Considering Our Church Name

Most people can say what their names mean and why their parents gave it to them. A name says something about a person, place, or thing. In a name we can trace origins and history, get a glimpse of what the one who did the naming thought about the future of the one who was named. When we look in the Bible we see this over and over again. Jesus’ name means “the Lord saves” for example.  

Yet Juliet told Romeo that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So true for a rose, but what about a church? In what way does it matter that our church is named “Amazing Grace”? We could have been given one of any number of names, an area name like “Gwinnett Lutheran”, a Bible name such as “Bethlehem Lutheran” or even the curious and patently untrue “First Lutheran” (didn’t somebody once say “the first shall be last”? *).  One area pastor informed me the mission-developer named the church “Christ Lutheran” to assure the community that indeed Lutherans really were Christians.  Our church is named “Amazing Grace”, and this summer we are going to consider the hymn we are named after.

Many know something about the story about “Amazing Grace”, that it was a hymn composed by a Christian who worked in the slave trade.  There is much more to the story of John Newton (1725-1807). He was a recalcitrant British sailor, once flogged and demoted for trying to desert the Navy. He was even sold into slavery himself before being rescued.  His conversion occurred onboard a ship in a storm, calling out to God for help as the ship he was in nearly sunk. Sadly he continued to work in the slave trade even after his conversion.  Later in life John Newton became an Anglican priest and wrote poems that became hymns. He wrote Amazing Grace in 1799, when it went by its original title “Faith’s Review and Expectation”.  Set to many tunes as was the tradition of the time, it wasn’t until 1835 when the words were wedded to the tune we know, called “New Britain”.

Names matter. When parents of a newborn name their baby, they chose a name and attach to that name  hopes, expectations, and identity.  When the founder of our church, Pastor Jim Panos, named “Amazing Grace” he did so with intention.  It is time to examine how this hymn speaks to us, shapes us.

Identity is important. As we trace our identity as people shaped by God’s Amazing Grace, we will be blessed with affirming our identity and calling.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace.   2 Thessalonians 2:16

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jason Talsness

*Jesus said that. Matthew 20:16

Amazing Grace Sermon Series

June 9^th –  How Sweet the Sound, that saved a wretch like me.

June 16^th –  I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.

June 23^rd – Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

June 30^th – Through many dangers, toils, and snares, have already come ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

July 7^th–  The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;

July 14^th – he will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

July 21^st –  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.