“…for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I especially enjoy sharing and celebrating through music the good news of Christ’s coming. If you are a guitarist looking for music to play during this season of Advent and Christmas, here are a few hymns and songs I recently added:
You are welcome to copy and share these hymns with friends and fellow guitarists. You can use them for accompanying congregational singing, playing prelude or offertory music, or simply playing for your own enjoyment. Please copy the full page with the website address and the “Used by Permission” notice at the bottom (see Permissions).
Below is a list of psalm settings, hymns, and spiritual songs that teach on the doctrine of Scripture: Special Revelation. The songs are arranged under 17 theological statements, including one for which I have not yet found related songs
If you have additional suggestions for songs related to the doctrine of Scripture that should be included in the index, please comment or send me a message.
Note: The songs are listed below by title and author. For more complete entries (including tunes and hymnal page numbers) see the page for Songs and God’s Word in the Theological Index of Music for Worship online. I will be updating the online Index with more songs and topics in the days ahead as I receive recommendations.
This is the first of what I hope to be many posts exploring the connection between music for worship and the study of theology. Below is a list of psalm settings, hymns, and spiritual songs that teach on the doctrine of creation: natural revelation. The songs are arranged under 16 theological statements, including 5 statements for which I have not yet found related songs.
If you have additional suggestions for songs related to the doctrine of creation that should be included in the index, please comment or send me a message.
Note: The songs are listed below by title and author. For more complete entries (including tunes and hymnal page numbers) see the page for “Songs and God’s Creation” in Theology and Song: A Theological Index of Music for Worship online. I will be updating the online Index with more songs and topics in the days ahead as I receive recommendations.
Songs and God’s Creation: Natural Revelation
1. Creation affirms that there is a Creator—God created heaven and earth
All Things Bright and Beautiful (Cecil F Alexander)
Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne—Psalm 100 (Isaac Watts / John Wesley)
God, the Lord, a King Remaineth—Psalm 93 (John Keble)
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Obediah Chisholm)
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah—Psalm 146 (The Psalter, 1912)
Hast Thou Not Known, Hast Thou Not Heard (Isaac Watts)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
The Spacious Firmament on High (Joseph Addison)
This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie Babcock)
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)
With Glory Clad, With Strength Arrayed—Psalm 93 (Tate and Brady’s New Version)
Wondrous King, All-Glorious (Joachim Neander / William Schaefer)
2. Creation glorifies God—all things exist for His glory and praise
All Creatures of Our God and King (St. Francis of Assisi / William H Draper)
All Glory to You (Steve and Vikki Cook) • Sovereign Grace Music
All People That on Earth Do Dwell—Psalm 100 (William Kethe / Thomas Ken)
All that I Am I Owe to Thee—Psalm 134:14–24 (The Psalter, 1912)
Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne—Psalm 100 (Isaac Watts / John Wesley)
Behold Our God (Ryan, Jonathan & Meghan Baird / Stephen Altrogge) • Sovereign Grace Music
Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim—Psalm 135 (The Psalter, 1912)
For the Beauty of the Earth (Folliott Sandford Pierpoint)
From All That Dwell Below the Skies—Psalm 117 (Isaac Watts)
God, the Lord, a King Remaineth—Psalm 93 (John Keble)
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah—Psalm 146 (The Psalter, 1912)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Prudentius / J. Neale / H. Baker)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Joachim Neander / Catherine Winkworth)
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (Jonann Schütz / Francis Cox)
The Spacious Firmament on High (Joseph Addison)
This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie Babcock)
With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud—Psalm 147 (Isaac Watts)
Wondrous King, All-Glorious (Joachim Neander / William Schaefer)
3. Creation testifies of God’s wisdom and design
All that I Am I Owe to Thee—Psalm 134:14–24 (The Psalter, 1912)
Hast Thou Not Known, Hast Thou Not Heard (Isaac Watts)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Joachim Neander / Catherine Winkworth)
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)
4. The testimony of creation is insufficient for knowing the way of salvation.
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)
5. The testimony of creation leaves man inexcusable
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6. God delights in creation—all things were made for His pleasure
All Glory to You (Steve and Vikki Cook) • Sovereign Grace Music
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)
7. God made all of creation and pronounced it good
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
8. The world was spoken into existence by God’s Word.
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Prudentius / J. Neale / H. Baker)
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)
9. The world was created by God ex nihilio (out of nothing).
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10. The world continues to be upheld and sustained by God
All Things Bright and Beautiful (Cecil F Alexander)
Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim—Psalm 135 (The Psalter, 1912)
Forever Settled in the Heavens—Psalm 119:89–97 (The Psalter, 1912)
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Obediah Chisholm)
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah—Psalm 146 (The Psalter, 1912)
Hast Thou Not Known, Hast Thou Not Heard (Isaac Watts)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (Jonann Schütz / Francis Cox)
With Glory Clad, With Strength Arrayed—Psalm 93 (Tate and Brady’s New Version)
With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud—Psalm 147 (Isaac Watts)
11. God creates all people—He is the One who gives and sustains all life.
All People That on Earth Do Dwell—Psalm 100 (William Kethe / Thomas Ken)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Joachim Neander / Catherine Winkworth)
12. God created man (male and female) out of the dust of the earth
Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne—Psalm 100 (Isaac Watts / John Wesley)
13. Man was breathed into a living being by God.
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14. God made man (male and female) in His own image
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15. God gave man dominion over all other living things on the earth.
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16. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.
Today We Gather in This Place (Ken Puls) • Ken Puls Music
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The next post in the series will be “Songs and God’s Word: Special Revelation.”
For more complete entries (including tunes and hymnal page numbers) see the Theological Index of Music and Worship online:
Music and theology have always been closely entwined. Theology (in the broadest sense) encompasses what we understand to be true about God, His Word, and the world He has made. Music, as it comes alongside theology, helps the church say and celebrate in song what it believes and affirms to be true.
God’s people have been writing music for thousands of years. Beginning with the rich wellspring of the psalms, music has served the church to carry the voice of God’s people in praise, prayer, and proclamation. Within the many settings of psalms, and numerous hymns and spiritual songs is an opulent banquet of truth. For those who are willing to search, there are many savory delights to be found.
Unfortunately many churches miss out on this feast of song. Some shy away from doctrinally rich lyrics and prefer instead those that are lighter and more subjective. Some, despite Paul’s paradigm in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, exhorting the church to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, impose a more narrow interpretation: “only the psalms,” “only the old hymns that have stood the test of time,” or “only what is new, contemporary, and speaks to me today.” Some are content to sing a limited number of favorites. Others select music based on emotional appeal or a catchy melody, rather than theological soundness.
In this new series, Theology and Song, I hope to encourage pastors and musicians to think theologically about music in worship. Each post will focus on a specific theological topic and will feature a portion of my Theological Index of Church Music.
I began the Index 26 years ago (in 1993) as a project for one of my PhD seminars when I was at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The index listed 350 psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and arranged them according to the theological truths that they highlight. It proved especially valuable in ministry for planning worship and selecting music that would underscore the sermon. You can read more about the Index in an earlier article: “Selecting Music for Worship—Know Theology.”
As I post this series on my blog, I will be updating and expanding the Index so I can make it available on my website as a resource for worship leaders. My list of songs will certainly not be exhaustive. I’ll be asking for your suggestions and adding songs (as well as more topics) to the Index in the days ahead.
Here is list of some of the upcoming topics: [updated]
Songs and God’s Creation (Natural Revelation) Songs and God’s Word (Special Revelation) Songs and the Trinity (One God in Three Persons) Songs and Knowing God (God’s knowability and Incomprehensibility) Songs and God’s Presence (God’s Immanence and Transcendence) Songs and God’s Sovereignty Songs and God’s Decrees Songs and God’s Will
This is the song I wrote for my daughter and sang at her wedding.
Composed for the wedding of Anna Puls and Joey Johnson
August 10, 2019
Anna’s Song
From little girl to radiant bride
From dolls and toys to dresses sewn
God’s hand has guided every step
With joy I’ve watched you as you’ve grown
In early days when you were small
To fountains, shops and malls we went
Your hand I held to keep you close
And treasured all the time we spent
For years you dreamed about this day
In patience waited, made your plans
You prayed and rested in God’s hands
You sought your prince, now here he stands
The day has come to say your vows
Now two are one for all of life
Your hand in marriage now I give
To make a home as man and wife
Now in your home may Christ be known
In you His gospel on display
Your lives committed to His hands
His love your anchor day by day
For years you dreamed about this day
In patience waited, made your plans
You prayed and rested in God’s hands
You sought your prince, now here he stands
When we hear or read God’s Word, we should always pray for understanding and wisdom. And when we have opportunity to gather with the church and sit under the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, we should pray for the pastor. Apart from God’s grace, all our efforts to worship and serve Him will be in vain.
Lord We Come to Hear Your Word
A Prayer for God’s Grace in Worship
Lord, we come to hear Your Word.
Shine Your light! Unsheathe Your sword!
Send Your Spirit forth in pow’r.
Come and bless Your church this hour.
We confess, our thoughts have strayed;
Minds distracted and dismayed.
On the Son fix now each thought;
Help us worship as we ought.
Lord, as we prepare to hear,
Wake each soul, unstop each ear.
Conquer every stubborn heart;
Mercy, saving grace impart.
We confess, without Your grace,
Vain our efforts in this place.
Send illumination’s light;
Open eyes and give us sight.
Lord, we lift up to Your care
Him who stands now to declare
Truth that teaches, warns, consoles;
Bless this feast to feed our souls.
For Your Word, O Lord, we yearn;
Empty, let it not return.
Come, accomplish all Your will —
Draw, convict, give life and fill.
For Your Word, O Lord, we yearn;
Empty, let it not return.
Come, accomplish all Your will —
Draw, convict, give life and fill.
Draw, convict, give life and fill.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Pressing on We Journey
Christ our greatest treasure,
He our highest aim!
Christ our deepest comfort,
Him we now acclaim!
By His death, He saved us,
By His life, we live.
To the King of glory,
All our lives we give .
Pressing on, we journey,
Christ we now confess,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.
Rescued from destruction,
Told to seek the light;
Pulled up from the mire,
Fitted for the fight.
Christ, in every instance
Guides us in the Way,
Graciously providing
Mercies every day.
Pressing on, we journey,
Pilgrims we progress,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.
Fret not for tomorrow,
Fear not past regrets.
He heals every sorrow,
Sure the course He sets.
All these things are added,
What to eat and wear;
All our needs provided,
By His loving care.
Pressing on, we journey,
Joys we now possess,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.
We long for that day when
We’ll see face to face
Christ, the King of Glory,
Full of truth and grace.
But until that moment,
Finally He descends,
We will ever seek Him,
Faithful to the end.
Pressing on, we journey,
Hope we now express,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.
This hymn, from the album The Lord is My Delight, is based on Jesus’ command in Matthew 6:33 to seek “first His kingdom and His righteousness” and on John Bunyan’s allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win.
His erring child He reconciled,
and pardoned from his sin.
Oh love of God, how rich and pure;
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, will still endure,
All measureless and strong,
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race,
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Oh love of God, how rich and pure;
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And everyone a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh love of God, how rich and pure;
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Download sheet music for this hymn including a hymn score with guitar chords from Grace Music. “The Love of God” (#247 is included in the hymnal Sing the Wonders (2018) published by Grace Music.
This hymn, entitled “Prayer for a Blessing” by John Newton is from Part I “Seasons” of Book II of Olney Hymns and was sung “before annual sermons to young people, on New Years’ evenings.”
May God keep us near His throne of grace and may this be our prayer as we begin the new year.
Prayer for a Blessing
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Now, gracious Lord, Thine arm reveal
And make Thy glory known;
Now let us all Thy presence feel
And soften hearts of stone!
Help us to venture near Thy throne
And plead a Savior’s name;
For all that we can call our own,
Is vanity and shame.
From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free;
And let the year we now begin,
Begin and end with Thee.
Send down Thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love Thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never loved before.
And when before Thee we appear,
In our eternal home,
May growing numbers worship here,
And praise Thee in our room.
This is the title hymn from the album The Lord Is My Delight, a collection of hymns and songs celebrating the joy of following and serving Christ. I wrote the hymn twenty years ago, in October 1998, in my final semester at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I had successfully defended my dissertation in September and I was looking forward to graduation in December with a PhD in Church Music Ministry. The hymn is a declaration of my ongoing commitment to acknowledge every day as a gift from God to be used for His glory.
