Music shapes our hearts and minds. What we fill our ears with—for better or worse—forms who we are and what we love. This is one reason why music has loomed large in Christian worship and catechesis throughout church history. In church, we don’t only rehearse our confession by speaking creeds and hearing biblical truths preached; we sing these confessions and biblical truths. And as we sing, God’s truth roots down deeper in our souls.
As new converts navigate the jarring transition to living wholeheartedly for Christ and his kingdom, in a world where Christian values and theology are ever more alien, immersion in beautiful Christian music and worship is essential. This happens first and foremost in congregational worship settings, but it should also happen throughout the week in Christians’ homes as they dwell, in their cars as they commute, or in their headphones as they work.
In church we don’t only rehearse our confession by speaking creeds and hearing biblical truths preached; we sing these confessions and biblical truths. And as we sing, God’s truth roots down deeper in our souls.
Thanks to the accessibility of streaming music today, it’s easier than ever before to find theologically rich, high-quality Christian songs that can serve as a soundtrack for a new believer’s catechesis. But the voluminous options can be overwhelming. New adult believers unfamiliar with (or understandably skeptical of) Christian music might not know where to start.
That’s why I put together this playlist of 100 songs with a catechetical flair to them: songs that teach Christian truth and yet do it poetically, with excellence.
You can find the playlist now on Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music.
While I designed the playlist with new believers in mind, it’s also a valuable curated collection for Christians at any stage. Including devotional prayers, classic and modern hymns, Scripture-based songs, and creedal anthems, these 100 songs—of various genres and from artists all over the world—are rich in nutrients for believers wherever they are on their journey of following Jesus.
Playlist Songs
Opening Prayers
- “Come Thou Fount,” Kings Kaleidoscope
- “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” Jadon Lavik
- “Take My Life and Let It Be,” Paul Zach, Liz Vice
- “All Shall Be Well,” John Van Deusen
- “Morning Song (Give Me Jesus),” Antoine Bradford
- “My All in Thee,” Young Oceans
- “Thank You, Lord,” Jon Guerra
Creeds and Catechisms
- “I Am Not My Own,” Skye Peterson, Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “What Is My Hope,” Tenielle Neda
- “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death,” Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa
- “We Believe (Apostles’ Creed),” Stuart Townend
- “Creed,” Candace Coker, Bellsburg Sessions
- “Apostles Creed,” Liturgical Folk
- “Apostles’ Creed,” Emu Music
- “I Believe,” Phil Wickham
- “This I Believe,” Shane & Shane
Five Solas
- “The Five Solas,” Psallos
- “Soli Deo Gloria,” Zambroa
- “Grace Alone,” The Modern Post
- “Faith Alone,” Willie Will, Anisa Stoot
- “In Christ Alone,” Anchor Hymns, Sandra McCracken, Antoine Bradford
- “Scripture Alone,” FLAME
Scripture Songs
- “SHEMA (Deut. 6:4–7),” Will Carlisle
- “Joshua 1:9,” Verses, Loud Harp
- “Like a Tree (Psalm 1),” Caroline Cobb
- “Psalm 16,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “The House of God, Forever,” Jon Foreman (Ps. 23)
- “Dwell in Your House,” Colorvault, Young Oceans (Ps. 27)
- “Psalm 43,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “Be Still,” Loud Harp (Ps. 46:10)
- “My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62),” Sandra McCracken
- “No Place Better (Psalm 84),” Caroline Cobb
- “Wisdom & Grace (Psalm 90),” Rain for Roots, Sandra McCracken, Sera Sage Oakes
- “Psalm 100 (Make a Joyful Noise),” Brian Sauvé
- “Psalm 116 (I Love You, Lord),” Mission House, Jess Ray, Taylor Leonhardt
- “Psalm 121:7–8,” Verses, Rivers & Robots
- “Psalm 150,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “Proverbs 3:5–6,” John Van Deusen
- “Proverbs 18:10,” Verses, Free as a Bird, Gretyl Baird
- “Isaiah 11,” Rain for Roots
- “Perfect Peace,” Tenielle Neda (Isa. 26:3; Phil. 4:6; Matt. 6:26–34; Rom. 12:12, etc.)
- “Movement 3 (Isaiah 53:4–7),” The Corner Room
- “Christ,” Poor Bishop Hooper (Matt. 1:1–17)
- “The Beatitudes Song,” Brook Hills Worship (Matt. 5)
- “Matthew 6,” Tekoa, Rory Mckenna, Mark Barlow
- “The Lord’s Prayer,” Jon Guerra (Matt. 6:9–13)
- “Find Rest (Matthew 11),” Caroline Cobb, Taylor Leonhardt
- “John 3:16–17,” The Corner Room
- “He Came to Die (Romans 3:21–31),” Psallos
- “No Condemnation (Romans 8:1–4),” Immanuel Worship, Jessica Campbell Waterman
- “Without Love,” Jonathan Ogden (1 Cor. 13)
- “Galatians 2:20,” The Welcome Wagon
- “Fullness of God,” JUDAH. (Eph. 3:18–21)
- “Rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4–7),” Psallos
- “Ex Paradiso (Hebrews 2:5–18),” Psallos
- “Unto You (Heb. 12),” Zambroa
- “James 1:2–5,” The Corner Room
- “1 John 5:3–5,” The Corner Room
- “Mercy Peace Love (Jude 2),” Psallos
- “Is He Worthy? (Live),” Andrew Peterson, Keith & Kristyn Getty (Rev. 5)
- “Revelation Song,” The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane (Rev. 5:11–14; 7:9–12)
- “Revelation 22:20–21,” The Corner Room
Hymns, Old and New
- “How Great Thou Art,” Shane & Shane
- “We Will Feast in the House of Zion,” Sandra McCracken, Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” Providence
- “It Was Finished upon That Cross,” CityAlight
- “Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” Nathan Drake
- “His Mercy Is More,” Shane & Shane
- “Nothing but the Blood,” Shai Linne, Eric Mccallister
- “Lead Me to the Cross,” sxxnt., Austin Sebak
- “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “Before the Throne of God Above,” Sojourn
- “Blessed Assurance,” Nathan Drake
- “Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me,” CityAlight
- “Hallelujah! What a Savior,” Ascend the Hill
- “Power of the Cross,” Shane & Shane
- “Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul,” Wayfarer
- “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor,” Matt Boswell, Shane & Shane, Keith & Kristyn Getty
- “This Is My Father’s World,” Wilder Adkins
- “My Worth Is Not in What I Own,” The Gray Havens
- “Blest Are the Pure in Heart,” Josh Bales
- “All I Have Is Christ,” Anchor Hymns, Paul Baloche, Leslie Jordan
- “How Long (Love Constraining to Obedience),” Wayfarer
- “God Is for Us,” CityAlight
- “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Poor Bishop Hooper
- “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord),” Matt Redman
- “Holy, Holy, Holy,” John Tibbs
- “King of Kings,” Brooke Ligertwood
- “Solid Rock,” LOVKN
- “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” Providence
- “Amazing Grace,” Forrest Frank
- “Be Thou My Vision,” Citizens
Closing Prayers
- “First Love,” Young Oceans
- “Tethered to the Cross,” Danny O’Callaghan
- “Thank You Lord,” CalledOut Music
- “Beautiful Eulogy,” Beautiful Eulogy
- “Canticle,” TAYA, Jon Guerra
- “Great Is Your Faithfulness,” Temitope
- “May You Be Glorified!” John Van Deusen
- “Doxology Outro,” Shai Linne, Brooks Ritter