The CEB Blog - November 2024

“Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness” (Psalm 30:4). 

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). 

In 1987, Bogard Press published the first In Spirit and In Truth hymnal. This hymnal is a collection of hymns and responsive Scripture readings put together by brothers Steve Butler, James Bull, Wayne Elkins, Brad Rountree, Mike Paulk and Tim Albritton. Over the past thirty-seven years, this hymnal has served as a dependable resource in helping God’s people worship Him all over the world. 

In Spirit and In Truth has just been sent to press for its seventh printing, which will total more than 67,000 copies of the hymnal printed in its history. Throughout God’s Word and church history, God’s people have prioritized the worship of God. Through David, God commanded His people to sing unto the Lord, and Jesus Himself ordered true worshipers to worship God in Spirit and in truth. The Waldenses, during some of the darkest days of church history, recognized the priority of worshiping God. The very first article of their confession stated, “We believe, that there is but one God, that he is a Spirit, Creator of all things, God of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all, who ought to be worshipped in spirit and in truth” (Confession of Faith of the Waldenses, The Churches of the Valley of Piemont, pg. 37). 

Many will agree with this popular sentiment: “After the Bible, the next best companion for the soul is a good hymnal.” In Spirit and In Truth is a good hymnal. It contains 475 hymns that declare the truths of God’s Word, stir our hearts for the Lord’s service and remind us of our precious hope in Christ. I am thankful for the hard work accomplished by God’s people to curate songs and Scriptures for use in this hymnal. May we be found true worshipers of God among His churches. 

 
Respectfully submitted, 

Mark Clements 

Editor in Chief