Category Archives: Sermon Poems

Poems based on sermons I hear at my church and elsewhere (my very feeble attempt to artistically apply the Word preached).

Sermon Poetry – “Lord Save Me by Slaying Me Heart”

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| Leave a comment

Sermon Poetry, 4 October 2009
Sermon Title – “A Review of the Advantages and Difficulties of the Christian Life from Ephesians”
Sermon Text – Ephesians 4:17-32
Preacher – Pastor Larry Vincent

Good God, I’m a sinner
I love myself more than my neighbors around
My love is for me more than the Father, my God
Lord, save me by slaying my heart

Sweet Jesus, I’m helpless
I haven’t the strength to obey your commands
Your Salvation can’t come from keeping Your Law
Lord, save me by Jesus Your Son

Holy Spirit, I’m failing
Without Your good work, I will not become holy
I can’t and I won’t grow by myself in this world
Lord, save me and bring me to glory

I’m a Husband, a Father, Employee and Churchman
I’m called to obey in the paths that I tread
Without Jesus’ love and His Grace I will falter
Lord help me to love and to live for Your Name

Lord, bring me repentance
To honor Your name
So I’ll be like Jesus
Your mercies proclaim

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Sermon Poetry and Irish Proverbs. Heck yes!

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 12 Comments

As I’ve been blogging this past year I’ve been writing two different (and fairly unique) types of posts.

First, I love Irish culture and as I’ve been trying to teach myself Gaeilge, I keep running across “Irish Proverbs” on different sites.  These are just pithy sayings in the Irish language, but as I read them I thought “hey, I oughta flesh out the lessons in ‘em!”.  So, I did, and thus fair I’ve written six “Irish Proverbs … Thought About and Applied”.  More will be forthcoming.

Secondly, over the years I’ve tried taking notes during sermons, both handwriting and on the laptop, but I’ve never been able to consistently take good notes.  I spent more time taking them than actually listening to the sermon.  Then, a few months ago I was listening to a sermon out of Revelation by one of our pastors, Jarrett Downs, and I just up and wrote a poem in response to it, right then and right there!  Oddly enough, I found that I was able to get more out of the sermon by taking my notes in poem form than I did without taking notes at all!  So, I did it the next week and the next week and now its the only notes I take and I do it with every sermon.  So, be on the lookout for those on this blog and on the new one dedicated to just that.

Oh ya, the links:

Sermon Poetry – Poetry Based on Sermons (or Sermon-Based Poetry)

Irish Proverbs … Thought About and Applied

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Posted in Irish Proverbs, Sermon Poems

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Sermon Poetry – “The Father is Seeking”

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 544 Comments

Preacher – Dr. Tom Ascol

The Father is seeking and saving and loving
To save all His children He loves
He sent Christ tas Savior to bleed and to suffer
So sinners like us might be saved

He loves us with fervor, ’tis shown on the Cross
christ died so that sinners might live
He sought us as rebels and loves us as son
The Father His Grace to us gives

We’re called as the Body to go to the World
And tell of the Gospel of Christ
We’re called on a Mission, to tell of the Savior
So sinners like us might be saved

Dear Father, please help us to speak of Your Son
To family and friends all around
To witness of Jesus and of our salvation
So sinners once lost might be found

Oh Father, come finish Your plan of Salvation
Your Spirit come send to convert
So sinners believing might have Christ’s Salvation
Together we worship Your Name

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#SBFCSW “Preaching Christ to the Natural Man”, Pastor Tom Ascol

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 517 Comments

Sermon Poetry – “Lord, Help Me”
Sermon Title – “Preaching Christ to the Natural Man”
Preacher – Dr. Tom Ascol

We live in a time where there’s gods all about
We’re proud of our pluralist ways
The people don’t know of the God of the Word
Ignoring the Ancient of Days

Lord help me when walking in markets and ways
When working among fellow men
Lord help me to preach Jesus Christ to the lost
To sinners, the lost and the damned

Lord help me be faithful to rightly engage
The culture in which I am pleased
To study and know it and judge it by truth
Lord help and show me Your Grace

Lord help me remember the sin of my heart
The sin that enslaves these around
Lord help me to love You and love neighbors too
A sinner was lost, now I’m found

In me light a fire that burns for Your Name
Your honor and glory proclaim
In culture around me, your honor to seek
Proclaiming Your glorious fame

Lord help me to study Your Scripture of Truth
And study the culture around
Respecting the sinner and loving the lost
In Christ, make the lost sinner found

And finally, Father, Your Truth will I tell
I haven’t the strength on my own
Please make me committed, Your glory to seek
Save sinners in Jesus the Son

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#SBFCSW “Preaching Christ to the Christian”, Pastor Fred Malone

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 568 Comments

Sermon Poetry – “Complete what You’ve Begun”
Sermon Title – “Preaching Christ to the Christian”
Preacher – Pastor Fred Malone

Although I’m saved I need the message of my Gospel King
The Revelation Fair and Sweet that Christ has died for me
I need to hear of Law and Sin and how I’ve been redeemed
I need to hear of Jesus Christ, the one who made me free

A slave was I, a rebel dead, I hated Good and Light
I railed against the Holy Law, its message did I fight
I felt I was a moral one, I had no need of Christ
I fought against His Cross of Love, I fought with all my might

But thank the Lord that He is strong, He won against my sin
His Holy Word broke through the haze, my heart did Jesus win
‘Twas Grace that saved a wretch like me, a rebel I had been
That Father chose, my Savior died, the Spirit lives within

So as I live, I need to have the Gospel preached to me
For I forget the Grace of Christ, the blood that washed me clean
The Law is kept by Christ alone, Redemption making free
The sinner’s heart, I look to Christ who died upon the Tree

The things I long to do I don’t, I do the things I hate
I long for good (engaging sin), to stay the Way called Straight
Oh who can save this wretched man, I thank the Father Great
For sending Christ to live and die, in Christ my heart is stayed

This road of life is long and heard, alone we all would fail
We all would walk the crooked way, in journeying to Hell
But thanks to God, we’re kept in Christ, His mercy makes us well
He gives us faith to walk the way, to gates wherein we’ll dwell

Oh Savior Sweet, Kind Jesus Fair! I come a man undone!
I have no strength within my frame, my weakened soul you’ve won
Lord, give me strength to walk the way you’ve chosen for this son
To love my neighbor, loving God, complete what you’ve begun

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Posted in SBFCSW 2009, Sermon Poems

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#SBFCSW “A Critique of Contemporary Models of Preaching”, Pastor Tom Ascol

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 503 Comments



Sermon Poetry – “Lord Keep Me from Deficiency”
Preacher – Pastor Tom Ascol

Lord keep me from deficiency
Help me to preach theology
To tell of you, my Father Sweet
My kind and sovereign King

Lord keep me from deficiency
From apastoral mockery
In loving all your children sweet
And shepherding Your Flock

Lord keep me from deficiency
And help me in expositing
To preach Your Truth with clarity
A herald of Your Word

Lord keep me from deficiency
So sinners might your glory see
In Christ the Light our hearts are free
In Christ our souls are saved

Lord keep me from deficiency
With praying, reading, listening
To know Your Word, to know Your sheep
So I can preach the Word

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Posted in SBFCSW 2009, Sermon Poems

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#SBFCSW “The Lost Element of Theology in Preaching”, Dr. Fred Malone

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 72 Comments

Sermon Poetry – “We’re Preaching the Scriptures”
Preacher – Fred Malone

The preaching of God is stupidity to all the world and the people therein
A message proclaimed to a people in need, to a people all rotting in sin
It’s Grace of our God that He’s given to us all a message by which we are saved
We’re preaching our Savior, we’re preaching a Cross, we’re preaching the study of God

We’re preaching the whole of the Scriptures to sinners, the counsel of God as revealed
We’re teaching of Jesus, our Crucified Savior, the Son who the Father has sent
We’re preaching the Gospel, that Good Revelation, so sinners might glory in Christ
We’re preaching the Gospel, that Kind Revelation, so Christians might comfort in Christ

We’re sinners forgiven, our sins washed by Jesus, we’re living to glorify Him
We’re telling a message to worshipping sinners, that outside of Christ they are lost
But thanks to the Father, our Crucified Savior was sent to so that sinners might live
This news we are preaching, through all of the Scriptures, theology of God above

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Posted in SBFCSW 2009, Sermon Poems

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#SBFCSW “Preaching Christ from the New Testament”, Dr. Tom Ascol

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 28 Comments

Sermon Poetry – “Salvation’s Found Alone in Christ”
Preacher – Dr. Tom Ascol

Come look what God has done in Christ
He sent His Son to live and die
He died for us, so you and I,
Can praise His Holy Name

Salvation’s found alone in Christ
The Bleeding Savior from on High
Be covered by His sacrifice
And love the Son of God

Because of Christ I strive to be
A vessel so that men might see
How Jesus Christ has love for me
Sweet Jesus, give me strength!

The Doctrines that I hold as true
Are false without my Savior who
Came to this earth for me and you
I praise His Holy Name

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Posted in Live Video Feeds, SBFCSW 2009, Sermon Poems

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#SBFCSW “Preaching Christ from the Old Testament”, Dr. Fred Malone

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 571 Comments

Sermon Poetry – “Give Me Eyes to See My Christ”

Oh that I was a man on the road to Emmaus
Hearing my Savior explaining the Word
How my heart would be burning, my ears would be tingling
Such beautiful grace of our glorious Lord
Lord, help me see Christ in the sacrifice
Of innocent sheep sweet and pure
Lord, help me see Christ in the prophecy
The Savior to come right and true

Oh to have understanding of all of the Scriptures
When Scriptures inform me of what Scripture says
My Savior’s the center of all Revelation
The center and purpose of life and God’s plans
Lord, make me submissive and worshipful
To sing praises of Your kind name
Your word tells of Christ and Your holy love
It tells me of Christ and the Cross

Oh that I would see Jesus in the Word God has given
In shadows and visions and prophecies true
To see Christ in Scripture, the whole of the Scriptures
The Covenant Old and the Covenant New
Lord humble this son as I say the words
I desperately need Jesus’ Love
Kind Father, I thank you for sending Christ
The Sacrificed Lamb that I love

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Posted in Live Video Feeds, SBFCSW 2009, Sermon Poems

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Sermon Poetry – “Christ My Only Lord”

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 511 Comments

Sermon Title – “Christian Liberty #4: Christ Our Only Lord”
Sermon Text – Romans 14:1-9
Preacher – Pastor Steve Garrick

Jesus is Lord, the Savior who came
Who stooped, who bled and who died
He rules as our King, His praises we sing
The perfect and pure sacrifice
Our worship we offer unto Him
Salvation is in and is through Him
The Kingdom is for and is by Him
All worship our Savior and King

Jesus is King, He rules over all
He followed the Will of the Lord
He rules over earth, o’er stars, over us
His right and His sure reward
All peoples will bow down before Him
All nature is subject unto Him
Our lives and our glory is for Him
All worship our Savior and King

Jesus the Son submitted in death
The Father’s good will He obeyed
He bled on the Cross, entombed in the grave
In three days our Savior was raised
All things have been given unto him
The Father is satisfied with Him
This plan through the ages was for Him
All worship our Savior and King

Jesus alone is the King over all
Our liberty’s given by him
Our freedom is bought by blood and a Cross
His Law alone dictates our sins
Salvation is by and is for Him
Obedience is by and through Him
Our hearts are bought and owned for Him
All worship our Savior and King

Jesus my King, my heart is in pain
I’m sinning and breaking Your Law
I know that I’m bought, I know that I’m saved
In grief, my heart’s hurting and raw
I know Jesus, healing is in You
My savior, I worship and love You
Please give me the strength to obey You
I worship my Savior and King

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Sermon Poetry – “The Nature of My Heart

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 539 Comments

Sermon Poetry, 13  September 2009
Sermon Title – “Christian Liberty #3 – The Nature of Evil”
Sermon Text – Romans 14
Preacher – Steve Garrick

Much evil dwells
Within my heart
Oh, who can know my sin

My wickedness
Is black and foul
There dwells no good within

I take what’s good
Expressing sin
Engaging wickedness

What God has made
I take and use
I foul what God has blessed

I judge the one
Who’s bought by Christ
I am a hypocrite

Ignoring specks
I’m seeing logs
I’m blinded to the light

I am so weak
Lord make me strong
To battle sin within

Lord, teach me to
Your armor use
In Christ, the battle win

I set the sword,
The Scripture’s point
So I might fall on it

My sin’s exposed
My heart is pierced
That black and stinking pit

A sinner great
Is what I am
God’s love I cannot earn

Because of sin
I do deserve
In hell to scream and burn

But thank the Lord
He does not look
To me to save my life

He sent His Son
The perfect One
The bloodied spotless Christ

In Christ I’m saved
I’m covered with
His holy righteousness

I’m favored by
The Lord above
In Christ by God I’m blessed

In Christ I live
To do the will
Of God, Creator King

Although I sin
Christ prays for me
My song God’s glory sings

I thank the Lord
For sending Christ
So sinners might be saved

God does forgive
My sin within
In Christ my heart’s remade

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Sermon Poetry – “Freedom from the Law”

Posted on September 6, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 510 Comments

Preacher – Jarrett Downs
Sermon Title – “Christian Liberty #2 – Freedom from the Law”
Sermon Text – Romans 7

It’s not freedom from the Law
In that I need not keep its word
Or trust emotions faint
Or do what’s right in my eyes

It fills my mouth with praise
To honor Christ as King
My bloodied Savior Lamb
My King and Perfect Potentate

Apart from Christ I am wed
To the Law I cannot keep
Perfection is Required
Then alas I am a whore

I need to be wed to Christ
The One who has kept the Law
Perfection He performed
In Christ, this sinner is freed and cleansed

This dirty prostitute
Is clothed in righteousness
The works of Jesus Christ
I now have freedom to obey

A means to sanctify
The Law is now to me
I’m freed from saving self
In Christ my heart is free

In Christ I can obey
To be like Jesus Christ
The Law is not my master
I’m wed to Jesus, my loving King

Outside of Christ we’re slaves
The Law’s an unforgiving master
Its requirements cannot be kept
As slaves, we are all rightly damned

But in Christ, our Righteous Lamb
We’re freed from the Law’s demands
We’re saved with Grace so free
We’re free in Christ to Live


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Sermon Poetry – “Have Mercy, Jesus Have Mercy!”

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 26 Comments

Preacher – Jarrett Downs
Sermon Title – “Laodicea: The Church that Needed Nothing”
Sermon Text – Revelation 3:14-22

Jesus, You’re the Way, the Life, the Witness True
Your Word is Truth, You are the Truth
The Logos e’er divine

Forgive me, Jesus forgive me!
Neither hot nor cold, I’m tepid still
Repulsive to your taste

Forgive me, Jesus forgive me!
I think I’m rich and self-supplied
With nothing that I need

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
I’m naked, blind and wretched full
A man who’s pitied most

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
I think I’m rich, you know I’m poor
A man in need of Grace!

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
I’m poor, a wretched fool am I
A man deserving naught

Have mercy, Jesus have mercy!
Without Your Love I’m worse than sin
I don’t deserve rebuke

Sweet Jesus, sweet sweet Jesus!
You’ve saved a sinner poor and blind
You’ve clothed me in Your Love

Sweet Jesus, sweet sweet Jesus!
You condescend to Love this son
You bled so I might live

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Sermon Poetry – “Once Sinner, Now Saved”

Posted on August 16, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 532 Comments

Preacher – Jarrett Downs
Sermon Title – “The Deeds and Hopes of Persevering Saints”
Sermon Text – “Revelation 3:7-13

Jesus, I’m selfish with Your Word
I’m selfish with Your Truth
I think I can hoard Your Love
I’m loving myself, not loving my neighbor
Ignoring Your Power to Move
Forgive my arrogance
Please save me from my sinfulness:
Ignoring the broken and meek
I want to share you with liberality
When bruised, to love my enemies
Lord Christ, when I’m before You, I’m broken and weak

Jesus, I’m hated in this world
They laugh at my weakness
Deriding the son that You Love
Lord Christ by Your Grace, I’m loving my neighbor
Expecting Your power to move
Forgive them their arrogance
Save them from their sinfulness:
Ignoring the broken and meek
Please help me share You with liberality
When killed, to love my enemies
Lord Christ when I’m before You, I’m broken and weak

Jesus, I’m worshipping You
Relying on Your promises
Staying faithful as best I can
Lord Christ by Your Grace, Your Words I will follow
Upheld by Your tender hands
Preserve me to persevere
To stay faithful to the end
Although I am broken and weak
Please strengthen me to worship You
To hold onto Your Word of Truth
Lord Christ I am before You, I’m broken and meek

Jesus, I’m waiting for the end
When I’ll Your glory see
With quickened and eternal eyes
Lord Christ, by Your grace, my race will be finished
And then I will enter Your rest
My eyes are wet with gratitude
To Christ who saved me to new life
My brokenness is fully healed
A laurel crown around my head
A whitened robe around my frame
Lord Christ I am before You, once sinner now saved

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Sermon Poetry – “Broken, Yet in Christ I Live”

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Andrew J. Nicewander| 522 Comments

Preacher – Jarrett Downs
Sermon Title – “The White-Washed Tombs of Sardis”, 9 August 2009
Sermon Text – “Revelation 3:1-6

I am comfortable, living laziness, I’m wearing a mask on my face
I’m an outward show, an inward show, a man who’s ignoring God’s Grace
My holiness is lacking, my sinfulness is growing
I’m living to earn Jesus’ Love
I want the glory of humanity, the memory of posterity
But when I stand before God, I am nothing

Jesus, you see my heart, you see my mind, You see the mask that I wear on my face
You see the outward show, you see the inward show, you see a sinner in need of Your Grace
My holiness is lacking my sinfulness is growing
I’m helpless to earn Jesus’ Love
Begon, oh glory of humanity, the memory of posterity
God I come to you broken, I am nothing

In Christ I live, In Christ I move, it is in Christ that I have all my being
By His blood I’m washed, by His blood I’m clean, in Christ by the Father I’m seen
Though holiness is lacking, Christ’s Grace is me is growing
I’m helpless to earn Jesus’ Love
I shout the glory of the Trinity, I yell His name for all posterity
In Christ my heart is softened, in Christ I am something

I live His name, it is by His Grace, so sinners like me can be saved
I tell His Love, I tell His Grace, for this goal my heart’s remade
Lord, holiness be giving, Christ’s Grace in my be growing
Please shower me with Jesus’ Love
To live the glory of the Trinity, to tell Your Name for all posterity
For Your Glory I am living,
For Your Honor I am telling,
So Your Worship will be growing … Jesus use me

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