Weekly Devotional: Church Bells

Read time 4 minutes

Published on Nov 7, 2025

There was a time when bells were everywhere, not just in churches, but in town squares, schools and government buildings. They marked the beginnings and endings of events, celebrations and warnings. They were the heartbeat and social call of a community.

Today, many churches no longer have bell towers. Some have replaced them with digital chimes, while others have let the tradition fade altogether. The absence is quiet, like something sacred has gone missing.

Church bells once served both practical and spiritual purposes. In Christian tradition, they called the faithful to worship, marked sacred time and reminded people of God’s presence in daily life. Their sound was more than just a call to attention — it was a signal that something holy was happening.

Even in the Old Testament, bells were sewn into the high priest’s garments (Exodus 28:33–35, NIV), symbolizing God’s presence and the seriousness of approaching Him.

“The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not perish.”

– Exodus 28:35, NIV

In a way, they were audible reminders of grace. Their chimes symbolized that God was near. For the people in the Old Testament, it was a promise that one day Jesus would dwell among them. For us today, they’re a reminder that He already has.

What Is Grace?

Grace is one of those words we use often but rarely understand the true and deeper meaning of. In Scripture, grace is defined as God’s unmerited favor — a gift given not because we’ve earned it, but because God delights in giving it. (Hence the more recognizable definition, “undeserved love.”)

This divine favor is not unlike the sound of a bell ringing through quiet stillness, sometimes unexpected and often difficult to ignore. Grace is God’s chime of love that saves us from our sinfulness. It’s the forgiveness that doesn’t keep score because Jesus already won. It’s the strength that carries us when we’re too tired to walk.

Grace is not just a theological idea or simple human favor. It’s the way God moves toward us again and again with compassion. Like the bells that once called us to prayer, grace calls us back to God’s heart.

Grace in Scripture

The Bible is saturated with grace. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God.” In Romans 3:24, we are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” And in 2 Corinthians 12:9, God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

These verses don’t just describe a doctrine, they represent the most perfect gift. Grace in Scripture is the thread that runs through every story of redemption, every moment of healing, every act of divine mercy. It’s the heartbeat of the gospel, much like the bells that once echoed through our towns and sanctuaries, reminding us of a rhythm greater than our own. Grace is the sound of God’s presence in our lives — persistent, patient and full of promise.

The Bell

At my church, the bell rings 31 to 33 times before the service begins (give or take that the person ringing a 450-pound metal weight can keep count) — a tribute to the age Jesus was when He died, and also to call people to worship.

It’s an easy tradition to overlook, but once you know the reason, each toll feels a little heavier. The sound encourages reflection: not just on Jesus’s death but on the grace that made His life and sacrifice so transformative.

Apart from the church, the Liberty Bell, inscribed with Leviticus 25:10 — “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” — was once used to summon lawmakers and citizens alike. Its purpose was similar to that of the Christian religion: to call people to reflect.

Though there were multiple versions of it (the Liberty Bell), many that cracked long ago, the bell’s symbolism endures. It has been adopted by abolitionists, suffragists and civil rights leaders as a symbol of freedom and justice. For many older and more traditional churches, it’s a reminder of where they think you should be!

Grace, like the sound of a bell, is both ancient and enduring. It calls us to remember, to return and to rest in the presence of God. Though the bells may grow quiet, the message they carried still rings true — that in every moment, sacred or ordinary, grace is near.

Let Grace Ring

Grace, like liberty, is something we proclaim. Not just with words, but with lives (and maybe, with bells). Though the sound may fade, the message remains: a call to remember that God is near. Grace rings through Scripture, through history and through our own stories, reminding us that we are never far from the sacred. It is the quiet chime of love that invites us to return, again and again, to the heart of God.

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Riley Parsons

Professional Writing Student

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Smyth, D. (2019, July 16). What Is the Origin and Purpose of Church Bells? Christianity.com. Retrieved Sept. 18, 2025.
FreedomLambert, B. (2025, Sept. 30). This Iconic Bell Continues to Inspire. ShareAmerica, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved Sept. 18, 2025.

Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator of Spiritual Life on Oct. 14, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.