Anchored in Christ

Classic hymns, like any type of music, take us back in time. When I listen to certain hymns, I think of my mom singing in the church choir. I think of watching Bill Gaither sing-a-longs with family. I think of weekly worship at church where classic hymns still lift my soul to our Triune God. And I think of the saints throughout the ages who clung to the precious truths of the hymns in centuries past.

While many today know the best hymns of all-time like “Amazing Grace”, “To God Be the Glory” or “It Is Well With My Soul”, there are an untold number of amazing hymns Christians today don’t know. To fill that void, a friend and former colleague put together list of 25 of the best classic hymns that the church should rediscover. Drawing from that list, here are ten of my favorites.

Classic Hymns the Church Should Rediscover

1. “Jesus Lover Of My Soul” by Charles Wesley (1740)

Jesus, lover of my soul / Let me to Thy bosom fly / While the nearer waters roll / While the tempest still is high / Hide me, O my Savior, hide / Till the storm of life is past / Safe into the haven guide / Oh, receive my soul at last.

2. “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” by William Williams (1745)

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah / Pilgrim through this barren land / I am weak, but Thou art mighty / Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand / Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven / Feed me till I want no more / Feed me till I want no more.

3. “Arise, My Soul, Arise” by Charles Wesley (1742)

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears / The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears / Before the throne my surety stands / Before the throne my surety stands / My name is written on His hands.

4. “Jesus Is All The World To Me” by Will Thompson (1904)

Jesus is all the world to me / My life, my joy, my all / He is my strength from day to day / Without Him I would fall / When I am sad, to Him I go / No other one can cheer me so / When I am sad, He makes me glad/ He’s my Friend.

5. “Revive Us Again” by W. P. Mackay (1867)

We praise Thee, O God! / For the Son of Thy love / For Jesus Who died / And is now gone above

Refrain: Hallelujah! Thine the glory / Hallelujah! Amen / Hallelujah! Thine the glory / Revive us again.

6. “Wonderful Words Of Life” by P. P. Bliss (1874)

Sing them over again to me / Wonderful words of life / Let me more of their beauty see / Wonderful words of life / Words of life and beauty / Teach me faith and duty.

7. “Christ Arose” by Robert Lowry (1874)

Refrain: 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!

8. “He Is Coming Again” by Maybel J. Camp

Lift up your heads, pilgrims aweary / See day’s approach now crimson the sky / Night shadows flee, and your Belovèd / Awaited with longing, at last draweth nigh.

Refrain: He is coming again, He is coming again / The very same Jesus, rejected of men / He is coming again, He is coming again / With power and great glory, He is coming again!

9. “Immortal Invisible” by Walter C. Smith (1867)

Immortal, invisible, God only wise / In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes / Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days / Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

10. “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” by Jeremiah Rankin (1880)

God be with you till we meet again / By His counsels guide, uphold you / With His sheep securely fold you / God be with you till we meet again.

---

** Disclaimer: Links to YouTube versions of the songs do not carry any endorsement other than the original song and lyrics.