Classics
Some songs remain golden through the test of time. These are some old but forever gold classics – enjoy!
AMAZING GRACE
“Amazing Grace” is a Christian hymn published in 1779, with words written by the English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton (1725–1807). Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction, but his life’s path was formed by a variety of twists and coincidences that were often put into motion by his recalcitrant insubordination. He was pressed (conscripted) into service in the Royal Navy, and after leaving the service, he became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland, so severely that he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion.
In Christ Alone
“In Christ Alone” is a popular modern Christian song originally written by Keith Getty (Northern Ireland) and Stuart Townend (England), both songwriters of Christian hymns and contemporary worship music. “In Christ Alone” is considered a Christian credal song for belief in Jesus Christ. The theme of the song is the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and that He is a God whom even death cannot hold.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is a popular Christian hymn written by Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960) with music composed by William M. Runyan (1870–1957) in Baldwin City, Kansas, U.S. The phrase “great is thy faithfulness” comes from the Old Testament Book of Lamentations 3:23. These exact words occur in both the King James Bible and the Revised Standard Version.
It Is Well With My Soul
“It Is Well With My Soul” is a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. It was first published in Gospel Songs No. 2 by Ira Sankey and Bliss (1876). This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford’s life.
The first was the death of his son at the age of two and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him. His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife survived. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
How Great Thou Art
“How Great Thou Art” is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish traditional melody and a poem written by Carl Boberg (1859–1940) in Mönsterås, Sweden in 1885. The inspiration for the poem came when Boberg was walking home from church near Kronobäck, Sweden, and listening to church bells. A sudden storm got Boberg’s attention, and then just as suddenly as it had made its appearance, it subsided to a peaceful calm which Boberg observed over Mönsterås Bay.
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
“10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” is a worship song is co-written by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin and was first recorded by Matt Redman for his 10,000 Reasons album, released in 2011 on Kingsway Music, and subsequently included on a number of compilations, covered by other artists and included as congregational worship music in English or in translation around the world. In 2013, the song won two Grammy Awards for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Song” and “Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance”.
Before the Throne of God Above
Charitie Lees Smith was an Anglican Irish American hymn writer. In 1863, she wrote perhaps her best known hymn “Before the Throne of God Above” which she entitled The Advocate.
Heart of Worship
“The Heart of Worship” is a worship song written by Matt Redman in the late 1990s when music & worship was stuck in a rut at his church. Matt recalls that that his church had lost their way in worship and his pastor suggested that “the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”
Still
“Still” was written by Reuben Morgan (Hillsong Worship) and was part of their then album “Hope”, released in 2003.
Shout to the Lord
“Shout to the Lord” is a praise and worship song written by Christian worship leader Darlene Zschech in 1993. It was published by Hillsong Music Australia. Darlene Zschech wrote this song during the time when she was struggling with financial worries and the stresses of raising a young family.
My Jesus I Love Thee
“My Jesus I Love Thee” is a poem written by William Ralph Featherston around 1864. He is said to have been either 12 or 16 years old when he wrote the poem. Featherston died at the age of 27, well before his poem had become a well-known inspirational hymn. The poem is believed to have been his only publicly published work.
Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart
“Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart” was written in 1978 by Henry Smith. It was written after Smith had trouble finding work after graduating from university. He also suffered from a degenerative condition that later left him legally blind. While at his church in Williamsburg, Virginia, his pastor inspired him with a reference to how Jesus made himself poor to make others rich through him. When Smith started performing the song in church, a visiting United States Military officer took the song to Europe, from where its popularity spread.
The Old Rugged Cross
“The Old Rugged Cross” is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song-leader George Bennard (1873–1958). As a Methodist evangelist, Bennard wrote the first verse of “The Old Rugged Cross” in Albion, Michigan, in the fall of 1912 as a response to ridicule that he had received at a revival meeting. Bennard traveled with Ed E. Mieras from Chicago to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin where they held evangelistic meetings at the Friends Church from December 29, 1912 to January 12, 1913. During the meetings Rev. George Bennard finished “The Old Rugged Cross” and on the last night of the meeting Bennard and Mieras performed it as a duet before a full house with Pearl Torstensen Berg, organist for the meeting, as accompanist.
I Give You My Heart
“I Give You My Heart” (sometimes called “Lord, I Give You My Heart” or “This is My Desire“) is a 1995 song written and composed by Reuben Morgan (Hillsong). The lyrics are about giving God the entirety of oneself. The song is widely used in congregational singing, particularly within evangelicalism.
Above All
Paul Joseph Baloche (born on June 4, 1962) is an American Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter. Baloche was the worship pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas for 26 years. His top-ranked songs include “Open the Eyes of My Heart”, “Hosanna”, “Your Name”, “Today Is The Day”, and “Above All”.
Here I Am to Worship
“Here I Am to Worship” is a song written by Tim Hughes and was released as the title song of his debut album “Here I Am to Worship”. The song is a popular worship ballad. Tim Hughes wrote this song in 1999 as a response to how he felt after reading Philippians 2. The passage speaks about Christ’s humility and how He willingly left His throne in heaven, came to earth as a man, and sacrificed Himself on the cross all because of His love for us.
How Great Is Our God
“How Great Is Our God” is a song written by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and Ed Cash. It was originally featured on Tomlin’s album “Arriving”, that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
Stuart Townend (born 1963) is an English Christian worship leader and writer of hymns and contemporary worship music. His songs include “In Christ Alone”, (2002, co-written with Keith Getty, Townend’s first collaboration with any other songwriter), “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”, “Beautiful Saviour” and “The King of Love”.
Jesus Paid It All
“Jesus Paid It All” was written somewhere between 1864 – 1866 by Elvina Hall. Elvina wrote the words of the song while sitting in a choir loft during service. After the church service, she approached the pastor and handed him the poem. “Coincidentally”, the organist (John Grape) had written a tune with no words and handed it to the pastor earlier. The pastor realised that the melody and poem fitted together very well, and thus decided to unite them. Coincidence? We don’t think so. We know that with God, there are no coincidences!
Abide With Me
“Abide with Me” is a Christian hymn by Scottish Anglican Henry Francis Lyte most often sung to English composer William Henry Monk’s tune entitled “Eventide”. Lyte wrote the poem in 1847 and set it to music while he lay dying from tuberculosis; he survived only a further three weeks after its completion.
Be Thou My Vision
“Be Thou My Vision” is a traditional hymn from Ireland. The best-known English version, with some minor variations, was translated by Eleanor Hull and published in 1912. Since 1919 it has been commonly sung to the Irish folk tune “Slane”.
Awesome God
“Awesome God” is a song written by Rich Mullins and first recorded on his 1988 album, Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth. It was the first single from the album and rose to the number one spot on Christian radio and subsequently became a popular congregational song. Its title is inspired by a biblical expression (Nehemiah 1:5, Nehemiah 9:32, Psalm 47, Daniel 9:4, etc.), variously translated as “Awesome God”, (JPS, in the old-fashioned meaning “awe-inspiring”), “great” (KJV), among other alternatives. Due to the popularity of the song it became Mullins’ signature song.
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” was written and composed by Rick Founds in 1989.
Founds wrote it during his morning devotion, while reading the scriptures on his computer monitor, and while watching television. He plucked his guitar thinking about the “cycle of redemption”, comparing it with the water cycle.
Hosanna
“Hosanna” is a song written by Hillsong United and was/is part of their album “All of the Above”, released in 2007.
Jesus Loves Me
“Jesus Loves Me” is a Christian hymn written by Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of an 1860 novel called Say and Seal, written by her older sister Susan Warner (1819–1885), in which the words were spoken as a comforting poem to a dying child. The tune was added in 1862 by William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Along with his tune, Bradbury added his own chorus “Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus Loves me…”. After publication as a song it became one of the most popular Christian hymns in churches around the world, especially among children.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Known mostly for its refrain, “The Heavenly Vision”, also known as “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (the first line of its chorus), is a hymn written by Helen Howarth Lemmel. It was inspired by a tract entitled Focused, written by the missionary Isabella Lilias Trotter. Today the chorus is widely known, and has become a standard reprinted in many hymnals.
Lemmel first published the hymn in England as a pamphlet in 1918.
Blessed Assurance
“Blessed Assurance” is a well-known Christian hymn. The lyrics were written in 1873 by blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby to the music written in 1873 by Phoebe Knapp. The popular song reflects Crosby’s walk of faith, as expressed by the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (ESV).
I’ll Fly Away
“I’ll Fly Away” is a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled Wonderful Message. Brumley’s writing was influenced by the 1924 secular ballad, “The Prisoner’s Song”.
“I’ll Fly Away” has been called the most recorded gospel song, and it is frequently used in worship services by Baptists, Pentecostals, Nazarenes, the Churches of Christ and many Methodists. It is also often performed at funerals.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is a Christian hymn originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s. The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn.
I Exalt Thee
“I Exalt Thee” is a 1983 album by trumpeter and singer Phil Driscoll. The title track, “I Exalt Thee”, had been written by Pete Sanchez in 1975 and copyrighted in 1976. It was not, however, until Driscoll popularized it with this 1983 eponymous album, that the song and Sanchez gained national and international attention.
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
“I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” is a popular Christian rock and worship song by the English contemporary Christian band Delirious?. The song’s popularity has reached far beyond the band’s; CCLI places the song among the 30 most-sung worship songs in the United States and has been called a “modern worship classic”. Martin Smith is the author of the song.
Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord
“Open the Eyes of My Heart” is a Contemporary Christian song written by Paul Baloche, based on Ephesians 1:[1] 18 about the Apostle Paul who was writing a letter to the Ephesians.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“
– Lamentations 3:22-23