So you want to promote discipleship and focus on it in your church, but need some practical ideas. One is to include the focus in your worship music! But what songs focus that direction?
What kinds of themes are in discipleship songs?
Discipleship songs often focus on themes that reflect the journey of following Christ, spiritual growth, and living out one’s faith in everyday life. Here are some common themes found in discipleship songs:
Consecration and Surrender: Emphasizing the act of dedicating oneself wholly to God, these songs often speak of giving up worldly desires and ambitions to follow Christ. Lyrics may include phrases about surrendering one's will, submitting to God's plan, and seeking to be used by God for His purposes.
Following Christ: This theme focuses on the commitment to follow Jesus wherever He leads. Songs may describe the path of discipleship as one of obedience, trust, and walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
Imitating Christ: Songs with this theme encourage believers to emulate the character and actions of Jesus. They often highlight qualities like humility, love, service, patience, and sacrifice, urging Christians to model their lives after Christ’s example.
Taking Up Your Cross: Based on Jesus' call to take up one's cross and follow Him, these songs reflect themes of sacrifice, self-denial, and enduring hardship for the sake of Christ and the Gospel.
Faith and Trust: Many discipleship songs center on the need for faith and trust in God’s guidance and provision. They speak to the assurance that comes from relying on God’s promises, even in difficult or uncertain times.
Perseverance and Endurance: Reflecting the idea that discipleship is a lifelong journey, these songs emphasize the need to persevere in faith, continue growing spiritually, and remain steadfast in the face of trials.
Spiritual Growth and Maturity: These songs focus on the ongoing process of spiritual development, learning, and transformation that comes from a deepening relationship with God. They often encourage believers to seek wisdom, knowledge, and a closer walk with God.
Community and Fellowship: Some discipleship songs highlight the importance of Christian community and fellowship in discipleship. They emphasize the role of the church in supporting and encouraging one another in faith.
Service and Mission: Emphasizing the call to serve others and share the Gospel, these songs inspire believers to engage in acts of love, service, and evangelism as a natural outflow of their discipleship.
Hope and Eternal Perspective: Songs with this theme remind believers of the eternal rewards and hope that come from following Christ. They often encourage a focus on heavenly things rather than earthly ones, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises.
Examples of hymns about discipleship
Using these themes, let's compile a list. Here’s a list of 100 traditional hymns and gospel songs focusing on discipleship:
1. I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
2. Take My Life and Let It Be
3. Where He Leads Me
4. Follow On
5. Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult
6. O Jesus, I Have Promised
7. I Want a Principle Within
8. Trust and Obey
9. I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go
10. Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
11. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
12. Lead On, O King Eternal
13. Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake
14. The Master Hath Come
15. So Send I You
16. All to Jesus I Surrender
17. Follow, I Will Follow Thee
18. In the Cross of Christ I Glory
19. I'll Live for Him
20. Ye Servants of God
21. Living for Jesus
22. O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
23. Have Thine Own Way, Lord
24. Abide with Me
25. Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
26. Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?
27. O Zion, Haste
28. I Gave My Life for Thee
29. A Charge to Keep I Have
30. Come, Labor On
31. Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee
32. Give of Your Best to the Master
33. Make Me a Blessing
34. Go, Labor On
35. Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
36. O for a Heart to Praise My God
37. My Jesus, I Love Thee
38. Take Up Thy Cross
39. More Love to Thee, O Christ
40. I Surrender All
41. Be Thou My Vision
42. Beneath the Cross of Jesus
43. Nearer, My God, to Thee
44. Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
45. I Am Thine, O Lord
46. Close to Thee
47. Higher Ground
48. Give Me Jesus
49. Something for Thee
50. At the Cross
51. O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
52. O to Be Like Thee
53. Soldiers of Christ, Arise
54. He Leadeth Me
55. Follow Me
56. Take Time to Be Holy
57. O For a Closer Walk with God
58. Footsteps of Jesus
59. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
60. In the Garden
61. Ye Servants of God
62. Breathe on Me, Breath of God
63. Fill Me Now
64. Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
65. The Solid Rock
66. The Old Rugged Cross
67. Let Him Have His Way with Thee
68. Day by Day
69. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
70. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
71. How Firm a Foundation
72. Rock of Ages
73. I Need Thee Every Hour
74. Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
75. I'd Rather Have Jesus
76. Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
77. Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
78. O Happy Day
79. Lead Me to Calvary
80. Lord, I'm Coming Home
81. Just As I Am
82. God Will Take Care of You
83. All the Way My Savior Leads Me
84. May the Mind of Christ, My Savior
85. Infinite Power, Eternal Lord
86. Arise, My Soul, Arise
87. It Is Well with My Soul
88. We Give Thee But Thine Own
89. Have You Any Room for Jesus?
90. I Am Resolved
91. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
92. Oh, How I Love Jesus
93. I Will Sing of My Redeemer
94. Sweet Hour of Prayer
95. Standing on the Promises
96. Victory in Jesus
97. Now I Belong to Jesus
98. He Is So Precious to Me
99. I Know Whom I Have Believed
100. O For A Faith That Will Not Shrink
100 Modern Hymns about Discipleship
Of course, hymns are still being written. They're not simply an old form!
Here’s a list of 100 modern hymns that focus on discipleship, with themes of consecration, following Christ, imitating Christ, taking up your cross, surrender, and self-sacrifice, featuring songs by artists like Stuart Townend, Keith & Kristyn Getty, CityAlight, Sovereign Grace Music, and Bill Gaither:
1. "In Christ Alone" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
2. "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" - Stuart Townend
3. "Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me" - CityAlight
4. "He Will Hold Me Fast" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
5. "Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery" - Matt Boswell & Matt Papa
6. "The Power of the Cross" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
7. "O Church Arise" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
8. "All I Have Is Christ" - Sovereign Grace Music
9. "Speak O Lord" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
10. "Before the Throne of God Above" - Sovereign Grace Music
11. "Living Waters" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
12. "Christ Our Hope in Life and Death" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
13. "For the Cause" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
14. "Come People of the Risen King" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
15. "My Worth Is Not in What I Own" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
16. "Behold Our God" - Sovereign Grace Music
17. "Grace Unmeasured" - Sovereign Grace Music
18. "I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130)" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
19. "There Is a Higher Throne" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
20. "By Faith" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
21. "Is He Worthy?" - Andrew Peterson
22. "O Great God" - Sovereign Grace Music
23. "Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King" - Gateway Worship
24. "His Mercy Is More" - Matt Boswell & Matt Papa
25. "Jesus, Thank You" - Sovereign Grace Music
26. "My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62)" - Sovereign Grace Music
27. "Compete in Me" - Sovereign Grace Music
28. "Across the Lands" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
29. "Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
30. "The Lord Is My Salvation" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
31. "God the Uncreated One (King Forevermore)" - Sovereign Grace Music
32. "We Will Feast in the House of Zion" - Sandra McCracken
33. "Jesus Is Mine" - CityAlight
34. "The King in All His Beauty" - Matt Boswell & Matt Papa
35. "I Will Glory in My Redeemer" - Sovereign Grace Music
36. "Christ Is Mine Forevermore" - CityAlight
37. "Let Your Kingdom Come" - Sovereign Grace Music
38. "Come Adore the Humble King" - Sovereign Grace Music
39. "We Will Feast in the House of Zion" - Sandra McCracken
40. "The Gospel Song" - Sovereign Grace Music
41. "The Solid Rock" - Sovereign Grace Music
42. "All Glory Be to Christ" - King’s Kaleidoscope
43. "By This We Know Love" - Sovereign Grace Music
44. "When Trials Come" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
45. "I Will Trust My Savior Jesus" - CityAlight
46. "All Praise to Him" - Sovereign Grace Music
47. "O Come, All You Unfaithful" - Sovereign Grace Music
48. "What a Savior" - Sovereign Grace Music
49. "O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer" - Sovereign Grace Music
50. "Come, O Sinner" - Sovereign Grace Music
51. "Cling to Christ" - Sovereign Grace Music
52. "In the Valley" - Sovereign Grace Music
53. "Our Only Hope Is You" - Sovereign Grace Music
54. "Merciful God" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
55. "Grace" - CityAlight
56. "The Lord Is My Salvation" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
57. "Let It Be Jesus" - Christy Nockels
58. "My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
59. "Oh How Good It Is" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
60. "By Faith" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
61. "Compassion Hymn" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
62. "The Perfect Wisdom of Our God" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
63. "Consider Him" - Sovereign Grace Music
64. "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" - Sovereign Grace Music
65. "Behold the Lamb (The Communion Hymn)" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
66. "Facing a Task Unfinished" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
67. "We Believe" - Newsboys
68. "I Am Not Ashamed" - Sovereign Grace Music
69. "Show Us Christ" - Sovereign Grace Music
70. "Prepare Him Room" - Sovereign Grace Music
71. "Worthy of the Lord" - Bill Gaither
72. "At the Cross" - Bill Gaither
73. "Because He Lives" - Bill Gaither
74. "There Is a Redeemer" - Keith Green
75. "O Praise the Name (Anástasis)" - Hillsong Worship
76. "The Risen Christ" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
77. "Resurrection Hymn (See, What a Morning)" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
78. "Speak O Lord" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
79. "O Come to the Altar" - Elevation Worship
80. "Be Still My Soul" - Sovereign Grace Music
81. "Abide with Me" - Matt Redman
82. "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" - Chris Tomlin
83. "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand" - Sovereign Grace Music
84. "Behold the Wondrous Cross" - Sovereign Grace Music
85. "God So Loved" - We the Kingdom
86. "There Is a Fountain" - Sovereign Grace Music
87. "The Love of God" - Sovereign Grace Music
88. "We Are Not Overcome" - Bifrost Arts
89. "Sovereign Over Us" - Michael W. Smith
90. "God of Grace" - CityAlight
91. "Who Is On the Lord's Side?" - Sovereign Grace Music
92. "Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor" - Sovereign Grace Music
93. "Holy, Holy, Holy" - Sovereign Grace Music
94. "Jesus Shall Reign" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
95. "I Will Rise" - Chris Tomlin
96. "Take My Life and Let It Be" - Sovereign Grace Music
97. "It Is Well with My Soul" - Sovereign Grace Music
98. "God of Calvary" - Chris Tomlin
99. "Come Praise and Glorify" - Sovereign Grace Music
100. "The Saving One" - Chris Tomlin
101. "I Give All to You" - Larnelle Harris
This list provides a variety of modern hymns that focus on discipleship, emphasizing themes of consecration, following Christ, surrender, and self-sacrifice.