Recommended reading-"Oh Worship the King" & "What Wondrous Love is This?" by Joni Eareckson Tada, John MacArthur, Robert & Bobbie Wolgemuth

These are the first and third books (and CD’s) in a series. They got their start-so the story goes-at a Christian book publisher anniversary banquet. Joni Eareckson Tada was one of the scheduled speakers. She got John MacArthur up with her and they had an impromptu “Hymn Sing.” From there came the idea to record some favorite hymns. They were joined by friends Robert and Bobbie Wolgemuth, and the Chorale of Master’s College to sing twelve hymns. They also wrote the accompanying book. Each hymn gets a chapter. Starting with the words, they take turns writing about it from different viewpoints.

“At the Heart of the Hymn” looks at just that-and relates stories and illustrations related to the hymn. “In the Light of the Word” looks at the scriptural basis of the hymn, and “From out of the Past” looks at historical aspects of the hymn, and its writer. The book ends with music for the hymns from the Trinity Hymnal.

Any know of my love for hymns should not be surprised I thoroughly enjoyed these two books. The arrangements and performances of the hymns are excellent, the hymns well chosen. The written material is not only informative, but uplifting—it makes for profitable devotional reading as well.

“Oh Worship the King” features a variety of hymns, and “What Wondrous Love is This” focuses on hymns on Christ’s death and resurrection. Other collections in this series, (Which I haven’t heard or read-yet), include one on Christmas, and another that looks at the hope we have in Christ.

They are published by Crossway Books.