Jesus: Our All in All

Sermon by John Turner, August 30, 2009

COLOSSIANS (1:3-20) 2:6-15 (3:9-17)

A note about the links:

[I am putting a lot of youtube video links to recordings of hymns and choruses on this blog version of the sermon. I did not take time to listen to all the links, and not many of you will have time to listen to all the links either, although more power to you if you do! Choose the ones that interest you. If you can only listen to a few, choose Twila Paris’ “How Beautiful,” which we will be learning during September and the Getty and Townend songs near the end of the sermon. You already know their, “In Christ Alone.” We will be learning their, “Speak, O Lord,” during September. Yes, we will be back to a mix of old and new now that we have finished the hymns series].

Jesus Christ: Our All in All

In the letter to the Colossians, Paul says that we must live holy, Christlike lives because Christ is all and Christ is in all. Everything holds together in him, for in him all the fullness of God is pleased to dwell, reconciling all things to himself on the cross. As we are renewed in Christ, we must put on Christlike, self-giving love and let the word of Christ dwell in us richly and to express itself in our spoken and sung worship. We must do everything in the name of Jesus—that is, in the character and purpose of Jesus—giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Last Two Dozen Years

We are down to roughly the last two dozen years (about 1986 to present) of our summer hymn survey. The story of Christian worship in this era is about a big pendulum swing, and in the end about finding fullness in Jesus Christ.

The “Me-Generation”

By the mid-1980’s, the “me-generation” had taken over in our culture. They were focused on personal satisfaction. Confronted with scriptural promises, abstract theology, theories of blood atonement, or great missions challenges, many of them asked, “What do those have to do with my personal satisfaction?” They found both the traditional hymns of the church and the simple Scripture choruses of the previous generation B-O-R-I-N-G. They wanted songs focused on their sensed needs. From the mid-1980’s through the early 1990’s there were a whole slew of “I Jus’ Wanna” songs, focused on personal spiritual experiences. That is where we had to start to reach that generation. We called it seeker-sensitive worship. There is nothing wrong with personal spiritual aspiration, and we need a few worship songs that express our desires for spiritual experience, but we do not need a steady diet of shallow, frothy, self-focused songs crowding out substantial God-focused songs.Now, I am not saying that the whole generation was that way. Within that generation, there were objectors to the self-centered focus. My niece Shari, overexposed, could hardly stand seeker-sensitive worship. The trend of Shari’s objections grew in the next generation. Our daughter Carissa, her husband Stephen, and their friends in Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina have shared Shari’s aversion to me-generation values. For them, it was time for the pendulum to swing back to hymns with real theological content and literary quality, hymns that aid our spiritual maturation as servants of Christ.

Bradford Pear Trees and Redwood Trees

Songwriter Lynn DeShazo, who wrote the chorus “More Precious Than Silver” in the era we considered last week, and whose recent, “Ancient Words (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkNqxcz3E3M ),” we are singing today, says that we should think of new Christian songs as being either Bradford pear trees or redwood trees. Bradford pears begin spectacularly, but last only about twenty years. Redwoods last for hundreds of years. Most of the songs that are designed to speak to the desires of a particular generation, drawing them into relationship with Jesus Christ, are Bradford pears, spectacular and then gone. But among them, a few will be found that are redwoods, and those will join the ranks of the Watts and Wesley hymns as enduring classics of the church’s worship. The Bradford pears, spectacularly appealing in their time, are for outreach efforts, and the redwoods are for spiritual maturation.

Looking for the Redwoods

Let’s find the redwoods among the Bradford pears from the songs of spiritual quest that were popular in the “me-generation.” I cannot cover that ground in this sermon; I will just give examples of why I think some may be redwoods.

Definite redwood: Rick Founds’ “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COQ6cni_TG8 ).” The focus is on what Jesus did for us: his incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection/ascension. Despite its “I” language, it is more about Jesus than about us.

Definite redwood: Paul Baloche’s very popular “Open the Eyes of My Heart ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wutmEjdbedE ).” With the goal of personally seeing God, it has a clear spiritual experience focus, but with its grounding in Scripture, specifically Ephesians 1:18, Isaiah 6, and Revelation 4, it stands out from the “I jus’ wanna” songs.

Definite redwood: Brian Doerksen’s “Refiner’s Fire ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idA6fCAHVzs ).” It is personal spiritual aspiration for a painful purification in which our sin is burned away, hardly the stuff of an “I jus’ wanna” song.

Possible redwoods: Marie Barnett’s “Breathe ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjmym-PMVIM ) ,” and Kathryn Scott’s, “Hungry ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYlpIdEyzX4&feature=related ).” These two songs achieve an intensity of spiritual desire that is nearly unparalleled in this generation of songs, an intensity with a deep awareness of human brokenness that somehow transcends the shallow, comfortable “I jus’ wanna” songs. The emphasis on “I” is strong in both songs, but, in both, the solution rests with God’s sovereign response to prayer. I think that, if these songs can be used to heighten our sense of need for a solution that can then be presented in a following hymn with more substantial scriptural content about what Jesus does that actually satisfies our deepest needs, then “Breathe “ and “Hungry” become redwoods. That’s enough about redwoods and Bradford pears.

Who Jesus Is and What He Means for Us

Let’s focus on songs that represent who Jesus is and what he means for us.

Twila Paris

Arkansan Twila Paris’ 1991 “How Beautiful ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJfSp_rceFs )” is often used for the Lord’s Supper, but can also be an invitation or a commissioning hymn. The theme is the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice which is to be replicated in our service to him. The first verse begins with Jesus’ past tense hands, “How beautiful the hands that served the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.” The third verse ends with our present tense hands, “How beautiful the hands that serve the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.” The refrain asserts, “How beautiful is the body of Christ,” with body having its double meaning as Christ’s physical body and as the church, his continuing body on earth. A bridge before the last refrain drives home the point: “And as He laid down His life, we offer this sacrifice, that we might live just as He died, willing to pay the price.” What a potent song about what Christ does and how it changes us.

Hillsong

A group that made a huge splash in the early 1990’s was the worship team from Hillsong Church in Australia, with congregations now scattered around the world. We might not agree with all their theology, but their best known songs clearly avoid the “I jus’ wanna” trap. We are singing two of their songs today.

Darlene Zschech’s “Shout to the Lord ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzNsEBPB-Z8&feature=PlayList&p=F4AD6CAC5DFA9509&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=17 ) ” calls all the earth to join us in shouting praise to Jesus as our Comfort, Shelter, and Tower of Refuge and Strength; it was the dominant hymn worldwide in the late 1990’s, and is still sung by many millions each week.

Reuben Morgan’s “What the Lord Has Done in Me ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4H6Uv7BI7I ),” celebrates that Jesus offers relevant help for the weak, the poor, the blind, and sinners. We cry out, “Hosanna, Savior,” because he is the Lamb of God who died and rose again. Zschech, Morgan, and other members of the Hillsong music ministry have contributed a large body of Christ-centered music to the church universal.

Graham Kendrick

Graham Kendrick of Great Britain has been called “the greatest living composer of hymns and worship songs,” a “father of modern worship music” whose songs are “crammed full of poetic, divine, biblical truth” that have “sculpted a view of God that has impacted generations.” Kendrick did not pander to the “me” generation. His work is nothing if not personally challenging. We are singing today the two Kendrick hymns that are best known in the United States.

“Shine, Jesus, Shine ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr5Y63bDNNg ),” which became the theme song of the “March for Jesus” movement of which Kendrick was the founder, is at once a prayer for revival, a challenge to personal holiness, a call to missions, and a hymn of praise to Jesus. It is a bold proclamation and commissioning hymn designed to bolster the church’s confidence in sharing its faith, and it represents a larger body of similar hymns that he wrote.

“Knowing You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGbuz8QuhmE ),” based on Philippians 3, much quieter, is so rich that it has many uses: invitation, spiritual life, the Lord’s Supper, even weddings and funerals. I consider this one of the great hymns of our time. Kendrick has many others of a similar nature.

Two of his early hymns, “The Servant King,” 1983 (http://new.music.yahoo.com/graham-kendrick scroll down to videos and click “The Servant King”) , and “Meekness and Majesty,” 1986 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tK1hQpacs8 ), focus on the mystery of Jesus Christ’s dual roles as Suffering Servant and Royal Son of God. I’d encourage you to read them and/or listen to them. If you are intrigued with Kendrick, I call your attention to his website (http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk/songs/songs_index.php ) where you can examine hundreds of his songs.

Kendrick’s songs call us not only into evangelism, but also into service to the poor and forgotten. Kendrick is still writing songs, but he has also become a teacher about worship, an editor of hymnals, and a father figure to younger hymnwriters who value what he has accomplished and look to him as both model and mentor.

Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and the Passion Group

One younger British hymnwriter who has looked up to Kendrick is Matt Redman. Early in his career, Redman turned out a mix of enduring and transient worship songs. A turning point came with his immensely popular “The Heart of Worship.” I think that one may not endure for several reasons, none of which is my point at the moment. Redman has offered more substantial material as he has matured, most notably, “Blessed Be Your Name ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk ).” Matt and Beth Redman have four children, but Beth suffered several miscarriages along the way, and they have learned to deal with alternating pain and wonder. They believe that we must make a place for lament in our worship. They were in this country during the 9-11 event, and, seeing so much innocent suffering, they were led to meditate on the Book of Job. The verses of “Blessed Be the Name” speak of blessing the name of God in times of plenty and want, in sunshine or in suffering. The most poignant line of the song is, “You give and take away; my heart will choose to say, ‘Lord, blessed be Your name.’”


Following in Kendrick’s steps, Redman, his good friend Chris Tomlin, of Texas roots, and the whole Passion team of which they are a part, also are attempting to make a way for contemporary youth to enjoy singing the old hymns with fresh sounds. One notable effort is “The Wonderful Cross,” adding a refrain to “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sKcw9_PQYA ).


My daughter’s response to the attempts of the Passion group and others to update hymns is, “Carefully update a few archaic words: fine. Give it contemporary instrumentation: fine. Add a contemporary refrain; fine. Write a whole new tune for the old words; fine. But to use most of the old tune while changing the tune for a phrase or two; not fine! That may work for a performance recording, but for congregational singing, it leads to a train wreck.” After experiencing such a train wreck in their church as they sang the Passion group’s update of Frances Havergal’s “Take My Life and Let It Be,” my son-in-law Stephen remarked, “Poor Frances Havergal.” Still, even with some goofs, we need to rejoice that the effort is being made and that some of it really works! For instance, Graham Kendrick, Robin Mark, and Matt Redman have all attempted to reclaim the wonderful Welsh revival hymn, “Here Is Love (Robin Mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdYAPBLQMWA Matt Redman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhYxJdz4Ut8 )


Another way of updating old hymns, is represented by Chris Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” often being used to lead into “How Great Thou Art uniting the generations in common praise, which is one of Tomlin’s goals (It seems that every Christian singer, choir, and praise team must have recorded a unique version of this medley and posted it on YouTube. Search to your heart’s content. Here is just one local church praise team http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cGQDUIqtCg ).” By the way, the Redman’s and Tomlin have both moved to Atlanta to help plant “Passion City Church” there.

Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn Getty

Another team that has been influenced by Graham Kendrick consists of the writers Stuart Townend of England and Keith and Kristyn Getty of Ireland (currently living in Ohio), who often work together. Most of their writing these days is of substantive new hymns.

Townend’s best known hymns that he wrote on his own are “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (sung by Fernando Ortega: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24spuXYeFKY )” and “Beautiful Savior (sung by Casting Crowns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sQ29G9FKOY ).”

But his fame has multiplied as he has worked with Keith Getty on “In Christ Alone (sung by Kristyn Getty with Keith Getty on piano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLy8ksqGf9w; Stuart Townend demonstrates it on guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvV6oUajxAY )” and “The Power of the Cross (The Getty’s with choral and orchestral background: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ms-gxEOtLA )” have won wide recognition.

Kristyn Getty joined them in writing “The Communion Hymn,” also known as “Behold the Lamb (sung by Stuart Townend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alvX9Fa53-o&feature=PlayList&p=28B43A14BC8F38DB&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=8 ).”
The list goes on.


“Speak, O Lord (Writers explain the writing and playing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckhjcIOfV88&feature=relatedRecording of whole song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsQ-gMkOSok ),” “My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSrAhzVD6Lw ),” and Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fodnd3fE4mQ&feature=related )” also deserve places in our repertoire.

More are coming. For instance, as I was collecting the links for the above, I found Townend’s “Spirit of Heaven (Christ In Me) [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNy3NKSFLwA ]”

One can see the flexibility of these songs by comparing/contrasting the Townend and Getty performances of “O Church, Arise” (Townend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQsX8tl9W5Q Getty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppcOA_HSs9U&feature=PlayList&p=F1700516E425F076&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=25 )

Allow me to pull together what Townend and the Getty’s say about their hymnwriting; I have edited these together out of published interviews with each one:

We have three things in mind as we write:

(1) to get people of every generation all across the world to sing. We are investigating the question, “Is there a way to bring everyone together musically?" We often use Irish tunes for that purpose because they have simple melodies that work well for group singing. We want melodies that can be played by a praise band, a solo guitar, a piano, an organ, or an orchestra.

(2) to focus on the revealed truth in Scripture and in Christ and to help teach the faith. What we sing affects how we think, how we feel and ultimately how we live, so it's important that we sing the whole scope of truth the Bible has given us. It is also important that our lives are built not on our feelings or circumstances, but on the word of God, and songs can really help us to meditate on and retain truth. Our hope is not in ourselves, but in Christ. We want music for the Church to be able to lift us beyond our circumstances and become a plumb line for bringing all of our life experiences to the Truth…, and in doing so, to … build up the Church and enable people to express more about who God is.

(3) to prepare music that is useful for the various parts of a worship service whether the service is contemporary, traditional, or liturgical.

Our New Hymnwriters

Indeed, when we look back, I believe that Graham Kendrick and the Townend and Getty team may turn out to be the Watts and Wesley equivalent of our day. They are that good!

Series Summary

We are today completing our thirteen week summer hymn series. Let me review the titles and mention a hymn or two and author or two each:
Jesus: Lord of Our Hearts; “Be Thou My Vision,” author unknown
Jesus: Lord of Angelic Armies; “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Martin Luther
Jesus: Lord of All the Earth; “Joy to the World,” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Isaac Watts
Jesus: Liberator of Our Hearts; “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” Charles Wesley
Jesus: Power to Save; “Amazing Grace,” John Newton
Jesus: Lamb and Shepherd; “Holy, Holy, Holy,” Reginald Heber and “Just As I Am,” Charlotte Elliott
Jesus: Our One Foundation; “The Church’s One Foundation,” Samuel Stone, and “What a Friend We have In Jesus” Joseph Scriven
Jesus: Our Assurance; “Blessed Assurance,” Fanny Crosby, and “Take My Life and Let It Be,” Frances Havergal
Jesus: Our Commander; “I Love to Tell the Story,” Katherine Hankey, and “I Will Sing of My Redeemer,” Philip Bliss
Jesus: His Steadfast Love; “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Thomas Chisholm
Jesus: Our Victory; “How Great Thou Art,” Stuart Hine
Jesus: the King and His Kingdom; “Seek Ye First” Karen Lafferty,
Jesus: Our All in All; “Knowing You,” Graham Kendrick“ and In Christ Alone,” Stuart Townend and Keith Getty

The Main Thing

Do you detect a theme running through the whole series? It’s all about Jesus, his redeeming love, and the fullness of what he does for us. As the hymn “In Christ Alone,” says, Jesus is our “All in All.” In him we receive all that we truly need; in Him we ultimately become all that we truly are, children and heirs of God. He is the All in All for all who have trusted him served him worshiped him, and proclaimed him in all times and places. And he is the All in All for us right here and right now.

That is the main thing about our faith, and the focus of what we sing ought always to express or to complement that truth. Let’s always keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is Jesus!