The Twin Steeples Podcast

This week we take up our "Hymn of the Week," which is the hymn that develops the theme of our service and in this case, is based on our sermon text. We are looking at TLH 453, which was written by a largely unfamiliar German hymnwriter named Carl Spitta. Spitta had a very difficult life, dealing with a severe illness for four years in his childhood that left him academically behind, and loosing his father at only four years of age. But these challenges led Spitta closer to His Savior, and motivated him to pursue the ministry. He also had a gift for poetry from a young age. While this gift was used for worldly purposes in his youth, by the age of 25, Spitta came to realize that God had a greater purpose for those gifts. He wrote: "In the manner in which I formerly sang I sing no more. To the Lord I consecrate my life and my love, and likewise my song. His love is the one great theme of all my songs; to praise and exalt it worthily is the desire of the Christian singer. He gave to me song and melody; I give it back to Him." What a beautiful Christian sentiment and realization!

This hymn is based primarily on Romans 14:7-9, where the Apostle Paul writes: "For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living."

In the four verses of this hymn Spitta points to the confidence we have in life and in death because we are the Lord's. Christ's life and death is the reason we are the Lord's. And His work of redemption motivate us to live for Him as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:20: "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s," and as Peter says 1 Peter 1:17-18: "conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct."

But that confidence is not just in life, but also in death. Spitta concludes: "No pangs of death shall even then appal us. Death we shall vanquish, for we are the Lord’s."

Rejoice that you are the Lord's! Live in a way that reflects that you are the Lord's. Die in the absolute certainty that Jesus has defeated death for you, because you are His!

The LORD bless your worship and reflection on this truth this weekend!

Devotion

• Romans 10:12-21

Announcements

• Review
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Prayer List 

• Jim Lien - Hospice
• Lynette Roehl
• Kathy Greve’s Sister Becky - Uterine Cancer
• Blake Frank - Neck Surgery October 8
• Rachel Mariner
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• Nephew of Julie Heinze - lawn mower accident
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Hymn of the Day:

• TLH 505 “May God Bestow on Us His Grace”

Our hymn study this weekend is one that has been considered the greatest in English hymnody. It was written by Augustus Toplady at the end of his life in 1776. 

There are several qualities about this hymn that help us to evaluate what make a truly good hymn. Many songs that are and have been sung in Christian churches are without real substance. They might use words like "grace," and "Savior" but they don't tell us what those terms mean. They avoid the nature of mankind's problem and ignore words like "sin," "guilt," "iniquity." But without that understanding, grace and salvation mean nothing and are not needed. Finally they may speak of Jesus, but without describing who Jesus was or what Jesus did for our salvation.

This hymn does all of those things properly. Toplady clearly describes mankind's utter helplessness. It is "not the labor of our hands" which gains us salvation. We are "naked," "helpless," and "foul."

In addition, the hymn points not only to Jesus, the man, but to His work. While "Jesus" is not mentioned in the text, Jesus is described as the "Rock of Ages" and his death is described in His "riven side" (John 19:34) and His "cross" pointing to the means of His death. 

The hymn also highlights the doctrine of justification by grace. "Thou must save, and thou alone." "Cleanse me from [sin's] guilt and power."

As we sing this hymn this weekend, think about the what makes a hymn a good hymn which actually teaches Christian truth clearly. This is a good example of what such a hymn looks like.

Rejoice in your salvation and all that Jesus has done for you, in life and in death!

The LORD bless your worship!

Devotion

• Romans 10:1-11

 

Announcements

• Review
  • Worship
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• Upcoming
  
  • Immanuel Building Committee
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  • Pastoral Conference
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Prayer List 

• Jim Lien
• Lynette Roehl
• Becky
• Blake Frank
• Family of Laura (Ude) Stutzman
• Tom and Diane Lentz - 40 year anniversary
• Teachers - Mr. Hanel, Mrs. Busch
• Mission in the Philippines

 

Hymn of the Day

• TLH 465 “Christ Is Our Cornerstone”

This weekend we are going to sing two Lent hymns. That might seem strange in the middle of the Trinity season. But we are reflecting on how salvation seems impossible, but it isn't with God. These hymns point to the great price that God willingly paid in order to redeem sinful mankind to Himself: The sacrifice of His Son on the cross.

The hymn is largely based on Isaiah 53, but also weaves in many other passages pointing to Jesus as the Messiah from the Old Testament, and the New Testament. 

The hymnwriter, Thomas Kelly, reminds us that we should not just look at the physical agony that Jesus endured, but understand that His true agony was suffering the punishment of all sin at the hand of God. Jesus was "smitten by God and afflicted!"

When we understand this, it put our own sin in a different light as well. A true understanding of Christ's sacrifice will lead us to understand the horrible nature of our sin. We can't look at sin and say "It's no big deal!" Not when we see what God had to pay because of our sin.

Jesus, who is the "sacrifice appointed" and the "one who bears the awful load" is our hope, our foundation. His is the name that we have to boast about and in. Thanks be to God!

Rejoice in that HOPE, and build on that Foundation!