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Images of Jesus
There are a variety of images of Jesus Christ in the hymns of the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship and also the familiar Lutheran Book of Worship and With One Voice.
Jesus as friend â€¨and companion
• “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”: ELW, 742; LBW, 439.
• “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”: ELW, 620; LBW, 345.
• “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”: ELW, 773; WOV, 731.
• “You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore”: ELW, 817; WOV, 784.
Jesus as the Word, â€¨Logos of God
• “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”: ELW, 295; LBW, 42.
• “Savior of the Nations Come”: ELW, 263; LBW, 28.
• “Peace Came to Earth”: ELW, 285; WOV, 641.
• “The Word of God is Source and Seed”: ELW, 506; WOV, 658.
Jesus as warrior or king
• “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”: LBW, 389.
• “Lead On, Oh King Eternal!”: ELW, 805; LBW, 495.
• “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”: ELW, 503, 504, 505; LBW, 228, 229.
Jesus as Savior
• “Beautiful Savior”: ELW, 838; LBW, 518.
• “Abide With Us, Our Savior”: LBW, 263.
• “My Song Is Love Unknown”: ELW, 343; WOV, 661.
• “Christ, Mighty Savior”: ELW, 560; WOV, 729.
Jesus as servant
• “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service”: ELW, 712; LBW, 423.
• “O Master, Let Me Walk with You”: LBW, 492.
• “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love”: ELW, 708; WOV, 765.
• “Weary of All Trumpeting”: WOV, 785.
Jesus as shepherd
• “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”: ELW, 502; LBW, 456.
• “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”: ELW, 789; LBW, 481.

The faith we sing

How hymns reflect and challenge our beliefs

How hymns reflect and challenge our beliefs.On Reformation Sunday, many ELCA congregations sing Martin Luther’s famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The lyrics reflect Luther’s theological beliefs about God, the church, the devil and Jesus Christ. He wrote them to teach Christians that they should not fear the powers of the pope, the devil or the princes. Listen to his words:

“We tremble not, unmoved we stand; they cannot overpow’r us. Let this world’s tyrant rage; in battle we’ll engage! His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail!” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 503, 504, 505; Lutheran Book of Worship, 229).

Luther understood that hymns were one of the most important ways to teach theology to people, particularly at a time when most Christians were illiterate. As inheritors of Luther’s rich theological legacy, it’s important for us to reflect on the way hymns shape and challenge our beliefs and how we live out our faith in the world.

While many traditions rely on a prayer book, we Lutherans are drawn to our hymnals. We sing our beliefs, theology and piety. Many of us can easily name a favorite hymn or praise song and recall when it first became important to us—at a baptism, summer camp, Sunday school, or the funeral of a family member or close friend. Hymns elicit strong feelings and memories, and they transport us back to significant times in our lives.