2. Learn the great hymns from the history of the church. As we familiarize ourselves with the vast number of hymns of the Christian Church, we begin to find those that particularly speak to our souls of the sufferings of Christ in a powerful way. There are certain hymns that are cherished the most among the people of God. These hymns tend to give the minister the greatest poetic meditations on the sufferings of Christ to bring to the table. Here are a few of those to which I most often turn when I serve the Supper to the people of God:
Man of Sorrows, What a Name
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted
Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended
There is a Fountain Filled With Blood
Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed
What Wondrous Love Is This?
Jesus Paid It All
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
I Need Thee Precious Jesus
Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
Guide Me, O, Thou Great Jehovah
Jesus, I am Resting, Resting
How Sweet and Awesome Is This Place
- Meditate on the intersection of the Gospel and the central truths being communicated from the text. This enables the minister to naturally move from the text to the table. If the passage has spoken of some aspect of depravity, the minister should reiterate the hope that there is through the shedding of the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness and cleansing of sin. If the passage speaks of some aspect of the glories of the incarnation, the minister should emphasize that Christ was incarnate in order to have His body broken apart in judgment in the place of His people. If the passage speaks of the blessings of joy, peace, love, hope, etc., the minister must note that the joy, peace, love and hope are only and ever ours through the sufferings and resurrection victory of Christ.
There is no passage in Scripture from which the minister should not make a bee-line to the Gospel. From there, knowing the various lines to the great Gospel centered hymns becomes the way forward in bringing in the poetic truths of the Gospel at the Supper.
This list of gospel centered hymns originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
