Robert J. Morgan joins Michael Easley for a powerful conversation about the history, theology, and enduring influence of Christian hymns. Why have these songs lasted for centuries? What are we losing when churches abandon them? And how can we recover the richness of hymnody without rejecting modern worship?

Drawing from his book The Origin of Hymns, Morgan traces the story of congregational singing from the song of Moses in Book of Exodus, through the golden age of English hymnody with writers like Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley, to the modern era. He shares the powerful backstory behind “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford, and how that hymn connects to the film I Can Only Imagine 2.

This episode challenges pastors, worship leaders, and believers to rediscover hymns not as nostalgia—but as theological formation. Hymns teach us how to worship, how to suffer, and how to endure.

Chapters

00:00 Why We Need Hymns Again

Key Topics Discussed:

The biblical roots of congregational singing

The theological depth of historic hymns

Isaac Watts and the birth of English hymnody

Charles Wesley and revival-driven worship

The problem of disposable worship music

Teaching hymn lyrics to modern congregations

The tragic story behind “It Is Well With My Soul”

Hymns as spiritual formation across generations

Combining historic hymns with modern worship songs

Links Mentioned:

The Origin of Hymns by Robert J. Morgan

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