Mr. Goodgame remembers singing from hymnals at Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida, where he grew up. 

Hymnals are collections of songs based on scripture. Those songs usually include music notes on a staff to help the congregation follow the melody and harmony. Hymns like “Amazing Grace” have been sung for hundreds of years. Others are fairly recent, such as “In Christ Alone” and “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.”

God calls us to sing “a new song.” (Psalm 96:1) But does that mean we should forget the old ones?

Some churches think so. In a survey of 127 local churches, music professor Will Bishop found that almost half sing more modern songs than hymns. More than two-thirds never use a hymnal.

Many hymnals hold some very old songs, like “Gloria Patri.” That short hymn was written in the second century. It’s about 1,900 years old!

Old songs often don’t work well with drum kits and guitars. So many modern churches use “contemporary” or “praise music” instead of hymns. “King of Kings” is a powerful example of a contemporary worship song. 

Mr. Goodgame doesn’t have anything against modern music. Many of the tunes in the Scripture Hymnal are upbeat. 

Songs we sing to the Lord can be new and exhilarating. But they should be grounded in scriptural truth. In church, “we’re not just learning theology,” says Mr. Goodgame. “We’re learning about what God says, who God says He is, and what His promises are.” Music can help believers grasp and remember those very real and very important things. 

“I don’t remember any of the sermons that I heard as a kid,” says Mr. Goodgame. “But I remember all the hymns.”

Does your church use hymn books? What type of music do you prefer to worship with? Tell us about your favorites. Email us at WORLDkidseditor@gwnews.com.

Why? God wants us to sing so that we praise Him and learn more about His good promises. (Ephesians 5:19)

Recommended Reading: For more on beautiful, rhyming words, see A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson.