This Series is very good for the Season After Pentecost (Ordinary).

There is a beauty, richness and depth in our faith that can not be expressed. We who speak with the tongues of mortals have neither the eloquence nor the vocabulary to respond to the love that God pours out on us in the grace that convicts us of our sins, forgives us of our sins and calls us to sanctification in God’s promise that we will be made perfect. People have always responded to their encounters with the Holy One in poetic language that stretches our limited horizons. Those poems melded to rich cadence and rhythm and given melody and harmony bring us closer to expressing that which we know and sense but can never adequately express.

This sermon series explores and celebrates our great and varied heritage of hymns. There is no reason to keep the series in any order. The first sermon does explain the rationale of the series.

Sources:

Companions to the hymnals used by the congregation give insights into the persons who wrote the words and the music. They often give circumstances of the songs that are excellent sermon illustrations.

Kenneth W. Osbeck relates the stories of hymns and their authors in three excellent works that supplied much of the material for this series. They are 101 Hymn Stories(1985), 101 More Hymn Stories (1990) and Amazing Grace: 366 Hymn Stories For Personal Devotions (1990). They are published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501.

Websites: The Cyber Hymnal - http://tch.simplenet.com is one of the greatest resources I have seen and most of their material is in public domain.

Praise & Worship MIDI- http://surf.to/midi-praise has many hymns with more contemporary music.

Why We Sing: I Love To Tell The Story Colossians 3:16,17

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We worship the Lord who calls us.

P: We are called from sin to salvation.

L: We worship the One who calls us to be sanctified, holy and whole.

P: We live the story of God's love.

L: We worship the One who died for us.

P: We celebrate God's great good news.

The story of Kate Hankey’s life is an excellent illustration.

25 Jul- A Song Of Life: Amazing Grace Revelations 22:20,21

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We worship the Lord who calls us.

P: We are called from sin to salvation.

L: We worship the One who calls us to be sanctified, holy and whole.

P: We experience God's amazing grace through the cross.

L: We worship the One who died for us.

P: With joy we celebrate God's great good news.

The most popular hymn and the story of John Newton make great gospel preaching.

A Song Of Surrender: Just As I Am Romans 7:21-25

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We come together in the name of Christ.

P: Christ calls us from sin to salvation.

L: Our sins are forgiven.

P: We rejoice that Christ Jesus our Savior reconciles us to God through the cross.

L: Our sins are forgiven.

P: We are justified by faith. We give thanks for the grace by which we are saved.

L: Our sins are forgiven.

P: With thankful hearts we come to the Table to be reminded of the grace by which we are made

whole.

A Communion Sunday sermon. Charlotte Elliott was an invalid who moved the world from her bed.

A Song Of Hope: Rock Of Ages I Peter 2:4-10

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We worship the Lord who loves us.

P: We are loved by our Creator.

L: We worship the One who calls us to be sanctified, holy and whole.

P: Our faith is founded on the Rock Of Ages which will never fail us.

L: Whatever storms may come, our God reigns.

P: With joy we celebrate God's great good news.

John Wesley and Augustus Toplady could not stand each other. Why?

The Christian’s Challenge: Are Ye Able Mark 10:32-45

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come in hope to worship our Creator.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come with joy to worship our Redeemer.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come by faith to the one who sustains us.

All: We adore you, O God. We gather in your name to confess that you are King of Kings and

Lord of Lords.

With God all things are possible. To what ministry is God calling you?

The Creator’s Creation: This Is My Father’s World Genesis 1:1-23

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come in hope to worship our Creator who we know in the rustling grass.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come with joy to worship our Redeemer who we see in the painted sunset.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come by faith to the one who sustains us who we hear in the moving waters.

The Creator’s Redemption: O For A Thousand Tongues Psalm 95

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come in hope to worship our Creator who sought us in our sins.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come with joy to worship our Redeemer who brings us from sin to salvation.

L: Come, praise our God with me.

P: We come by faith to the one who sustains us and leads us to perfection.

The first hymn in every Wesleyan Hymnal. Sing all 17 stanzas. It is a statement of transforming grace which makes a great sermon outline. (Glory To God, And Praise And Love is the first stanza when all stanzas are sung.)

The Creator’s Gift: The Old Rugged Cross Galatians 6:11-18

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We are the people of the resurrection.

P: We come to worship the One who died for us.

L: We come to the table to be fed.

P: We come to worship the One who delivers us from the power of sin.

L: We come as the Body of Christ.

P: We come to be transformed and perfected.

L: We come in obedience to the unchanging Word.

P: Called by grace, we lift our hearts in hope.

Is that your final answer? God’s final answer to sin is the cross.

The Creator’s Triumph: Victory In Jesus I Corinthians 15:50-57

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Our God has triumphed over death.

P: We come to worship the One who died for us.

L: Our God has broken the power of sin.

P: We come to worship the One who delivers us from the sin which destroys creation.

L: Our God is holy and calls us to become holy people.

P: We come to be transformed and perfected.

L: Our God has made us a new creation.

P: Thanks be to God.

Death melts into hope because we live in Christ.

The Creator’s Care: A Mighty Fortress Psalm 91

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Our God has triumphed over death.

P: We come to worship the One who loves us.

L: Our God has broken the power of sin.

P: We come to worship the One who protects us from the sin which destroys creation.

L: Our God is holy and calls us to become holy people.

P: We come to be transformed and perfected.

L: Our God is our fortress and our stronghold.

P: Thanks be to God who saves us from the Enemy.

Luther provides the outline of faith as struggle and the song of battle.

A Song Of Trust: It Is Well With My Soul Psalm 46

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Our God has triumphed over death.

P: We come to worship the One who loves us.

L: Our God has broken the power of sin.

P: We come to worship the One who protects us from the sin which destroys creation.

L: Our God is holy and calls us to become holy people.

P: We come to be transformed and perfected.

L: Our God is our refuge and our strength.

P: Thanks be to God who assures us.

The story of this hymn is the story of faith overcoming despair. Even the tune name has great meaning.

A Song Of Faith: O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go Romans 5:1-11

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We are the people of the resurrection.

P: We come to worship the One who died for us.

L: We come to the table to be fed.

P: We welcome each other in the name of the Christ.

L: We come as the Body of Christ.

A Communion Sermon. The poem of a broken heart speaking of unfailing redemptive love.

A Little Traveling Music: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah Exodus 24:9-11

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: To God be the glory.

P: We come to worship the One who leads us all the days of our journey.

L: To God be the glory.

P: We come to worship the One who protects us from the sin which destroys creation.

L: To God be the glory.

P: We come to worship the One who gives us traveler’s mercies and pilgrim’s peace.

L: To God be the glory.

P: Now and forever we praise the living God.

Following the One who is the Way forms us as a people of faith.

A Song Of Sanctification: Take Time To Be Holy Romans 12:1,2; II Peter 1:13-16

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord.

P: We worship the One who calls us from sin to salvation.

L: The glory of the Lord is truth and holiness.

P: We worship the One who protects us from the sin which destroys.

L: To Father, Son and Holy Spirit be the glory.

P: We worship the Three in One who is perfect.

L: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord.

P: In that perfect Love we place our hope.

The God who leads us from sin to salvation perfects us in hope and holiness.

A Song Of Assurance: Blessed Assurance Hebrews 11

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We come to worship the One who calls us to grace, truth and love.

P: To God be the glory, now and forever.

L: We celebrate the women who follow you this day.

P: For Miriam, who led her people in dance and praise of you, we give you thanks.

L: For Esther, who saved her people through obedience to you, we give thanks.

P: For Phoebe, a deacon of the New Testament church, who served you by serving others, we give

thanks.

L: For all those who answered and are answering your call and grace your world by proclaiming

and living the truth we know through the Christ, we thank you.

P: For the love they share in your name, we praise You, O living God.

O, but couldn’t this blind saint see! Find her hymn Blind Bartimaeus on The Cyber Hymnal

A Song Of Rest: For All The Saints Hebrews 12:1-13

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord.

P: We worship the One who brings death to death.

L: The glory of the Lord is truth and holiness.

P: We worship the One who gives eternal life.

L: To Father, Son and Holy Spirit be the glory.

P: We worship the Three in One who is perfect.

L: Today we give thanks for the Church Triumphant.

P: We remember those who rest in the Lord as we await the sounding of the trumpet and Christ's

return.

For All Saints Day- Remembering those who rest in the Church Triumphant/

A Song Of Transformation: Something Beautiful I Corinthians 6:9-20

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Our God redeems.

P: We come to worship the One who redeems us.

L: Our God redeems us from sin.

P: We welcome each other in the name of the Christ who leads us from sin to salvation.

L: As the body of Christ, our God transforms us.

P: Great is the God who perfects us and prepares us as temples of love and grace.

A Song Of Lullaby: Children Of The Heavenly Father I John 5:1-5

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We come together to worship.

P: We praise the One who loves us.

L: We worship the One who adopts us.

P: We worship the One who calls us children of God.

L: To Father, Son and Holy Spirit be the glory.

P: We worship the One who calls us to perfection.

L: We worship the One who wants what is best for us.

P: We praise our Creator us as we await the sounding of the trumpet and Christ's

return.

Preach the story of this Swedish songbird.

The Endless Song: Majesty, Worship His Majesty Philippians 2:5-11

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: Mystery and majesty meld in the story of our salvation.

P: Great is our God and greatly to be praised.

L: Obedient to death, even death on a cross, comes love to us.

P: Therefore God has highly exalted the risen Christ.

L: At Christ’s name let every knee bow and every tongue confess.

P: We confess that Jesus is the Christ to the glory of God the Father.

All: Worship, worship his majesty.

Jack Hayford repeats the theme of what many consider the very first recorded Christian hymn: Philippians 2:5-11

The Potter And The Clay Isaiah 64

The Patient Promisekeeper II Peter 3

The Sower And The Reaper Psalm 126

The Unending Kingdom Luke 1:26-38

The Bride And The Bridegroom Isaiah 61:10-62:5

Rise And Shine Isaiah 60:1-9

A Day Of Prayer II Chronicles 7:12-18

The First Dialogue Session Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-24

Concerning The Prophets Jeremiah 23:9-24

The Sin That Besets Hebrews 12:1-14

Life, Liberty… Deuteronomy 30:15-20

…And The Pursuit Of Happiness Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Our Priesthood I Peter 2:1-11

Follow That Leader Joshua 24:1-15

The Watchman Ezekiel 33:1-20

And When You Pray Matthew 6:5-15

Touching The Holy Matthew 6:5-15

Acknowledging The Source Matthew 6:5-15

Forgiving and Forgiven Matthew 6:5-15

The Time Of Trial Matthew 6:5-15