Ten Modern Worship Songs Your Church Should Be Singing This Lenten/Easter Season
There are many great modern worship songs that your church can use in the weeks leading up to Easter, as well as your Resurrection celebration on Easter Sunday. Here are ten songs (in no particular order) for multi-generational worship you should consider as you plan these powerful services:
At the Cross (Love Ran Red)
A powerful song that focuses on the power of the cross as Christ paid the ultimate price for our sins. His great sacrifice should result in us owing everything we have to Him. Can be effectively sung with a seamless transition to the hymn “At the Cross.”
This Is Amazing Grace
This song is currently the No. 1 song on the Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) Top 100 list. By taking our place on the cross, Jesus paid in full the penalty for our sin and defeated Satan with His resurrection from the dead. This song is contagious.
In Christ Alone
A tried and proven modern hymn that is rich in lyrics and powerful in its melody. Congregations all over the world are inspired by this song.
O Praise the Name (Anástasis)
A powerful narrative of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The chorus is a great anthem of praise.
Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)
A narrative text describing the power of the resurrection coupled with powerful music creates a riveting song for Easter Sunday and beyond. This one captures the feeling of Resurrection Sunday!
Great I Am
While this song does not mention the cross or the resurrection, its power is strongly implied. This song would work well on Easter Sunday coupled with songs more directly mentioning the resurrection. This song should be a part of the repertoire of most churches.
Jesus Messiah
An awesome commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
This song is theologically rich in describing how God showed his love for us in sending His Son to die for us.
The Power of the Cross
Perhaps my favorite of Keith and Kristyn Getty’s modern hymns. Especially powerful when coupled with images of the crucifixion.
The Stand
When I consider what Christ has done for me, it calls me to give my life completely to Him. This song includes this powerful declaration: “So I’ll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned, In awe of the One who gave it all. I’ll stand, my soul, Lord, to You surrendered; All I am is Yours.”
This is in no way an exhaustive list. Also consider incorporating many of the great hymns of our faith in service planning to use with these modern songs. (Hymns aren’t included in this list since they are better known.) Be sure to check out a number of contemporary arrangements of traditional worship songs available at LifewayWorship.com, as well. Also check out PraiseCharts list of songs for Lent/Easter here.
What modern worship songs would you add to this list? Please add your favorites to the comments for others’ benefit.
These seem rather like Easter songs…
One of our recent favorites is “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery.” It walks through the work of Christ both in accomplishing the Father’s glorious purpose and in wonder of the grace we have received.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=afXZlzZdUiI
Kenny, those are all AWESOME songs, but I would have included “Glorious Day” which tells the Gospel story from Jesus’ birth to His return.