As a kid I grew up in Church.

First, it was a dead, boring, cliched Church of England that I genuinely couldn’t tell you anything about as far as content or meaningful memories. I can tell you I had to wear a ridiculous choir outfit that left me with PTSD for life.

When I was 9, everything changed. I was dragged along to some ‘Pente-something’ church where I heard a tiny lady talk about quitting her high flying corporate gig, flying half way across the world to some islands I’d never heard of and heading out to the jungle to tell people about Jesus.

It made no sense to me but I was hooked. She talked about this God who was doing crazy miracles and transforming village after village of ‘headhunters’. Cannibals who literally ate other people.

This didn’t sound like anything I’d ever heard at the old place and I wanted more. So I dug in.

Now, years later, I still remember some of those old ‘Sunday Sermons’ and recognize how they shaped me, touched me and helped me as I formed into the person I would become. They’re vital. They’re crucial and it’s why it’s so concerning when we walk into church today and instead of hearing about Jesus, hear about stuff that isn’t Gospel at all.

I was reminded of this by another young lady called Anne Wilson who seems to be knocking it out of the park with her debut singles lately. She dropped a song recently by the same title (Sunday Sermons) that’s amazing. And it seems to confirm that I’m not alone, and that what we hear as kids actually does go in and really does make an impression.

Who knew?!

Check out some of the lyrics below but when you’re throwing out phrases like Spirit-moving, Devil and Spirit-filled, you’ve got my attention and as it turns out, a whole bunch of other people’s too.

Lyrics

Seven years old, third row pew

Seven years old, third row pew, John 3:16, something changed in me
Red letters coming off the page, flooding my heart with amazing grace
I knew then I believed, and those roots run deep

Oh, I been through some faith-shaking hard times, yeah
But nothing's gonna make me forget, every one of those Sunday sermons

Chorus

Every time that choir would sing, I could hear my Savior calling, telling me how much He loves me
No matter what the world throws at me I know His word is true, it all started with heart-stirring, spirit-moving Sunday Sermons

Devil gon' try and take me out of that church but you can't take the church out of me (x2)

Gonna have my worries, well that's part of life, but then I think of those stories 'bout what my God can do
He's still moving like He did back then, born again people, can I get an "Amen"?

(Amen)

We've all seen the proof, He makes all things new, even all those faith-shaking hard times, yeah
I never wanna stop remembering, every one of those Sunday sermons

(Chorus)

(Oh-oh, those Sunday sermons)
Jesus loves me, this I know (this I know), for the Bible tells me so
Jesus loves me, ain't no doubt (ain't no doubt), so I'm gonna keep on talking about

(Oh, yeah)

Every one of those Sunday sermons

Every time that choir would sing (that choir would sing), I could hear my Savior calling, telling me how much He loves me
No matter what the world throws at me, I know I'll make it through
All because of those heart-stirring, spirit-moving Sunday Sermons

Devil gon' try and take me out of that church, but you can't take the church out of me (x4)