The Worship Review

"Keep Us All Close" by Eastlake Music assumes a universal search for God amidst diverse beliefs and struggles. The song petitions God to "let in" friends, enemies, the marginalized and people of all faiths. Tyler and Colin discuss whether this contemporary Christian song is, in fact, Christian. God bless our friends, God bless our enemies All of our children, all of our familie...

This song encourages us to see all our feasting, mourning, love, work, and play as opportunities to worship God. Join Colin & Tyler as we examine the poetic language and Biblical references in this modern hymn. Verse 1 If creation is longing for freedom and glory Every winter that passes each forest that burns There’s a cry from its heart come Lord Jesus return Every season a temple of praise...

Part two. Can the doctrine of God's sovereignty serve as the basis for an emotional and powerful contemporary Christian worship song? CityAlight's "Your Glory & My Good" grapples with some of the most weighty and challenging issues in the Christian faith. As a result, Colin and Tyler end up in a wide ranging discussion about trusting God in the midst of suffering, the beauty...

Can the doctrine of God's sovereignty serve as the basis for an emotional and powerful contemporary Christian worship song? CityAlight's "Your Glory & My Good" grapples with some of the most weighty and challenging issues in the Christian faith. As a result, Colin and Tyler end up in a wide ranging discussion about trusting God in the midst of suffering, the beauty and power...

This week's episode analyzes a song by Dustin Kensrue called "Grace Alone." The song addresses several core elements of the gospel: that we have no right to approach God, that we have redemption and salvation through Jesus, that the Holy Spirit makes the light of Christ shine on our darkened hearts, and more. Lyrics: I was an orphan lost at the Fall, Running away when I'd hear Yo...

If you saw the phrase "Free to Love" on a bumper sticker in California, what would you think it meant? What about in a worship song? Colin and Tyler talk about "It was Finished upon that Cross" by CityAlight.

Colin and Tyler yuk it up on this episode of The Worship Review . Brandon Lake's very popular song 'Gratitude' provides an opportunity to discuss thankfulness and how we express it to God.

This worship song reminds us that all our praise ultimately belongs to King Jesus. As we dive into the lyrics of this modern praise tune, we take a closer look at the creation declaring God's glory, the implications of God existing outside of time, and the eternity of praise Christians have to look forward to. "1,000 Hallelujahs and 1,000 more" equals 2,000, but how many points out o...

This classic song has been sung at Advent time for generations. How well does it present the gospel? Is it easy to understand? Should churches sing it? We discuss on this episode of The Worship Review . Lyrics: O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining 'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth A thri...

This easy-going and elegant song appeared on both the Rain For Roots Waiting Songs album as well as Sandra McCracken's God's Highway . Should an advent song like this one-a song which relies on metaphor and seasonal context--be treated differently than songs which use similar elements, but without the context? Colin and Tyler discuss. Lyrics: For you, O Lord, our souls in stillness wait Fo...

Colin and Tyler look at a CCM classic that wonders at what the experience of Heaven will be like. We talk about individual vs. collective expression of worship, thinking and feeling in worship, and reference some Biblical texts that shape our understanding of Heaven. Lyrics: I can only imagine what it will be like When I walk, by your side I can only imagine what my eyes will see When you face is...

Colin and Tyler are presented with a challenge this week in comprehending the lyrics to Thank God I Do by Lauren Daigle. Undoubtedly popular, the song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard US Christian Songs chart. Thank God I Do says "you're my safe place, my hideaway, my anchor, my saving grace," but who is the "you" of the song? Tune in to hear the discussion. Lyrics I&#39...

Should a worship song really call people "vile" or "ruined"? Tyler and Colin parse through an old song that continues to be sung in many churches: "Man of Sorrows" (aka: "Hallelujah! What A Savior!").

Worship leader and songwriter Nathan Partain set Psalm 27 to music. We discuss both the style and substance of this thoughtful rendition.

Here's a modern hymn, written by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell, dealing with God's abundant mercy for sinners. Even though our sins are indeed "many," God's grace is greater. In this episode, we talk about the riches of God's love, the fact that God chooses not to remember the sins of His people, and the refreshing, constant mercy that awaits Christians every day. We also le...

This setting of Psalm 18 deals with deliverance from trouble, and more importantly, deliverance from death and sin in Jesus Christ's triumphant resurrection. Colin and Tyler discuss love for The Lord and seeking refuge in Him, what Psalm 18 says about His wrath, the fear of God (Proverbs 1:7), what it is like reading the Bible as one ages, the benefits of singing old hymns, and a children'...

This episode not only discusses the classic hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy", but investigates what makes a song trinitarian. And what does it mean when this song says "though the darkness hide thee"?

Tyler and Colin continue to evaluate "excellent" songs with Shane & Shane's "All Sufficient Merit".

Martin Luther set Psalm 130 to verse; Chris Miner put music to it, and Andrew Osenga and Emily Deloach of Indelible Grace Music blend their voices to produce this version. Colin and Tyler discuss these five verses and the theology undergirding them. We address the gravity of man's sin, the exceeding magnitude of God's mercy, and the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who saves his people from th...

Many listeners will never have heard of this week's song "Son of God" by Nathan Partain. In discussing this song, Colin and Tyler touch on Gungor's "Friend of God", whether artificial intelligence can become Christian, gendered language in the bible and whether it is applicable to all believers

We've said that our best episodes are ones in which we disagree. This is one of those. Today we're looking at the ancient hymn "Be Thou My Vision," which asks God to be many things to the Christian. We make sure to include the oft-dropped "battle shield" verse. Colin emphasizes the necessity to include explicit reference to soteriological themes in music while Tyler inv...

In addition to reviewing the song 'To the Cross I Cling' by Matt Boswell, Colin and Tyler discuss how Christian music should handle the idea of guilt and the gospels forensic aspects.

In 1876, Horatio Spafford published the first version of this hymn. In this episode, we dig deep into the story behind the lyrics. We then contemplate the rich theology of the song. Songs sampled in this episode: It is Well with my Soul by Grace Community Church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h32qcka7DW0 It is Well by Redeemer Presbyterian Church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tQiLIFPFI0

Colin and Tyler discuss the ideas of adoption and belonging in 'You Made Us Your Own'--a song released by Sovereign Grace Music and authored by Bob Kauflin, Steve Cook and Vikki Cook. There is also some discussion of recent tweets by Kevin DeYoung.

This week, a hymn of unity and communion is our topic of conversation. Samuel J. Stone published this hymn in response to some doctrinal controversy as part of a compendium of songs on the Apostles' Creed called Lyra Fidelium (the lyre of the faithful), linked below. The Church's One Foundation is a meditation on the ninth article of the Apostles' Creed: "...[I believe] in the holy catholic Church...