order to be blessed with the assurance of eternal life, we must trust in Christ—his word, his mission, his actions, his teachings, his stories—so that we can abide in him so that through the Spirit he can abide in us, helping us to live a story of transformation. If you want to receive a blessed assurance, then remember that you have the Spirit of Christ dwelling inside of you.

Second, we have the testimony (verse 14). First John 4:14 asserts, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.” This is what we celebrate every Christmas. Christmas is the celebration that Jesus Christ has come into the world to save us from our sins. Matthew 1:21 says “She will bear as son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” And how do we know that this is true? Because we have the testimony of the apostles, we have the encounters of disciples, and we have the stories of the people.

When John uses the first person plural, ‘we,’ in verse 14, he’s talking about those who have ‘seen’ Jesus. And those who have seen have given testimony about Jesus. John begins this epistle by speaking about his own experiences in hearing and seeing and touching Jesus. He says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3). We have the testimony of the apostles. And they said that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

Do you remember when Peter was preaching to crowds and was arrested by the Sanhedrin as the early church was forming? He gave this testimony to them. He said, “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12).[6] Do you remember when the Philippian jailer cried out to Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). And they said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Such is the testimony of the apostles that Jesus Christ came into this world to save us from our sins. And their testimony is true and reliable. And we have the testimony (verse 14). We have it in the Bible, the greatest story ever told. This testimony—the stories of how Jesus works in the lives of people—is what lead us to salvation. Blessed assurance is the testimony of Christ lived out in our life.

Third, we have our confession (verse 15). First John 4:15 notes, “God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.” Your “Blessed Assurance,” will come through your confession because, it is through your confession that you take the testimony of the apostles and embrace it as your own. Paul said it this way, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). That’s what it means to “confesses that Jesus is the Son of God” (verse 15). It means that we believe him to be everything that he claimed to be. We believe that he is Lord. We believe that he died on the cross for our sins. We believe that God raised him from the dead. And if this is your confession, you will be saved. Simply put, your blessed assurance resides within your willingness to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and that you believe in him, that you trust in him, that you have faith in him, and that you want to live a life of his works and grace. Does your story include the words, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior”?

Fourth, we have love (verse 16). First John 4:16 asserts, “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. ” The gospel of Jesus Christ is about love. Jesus’ life story is about showing how love can transform lives. Jesus said that it was love that motivated him to come and bring salvation to us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), have this blessed assurance. And this is what we believe about God. We believe that God has love toward us. We believe that God has his favor upon us. Not because of how good we are and not because of something that we have done for him, but simply because his sovereign grace has chosen to love us, despite our sinful ways and mistakes.

Prior to these verses, John wrote, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). What does John mean that “God is love”? Well, it means that God is light (1 John 1:5), God is spirit (John 4:24), God is holy (Psalm 99:5, 9), God is merciful and gracious (Psalm 103:8), God is our judge (Psalm 50:6), God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in a time of trouble (Psalm 46:1), and God is our forgiver, sustainer, redeemer, and creator. God’s love is what Jesus taught so that we can be saved. Saying that God is love is more than God hugging you; it is knowing that you are never alone. First John 4:19 states, “We love because he first loved us.” We can love because God has, through Christ, showed us what it feels like to be loved. To receive God’s blessed assurance is to know that you have received God’s love in your life.

Fifth, we have confidence (verse 17). First John 4:17 states, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have [confidence] on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.” In other words, when God’s love does its perfect work in you because it abides in you, you can stand assured of your forgiveness before God. You can be confident that God has seen your iniquities and has granted you mercy. This mercy is what gives us assurance for “the day of judgment.”[7] In the words of John Wesley, our judgment will be based on whether or not we lived our life doing no harm, doing good at all times, and attending to the ordinances of God. Have we lived rightly and justly in the eyes of God? Have we done all that we can to demonstrate God’s love to all people? Have we sought forgiveness from our transgressions?

After reminding us of the love that we need to embrace for “the day of judgment,” John gives a strange reason for why we need this confidence, John states, “…because as he is so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). This is clearly a difficult phrase to understand. And I’m not sure exactly what it means. But, I think that it has something to do with the incarnation. I think that it has something to do with Christmas. Because, the verse speaks about us “also” being in this world. And the only reason it can say, “also” about is if it was true of him as well. And just as Jesus was in the world and conquered the world through abiding in God, so too can we overcome the temptations that come our way as we abide in God. So much so that we may have confidence in “the day of judgment.” And confidence for “the day of judgment” gives us assurance that we are indeed his child. The blessed assurance God give us is our confidence to live a life by which we are prepared for “the day of judgment.”

Sixth, we have no fear (verse 18). First John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.” When we abide in the love of God, we purge our souls from the fear of his judging hand. Now, there are many professing Christians who live in constant fear. They fear that God will punish them for every sin they commit. They fear that they will never quite please God enough. They fear that ultimate day. They fear disappointing others. Will God ultimately forgive them or not? In short, they fear because they lack assurance. They don’t know whether or not they stand forgiven in the grace of God. When you rest in the love of God, you have no need to fear. Because, you know that God’s love will be with you to guide you and to guard you and to protect you and to keep you. And you can say with Paul, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). And when you embrace the love of God, that love will never leave us or forsake us, that love will never be separated from us, then you will not fear the punishing hand of God. Long ago, the LORD told the children of Israel, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). God hasn’t changed. He has always been with his children, strengthening them and upholding them. Such is the love of God. And such love will purge fear from our souls. God’s blessed assurance has the ability to remove our fears because of God’s love for us.

Seventh, we have a test (verse 20). First John 4:20 affirms, “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” We have seen this sort of thing many times before. Someone makes some sort of claim with their mouth, but may or may not back it up with their life. We are not to believe the profession of the mouth. Instead, we are to believe the actions of their lives. “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

First John 1:6-10 states, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” This is the core of John’s letter. It’s not what you say that gives you assurance that you have eternal life. It’s your actions that give you assurance that you have eternal life. Our test is to show God love through what we do as a church and as a follower of Christ. God’s blessed assurance is what gives you the encouragement and motivation to put your faith into action, to live Christ out in your actions.

Eighth, and lastly, we have the commandment (verse 21). First John 4:21 informs us, “And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” As Jesus taught, we are commanded to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27; John 13:34). This commandment calls you to treat others with same kindness, compassion, respect, and generosity that you would offer yourself. It involves performing tangible acts of care and understanding that other’s needs are just as valid as your own. God’s blessed assurance is the reminder that if God give us His love then we need to do the same for others in our life.

Taking a step back, what John is attempting to tell us are all attributes of Christ’s own story that have found their way into our life. In the story of Jesus, we are blessed with his spirit, we are given testimonies from the apostles and past believers that help us understand the works of Christ, we are called to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord as we leave our sins and burdens at the foot of the cross, we are granted God’s love, we are not to fear but have faith, we are given a test to live out our faith similar to how the word of God is alive and active, and we are giving a commandment to extend God’s love to all people. In a way, God’s blessed assurance, something in which we should be in praise of, is the story of Jesus Christ: a story that has changed our life through love.

 

Movement Three: The Best Story Ever Told…

No matter how many stories I have read or been told or have heard, they don’t compare to the stories found in the Bible that cloaked in Christ’s love. There are stories of adventure, of beautiful gardens, of forbidden fruits, of giant sea creatures, of giant beings, of battles and wars, of defeat and victory, of great banquets, of dry bones coming back to life, of heroes and villains, and of simple gatherings. There are stories of healings, of savings, of people walking for the first time, of people seeing again, of companionship, and of fellowship, and of worship. There are stories of people coming back to life physically and spiritually. There are stories of storms, of feeding the hungry, and of forgiveness. There are stories of plagues, seas splitting, water coming from a rock, and food falling from the sky. There are stories of characters disbelieving God, blaming God, ridiculing God, and testing God. There are stories of characters being called faithless while others are healed because of their faith. There are stories of characters with horrible pasts, like Paul, but were given a second chance. There are stories about characters being sinful but were forgiven, such as Judas, the soldiers at the cross, Zacchaeus, and others. There is even a story about a famous character that ate with sinners, sought out and saved the lost, and who was tortured, beaten, and blindfold, hung on a cross, and three days later walked out of a tomb that was opened for us to witness and believe. And there are stories of faith, change, transformation, and love. The Bible is God’s inspired word told through many authors and storytellers. The Bible contains the greatest story ever told; and what this story tells is a story of love; and this love can never be duplicated or forgotten because it is our blessed assurance the leads to salvation and eternal life. Rudyard Kipling once said, “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” The love of Christ was told in the form of a story, which is why it exists almost 2,000 years later and Christ doesn’t want that story to end.

First John is just one of many stories that reminds us of God’s love and how God’s love abides in us because we abide in God. Jesus’ sacrifice was God’s love in action and God’s love in action is our blessed assurance that has helped us live our own story. The stories contained in the Bible fulfill the words of Michael Margolis, who stated, “The stories we tell literally make the world. If you want to change the world, you need to change your story.” The stories in the Bible have literally molded and shaped the world: as a matter of fact, they have changed the world. The story of Christ’s love is what has changed the world and produced the greatest story ever told.

So I ask you today, what story has changed you? What story has reminded you that you are loved? Is it story about someone who would love you no matter what? Is it a story about someone going above and beyond to help you fix a problem? Is it a story about overcoming mistakes and failures by using them to create new avenues and moments of success? Is it a story about finding a new “beat” in life? Is it a story about pursuing what brings you joy? Is it a story that began with grief and sorrow and pain, but ended with happiness and feeling on top of the world? Is it a story that took some unpredictable twists and turns only to get you to where you are today? Is it a story filled with storms and battles in which didn’t prevent you from getting to the other side and feeling victorious? Is it a story that has changed your messes into messages and trials into triumphs? What sort of story has changed your life?

Stories are part of our life. You are living a story today: authored by God but lived out by you. Some of us have longer stories than others. Some of us are just beginning our story. Are you proud of the story that God has authored for you? Do you have some questions about the story you are writing and creating and living? Take those questions to the Lord in prayer. What about your story do you want to remove from your book? Every day we are living a story in which we want to pass down to the next generation. For over a century, we have been writing a story as a church: a story of struggles, a story of changes, a story of successes, a story of new beginnings, and a story of hope, faith, and love. For over century, we have been adding to our story, but the question I invite you to ponder today is, “What comes next in our story?” What comes next in your story?

 

Conclusion:

In closing, the blessed assurance that you receive from God is a story. And in this story, you are empowered by His Spirit; you are called to live out the testimony of the early Apostles; you are invited to seek a moment of confession to be forgiven of your sins and to claim the Jesus as your Lord and Savior; you are granted confidence to face tomorrow; you are reminded to not let fear rule your life; you are tested to become stronger; and you are given a commandment to have faith and trust and belief in the one who abides in you. Above all, in your story, you are loved.

Fanny Crosby’s hymn “Blessed Assurance” is a proclamation that Jesus is mine, that we are heirs of Christ’s salvation, and that we are washed in His blood. And the best part is that no one can take away that story. I hope that in thinking about the story that God has given you, you have the faith to say, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” You have a story to live out. You have a story to tell. And we have a story to continue. In the words of a Native American Proverb, “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” What story is living in your heart for forever? What is your story?

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, help us to live out your story as we continue to write own story. May the story we live, tell, and write be a reflection of you and your love. May we be willing to proclaim to this world that this is our story.  In your life-giving name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

You have been given a story. You have been given a story to tell. You have been given a story to continue living all by the grace and love of God. This week, take a moment to think about what story or stories have changed your life. And as you do so, get lost in Christ’s love. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth seeking ways to give praise to the author of your story. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4vMxs6kctQgkwkvgQbJTXDk/a-brief-history-of-hymns

[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4vMxs6kctQgkwkvgQbJTXDk/a-brief-history-of-hymns

[3] The phrase “Where words fail, music speaks” is attributed to the 19th-century Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The original version, “When words fail, sounds can often speak,” appeared in his 1840 collection “What the Moon Saw.” The statement “music speaks when words fail” means that music has the power to express complex emotions, connect people across cultures, and evoke feelings in ways that verbal language cannot, acting as a universal form of communication. This idea highlights music’s ability to convey joy, sadness, and other profound sentiments when spoken words are inadequate or impossible. Have any of you ever heard that statement before: “Where words fail, music speaks”? If you really think about it, there is something about music that draws people together, that creates a common ground, and that conveys a sense of understanding. Music is powerful, especially when words are lost.

Music is powerful in several ways. Music as an universal language transcends linguistic and cultural barriers, allowing people from different backgrounds to connect and share experiences through melody and rhythm, even without understanding lyrics. Music is also a means of establishing an emotional connection: it can stir deep emotions, such as sadness, joy, or contemplation, providing a way for individuals to process and understand feelings they cannot articulate. Musical pieces can trigger vivid memories and create strong associations with specific events or periods of life, adding depth to emotional experiences. Furthermore, music communicates on a more primal, instinctual level, directly addressing the soul and providing a sense of meaning and understanding where logical explanations fail. And for many, music offers a vital channel of communication when words fail. In essence, music serves as a powerful and adaptable medium for human experience, offering a voice to feelings that words alone cannot capture.

Music is powerful. It’s all around us. It’s part of your life. I bet there is not a day that goes by that you don’t listen to some kind of music. The same goes for the church. There is not a Sunday that goes by that we don’t sing or hear hymns. Music is not just part of our life, but it’s part of our faith. So to help us understand this, each week for several weeks, we are going to explore hymns that shaped the church.

[4] 101 Hymn Stories, p. 43.

[5] And so, you say, “How do I know if I have the Spirit?” Well, like much of 1 John, I would encourage you to look at your life. What sort of life do you live? What sort of choices do you make? Are you living in submission to God? Or, are you living in love with the world? Are you obeying the commandments of God? Or, are you pursing your fleshly desires? Are you conformed to this world (Romans 12:2)? Or, are you transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit in your life?

[6] Do you remember when the apostles got together in Jerusalem because some of the Jewish leaders were saying that “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved?” (Acts 15:1). Peter refuted them and said (on behalf of all of the apostles), “We believe that we [Jews] will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as [the Gentiles] will” (Acts 15:11).

[7] The issue concerning “the day of judgment” will be “justice.” Right? I mean, you stand before a judge and the issue on the table is your conduct. Did you do right? Did you do wrong? If you did right, you will be set free. If you did wrong, then you will be punished. And it is the judge’s job to make sure that “the punishment fits the crime.”