Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hymn: #379 — "Amazing Grace—How Sweet the Sound"

Before his conversion, John Newton was an unbeliever who engaged in the despicable business of buying and transporting black slaves around the world. Then one day the grace of God put fear in his heart through a fierce storm. God used the fear of a shipwreck and the grace of his holy Word to lead this wicked slave trader to a genuine conversion and a dramatic change in his way of life.

Later, he felt the call into the ministry and became an ordained minister in the Anglican church at the age of 39. Newton began writing simple heart-felt hymns for his services. "Amazing Grace" is one of those hymns. Until his death at age 82, John Newton never ceased to marvel at the grace of God that transformed him so completely. Shortly before his death he proclaimed with a loud voice during a sermon, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!" What amazing grace!

"Amazing Grace" speaks about our weaknesses. We were wretches, lost, alone, and blind. We were disobedient toward God, loveless toward our fellow man, and preoccupied with ourselves. God’s grace, shown to us through Jesus Christ, our great high priest, has changed us. As our high priest, Jesus went through all the daily junk that we go through – trials, tribulations, and temptations. Unlike us, though, Jesus did not sin. Jesus remained strong against every assault of Satan.

The point is this. Jesus knows what we go through. He went through it for us! From experience he knows what we face and he can sympathize with us. He gives us his grace, his undeserved love, to get us through life. Because of Christ, we can now approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. We have been given the gracious privilege to worship and praise our God. Coming to church to worship God is not something that we have to do. It is something we get to do. Our worship is a gift of God’s grace. "Tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home" – home to heaven, before God’s throne of grace.

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. ² How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! ³ He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. ⁴ He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. ⁵ God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. ⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. ⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. ⁸ God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. ⁹ The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

Hymn: #256 — "How Great Thou Art"

The original text for our next hymn was written by a Swedish pastor, Carl Boberg in 1886. While visiting a beautiful country estate, Boberg was caught in a thunderstorm. The awesome and violent lightning and thunder quickly ended, leaving clear brilliant sunshine and the calm, sweet singing of the birds in the trees. Falling on his knees in awe and adoration of Almighty God, the pastor wrote nine stanzas of praise. His words were sung to the music of an old Swedish folk tune.

The text was later translated into English by Reverand Stuart K. Hine. These four stanzas by Stuart Hine have since ministered and inspired God’s people worldwide.

This hymn begs us to think about the unfathomable greatness of God and his wonderful redeeming love for each of us. How often, though, do we stand in awe of a sunrise, a rainbow, a birth, the cross? We see the awesome wonder of all the works the Lord has made. We see the stars. We hear the mighty thunder. The power is displayed throughout the universe. Yet, it is all so ho-hum to us. It isn’t inspiring. It rarely fills us with awe any more.

When we think that God did not spare his Son, yet sent him to die to take away our sin, do we fall on our knees in humble adoration? Are we filled with awesome wonder at the great love of our God? Or have we taken God’s awesome redeeming sacrifice for granted?

Despite our lack of attention, zeal, and praise, we are forgiven. We are loved. We are saved. We know that though we are unappreciative Christians, when Christ comes, he will take us home.

For God’s awesome love in creating and saving us, we clap our hands. We shout to God with cries of joy. We sing praises to our King. Our soul sings: "My God, how great thou art."

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-- on the very day-- they came to the Desert of Sinai. ² After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. ³ Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ⁴ 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, ⁶ you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

Hymn: #440 — "On Eagles’ Wings"

Our next hymn is a new favorite for Christian funerals. Most pastors I know would rather conduct ten funerals than one wedding. That may sound strange, but the pastor’s reasoning is really very simple. The wedding service often focuses too much on the wedding couple, and really on the bride – her dress, her bouquet, her decorations. The funeral service recalls the simple faith and beautiful trust of the deceased in the Lord. A Christian funeral service focuses on how the Lord, like a mother eagle, protects and shelters his young children – he protects them in life and now protects them eternally in death.

Being carried on eagles’ wings is a definite scriptural concept. The Lord declares in Exodus 19: "I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself." God is reminding his people how they arrived safely out of Egypt and entered the Desert of Sinai. With the protecting care of an eagle teaching its little eaglets to fly, the Lord watched over his people every step of the way. The Israelites never would have been able to escape from Egypt on their own. But with trust in the Lord’s power, they made it.

Isaiah also mentioned how the Lord cares for his people: "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) Do you ever feel overwhelmed by life – exhausted, frustrated, weak, discouraged? Even the strongest people get tired at times. But God’s power and strength never diminish. God is never too tired or too busy to listen to you and help you. And his strength is your source of strength. When temptations come your way, the "snares of the fowler will never capture you." When you are poor and out of work, "famine will bring you no fear." When danger threatens your life, "to his angels he’s given a command to guard you in all your ways."

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Hymn: #579 — "Lift High the Cross"

Proclaiming the love of Christ is the mission of this congregation and each individual Christian here this morning. You and I know that we are sinners from birth, we are by nature lost and condemned creatures. We are blind, at odds with God, dead in our transgressions and sins. We persistently sin. We purposefully violate God’s laws. We willfully trespass. We stubbornly transgress. Such a situation requires a complete change.

This change takes place when sinners come to faith in Christ and what he accomplished on the cross. By faith we have exchanged our filthy rags for the glorious garments of Christ’s perfect righteousness. Though we are still sinners, we are made saints. Clothed in Christ, we sinners are forgiven, we are at peace with God, and we are assured of an eternity of bliss with God in heaven. Until that time, we spend our days on earth in cheerful service to God. We saints combine to carry the cross to others who are still lost in their sin and shame.

Everything we have become comes to us though Christ and his cross. With Paul, we boast in Christ’s cross. Jesus loved you so much that he died for you. Now, by faith, you proclaim his saving hame. Praise the Crucified for his victory. Lift high the cross. The love of Christ proclaim until all the world will adore his sacred name.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Hymn: #411 — "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

Do you have friends? What do you like about your friends? Why are they so special?

A true friend loves and accepts us just as we are, stays close to us in good or in bad, and is always ready to help in time of need. That describes Jesus, doesn’t it? Jesus is a our Best Friend. He is always there for us. He is always close to us. And he even accepts us when we do sinful, shameful things.

Josesh Scriven, the author of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," had wealth, education, a devoted family, and a pleasant life in his native Ireland. Then he encountered unexpected tragedy. On the night before Scriven’s wedding day, his fiancee drowned. In his deep sorrow, Joseph realized that could find the comfort and support he needed only in his dearest friend, Jesus.

Soon after his tragey, Scriven dramatically changed his lifestyle. He left Ireland for Port Hope, Canada, determined to devote all of his extra time in being a friend and helper to others. He often gave away his closting and possessions to those in need, and he worked – without pay – for anyone who needed him. Scriven became known as "the Good Samaritan of Port Hope."

When Scriven’s mother became ill in Ireland, he wrote a comforting letter to her, enclosing the words of his newly written poem with the prayer that these brief lines would remind her of a never-failing heavenly Friend. Sometime later, when Joseph Scriven himself was ill, a friend who cam to visit him happened to see a copy of these words scribbed on scratch paper near his bed. The friend read the lines with interest and asked, "Who wrote those beautiful words?" Scriven replied, "The Lord and I did it between us."

Like Joseph Scriven, we too can find peace, comfort, strength, and joy when we turn to God as a friend.

Hymn: "Just a Closer Walk with Thee"

The music we listen to often reflects who and what we are. For example, I listen to country music because they remind me of my parents’ music I grew up listening to like Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and the Oakridge Boys. I listen to country music because they sings songs about me – dogs, trucks, and tractors; love, friends, God and country.

Each of the songs that you picked for this favorite hymn festival also talk about you. Maybe the hymns you chose focused on lent or Easter or Christmas, because you love those times of the year and what they represent. Maybe you chose songs about trust, faith, or mission work. Or maybe you picked songs because you liked the melody. I had someone write in requesting hymn 363, "The King of Glory Comes," with Pastor Bauer playing it. I love that. That selection told me something about that person.

These hymns speak to who we are and what we believe. This next hymn does that also as we ask Jesus to keep us walking closer to him because we are weak, we falter, and we are feeble, but the Lord is strong, caring, and gentle. This is a song about us.

But as we sing this song, I want you to also sing it for the new members that God is bringing into our congregation. Make this song a prayer that these new people in our Christian family will walk close to us and closer to our Savior.