Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Worship Theology - Hosanna

"Hosanna" is a song I first heard sung by Christy Nockels. She was part of the duo Watermark with her husband Nathan and has been featured at Passion Conferences and recordings as a worship leader in her own right. She is a talented musician and gifted leader. Her husband is a music geek so that works for some great music production.


This song called “Hosanna” was actually written by Brooke Fraser who does a lot of work with Hillsong United and has some really good solo stuff out there too.


HERE is a version of the song on youtube as sung by Brooke Fraser and the Hillsong folks.


I’m not going to write up a breakdown on this one... I’d love to hear what you think as you pick apart the song:


Hosanna - by Brooke Fraser


Verse 1

I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

Verse 2
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

[Chorus]
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest [x2]

Verse 3
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

Verse 4
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees


[Chorus]


Bridge

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

[Chorus x2]


Ending
Hosanna in the highest


Soli Deo Gloria.

JP

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Worship Theology - "The Love of Christ"

This post focuses on a re-worked hymn originally called, "The Love of Christ is Rich and Free" and the version that I have been listening to was done by Sandra McCracken, featuring husband, and fellow singer/songwriter Derek Webb. This song has been published by Indelible Grace which has been working to re-introduce hymns back into the vocabulary of the modern church. You can read more about Indelible Grace HERE.

You are able to listen to a slightly different version of the song in a clip HERE.

Here are the lyrics:

The Love of Christ Is Rich and Free

The love of Christ is rich and free;
Fixed on His own eternally;
Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;
Long as He lives, His own He’ll love.

His loving heart engaged to be
Their everlasting Surety;
’Twas love that took their cause in hand,
And love maintains it to the end.

Chorus: Love cannot from its post withdraw;
Nor death, nor hell, nor sin, nor law,
Can turn the Surety’s heart away;
He’ll love His own to endless day.

Love has redeemed His sheep with blood;
And love will bring them safe to God;
Love calls them all from death to life;
And love will finish all their strife.

He loves through every changing scene,
Nor aught from Him can Zion wean;
Not all the wanderings of her heart
Can make His love for her depart.

(Repeat chorus)

At death, beyond the grave, He’ll love;
In endless bliss, His own shall prove
The blazing glory of that love
Which never could from them remove.

Tag: Which never could from them remove.

Words by William Gadsby

Music by Sandra McCracken


It is a great reminder of these great truths about God's love for us in Christ:
- It is stems from God and centers on God (1 John 4)
- Neither earth nor heaven can remove it from us (Romans 8:35-39)
- It is without end (1 Corinthians 13:8a)
- It anchors our surety and salvation in Christ for eternity (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
- It was love that took up our cause (our sin and the need for a savior) (John 3:16-17)
- It is love that will maintain our salvation until the end (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
- It was poured out of Christ in His blood (Romans 5:6-11)
- It calls us from death to life and will, in the end, end all our striving (Revelation 21:4)
- It is faithful even when we are not faithful in return (2 Timothy 2:11-13)
- It CANNOT cease to be what it is (multiple)

Although the song arrangement might be a little less straightforward than some hymn tunes or even some simple praise choruses the lyrics are a great reminder of the powerful, un-movable, and faithful love of God for us in Christ Jesus. Give it a whirl.