The Fields Church: Arlington, TX

January 2025 - To God Be the Glory

Click here to download and print this month's hymn, "To God Be the Glory"

Why do we sing a "Hymn of the Month?"

Paul commands the church in Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Each category of song has an intentional place in our corporate worship. We echo the words of the Holy Spirit when we sing through the Psalms (and other songs using the words of Scripture). Hymns (generally) use rigid harmony and rhythm to praise God in reflection on deep truths. Spiritual songs are no less rooted in deep truth, but (generally) use emotive melodies to passionately declare these truths across the Christian life in joy or sorrow, success or suffering, feast or famine. Again, Paul encourages us to use all three of these types of songs to teach one another the word of Christ as it dwells more richly in us.

As the decades and centuries pass, there are countless hymns and spiritual songs that have been added to the great songbook of the universal church. Along the way, several of these songs have been remembered because of their deeply gospel-centered truths and meaningful melodies. There are many examples where learning about the songwriters and stories behind these hymns can also encourage and challenge us to grow in our faith. That's why we take time not only to learn and sing these hymns of the month, but include a brief printed background and accompanying Scriptures for personal devotion and family worship.

Our goal with the Hymn of the Month is three-fold:

1) To increase our awareness of the church's songbook by learning songs from saints who came before us.

2) To increase our knowledge of God, good theology, and beautiful melodies by learning these songs.

3) To increase our intentionality and focus on Jesus by singing the HOTM every week three or four minutes before our worship gathering starts.