Observations from the Song… “You Never Mentioned Him to Me”

1. Observations from the Song… “You Never Mentioned Him to Me”

2. Introduction… 1. Our singing in the worship is extremely important! Eph 5:19 2. We need to make certain that we are attentive to the teaching & admonition; and understand each song. Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15

3. Introduction… • 1. Our singing in the worship is extremely important! Eph 5:19 • 2. We need to make certain that we are attentive to the teaching & admonition; and understand each song. Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15 • 3. We want to examine one of the most sobering songs in our song book is #598, “You Never Mentioned Him to Me” • 4. This song reminds us of the dire consequences of not teaching the Gospel: tragic for others & tragic to ourselves! • 5. What makes this song so difficult … “hard to sing”?

4. Introduction… • 1. Our singing in the worship is extremely important! Eph 5:19 • 2. We need to make certain that we are attentive to the teaching & admonition; and understand each song. Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15 • 3. We want to examine one of the most sobering songs in our song book is #598, “You Never Mentioned Him to Me” • 4. This song reminds us of the dire consequences of not teaching the Gospel: tragic for others & tragic to ourselves! • 5. What makes this song so difficult … “hard to sing”? • a. Each of US are reminded of the times we have failed to teach, • b. Each of US are convicted of the possible consequences of this failure!

5. Introduction… • 6. Let’s review this song: • a. Overview and Song’s Theme • b. Review the truths in each verse • c. Make a few quick applications

6. “You Never Mentioned Him to Me” by James Rowe Verse 1: When in the better land before the bar we stand, How deeply grieved our souls may be; If any lost one there should cry in deep despair, “You never mentioned Him to Me.” Verse 2: O let us spread the word where're it may be heard, Help groping souls the light to see, Than yonder none may say, “you showed me not the way.” “You never mentioned Him to Me.” Verse 3: A few sweet words may guide a lost one to His side, Or turn sad eyes on Calvary; So work as days go by, that yonder none may cry, “You never mentioned Him to Me.” Chorus “You never mentioned Him to me, You helped me not the light to see; You met me day by day, and knew I was astray, Yet never mentioned Him to me.”

7. I. Song Overview & the Theme • A. Overview • 1. Written by James Rowe (1865-1933), ~1929 • 2. Authored: Home of the Soul, Love Lifted Me, He’s My King

8. I. Song Overview & the Theme • A. Overview • 1. Written by James Rowe (1865-1933), ~1929 • 2. Authored: Home of the Soul, Love Lifted Me, He’s My King • B. The Theme • 1. Has a rather unique, dual perspective • a. The singer’s perspective: our work here & our judgment! • b. Lost person’s perspective: the cries of the lost

9. I. Song Overview & the Theme • A. Overview • 1. Written by James Rowe (1865-1933), ~1929 • 2. Authored: Home of the Soul, Love Lifted Me, He’s My King • B. The Theme • 1. Has a rather unique, dual perspective • a. The singer’s perspective: our work here & our judgment! • b. Lost person’s perspective: the cries of the lost • 2. THEME(S)… • Partly because we did not do our job, a person we knew “day by day” was eternally lost! • We did not teach…therefore our soul will be lost as well! • So teach the Gospel, while we have time, to save the lost!

10. I. Verse 1 • When in the better land before the bar we stand, How deeply grieved our souls may be; If any lost one there should cry in deep despair, “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

11. I. Verse 1 • A. Point: • 1. We have left this world and are standing in judgment! 2 Cor 5:10 • 2. One, eternally lost, cries out about our failure to even try to help. • When in the better land before the bar we stand, How deeply grieved our souls may be; If any lost one there should cry in deep despair, “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

12. I. Verse 1 • A. Point: • 1. We have left this world and are standing in judgment! 2 Cor 5:10 • 2. One, eternally lost, cries out about our failure to even try to help. • B. Lesson: Grief & Loss because we did not teach! • 1. We could have taught, but chose not to! James 4:17 • 2. Their blood is on OUR hands! Ezekiel 33:1-9 • 3. We stand at the bar (judgment) …condemned! Matt 28:18-20 • 4. Their precious soul is lost also! Luke 19:10, Luke 15: Precious Lost • When in the better land before the bar we stand, How deeply grieved our souls may be; If any lost one there should cry in deep despair, “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

13. II. Verse 2 • O let us spread the word where're it may be heard, Help groping souls the light to see, Than yonder none may say, “you showed me not the way.” “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

14. II. Verse 2 • A. Point: • 1. Teach the Word to the lost souls! Matt 28:18-20 – TEACH! • 2. Prepare yourself for Judgment – no witnesses against us! • O let us spread the word where're it may be heard, Help groping souls the light to see, Than yonder none may say, “you showed me not the way.” “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

15. II. Verse 2 • A. Point: • 1. Teach the Word to the lost souls! Matt 28:18-20 – TEACH! • 2. Prepare yourself for Judgment – no witnesses against us! • B. Lesson: Teach & Prepare: both your soul and others! • 1. “Spread the word everywhere” like a good sower! Luke 8:4 -15 • 2. We stand at the bar…obedient in teaching the word! • 3. By our help, a “groping soul” may be obedient to the gospel! • O let us spread the word where're it may be heard, Help groping souls the light to see, Than yonder none may say, “you showed me not the way.” “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

16. III. Verse 3 A few sweet words may guide a lost one to His side, Or turn sad eyes on Calvary; So work as days go by, that yonder none may cry, “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

17. III. Verse 3 • A. Point: • 1. Guide the lost one! Numerous NT Examples: Acts 2,8,10… • 2. Work as days go by! John 4:34-35! Fields are White! A few sweet words may guide a lost one to His side, Or turn sad eyes on Calvary; So work as days go by, that yonder none may cry, “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

18. III. Verse 3 • A. Point: • 1. Guide the lost one! Numerous NT Examples: Acts 2,8,10… • 2. Work as days go by! John 4:34-35! Fields are White! • B. Lesson: Guide via Teaching & Time is Limited! • 1. “a few sweet words” – it does not take much, but we need to know them! 1 Peter 3:15, • 2. We need to GUIDE!! 2 Tim 4:2, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Cor 3:1-4, 15:34 • 3. We only have limited time! John 9:4 A few sweet words may guide a lost one to His side, Or turn sad eyes on Calvary; So work as days go by, that yonder none may cry, “You never mentioned Him to Me.”

19. Conclusion… 1. Our singing in the worship is extremely important! Eph 5:19 2. We need to make certain that we are attentive to the teaching & admonition; and understand each song. Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15 3. “You Never Mentioned Him to Me” is one of the most sobering songs in our song book – it pierces the tender heart!

20. Conclusion… • 1. Our singing in the worship is extremely important! Eph 5:19 • 2. We need to make certain that we are attentive to the teaching & admonition; and understand each song. Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15 • 3. “You Never Mentioned Him to Me” is one of the most sobering songs in our song book – it pierces the tender heart! • 4. What makes this song so difficult … “hard to sing”? • a. Each of US are reminded of the times we have failed to teach, • b. Each of US are convicted of the possible consequences of this failure! “You never mentioned Him to me, You helped me not the light to see; You met me day by day, and knew I was astray, Yet never mentioned Him to me.”

21. Conclusion… • 5. Let’s work to make this song less painful! • a. Take every opportunity to teach - Make opportunities to discuss the gospel • b. Value each soul that we meet! • c. Remember…it is our job to spread the gospel; we will be Judged! • d. Prepare ourselves for teaching – STUDY & PRAYER! • e. Remember, we only have a short time to serve!