20 Hymns Every Christian Should Know
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I love various kinds of music, don’t you? Classical, praise songs, anthems, piano solos, orchestras, bands…I really love music. And as much as I love all kinds of music, I really love hymns. I grew up singing them and playing them in various settings…church, home, a nursing home where my dad held Bible studies, and Christian school. The depth of the words of hymns is rich and powerful; hymns really make you think about Who you are singing about.
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In the last few years, hymns do not seem to be as popular in North American churches. While I’m sure there are many reasons behind this, I grew a little nostalgic this afternoon and wanted to share my top 20 hymns every Christian should know. At least in my opinion. I’m half afraid to start the list because it could very easily turn into the top 50 hymns every Christian should know. But I’ll get us started with twenty and you add your favorites, ok? For the links, I only gave a few of my favorites. If you know a group with a stellar hymn arrangement, I’d love it if you’d leave a link in the comments! Oh, and these are in no particular order. I have too many favorites.
The Isaacs are my favorite bluegrass band. Edgy and yet distinguished, they win my heart and ears both.
2. Amazing Grace
3. The Old Rugged Cross
5. Be Still My Soul
6. How Great Thou Art
7. To God Be the Glory
8. The Haven of Rest
9. Jesus Saves
10. How Deep the Father’s Love for Us by Selah
11. Standing on the Promises
12. When We All Get to Heaven
13. Count Your Blessings
14. All the Way My Savior Leads Me
15. O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
David Phelps is genius in this arrangement for the Gaither Vocal Band. Click on the link- incredible!
16. Sweet Hour of Prayer
17. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
18. Only Trust Him
19. There Is A Fountain
20. I Surrender All
What are YOUR favorite hymns? Love to read about them in the comments!
Oh, I love this so, so, so much. Thanks for sharing this, Rachel. I’m actually doing the #31Days blog challenge on “Remembering the Hymns.” (LyricalGrace.com) I can’t pick one hymn but today I’ve been thinking about Isaac Watt’s “Marching to Zion.” Maybe because it’s today’s blog post. =)
LOVE hymns. My favourite: Before the Throne of God Above!
These are my favorites; some are familiar and others are fairly obscure.
Fairest Lord Jesus
Ruler of all nature, O Thou of God and man the Son
Thee do I cherish, Thee do I honor, Thou my soul’s glory, joy and crown.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
The King of creation. O, my soul, praise Him for He is thy strength and salvation.
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; join me in glad adoration.
All Creatures of Our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam, thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him. O praise Him. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Be Thou My Vision
O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
What Wondrous Love
is this, O my soul, that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!
How can I keep from singing ♡♥♡
Just heard a minister say this weekend that “today’s music is the next generation’s theology.”
Before the Throne of God Above
I’m the music leader at my church- picking a favorite song would be like picking a favorite child. I love hymns like I would love my future children- each one a little different for different reasons and purposes and each one a little more every time I hear it!
I love all of those plus a few more such as Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Jesus is All the World To Me, and Open My Eyes That I May See.
I love them all!!! When my precious mother in law was our choir director at church every 5th Sunday night we would have a singing. Every few times we would just sing hymns, we would just say the page number of the song and then we would sing it together. Such wonderful memories!! Thank you for this list.
“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
–“Though none go with me, still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back”–
“I love to tell the Story”
On christ the solid rock i stand.
it is well with my soul
standing on the promises of God
Rachel,
This is a great list. My favorite is ‘when the roll is called up yonder’
It’s refreshing to see how many people still love the good old hymns.
Bernadette
Victory in Jesus is one of my favorites. Also, Great Is Thy Faithfulness and Amazing Grace.
I have a playlist called “WWJD” on Spotify of about 150 songs that I just love! I wish I could share them all here… most are christian music I have found through SOS radio (http://nv.sosradio.net/), but some are of hymns I’ve fallen in love with throughout my life. Here are a couple of my absolute favorites and who sings the version on my playlist….
Thy Word by Amy Grant
We Fall Down by Kutless
Holy Holy Holy by The Martins
What a Friend We Have in Jesus by The Martins
He Leadeth Me by The Martins
Dig a Little Deeper by Onevoice
Lord I Lift Your Name On High by The Praise Baby Collection
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever by The Praise Baby Collection
Shout to the Lord by Aaron Venward
All in All by Jason Ingram
Awesome God by Rich Mullins
Fairest Lord Jesus by Studio Musicians, A Capella Hymns
Immortal, Invisible by Studio Musicians, A Capella Hymns
Spirit of the Living God by Voices of Praise
Lord Prepare me to be a Sanctuary by West Angeles Cogic Mass Choir and Congregation
Victory In Jesus has always been my favorite. I love to belt it out!
As a child I always enjoyed singing “Heavenly Sunshine” but haven’t heard it sung in quite some time. I LOVE your list and many of the other hymns already commented on.
Rachel
I like the songs Onward Christian Solider, 23 Psalm, What a Friend we have in Jesus, To God be the Glory, the hymns back then, have so much more meaning than the modern songs. I find them reflective and remember the things Jesus has done for me.
Yes 100% with this list, adding his eye is on the sparrow and his robes for mine and power of the cross as well 🙂 also Does Jesus Care .
Oh, Ali! I discovered Does Jesus Care in the past year on a CD by Guy Penrod with George Beverly Shea and I was so drawn by it; loved it!
Here are just a few of my favorites: Amazing Grace; My Jesus, I Love Thee; Love Lifted Me; I Sing the Mighty Power of God. I love that my church still sings these beautiful hymns. I find myself humming them throughout the week.
“In the Garden” is one of my favorites
“It is Well With My Soul” is my all time favorite!
I like the Sisters version. 🙂
http://www.youtu.be/FmUGekcTuLM
I grew up with many of these hymns as well. They just fill my heart!
As for a favorite, I don’t think I could pick just one! Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing; Seek Ye First; When I Survey the Wonderous Cross; In the Sweet By and By…. I could go on for hours except I think that I might take a break from my morning blog reading time to have a bit of piano and worship time 🙂
With a mom who was the organist and member of the choir for over 50 years, I love the hymns of old! But over the years I do have many that I just love, some of which are (not sure about titles, mostly lyrics) “Yahweh I know you are near standing always at my side…” “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…” “Be Not Afraid” “You are Mine” Could go on and on, but thanks for sharing yours everyone! Will be singing a new song to Him today! God bless!
And Can It Be? is the name of that old hymn. love it, Joanne!
Oh, you are singing my heart’s songs! Hymns comfort me and soothe me, and, like you’ve said, they reinforce God’s Word in our spirits. They are the ultimate SOUL FOOD!
One of my favorites is This is My Father’s World. Oh how I love:
This is my Father’s world; O let me ne’er forget; that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!
And nature just blesses my socks off so this song, even when played instrumentally, just sends my spirit out of the pit and into the heavens!
Thanks so much for bringing the old hymns to our attention! Bless your heart!
How Can It Be That I Should Gain? (I think that is the name, it is by Charles Wesley) Crown Him With Many Crowns, Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul, Holy, Holy, Holy, too many others.
I was raised Roman Catholic, and it was after I was saved that I discovered many of the hymns you listed, so I did not grow up singing the songs you list, but I was delighted to find out many cross over.
Rachel, thank you for your blog. It is a wonderful encouragement, always pointing my heart and mind toward The Lord and his word! I have had fun with this post trying to decide which hymn is my favorite. I prefer mostly listening to hymns to keep my thoughts fixed on heavenly things. I cannot come up with just one, there are too many that I love! I did come up with a favorite that I didn’t see on your list: ‘As the Deer Panteth for the Water’. Have a blessed day!
Old Rugged Cross
In Christ alone
I need thee every hour
Ended every service with “Just as I am”.
Be Not Afraid
I’m Just a Stranger Here (Heaven is my home)
I love this list!
My favorite hymns are “There is a Redeemer” and “I Love to Tell the Story”. The chorus’ are truth but no depth.
Recently I love the hymn “In Christ Alone”.
Hi Rachel, Thanks for bringing attention to the old hymns. I am the pianist for our church and we sing the traditional hymns. I know all of these that you mentioned and some of my favorites are on your list. I enjoy the history behind why they were written; often out of great adversity. The hymn “Wonderful Peace” is one I cling to and sing when anxiety overtakes me. Check out Wintley Phipps singing and telling the history of Amazing Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0 be prepared for goose bumps.
Cyberhymnal is an excellent resource for hymn research, you’ll find a little history, the lyrics and can hear the hymn played. http://www.hymntime.com/tch/
My favorites are: Wonderful Peace, It is Well with My Soul, Great is Thy Faithfulness, In the Garden, One Day, and so many more. Thanks for all the time you invest into your ministry. ~ Abby
Love this, Abby! I have a history hymn book that tells the stories and history behind the hymns and it is just fabulous. You’re making me want to get it out and take a peek! 🙂
I have been thinking about hymns the past day or two & this post came at the perfect time for me! I love the old hymns. Thank you for your list : )
Rachel, I love this list! One of the things I love about the great old hymns is the strong Biblical truths they remind us of. So uplifting!
Thanks for putting it together.
Blessings
Mel from Connect With God
My hope is built on nothing less.
One day at a time.
Count your blessings.
I’d rather have Jesus.
Like you, I was raised singing from the hymnal- cant really pick a favourite one but the above are some of what got me through some dark days.
ps thanks for doing what u do x God bless 🙂
I love your list. I love the old hymns. I too grew up on them. We just left a church who exchanged them for new
choruses, leaving the hymnals untouched, unused in the pew backs.
Ok, last two suggestions, I swear……although I could do this all night!
I’d Rather Have Jesus
Blessed Assurance
AND ….. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing……..my favorite part – Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above.
oh goodness- yes, that one too. I told you I have too many favorites!
That is one of my very favorites too!
Great is Thy Faithfulness
oh yes! I do love that one!!!