The WORD in the words

Welcome! This modern hymns section is our gift to you - you'll find song downloads, chord charts, detailed scripture references laid out for you to see, study and savor as well as devotionals and other song resources to deepen your worship and grow in the Word. Below the lyrics of every hymn below, a section called "the Word in the words" reveals the Scriptures line by line. We hope these resources make using and sharing this music, in your church and elsewhere, as easy as possible. May the written Word in these modern hymns always lead you to Jesus, the Word made flesh and blood for you. 

O Teach My Heart to Love Your Word

Sung before or after any sermon, this hymn reminds us of a simple yet profound truth: there is a God and He has spoken. And yet we too often forget the treasure we hold in our hands. Teach our hearts, O Lord, to love Your Word. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8) Themes: Word of God, Prayer for Greater Devotion, Jesus

My Savior's Love is Greater Still

The theologian Karl Barth was once asked to summarize what he had learned after decades of writing and study. It is said that he simply replied: "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." We like to think of this modern hymn as "Jesus Loves Me" for grown-ups because the simple truth of that children's song grows deeper and wider with every passing year. The love of God is greater still...greater than our guilt, greater than our sins, greater than our dreams, greater than our trials and greater than heaven itself. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39) Themes: Love of God, Assurance, Hope

I Belong to Christ

(HEIDELBErG CATECHISM)

Is there a more important question than this?: What is your only comfort in life and death? A song inspired from a heartfelt and deeply moving confession of faith from 1563.  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Themes: Comfort, Providence, Blood, Body, Soul, Devil, Forgiveness, Death, Heaven, Eternal Life

You are Glorious

I once attended a wedding in a church with a rich ancient liturgical tradition. I was mesmerized by the beautiful and biblical language and lofty view of our holy, immortal and Triune God. But I was deeply saddened by the disengaged boredom that I saw in some around me as they mumbled the same words. That very night, this hymn was written in hopes of bringing to light the scriptural depth and heartfelt passion of the original writers of those liturgical texts from centuries ago. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! (Psalm 72:19) Themes: Trinity, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Joy

Alleluia to the Father

Our personal life story is wrapped up in the greatest story of all: from Creation to Eden's Fall to the Cross and into Heaven at last. To Him be the glory forever and ever! And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth...saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”  (Revelation 19:6) Themes: Trinity, Creation, Fall, Cross, Heaven

In the Arms of Christ

In His arms, the dead are raised to life...while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him..."let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24) Themes: Cross, Power of God, Salvation, Forgiveness and Life, Love of Jesus

My Lord was Crucified

A sobering remembrance of the great price our Savior paid for our sins. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:16) Themes: Crucifixion, Love of God, Communion/Eucharist/Lord's Supper, Good Friday

There is a Place

Life is hard but our earthly trials cannot compare to the glory that awaits us. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17) Themes: Heaven, Hope, Cross, Second Coming

In the Name of God our Father

A call to worship and anthem of praise. Not looking to our own goodness, we come only in His mercy through the blood of Christ and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord (Psalm 116:13) Themes: Trinity, Name of God, Grace, Cross, Trust

Glory in the Highest

A hymn for every day of the year that looks to the Second Coming in light of the First. Though we hear the phrase every Christmas, a deeper and louder cry of "Glory in the Highest" is still yet to come. Jesus was born in weakness as a frail human baby. But now He sits at the Father's right hand as the Lamb who was slain and the Lion who has conquered and will return in power and great glory. And so we cry "Come, Lord Jesus" until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ...who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:14-16) Themes: Adoration, Comfort, Hope, Christmas, Second Coming

For Our God Spared Not the Angels

A sober reflection on what the Scriptures have to say about Hell and the grace of God who for love took our place. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. (Colossians 1:13) Themes: Hell, Judgment and Mercy, Salvation, Grace

How Great is Your Kindness

To remember every Christmas and every moment: Jesus left His eternal throne to lay down His life for us. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13) Themes: Christmas, Incarnation, Grateful Love and Adoration

I Will Trust in You

Learning to trust God in difficult times is one of the greatest challenges in this life. That's why our faith is not in the sometimes failing grip we have on our Savior but on His invincible and tender hold on us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. (2 Chronicles 20:12) Themes: Trust, Trials, Prayer for Guidance, Sovereign Love of God

God Is

Jesus said, "Who do you say that I am?" (Luke 9:20). This song is a series of one-syllable descriptions of God that a little child can understand and a seasoned theologian could spend lifetimes exploring. What fills our minds when we think about God affects everything about us. We can invent a "god" of our own imagination or we can open His Word to stand in awe of God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16) Themes: Attributes of God, Trinity, God's Holiness, Jesus the Lamb

Return

A song of repentance from Joel 2:12-13. No matter how far you've wandered it's not too late to run back into your Father's arms. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Joel 2:13) Themes: Repentance, The Mercy and Love of God

In Christ

Eight simple letters. But there are unending worlds in those two short words. They tell us who we are. They tell us whose we are. They anchor our life in this fallen world. They promise an unbroken world that will never end. As true in this life, at this very moment, as it will be in the life to come, you are by grace through faith...in Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) Themes: The Believer's Identity in Christ, Confidence in God's Promises, Heidelberg Catechism

Arise My Soul

An hymn for weary souls reminding us that even in difficult times our God who loves us is still in control of everything and will never leave us. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! (Psalm 123:1) Themes: Sovereign Love of God, Trusting God in Trials, Overcoming Fear, Trinity, Cross, Christ our Righteousness, Resurrection, Heaven, Christ our Beloved

Holy Spirit of God

(NiCENE CREED)

Not an impersonal force or a mystical feeling. Not an "it" or a "thing" but the Immortal Third Person of the Triune God. Drawn straight from the Scriptures and the Nicene Creed, this modern hymn is a litany of wonder focused on the works and attributes of the Holy Spirit of God. And I [Jesus] will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. (John 14:16) Themes: Holy Spirit, Attributes of the Third Person, Nicene Creed, Trinity

Angels and Archangels Sing

For the lowly manger, the brutal Cross and the glorious resurrection, come join the angels to bring our God of endless mystery ceaseless praise. I heard...the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:11-12) Themes: Christmas, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Trinity, Praise and Devotion

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

The Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). Unless and until God first opens our ears, we simply cannot hear and receive the everlasting life that Jesus gives to all who believe in Him. Unless and until God first opens our eyes, we simply cannot see that the ultimate treasure God gives us in the Gospel is Himself, the very Fountain and Source of all that is true and good and beauiful. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...(Romans 1:16) Themes: Gospel, Wisdom and Power of God, Salvation in Christ Alone