The Origin of Hymns with Robert J. Morgan

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 02:00 Robert Morgan’s Ministry Journey 05:00 The Story Behind The Red Sea Rules 09:00 The Biblical Origins of Hymnody 14:30 The Golden Age: Watts & Wesley 20:30 Theology vs. Repetition in Modern Worship 26:00 “Come Thou Fount” and Teaching Lyrics 30:00 The Story Behind “It Is Well With My Soul” 37:00 Hymns, Suffering, and Enduring Faith 42:00 Why the Church Must Recover Both Old and New 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 Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel. For more inContext interviews, click here.