Worship Notes

7 billion!  That’s likely the number of Bibles that have been printed since the invention of the printing press.  Even more striking, 6-7 new Bibles are purchased every 10 seconds.  Thanks be to God for an invention that allowed every household, and eventually every person, to have their own copy of God’s Word.  I take for granted that I have dozens of paper copies of the Bible and unlimited access to electronic resources.  Anything I could ever want to know about God and His Word is available to me.  It’s truly miraculous to realize that, even just a few generations ago, families would be fortunate to have even one Bible for everyone to share.

Prior to widespread availability of the Bible, the church had to be creative in its methods to teach the basics of the faith.  One of the more common ways to teach basic theology was a process of memorization, known as catechism, which often takes the form of question and response.  Christ Our Hope in Life and Death is loosely based on the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563.  The first line of the song is nearly identical to the first line of the catechism.

Question: What is your only comfort in life and in death?

Answer: That I am not my own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood….

The Getty’s and Matt Papa have captured it so beautifully in song.

“What is our hope in life and death?  Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?  That our souls to him belong.

What truth can calm the troubled soul?  God is good, God is good.
Where is his grace and goodness known?  In our great Redeemer's blood.

O sing hallelujah!  Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah!  Now and ever we confess, Christ our hope in life and death!”

What is our only hope?  It is only Jesus Christ and His shed blood for us!  Hallelujah!

Chris

Don’t know one of the songs we’re singing this Sunday?  Check them out here:

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
https://youtu.be/OibIi1rz7mw?si=4227ADYwgVZ-2Y_u

Jesus Saves
https://youtu.be/WFgAnhHhesk?si=ENpInMuTm2zBEk4q

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Modern)
https://youtu.be/WvtaGtTeMpI?si=KyL9HZJ2rDDl2WKl