I recommend many modern hymns & contemporary songs for corporate worship. While the old hymns are certainly grand, the new songs God is giving to the church, are worthy of respect too.
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I’ve begun highlighting different worship songs we sing at Bethlehem Baptist Church each week, here on my blog. This Sunday, the song right before the message was one of my favorites, “In Christ Alone.” Please read the powerful lyrics.
In Christ Alone
by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
IN CHRIST ALONE my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
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.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
CCLI Song # 3350395, © 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
I would put this song right up there against any hymn, I mean any. It is a modern hymn extraordinaire. I hope meditating on this song will be a blessing to you.
Song Resources:
Story behind the Song: Here and here, and here
Sheet Music: Hymnal style, Piano style, Free simple score
Song Book: In Christ Alone Songbook (includes Across the Lands, O Church Arise, The Power of the Cross, and more)
Choral Book: Getty Music Choral Supplement (30+ songs in SATB format, download-able for choirs)
Spanish Lyrics: Here
MP3 preview clip: Available here
Listen to the MP3 for free: At rhapsody.com, or another try another rendition
MP3 purchase links: Here (via Amazon.com) and here (from Getty Music).
Authors’ Websites: GettyMusic.com & StuartTownend.co.uk
CD purchase links:
In Christ Alone (first sample above) – Amazon.com or direct from Getty Music
[...] This is yet another modern hymn by Stuart Townend. I have already blogged about one of his other great hymns “In Christ Alone”. For this song I was able to find a pdf versin of the words and music in a sheet music form, here. For an idea as to the melody you can listen to a sample of the tune here. And if you are interested, you can order an octavo edition of an arrangement of this song (for use in choral music) here. [...]
[...] “O Church Arise” is yet another excellent modern hymn by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (they gave us “In Christ Alone”, and Stuart also wrote “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”, among many other good hymn-like songs). It has the aura of a hymn written three or four hundred years ago, yet it is popular over a wide spectrum of churches today. It’s rich lyrics and fitting melody make it perfect for corporate worship, and when sung in a full congregation, it has almost the same effect as Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. It is theologically sound focusing on the sure hope we have despite our struggles to fight the good fight of faith. This song could even enrich the worship of church’s who emphasize strictly traditional hymns. I encourage you to look well at this song and let it bless your heart (and others). [...]
[...] We sang another great song by Keith Getty and Stuart Towend this Sunday. I thought it was especially fitting for Thanksgiving week. I really appreciate their music having showcased their songs in my recent post “The Modern Hymn Movement”. I also have posted about the following hymns written by them “In Christ Alone”, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” (by Stuart only), and “O, Church Arise”.  [...]
[...] a great new hymn is written. Such is the case with “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend. Click Here to see the lyrics, or watch the videos below and be [...]
[...] by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Here is another great song from the authors of “In Christ Alone”. Keith Getty and Stuart Townend are producing what has been called modern hymns. I discuss their [...]
thanks for the GREAT post! Very useful…
Hi Bob, I ran across your blog in search for information about In Christ Alone song after going through the article about Keith and Kristyn Getty at ChristianityToday.com. I must say, since the first time I heard it, I am totally mesmerized by every word and it never left my heart since!
When I know the Gettys and Townend background, I feel so grateful that God brings up these people who to me introduce the real essence of what hymn is all about. I grew up in churches that only used hymns but at some point I disagree at the notion to look down on so called modern hymns.
Thank you for posting this subject, I received more information than what I initially sought. I also find your blog very interesting, I would certainly come from time to time although as non-English speaking reader I may have to read a couple of times before grasping every discussion here = )
[...] of Keith Getty’s songs that he either wrote or co-wrote, are: “In Christ Alone“, “The Power of the Cross“, “O Church Arise“, “My Heart is [...]
Thank you, Grace for pointing out that article. It was a great read. I posted about it today, and linked to my post on the “modern hymn movement“.
Blessings in Christ,
Bob Hayton
I do like that song… I really love hymns in general. It makes me sad when I hear people say that hymns are old fashoned and need to be replaced. Hymns can be a great doctrinal teaching tool. (i.e. we remember melodies and words sung to a melody stick in our head long after we put down the hymn book) I think this is the true test of a great hymn vs. songs sung in a church to fill space in an order of worship, I think you refered to these as fluff songs. I feel as though every moment of a church service should have purpose. Not a moment should be wasted on fluffy or feel goody stuff, which includes a portion of most hymn books too in my opinion.
I agree. I miss singing the great hymns in church. In Christ Alone has the sound of a classic hymn even though it is modern.
“In Christ Alone” is indeed a great song. The line “light of the world by darkness slain” worries me a bit. Certainly, the Lord was put to death by men who were living in darkness, but the Biblical emphasis is that it was God who put Jesus to death (Isaiah 53:6,10; Acts 2:23, 3:18, 4:27 etc).
I don’t think I am just being pedantic here. I’m not sure what the writers mean by “darkness”. If they mean the forces of darkness, in the sense of the devil, then surely they are way off the mark. Either way, the emphasis on darkness rather than God as the prime cause of the slaying of Jesus seems to me unbiblical.
[...] Happy Easter, everyone. This song is a wonderful Gospel-centered song from the authors of “In Christ Alone”. I hope its message blesses you as you contemplate Christ this Easter [...]
I truly love this song. As believer’s we know that we become disciples the moment we accept salvation, and it is our duty – through grace and out of love for our relationship with Jesus that we “live out” the Gospel message. This song summarizes how we are to live out the Gospel. Thank you to Stuart Townend and Keith Getty – being faithful servants of Jesus, and doing what you are called to, which is to write a beautiful hymn that God would use to touch and transform lives all over the world! Praise to Him!
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
This hymn has power. It is anointed. Thank you to the artists who wrote it. I love this hymn. We sang it Sunday AM in our Easter service. I cannot get it out of my head.
So glad I found it online.
i really love this song because it has nice melody and lyrics
lovly lyrics,like to get more
what a lyrics,wat a song,wat a life,it so touching,wen i listened to the song it got to a stage i jumped up n i said wat a life we have in him
[...] In Christ Alone [...]
I really love this song, it is a Gospel-centered song.
It has lovely lyrics.It has one of the nicest Gospel melodies i have ever heard
Hi,
Thanks for featuring this song. I’m a choir conductor of a small community church in my place. I’ve been looking for a choral sheet of this song but can’t find any. Just in case you can help. Please keep in touch. Thank you and God bless you!
audience_dxfe@yahoo.com
“In Christ Alone”
I am writing from, Libreville, Gabon, in Central Africa. The first time I heard this hymn, I knew that was the Holy Spirit who was the inspirater of the song. You cannot stay indifferent while listening to it. This hymn will ever be sung through generations. Let God be blessed !
I was reading this blog post http://www.hereiwalk.org/2010/08/30/luther-and-the-mystics-part-two%E2%80%94an-interview-with-volker-leppin/ and was reminded of In Christ Alone. A quick search brought me to your site. Based on your tagline above “Striving for the Unity of the Faith for the Glory of God ~ Eph. 4:3,13; Rom. 15:5-7,” I think you might be interested in http://www.hereiwalk.org, where my brother Andrew and sister-in-law Sarah are documenting and their ecumenical* pilgrimage from Erfurt, Germany to Rome, Italy. (*The most helpful definition of ecumenical in this context, from Merriam-Webster, is “promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecumenical)
Much grace to you, and peace.
I am a Catholic (yes Catholics are Christian), and I first heard of this song as a cover by Owl City (his real name is Adam Young). Now I did hear that he was a devout Christian, but I never expected him to sing such a heavenly song.
I wish this song was sang in my church. It really stresses the believe in Christ the redeemer and his Paschal Mystery (His passion, Death, and Ressurection).
Praise be Jesus Christ.
Laudate Iesus Christus
[...] recently updated my blog post on the powerful song, “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. Modern hymns, like that one, have been such a blessing to me over the past few years. Nothing will [...]