SONG STUDY 9: AMAZING GRACE

SONG STUDY (9) AMAZING GRACE! John Newton

        John Newton

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!

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis grace has 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 first begun. 

This is one of the best known hymns in the English language. Although there are other  tunes which fit the words, the one nearly always used is called "New Britain". John Newton appears to have written the words in 1772 (first published in 1779) whereas the melody  was coupled with the words in 1847. 

A great deal has been written about this hymn. You will find a comprehensive account in the Wikipedia article here: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace#%22New_Britain%22_tune

Here are some renditions for you to listen to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= displays the writers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpUAu54Jzj4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCp5LG_zNE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxuSdBDib-s

Questions

1. Name some other hymns or songs which also use the words "amazing grace".

2. Is "amazing grace" an expression used in Scripture? See Acts 6:8, Romans 5: 17, Ephesians 1: 4-8.

3. Why did John Newton consider himself to be "such a wretch"? See 1 Timothy 1:15-16.

4. Philip Yancey wrote a book called "What's So Amazing About Grace? How would you answer that question?

5. Verse 3 displays the writer's amazing confidence in God. What Scriptural support is there for such confidence? See Proverbs 3:21-26, Hebrews 3:5-6, 1 John 2:28-29.

6. The fourth verse differs from the other verses in several ways. Can you suggest what some of these differences are? This verse was apparently written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the book "Uncle Tom's Cabin".There are other verses which you may remember. What are they about?

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