Church History

The Church has always sung.

From the earliest believers to modern worship, hymns have carried theology, told stories of faith, and helped believers worship through every season of history.
My new book walks through church history through the lens of hymns—revealing the people, struggles, and truths behind the songs we still sing today.

If you love church history, worship, or simply want to grow deeper in your faith… this book is for you.

The Church doesn’t just tell its history…
it sings it.
Discover the stories behind the hymns that shaped our faith.

👉 Get the book:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTVC66WN

In this episode, we explore the tumultuous period between World War I and World War II, focusing on how the church navigated the challenges of modernism, social justice, and the Great Depression.

Host Lorelee Siemens discusses the shifting cultural landscape, the rise of the social gospel, and the importance of maintaining the gospel's true essence amid societal pressures. Join us as we reflect on the lessons learned and the enduring relevance of faith in times of crisis.

Chapters:

(01:00) Tensions between modernism and traditional faith during the 1920s

(04:59) Many in the church drifted away from God during the 1920s economic boom

(06:48) October 1929

(11:28) What is the social gospel?

(17:04) Many churches are replacing the gospel with something that feels more comfortable

Episode Sponsor:

The church is corrupted https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFSXQTR.

The church is born https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGLZ7C1.

Alexander Henry Coffee https://alexanderhenrycoffee.ca Use CODE: churchhistory for 20% off

Links:

https://linktr.ee/loreleesiemens

An Africa mission I recommend: https://globaltrain.org

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570126/episodes/18513087

My Bible Reading Plan: https://bible.com/reading-plans/2053/together/78277240/invitation?token=YfuaPBjn98pOXxRD_Fhhow&source=share

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well:

The History of the Hymns: https://loreleesiemens.com/podcasts/hymns

The Hidden History of Eugenics and Its Modern Implications: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35159509/the-hidden-history-of-eugenics-and-its-modern-implications

Faith in the 1920s: Surviving After the Storm: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35141113/faith-in-the-1920-s-surviving-after-the-storm

Prohibition part 2 America gets beer again https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-34843049/prohibition-part-2-america-gets-beer-again

In this episode, we explore the tumultuous period between World War I and World War II, focusing on the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the dangerous intertwining of bad theology with nationalism.

Join Lorelee Siemens as she unpacks the historical context of the 1920s, highlighting the courageous voices that stood against hatred and division in the name of Christ.

Discover how the true gospel unites and humbles us, and learn about the importance of understanding theology in our faith journey.

Chapters:

(02:22) The Ku Klux Klan built its movement on what we call racial exegesis

(05:24) Father James Coyle spoke out against the Ku Klux Klan in 1921

(07:11) By the 1920s, the Klan's image began to crumble

(12:53) Theology matters more than we often realize

Episode Sponsor:

The church is corrupted https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFSXQTR.

The church is born https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGLZ7C1.

Alexander Henry Coffee https://alexanderhenrycoffee.ca Use CODE: churchhistory for 20% off

Links:

https://linktr.ee/loreleesiemens

An Africa mission I recommend: https://globaltrain.org

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570126/episodes/18513087

My Bible Reading Plan: https://bible.com/reading-plans/2053/together/78277240/invitation?token=YfuaPBjn98pOXxRD_Fhhow&source=share

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well:

The History of the Hymns: https://loreleesiemens.com/podcasts/hymns

Faith in the 1920s: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35141113/faith-in-the-1920-s-surviving-after-the-storm

The Hidden History of Eugenics and Its Modern Implications: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35159509/the-hidden-history-of-eugenics-and-its-modern-implications

The Story of John and Betty Stam https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35157744/faith-in-the-face-of-danger-the-story-of-john-and-betty-stam

In this powerful episode, host Lorelee Siemens uncovers the dark history of eugenics, a movement that began in the early 1900s and continues to have devastating effects today.

We explore the chilling statistics of lives lost and the philosophical underpinnings that led to this ideology, including the disturbing role of figures like Margaret Sanger.

Through a chronological journey, we examine how the eugenics movement intertwined with major historical events and the implications for society's view of human dignity. This episode serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of grounding human value in the belief that every life is created in the image of God.

Chapters:

(01:25) The phrase God is dead, we have killed him. Became very popular in the 1900s

(03:49) Margaret was deeply involved in a new scientific movement called eugenics.

(08:52) The Bronx Zoo displayed an exhibit depicting an African man in a monkey cage.

(17:12) The birth control movement was closely tied to another powerful idea spreading through America.

(26:12) Thousands of poor black women were sterilized without their consent in Mississippi.

Episode Sponsor:

The church is corrupted https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFSXQTR.

The church is born https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGLZ7C1.

Alexander Henry Coffee https://alexanderhenrycoffee.ca Use CODE: churchhistory for 20% off

Links:
https://linktr.ee/loreleesiemens

An Africa mission I recommend: https://globaltrain.org

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570126/episodes/18513087

My Bible Reading Plan: https://bible.com/reading-plans/2053/together/78277240/invitation?token=YfuaPBjn98pOXxRD_Fhhow&source=share

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well:

The History of the Hymns: https://loreleesiemens.com/podcasts/hymns

Faith in the 1920s: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35141113/faith-in-the-1920-s-surviving-after-the-storm

The Story of John and Betty Stam https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35157744/faith-in-the-face-of-danger-the-story-of-john-and-betty-stam

The Legacy of Hubert Sone https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-35147509/endurance-in-the-face-of-adversity-the-legacy-of-hubert-sone

In this gripping episode, we explore the tumultuous years between World War I and World War II, focusing on missionaries in China during a time of great upheaval.

Join Lorelee Siemens as she recounts the story of the Scott family and their commitment to spreading the gospel amidst the chaos of the Boxer Rebellion and the rise of communism.

Discover the sacrifices made by John and Betty Stam, whose faith and courage would inspire generations of missionaries. Their legacy continues to impact the Christian community in China today.

Chapters:

(00:00) The years between World War I and World War II were among the most unstable

(01:47) At the turn of the 20th century, China was under pressure

(08:27) John Stam grew up in a Christian family deeply committed to missions

(14:43) John Scott and Betty Scott returned to China in 1934 amid political turmoil

(20:19) John and Betty traveled consistently between villages during China's famine

(25:05) Communists seized John and Betty Stam and took baby Helen

(30:28) Under Communist rule, Christianity in China went underground

Episode Sponsor:
The church is corrupted https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFSXQTR.

The church is born https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGLZ7C1

Alexander Henry Coffee https://alexanderhenrycoffee.ca Use CODE: churchhistory for 20% off

Links:
https://linktr.ee/loreleesiemens

An Africa mission I recommend: https://globaltrain.org

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570126/episodes/18513087

My Bible Reading Plan: https://bible.com/reading-plans/2053/together/78277240/invitation?token=YfuaPBjn98pOXxRD_Fhhow&source=share

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well:

The History of the Hymns: https://loreleesiemens.com/podcasts/hymns

Hudson Taylor: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-17846177/hudson-taylor

Lottie Moon: From Atheist to Missionary https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-34532912/lottie-moon-from-atheist-to-missionary

Martha Crawford Missionary to China https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-34532885/martha-crawford-missionary-to-china