Missing Letters -- Christian Hymns -- #1 Quiz

Answer: Amazing Grace

The correct answer is 'Amazing Grace', arguably the most popular Gospel hymn in the world. The hymn was written by John Newton, a former slave trader, in 1779. Newton is credited with writing an estimated 280 hymns, but none of them come close to the popularity of 'Amazing Grace'. The hymn has been sung by everyone from Elvis Presley to Barack Obama.

After surrendering his life to Christ, Newton would go on to become an evangelical Anglican priest in 1764 and play a key role with William Wilberforce in the English abolitionist movement to abolish the slave trade.

Here are the words to the Gospel classic 'Amazing Grace'.

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we'd first begun."

Answer: Blessed Assurance

The hymn is 'Blessed Assurance'. Written by Fanny Crosby in 1873, the hymn remains popular with Christians around the world after more than 140 years. Crosby was blind but that didn't slow her down when it came to writing Gospel hymns. Wikipedia credits her with writing 8,000 hymns but some Websites suggest she actually wrote as many as 9,000 as a number of her hymns were published under pseudonyms. Legend has it, publishers of hymn books insisted Crosby use pseudonyms because if she didn't it would appear as if she wrote the vast majority of the songs in any given hymnal.

Here are the words to the classic hymn 'Blessed Assurance'.

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long."

Answer: The Old Rugged Cross

The correct answer is 'The Old Rugged Cross'. George Bennard, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, wrote the popular hymn in 1912. According to Wikipedia, the hymn was popularized during Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns by two members of his campaign staff, Homer Rodeheaver and Virginia Asher. It is believed Rodeheaver and Asher were the first to record 'The Old Rugged Cross' in 1921. Making the hymn different is the fact it tells of the writer's Christian experience rather than his love of Jesus Christ. Bennard retired to Reed City, Michigan, and Wikipedia reports the city maintains a museum dedicated to his life and ministry.

Here are the words to 'The Old Rugged Cross'.

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain:

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain:

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.

Refrain:"

Answer: How Great Thou Art

'How Great Thou Art' is based on a Swedish traditional melody written by Carl Gustav Boberg (1859-1940) in 1885. According to Wikipedia, the hymn was first translated into German and then into Russian. "It was translated into English from the Russian version by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own," Wikipedia states. 'How Great Thou Art' quickly became popular around the world after it was performed by the likes of George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during the Billy Graham crusades. Wikipedia reports 'How Great Thou Art' was voted the Number One hymn in the United Kingdom by the British Broadcasting Corporation's Song of Praise.

Here are the words to classic hymn 'How Great Thou Art':

"O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Refrain

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Refrain

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Refrain

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: 'My God, how great Thou art!'

Refrain"

Answer: Onward Christian Soldiers

'Onward Christian Soldiers' is popular with Christians around the world and the Salvation Army is noted for using it in parades and street crusades. The words were written in England by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865, and the music was composed by Arthur Sullivan in 1871, according to Wikipedia. "The lyric was written as a processional hymn for children walking from Horbury Bridge, where Baring-Gould was curate, to Horbury St Peter's Church near Wakefield, Yorkshire, at Whitsuntide in 1865," Wikipedia reports. "It was originally entitled, 'Hymn for Procession with Cross and Banners'." According to Wikipedia, Baring-Gould wrote the world-famous hymn in about fifteen minutes.

Here are the words to 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.

"Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain"

Answer: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' is the correct answer. The hymn was written by Thomas Obadiah Chisholm in 1923. According to Umdiscipleship.org, Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1866 and lacked a formal education. Despite this, Chisholm became a teacher at age sixteen and associate editor of his hometown weekly newspaper, the Franklin Advocate, at age twenty-one, the Website reports.

Umdiscipleship.org reports 'Great Is The Faithfulness' didn't become popular until the 1950s when it was used at crusades conducted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The Website reports George Beverly Shea, the famous Canadian-born singer of the Billy Graham Crusades, introduced 'Great is Thy Faithfulness' in 1954 at evangelistic meetings in Great Britain and it "immediately became a favorite".

Here are the words to the hymn 'Great is Thy Faithfulness'.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided-
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain:"

Answer: It Is Well

The correct answer is 'It Is Well', sometimes referred to as 'It Is Well With My Soul'. The popular hymn was written by Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss and was first published in 1876. According to Wikipedia, Spafford wrote 'It Is Well' after some "traumatic events" in his life. The Website reports he was ruined financially when the Great Chicago Fire razed his property in 1871 and two years later four of his daughters died in a shipwreck while crossing the Atlantic. 'It Is Well' has been recorded by numerous musicians, ranging from Tennessee Ernie Ford to Amy Grant.

Here are the words to the hymn 'It is Well'.

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain:

My sin -- oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! --
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain:

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain:

But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

Refrain:

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:"

Answer: Be Thou My Vision

When it comes to old-time music, it's difficult to outdo 'Be Thou My Vision'. According to Wikipedia, the hymn dates from at least the eighth century, though it has often been attributed to the sixth-century Irish Christian poet Saint Dallan. The hymn has been translated into a large number of languages, including Korean, Greek, Dutch, Chinese and Nepali. "The most well known English version, with some minor variations, was translated by Eleanor Hull and published in 1912," Wikipedia reports. "In 1919, the lyrics were set to the tune of the Irish folk tune 'Slane', to which the song is sung to this day."

Here are the words to the hymn 'Be Thou My Vision'.

"Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art --
thou my best thought, by day or by night;
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all."

Answer: To God Be the Glory

'To God Be the Glory', one of an estimated 8,000 hymns written by Fanny Crosby, is the correct answer. Lectionary.org reports Crosby wrote 'To God Be the Glory' in 1872, but unlike many of her compositions, the hymn didn't catch on. Things changed, however, in 1954 when U.S. evangelist Billy Graham went to England for his London Crusade. "Someone (almost certainly English) gave a copy of the song to Cliff Barrows, Graham's song leader, and suggested including it in the songbook that they were compiling for the crusade," Lectionary.org reports. "Barrows had heard the song on an earlier visit to England, and was impressed with its strong note of praise -- so he included it in the songbook and used it in the crusade. The crowd responded so enthusiastically that he sang it nearly every night."

When the Billy Graham team members returned to the United States, for a crusade in Nashville, they sang 'To God Be the Glory' for an American audience for the first time. "Once again, the crowd responded enthusiastically, so Graham and Barrows adopted the song as one of their standards," Lectionary.org reports. "Because of their influence, the compilers of hymnals began including it in new hymnals."

Here are the words to the hymn 'To God Be the Glory'.

"To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain:

Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
and great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son;
but purer, and higher, and greater will be
our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain:"

Answer: At the Cross

The correct answer is 'At the Cross', also known as 'Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed'. The hymn was written more than three-hundred years ago by Isaac Watts and remains incredibly popular today. The Website UnlockingtheBible,org has a list of the 25 top Christian songs of all time and 'At the Cross' is placed at Number 18. Meanwhile, Hymnary.org reports Watts had a totally different name for the classic hymn "Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed'. The Website states his original heading for the text was 'Godly Sorrow Arising from the Suffering of Christ'.

Here are the words to the classic hymn 'At the Cross', also known as 'Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed'.

"Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine --
And bathed in its own blood --
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His soul in anguish stood.

Refrain:

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Refrain:

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature's sin.

Refrain:

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

Refrain:

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do.

Refrain:"