Theme: Kingdom Of God

Jesus' central message was the kingdom — its arrival, its character, its demands, and its ultimate triumph. Songs about the kingdom of God give the congregation a framework that is larger than individual salvation or personal experience. They situate our worship in the cosmic narrative of God's reign breaking into history through Jesus, advancing through His people, and moving toward the day when every knee will bow. I've found these songs particularly important for preventing the insularity that afflicts many congregations — the retreat into a privatized faith disconnected from the purposes of God in the world. The kingdom is here, it is coming, and we are participants in its advance. These songs make sure we know that and live like it.