Feb17
Easter Service – Songs for the Resurrection
JP wrote in to ask, “I enjoyed your blog on ‘What Christmas Songs Do You Use?’ With April fast approaching, could you please post a similar list for Easter?”
I polled some of the other guys who serve in some of the Sovereign Grace churches, and this is a tentative list. I’ve left off some of the more obvious ones like “Christ the Lord is Ris’n Today.” I’ve included songs that focus exclusively on the resurrection, as well as those that reference it at some point.
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Including the verse:
Crown Him the Lord of life who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save
His glories now we sing who died and rose on high
Who died eternal live to bring and lives that death may die.
See What A Morning
From the Church of Christ the King CD “Passion for God’s Son”
Worship Christ the Risen King
Words by Jack Hayford, sung to the melody of Angels from the Realms of Glory (#286 in the Trinity Hymnal)
A sample verse:
Rise, O church, and lift your voices, Christ has conquered death and hell.
Sing as all the earth rejoices; resurrection anthems swell.
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the risen King!
In Christ Alone
by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the World by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ
Beautiful Savior (All My Days)
By Stuart Townend
The chorus includes these words:
You’re the risen One, heaven’s champion
And You reign, You reign over all
Lost in Wonder
By Martin Layzell from the CD of the same name
Up from the grave victorious
You rose again so glorious
You Led Me to the Cross
By Matt Redman
The second verse focuses on the resurrection.
You are My King
By Billy Foote
Before the Throne
(Words by Charitie Bancroft, Music by Vikki Cook)
Verse 3 begins:
Behold Him there! The Risen Lamb, My perfect, spotless Righteousness
Before There was Time
From the Caedmon’s Call CD The Company of Angels
The bridge includes the words:
You saved me, You raised me
You saved me, You pulled me from the grave
Behold the Lamb
By Mark Altrogge
From the Sovereign Grace CD King of Grace
Hallelujah What a Savior
Updated on my hymns project, Upward.
Here is the Risen Son
From the Phatfish CD We Know the Story
How Great You Are
From Will Pavone’s CD For Your Name
That’s my list. Feel free to leave a comment to let us know about other songs you’ve found help for celebrating the resurrection of our Savior. If they might be difficult to find, let us know a source as well.
Update: I posted another list here of Sovereign Grace songs that can be used for Passion Week and Easter Sunday.
20 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Entries RSS
This might be one of those “obvious” ones, but the one our congregation sings with the most gusto is “Low in the Grave He Lay” or sometimes called “Christ Arose.” I think it’s in most hymnals.
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes!
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah, Christ arose!
Comment by Lindele — February 18, 2006 @ 8:40 am
“Perfect Lamb of God” by Adam Saks from SG’s “Worship Live” is one we are considering this year.
“Beautiful, Scandalous Night” by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong is a great song.
More to be performed as special music:
“Ain’t No Grave” a traditional song from Russ Taff’s “Under Their Influence” and
“Still Rolls The Stone” by Bob Bennett
Comment by Scott — February 18, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
If you want a great contemporary choir piece that is a ballad and summarizes the story of Christ, try “End of the Beginning” by David Phelps. There are a couple of good arrangements out there.
Bob, I love your articles. Keep up the great work!
Comment by Lance Cummins — February 23, 2006 @ 9:55 pm
Bob mentioned “See What a Morning.” Two other Keith Getty hymns:
“O Breath of God”
O breath of God come fill this place
Revive our hearts to know Your grace
And from our slumber make us rise
That we may know the risen Christ
“Jesus Is Lord”
Jesus is Lord, the tomb is gloriously empty
Not even death could crush this King of Love
The price is paid, the chains are loosed, and we’re forgiven
And we can run into the arms of God
Comment by Kendall Ellis — February 24, 2006 @ 1:09 pm
Another would be “When My Heart is Faint Within Me” by Alan Rose.
You are Jesus Christ, Faithful One
Risen King, Champion
You deserve the highest praise
The Lamb of God who once was slain for our sin
Copyright 2000 Thankyou Music.
Comment by Ken — April 12, 2006 @ 2:15 pm
For Resurrection Sunday, we sing most of the songs you have; however, I didn’t see this song on your website - “He’s Alive!” This is such a robust song - full of intensity- full of joy - can’t wait to sing it again (although we sing it throughout the year too. This is my favorite holiday! <>
Comment by FoundCoin — March 4, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Thanks so much Bob, grateful to God for you.
Two more songs that I didn’t see above:
1.”The Glories of Calvary” (”…rejoicing in the risen lamb…”)
2. “Come Christians Join and Sing”
(”…come praise the risen lamb…”). v.3 by Kevin Hartnett, http://khartnettpoetry.typepad.com/kevin_hartnett_poetry/
Comment by Marshall Stoy — March 5, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
These are also some of the songs we will be singing for Resurrection Sunday -
“Salvation Belongs to Our God” by Petra
“My Redeemer Lives” by Hillsongs
“Bow Before the Lord” by Vineyard Music
(”Bow before the Lord, He reigns in Majesty, Kneel before the throne, of our Victorious, our Victorious KING! (Bridge-”Death could not hold HIM, death could not keep HIM down, the power of darkness crumbled when HE arose, He arose!!) Wow! Beautiful songs that come from God’s heart to our hearts onto paper. I’ve learned that the songs (words & music)I write come from HIM - I’m just willing to do the labor! Here I am Lord, use me!
Comment by FoundCoin — March 6, 2007 @ 12:53 am
Bob -
What about Oh to See the Dawn (The Power of the Cross) by Townsend and Getty?
I’ve been playing the new irish hymns 4 by the Getty’s all week and that’s my favorite on that album.
Comment by Patrick — April 5, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Patrick,
Oh to See the Dawn is a great addition. Thanks for suggesting it.
Comment by Bob Kauflin — April 5, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
If you’ve never heard it, check out Newsong’s Arise My Love.
(Link listed as “my” website.)
Comment by ChrisB — April 5, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
I guess “He Lives” doesn’t rate a mention?
Comment by Richard — April 5, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
It’s not on the list but one of my favorites is Pat Sczebel’s “Jesus Thank You” from Worship God Live
Comment by Edward — April 6, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
Our God Reigns - Leonard Smith
We are doing the “Out of the tomb” verse as well as using the chorus as an anthem
God So Loved - Hillsongs
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain/He is risen from the dead - He is risen!”
Comment by Chris — April 7, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Bob - Do you Americans know “Now the Green Blade Rises”?
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/g/ngbrises.htm
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
Thinking that He’d never wake to life again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
By Your touch You call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
Comment by Peter O — April 8, 2007 @ 2:47 am
I don’t lead worship- but I always get that Easter victory message from Keith Greens “Easter Song.”
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing
‘Christ is risen from the dead.’
GO QUICKLY NOW, TELL HIS DISCIPLES THAT JESUS CHRIST IS NO LONGER DEAD.
JOY TO THE WORLD, HE IS RISEN HALLELUJAH!
bg
Comment by JBG — April 8, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
“Alive Forever Amen” by Travis Cottrell, Sue Smith, and David Moffitt is another excellent one.
Comment by Ken — March 13, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
“In the Tomb So Cold” by Graham Kendrick is another older, usable one.
Comment by Ken — March 15, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
I also used “You Are My King” along with What I Like About You (Romantics), Tell The World (Hillsong), Praise You With The Dance (Casting Crowns), Son of God (Starfield), Message of the Cross (Delirious), and a few original songs available at
http://worship.myownlittlereality.com/cgi-bin/enter.cgi?fromlink=worshipmatters.com
A free mp3 worship resource where you can upload your original songs (mp3s and sheet music) to share with others.
Comment by Steve — April 10, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
I would suggest singing the enthronement psalms!
Comment by Richard — April 29, 2008 @ 1:00 pm