Easter Service – Songs for the Resurrection

JP wrote in to ask, “I enjoyed your blog on ‘What Christmas Songs Do You Use?’ With April fast approaching, could you please post a similar list for Easter?”

I polled some of the other guys who serve in some of the Sovereign Grace churches, and this is a tentative list. I’ve left off some of the more obvious ones like “Christ the Lord is Ris’n Today.” I’ve included songs that focus exclusively on the resurrection, as well as those that reference it at some point.

Crown Him with Many Crowns
Including the verse:
Crown Him the Lord of life who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save
His glories now we sing who died and rose on high
Who died eternal live to bring and lives that death may die.

See What A Morning
From the Church of Christ the King CD “Passion for God’s Son”

Worship Christ the Risen King
Words by Jack Hayford, sung to the melody of Angels from the Realms of Glory (#286 in the Trinity Hymnal)
A sample verse:
Rise, O church, and lift your voices, Christ has conquered death and hell.
Sing as all the earth rejoices; resurrection anthems swell.
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the risen King!

In Christ Alone
by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
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

Beautiful Savior (All My Days)
By Stuart Townend
The chorus includes these words:
You’re the risen One, heaven’s champion
And You reign, You reign over all

Lost in Wonder
By Martin Layzell from the CD of the same name
Up from the grave victorious
You rose again so glorious

You Led Me to the Cross
By Matt Redman
The second verse focuses on the resurrection.

You are My King
By Billy Foote

Before the Throne of God Above
(Words by Charitie Bancroft, Music by Vikki Cook)
Verse 3 begins:
Behold Him there! The Risen Lamb, My perfect, spotless Righteousness

Before There was Time
From the Caedmon’s Call CD The Company of Angels
The bridge includes the words:
You saved me, You raised me
You saved me, You pulled me from the grave

Behold the Lamb
By Mark Altrogge
From the Sovereign Grace CD King of Grace

Hallelujah What a Savior
Updated on my hymns project, Upward.

Here is the Risen Son
From the Phatfish CD We Know the Story

How Great You Are
From Will Pavone’s CD For Your Name

That’s my list. Feel free to leave a comment to let us know about other songs you’ve found help for celebrating the resurrection of our Savior. If they might be difficult to find, let us know a source as well.

Update: I posted another list here of Sovereign Grace songs that can be used for Passion Week and Easter Sunday.

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36 Responses to Easter Service – Songs for the Resurrection

  1. Lindele February 18, 2006 at 8:40 AM #

    This might be one of those “obvious” ones, but the one our congregation sings with the most gusto is “Low in the Grave He Lay” or sometimes called “Christ Arose.” I think it’s in most hymnals.

    Up from the grave He arose
    With a mighty triumph o’er His foes!
    He arose a victor from the dark domain
    And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
    He arose! He arose!
    Hallelujah, Christ arose!

  2. Scott February 18, 2006 at 12:20 PM #

    “Perfect Lamb of God” by Adam Saks from SG’s “Worship Live” is one we are considering this year.
    “Beautiful, Scandalous Night” by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong is a great song.

    More to be performed as special music:
    “Ain’t No Grave” a traditional song from Russ Taff’s “Under Their Influence” and
    “Still Rolls The Stone” by Bob Bennett

  3. Lance Cummins February 23, 2006 at 9:55 PM #

    If you want a great contemporary choir piece that is a ballad and summarizes the story of Christ, try “End of the Beginning” by David Phelps. There are a couple of good arrangements out there.

    Bob, I love your articles. Keep up the great work!

  4. Kendall Ellis February 24, 2006 at 1:09 PM #

    Bob mentioned “See What a Morning.” Two other Keith Getty hymns:
    “O Breath of God”
    O breath of God come fill this place
    Revive our hearts to know Your grace
    And from our slumber make us rise
    That we may know the risen Christ

    “Jesus Is Lord”
    Jesus is Lord, the tomb is gloriously empty
    Not even death could crush this King of Love
    The price is paid, the chains are loosed, and we’re forgiven
    And we can run into the arms of God

  5. Ken April 12, 2006 at 2:15 PM #

    Another would be “When My Heart is Faint Within Me” by Alan Rose.

    You are Jesus Christ, Faithful One
    Risen King, Champion
    You deserve the highest praise
    The Lamb of God who once was slain for our sin

    Copyright 2000 Thankyou Music.

  6. FoundCoin March 4, 2007 at 9:37 AM #

    For Resurrection Sunday, we sing most of the songs you have; however, I didn’t see this song on your website – “He’s Alive!” This is such a robust song – full of intensity- full of joy – can’t wait to sing it again (although we sing it throughout the year too. This is my favorite holiday! <>

  7. Marshall Stoy March 5, 2007 at 9:49 PM #

    Thanks so much Bob, grateful to God for you.

    Two more songs that I didn’t see above:

    1.”The Glories of Calvary” (“…rejoicing in the risen lamb…”)

    2. “Come Christians Join and Sing”
    (“…come praise the risen lamb…”). v.3 by Kevin Hartnett, http://khartnettpoetry.typepad.com/kevin_hartnett_poetry/

  8. FoundCoin March 6, 2007 at 12:53 AM #

    These are also some of the songs we will be singing for Resurrection Sunday –
    “Salvation Belongs to Our God” by Petra
    “My Redeemer Lives” by Hillsongs
    “Bow Before the Lord” by Vineyard Music
    (“Bow before the Lord, He reigns in Majesty, Kneel before the throne, of our Victorious, our Victorious KING! (Bridge-“Death could not hold HIM, death could not keep HIM down, the power of darkness crumbled when HE arose, He arose!!) Wow! Beautiful songs that come from God’s heart to our hearts onto paper. I’ve learned that the songs (words & music)I write come from HIM – I’m just willing to do the labor! Here I am Lord, use me!

  9. Patrick April 5, 2007 at 1:16 PM #

    Bob –

    What about Oh to See the Dawn (The Power of the Cross) by Townsend and Getty?

    I’ve been playing the new irish hymns 4 by the Getty’s all week and that’s my favorite on that album.

  10. Bob Kauflin April 5, 2007 at 2:21 PM #

    Patrick,

    Oh to See the Dawn is a great addition. Thanks for suggesting it.

  11. ChrisB April 5, 2007 at 2:44 PM #

    If you’ve never heard it, check out Newsong’s Arise My Love.

    (Link listed as “my” website.)

  12. Richard April 5, 2007 at 7:02 PM #

    I guess “He Lives” doesn’t rate a mention?

  13. Edward April 6, 2007 at 6:53 PM #

    It’s not on the list but one of my favorites is Pat Sczebel’s “Jesus Thank You” from Worship God Live

  14. Chris April 7, 2007 at 1:31 PM #

    Our God Reigns – Leonard Smith
    We are doing the “Out of the tomb” verse as well as using the chorus as an anthem

    God So Loved – Hillsongs
    “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain/He is risen from the dead – He is risen!”

  15. Peter O April 8, 2007 at 2:47 AM #

    Bob – Do you Americans know “Now the Green Blade Rises”?

    http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/g/ngbrises.htm

    Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
    Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
    Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
    Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

    In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
    Thinking that He’d never wake to life again,
    Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
    Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

    Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
    He that for three days in the grave had lain;
    Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
    Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

    When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
    By Your touch You call us back to life again;
    Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
    Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

  16. JBG April 8, 2007 at 2:56 PM #

    I don’t lead worship- but I always get that Easter victory message from Keith Greens “Easter Song.”
    Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing
    ‘Christ is risen from the dead.’
    GO QUICKLY NOW, TELL HIS DISCIPLES THAT JESUS CHRIST IS NO LONGER DEAD.
    JOY TO THE WORLD, HE IS RISEN HALLELUJAH!

    bg

  17. Ken March 13, 2008 at 6:35 PM #

    Alive Forever Amen” by Travis Cottrell, Sue Smith, and David Moffitt is another excellent one.

  18. Ken March 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM #

    “In the Tomb So Cold” by Graham Kendrick is another older, usable one.

  19. Steve April 10, 2008 at 2:23 PM #

    I also used “You Are My King” along with What I Like About You (Romantics), Tell The World (Hillsong), Praise You With The Dance (Casting Crowns), Son of God (Starfield), Message of the Cross (Delirious), and a few original songs available at

    http://worship.myownlittlereality.com/cgi-bin/enter.cgi?fromlink=worshipmatters.com

    A free mp3 worship resource where you can upload your original songs (mp3s and sheet music) to share with others.

  20. Richard April 29, 2008 at 1:00 PM #

    I would suggest singing the enthronement psalms!

  21. Kristen March 17, 2009 at 10:11 AM #

    “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong
    Also, I didn’t see the obvious:
    “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”

  22. Lois Shive April 4, 2009 at 11:35 PM #

    We always have a Pre-Worship time; low tech, just the hymnal, the keyboard and I. We use the 20 min. to sing as many Resurrection hymns as possible.
    This year for worship we use old favorites…Jesus is Alive, My Redeemer Lives, Lord I lift Your Name on High as well as I’m Forever Grateful, Agnus Dei and The Power of the Cross.
    There are some Great hymns and songs out there… hard to pick just one service full.

  23. Scott Robertson February 22, 2010 at 12:26 AM #

    I’m looking for the name and author of a contemporary christian song and I only know the first few words. They are as follows Have you heard the good news, Have you heard the good news. Have you heard that he is living again.

    I think these lyrics are correct but I;m not sure, can anyone help me here? If so please drop me an email, or reply here.

    thanks and God Bless
    Scott

  24. Scott Robertson February 22, 2010 at 6:03 AM #

    sorry no email so reply to this post

    thanks

  25. Les April 20, 2011 at 11:35 AM #

    I am looking for a Contemporary Christian Easter song that begins with the forces of evil celebrating a victory of Jesus death and they start a knock out count that turns into a count down to the resurrection.

    Any help with this.

    Les

  26. Erica April 24, 2011 at 10:14 AM #

    @Les the song you are looking for is Carmen’s The Champion! I have been listening to Carmen since I was a kid!

  27. Peter K Tan March 19, 2012 at 8:32 AM #

    Another obvious one: ‘Thine be the glory, risen conq’ring Son’.

    There’s also ‘Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is in you’ by Graham Kendrick, with the chorus:

    Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is in you
    The hope of glory in your heart
    He lives, He lives, His breath is in you
    Arise a mighty army
    Arise, arise.

  28. Ron April 2, 2012 at 12:18 PM #

    One of the great Resurrection Celebration choruses is “Our Lord Is Alive” by Pledger. “Our Lord is alive, He is risen, Hallelujah! Sing praises to His name! Wonderful Savior, Counselor, Deliverer, Redeemer-King is He!”

  29. Kathryn April 4, 2012 at 3:23 AM #

    I love this list! This year we are doing “God Who Saves” by
    Caedmon’s Call. GREAT song and congregation has really embraced it:
    vs 2 “There is truth in His body, raised that third day
    There is joy in a stone rolled away
    There is hope pouring out of the tomb where He lay
    Pouring out, pouring over the grave

    For He lives that we too might live
    And He loves that we might also love
    And know the glory of God above

    There is life in the blood of the Lamb who was slain
    There is power, there is power in His name

  30. Bob April 4, 2012 at 3:49 PM #

    “Hallelujah, What a Savior”

    “The power of the Cross”

    “In Christ Alone”

    “All Hail the power of Jesus name”

    “Because he Lives”

  31. Bob April 4, 2012 at 3:54 PM #

    Crown Him With Many Crowns… by Fernando Ortega Is a really good one also…

  32. suellen lamortesuelamorte March 31, 2013 at 9:00 PM #

    looking for lyrics for ‘my jesus rose on easter morning he came to sing a love song he came to be my friend “

    • John B. Valentine April 11, 2020 at 7:14 PM #

      That’s a Papa Mike Mirabella song and the lyrics are in the old spiral bound Songs songbook by Yohann Anderson

  33. Jeff Head April 14, 2014 at 10:53 PM #

    Other songs we’ve done for Sunrise services- Celebrate Jesus!
    – Alleluia He Is Coming
    – All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
    – Victory Chant
    – Morning Has Broken
    and one new one I’d love to try sometime (but harder to do outside without the band!) – Man of Sorrows by Hillsong – great song if you’ve haven’t heard it yet!

  34. kjw810 April 12, 2020 at 7:58 AM #

    Youtube is the best way for me to share songs. I have a CD called Vineyard, the Cross. On it, there is a song called He Is Risen. I cannot find the song anywhere! It was out around 2000. Your help would be appreciated.

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