Good Friday
You might think that the Cross has been covered so often in hymnody that we hardly need more songs about it. But Christ’s atonement for our sin is the defining moment in all history (together with his resurrection). We will never exhaust the wonders of Calvary in our songwriting and leading.
And there are still aspects of the cross that haven’t often been covered in worship songs. Kristen and I wrote “Bold Before God’s Throne” to give a panoramic view of the cross, in light of the “rending of the veil” in the temple as Jesus died on the cross. The torn veil symbolizes a permanent change in how we can approach our God.
Easter
My favorite Easter song is the modern hymn “See What a Morning” written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. And many contemporary worship leaders have recorded versions of Charles Wesley’s classic “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” Listen to our entire Easter Songs playlist on Spotify here—over two hours of Easter music.
In recent years some modern songwriters have made a major theme of the resurrection, such as John Mark McMillan. And see the Sovereign Grace album Risen. Still, the church doesn’t have as many Easter-themed songs as we should.
Ascension
Christ taught his disciples for 40 days following the resurrection, appearing to over 500 of them (1 Corinthians 15:6). Then, he ascended into heaven before the eyes of the disciples while angels promised, “Just as you see him ascend, he will come again” (Acts 1:9-11). These are worthy events and topics for songs, right?
“Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” by William C. Dix is a strong hymn for the Ascension, as is “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing,” translated into English by Benjamin Webb, from the Venerable Bede (673-735).
Pentecost
Pentecost Sunday occurs on the 50th day after Easter (the seventh Sunday). It celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and those gathered in the Upper Room for the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost season is often known by followers of the Christian liturgical calendar as “Ordinary Time.” This is the time to bask in the finished work of Christ, the glory of His Resurrection and the indwelling of Christ’s Spirit as he empowers us to reach the lost and do the work of the Kingdom. It’s a time of mission, evangelism, discipleship and sanctification.
You can hear over two hours of Pentecost-themed hymns and contemporary praise songs in our Pentecost worship playlist on Spotify. And listen to “Rising Tide,” which Kristen and I wrote to show the epic sweep of redemption: crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, the sending of the Holy Spirit, the growth of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ:
Trinity Sunday
The church needs more songs about the Godhead. This feast day, occurring one week after Pentecost Sunday, is a prime opportunity for songwriters to get creative and add much-needed new work to the universal Church. To see a fantastic modern treatment of this neglected topic, hear “O God of Our Salvation” written by Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker and John Warren.
“Holy, Holy, Holy” is the obvious hymn for this occasion. See also the hymns and resources at Cardiphonia’s Trinitarian Worship Music page (this site provides hymn suggestions for other periods of the Christian Year as well).
Christ the King Day
This day is a celebration of Christ’s Lordship, which occurs each year in November, on the Sunday before the beginning of Advent. Christ the King Day is designed to show that our ultimate allegiance is to Jesus rather than earthly thrones and powers. Derek Webb’s “Savior On Capital Hill” would make a great choice for special music on Christ the King Day (especially during election years).
Brenton Brown’s “Lord, Reign in Me” is a popular contemporary worship song that fulfills one of the goals of Christ the King Day: that we continuously invite the Lord to reign in our hearts. Classic hymns for Christ the King Day include “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” by Edward Perronet, “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending” by Charles Wesley and “Crown Him With Many Crowns” by Matthew Bridges. And Andre Crouch’s “Soon and Very Soon” is a simple, heartwarming gospel song that affirms Jesus as King.
This article on worship themes originally appeared here.
