Slow down. Take a deep breath. Come, meet Jesus in Word and song. The combination of music and poetic text has long helped usher people into God’s presence. This unique Hymn Journal from Next Step Press adds color to your meditation.
Devotions from the Heart
Engaging, heart-felt insights from author Justin Rossow based on carefully selected Scripture verses invite you into a deeper understanding and intimate application of the biblical text to your daily life.
The Faith Experiments for each hymn and devotion take the message of the music, lyrics, and Scripture to an even deeper and more personal level. The music and meaning of these beloved hymns and new compositions will plant the experiences of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter in your heart and mind.
A Perfect Size for Journaling
The 8.5 x 11 format means there is plenty of white space for your notes or sketches. Throughout the book, pages are left intentionally blank to allow your chosen medium to bleed through without ruining the next reading.
Whether you choose to use colored pencils, markers, or paints, allow yourself time to linger with these hymns, songs, meditations, and Scripture verses. Use the act of drawing or adding color as an excuse to slow down.
No Expertise Required
Research has shown the benefit of drawing or coloring as a learning activity. You don’t have to consider yourself particularly creative to use this hymn journal. But you may be surprised what the Holy Spirit will do if you allow yourself a bit of grace and opportunity.
Use this hymn journal resource as a tool to help you delight in following Jesus. Celebrate Easter in a way you have never experienced before.
Experience the Music
See some of your favorite hymns in a new light. Discover some new favorites in the moving music of singer/songwriter Kip Fox. Let music add depth to your walk with Jesus.
Join in the Art
Illustrators from Visual Faith Ministry make it easy to engage artistic activity that facilitates faith. The art is beautiful all by itself, but mostly, the art beautifully points you to Jesus.
Special Features
A Dedicated Season of the Next Step Podcast
Each hymn in When from Death I’m Free is covered in detail by Season 1 of The Next Step Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
You’ll hear each Scripture passage and every devotion read out loud. You’ll get to hear insights from the artist and musicians who helped bring you this hymn journal, as well as conversations with world-class Bible scholars.
These podcast provide added depth to your personal study and are designed to help you take a small next step following Jesus.
- Podcast 1: What Wondrous Love Is This with musician Brooke Orozco
- Podcast 2: On That Morning with singer/songwriter Kip Fox
- Podcast 2.2: Failure and the Cross bonus material related to Podcast 2
- Podcast 3: Ride On, Ride On in Majesty with author/professor Conrad Gempf
- Podcast 4: The King Is Calling with illustrator Katie Helmreich
- Podcast 5: Go to Dark Gethsemane with author/professor Leo Sánchez
- Podcast 6: Thieves on a Cross with lead illustrator Valerie Matyas
- Podcast 7: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross with illustrator Pat Maier
- Podcast 8: The Dignity of the Cross with Steve and Jamie Wiechman
- Podcast 8.2: The Cost of the Covenant bonus material related to Podcast 8
- Podcast 9: Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted with Valerie Matyas
- Podcast 10: This Dust with Kip Fox and musician Brendan Knorp
- Podcast 11: I Know That My Redeemer Lives with illustrator Ann Gillaspie
- Podcast 12: We Will Rise with illustrator Karen Hunter
- Podcast 13: Artist Round Table a look back with all of our illustrators
Traditional Hymns and Special Music from Kip Fox
The music in When from Death I’m Free combines 6 traditional hymns you love with 6 original worship songs from singer/songwriter Kip Fox to give you the best of both worlds: music that feels familiar and meaningful, with fresh insights and new favorites. You can explore all of the music in the hymn journal at Next Step Press or find modern settings of the time-honored hymns at The Hymnal Project.
>>Read more: Kip Fox, Words & Music
As a nationally recognized songwriter and worship leader, Kip Fox has traveled the country extensively, teaching his songs and leading worship for congregations and gatherings of every shape and size.
His greatest joy is to write and teach new songs that encourage people to see the grace of God in new ways.
He currently serves as Director of Music and Worship at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ. He also oversees the Center for Worship Leadership’s Songwriter Initiative at Concordia University in Irvine, California. Kip and his wife Michelle reside in Scottsdale, Arizona with their son Beau and overly active dog, Jack.
To find out more about his ministry, or to contact Kip directly, visit kipfox.com.
Devotions from Award-Winning Author Justin Rossow
Rev. Dr. Justin Rossow preaches, teaches, presents, and writes at the intersection of Scripture, culture, and metaphor theory. With 20 years of ministry experience focused especially on discipleship, Justin brings a refreshing and encouraging voice to the adventure of helping people delight in taking a next step.
Justin is known for his insight and energy, and writes like he talks: with humor, humility, and profound dependence on Jesus. His PhD in Theology and Culture helps bridge the academic and the practical; in his writing you’ll find depth, nuance, immediate application, and just plain fun.
His book Delight! Discipleship as the Adventure of Loving and Being Loved won the 2020 BIBA Award for best independently published Christian book. Justin and his wife Miriam live in Michigan with their four children. He is the founder of Next Step Press and The Next Step Community.
Compelling Illustrations from Visual Faith™ Ministry Artists
Valerie Matyas, Educational Development Consultant for Visual Faith™ Ministry and Lead Illustrator for this hymn journal, leads a talented team of artists and illustrators. Their goal is to present God’s Word in visual and kinesthetic ways that help you experience and interact with the Gospel.
Visual Faith™ Ministry is the collaborative effort of online and “in-real-life” learning communities to enrich, encourage, and enable the vital connections between visual and kinesthetic learning styles and the storytelling of God’s faithfulness in our lives.
Visual faith is all about reading, reflecting, and responding to God’s Word. It welcomes writing, drawing, designs, and color to create reminders of faith that help tell the story for followers of Jesus. Practicing visual faith reminds us that we are made in the image of a creative God.
Visual faith honors God’s creative sanctification of believers on a daily basis and is the basic process of bringing together our great gifts of prayer and God’s Word. It adds visual, kinesthetic, and tactile adaptations that make meaning for us in our daily lives. Visual faith processes become a “selfie” of our time with God, helping us to remember, retain, and be ready to share it with others.
In all of these ways and more, the practice of visual faith helps to answer the question, “What does this mean for me?”
Find more Visual Faith™ Ministry resources at www.visualfaithmin.org.
Great for Congregational Use
Whether as a small group resource or a congregational sermon series, When from Death I’m Free gives your church a chance to connect worship life and home Bible study. You could use the texts and themes from the hymn journal to guide your Sunday or midweek Lenten services, or use them for Holy Week and Easter.
The faith experiments are an excellent way to keep the Word you focus on in worship connected to the rest of the week. Whether your music ministry tends toward organ or ensemble, or a blend of the two, you’ll find hymns and songs you can use to support the devotional life of your families and guests.
A great gift to give visitors during the Lent and Easter seasons!
For sermon series materials or bulk pricing on orders of 100 or more books, please email Innovation@FindMyNextStep.org.
Below is one possible sermon series outline, including Midweek Wednesdays and Holy Week services. You could also use the resource in Bible class or only on Sundays. The material is easy to use and easy to modify.
Ash Wednesday
Chapter 1: What Wondrous Love is This? Sermon Text: 1 Cor 15:21-26
Lent Midweek 2
Chapter 2: On That Morning. Sermon Text: Genesis 3:12-15
Lent Midweek 3
Chapter 4: The King is Calling. Sermon Text: Luke 14:16-23
Lent Midweek 4
Chapter 6: Thieves on a Cross. Sermon Text: Luke 23:32-43
Lent Midweek 5
Chapter 8: The Dignity of the Cross. Texts: Matt 13:44-45; Heb 12:1-2
Lent Midweek 6
Chapter 7: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Text: Philippians 3:7-10
Palm Sunday
Chapter 3: Ride On, Ride On in Majesty. Sermon Text: Luke 19:37-44
Maundy Thursday
Ch 5: Go to Dark Gethsemane. Gal 4:6; Rom 8:15, 29; Mark 14:35-36
Good Friday
Chapter 9: Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted. Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
The Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Sunday
Chapter 10: This Dust. Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 14, 17-20
Second Sunday of Easter
Ch 11: I Know That My Redeemer Lives. Texts: Job 19:23-27; Matt 28:9
Third Sunday of Easter (Or Easter Sunrise)
Chapter 12: We Will Rise. Text: 1 Corinthians 15:36-37, 42-43, 54-57
A Social Learning Experience
We follow Jesus better when we follow Him together. The Next Step Community has created a Facebook Social Learning group, especially designed for this hymn journal, to help provide encouragement, insight, and mutual support. It’s a community of people like you, who want to follow Jesus and could use a helping hand.
In the When from Death I’m Free Facebook Learning Community you will find Units for each chapter of the book. You’ll find supporting blog posts, video tutorials, and podcasts. You’ll be inspired by the work other people are doing, and you’ll be invited to add your own pictures of what you have been up to. Everyone has something to learn; and everyone has something to share.
Related Content from The Next Step Community
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