Article by: Sarah Koontz
When I was a young child, I attended a small Christian school.
Every week we memorized a passage of Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.
Forevermore, the words of 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV will remain written upon my heart, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
There is great purpose and significance in our diligent study of the Word of God.
The Bible is trustworthy and complete, lacking no good thing; it is the only unchanging thing in this world of shifting sand.
Even though everything around us is changing, our Savior is the same, “yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8).
He actively loves us, guides us, and prepares us for what lies around the bend.
Several years ago, when I was explaining the COVID-19 pandemic to my children and communicating the many changes we would experience due to this invisible enemy, this comforting truth wrapped itself around me like a warm hug.
I reached out to my girls and pulled them close as I whispered biblical wisdom over their lives, “I know it seems like everything is changing, but I want you to know that God will never change. When there is no peace here on earth, we can always find peace with God.“
These are challenging times, and we’re sometimes worn thin by the trials and tribulations we’re experiencing.
But God! He faithfully goes before us, and generously prepares a way for us (when we can see no way)!
Isaiah 43:19 NIV says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
God is doing a new thing. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know how it’s all going to come together. But I do know that He is actively, presently, and enduringly faithful.
God is my comfort, my shelter, my salvation. And He is at work in every crisis. He has not left us alone; He will not stop working in our midst until the hour He returns.
Recently, my heart has been drawn to the comforting hymns of my childhood. They remind me of the hope and strength to be found in the enduring truth of Scripture.
As I studied the lives of the hymn writers and deepened my understanding of the biblical truth that inspired their songs, I felt a deep sense of hope renewed in my soul.
A 6-Week Hymn-Inspired Bible Study Is Now Available On-Demand!
Are you longing for more peace and joy in your daily life? Do you crave a deep, sustaining relationship with your Creator? I invite you to join us for It Is Well, a free online Bible study inspired by beloved hymns.
Now is a perfect time to steep your soul in the sacred songs of the past.
The purpose of our It Is Well hymn study is to fortify and strengthen your understanding of biblical truth as it relates to key theological concepts of our faith. By taking the time to thoughtfully and biblically consider the answers to key questions, you will be prepared “to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope” that is in you (1 Pet 3:15).
This compelling Bible study includes the stories behind some of Christianity’s most beloved hymns. Each week, you will meet a new hymn writer and have the opportunity to study the theological truths woven into a familiar hymn. You’ll also receive a thoughtful devotional commentary to help you better understand and apply biblical truth to your life.
I wrote the additional commentary so that you would not have to face these complex biblical truths alone. It is my hope that my personal insight will help guide your own process of discovery and give you additional “spiritual milk” to help nourish your soul and grow your faith (1 Pet 2:2).
You will find that some sections are easier to complete than others. Some days will require little effort for you to complete, while others will demand that you dig deep and wrestle with what the Bible has to say about certain topics.
Do not allow the difficulties you experience throughout the process to distract from the good work God is continuing in you (Phil 1:6).
Find comfort, strength, and peace in Him, friend! Draw near to the One who has promised to respond in kind (Jm 4:8). He is the way we get through this trial; He is the rainbow on the other side of this storm.
Topics Covered in our Hymn-Inspired Bible Study
Week 1: Pray
This week, we will study and pray through the biblical truth in the hymn “Be Thou My Vision,” attributed to a sixth-century Scottish monk named Dallán Forgaill.
Week 2: Ponder
This week we will ponder the many ways that creation points to and praises the Creator as we study the powerful truth contained in the hymn, “All Creatures of Our God and King,” by St Francis of Assisi.
Week 3: Praise
This week, we will focus on the transformative power of praising God as we study the hymn, “Praise To The Lord, The Almighty,” written by the German preacher Joachim Neander in 1665.
Week 4: Profess
This week we will study “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name,” by Edward Perronet—a bold hymn that declares the majesty of Christ as it calls us to make Him known throughout the earth.
Week 5: Practice
This week we will practice declaring our dependence on God as we seek eternal hope in the words of the beloved hymn, “It Is Well,” penned by Horatio Spafford in the late 1800s.
Week 6: Persist
This week we will fortify our faith by studying the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” written by Thomas Chisholm. We will persist in faith because we serve a God who is at work in our lives every day.
What to Expect During the It Is Well Bible Study
Each week you will receive several free resources to help you immerse yourself in the study of these sacred songs, including:
✔ The Story Behind the Song: These uplifting background stories will bolster your faith and help you better understand the life and testimony of the hymn writers.
✔ Five Days of Hymn-Inspired Bible Study: As we break the hymn down into individual stanzas, we will study the biblical truth upon which the song is built and seek to apply it to our lives.
✔ A Devotional Commentary: After you’ve worked through your own personal study and application of the daily Scripture, you will be invited to review additional commentary on the passage by Sarah Koontz.
✔ Original Hymn Art: We have partnered with Joy Books of VintageVerses.com to provide you with exclusive, printable hymn art throughout the study.
This Hymn-Inspired Bible Study Will Help You:
- Fill your heart with songs of worship
- Fill your mind with biblical truth
- Meet the songwriters who shaped our faith
- Contemplate important theological concepts
- Establish a habit of daily Bible study
This email-based Bible study includes weekly lessons with the story behind the song, a printable workbook with five days of hymn-inspired Bible study, and a devotional commentary to help enhance your personal study and application of the biblical text.
The estimated time commitment is just 10-15 minutes per day.
Thanks to the generous donations of our Discipleship Team and Support Team, this study is free for anyone who wishes to participate. Don’t forget to invite friends! Bible study is always more fun with friends.
You will receive a welcome letter within the hour & the first devotional will arrive in your inbox tomorrow morning.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by the Living by Design blog today. I hope that you decided to join us for It Is Well: A Hymn-Inspired Bible Study!
