Songs

to
Celebrate
the
Savior
 Joy to the World
Beautiful music plays an important role in our Christmas celebrations. Christians certainly
have reason to sing! We can joyfully celebrate the awesome truth that God sent His Son
into this world to redeem sinners. Many familiar Christmas carols offer much more than
a pleasant backdrop for our cooking and parties. These old songs often contain rich truths
about Christ and our salvation.

What if we stopped to ponder the deep realities sometimes overlooked in the familiar lyrics?
As we sing these songs this year, let us recognize and rejoice in the beautiful expressions
of Christ’s incarnation. Take time to think about these Christmas songs with your friends
and family. Dig out the nuggets of gold and rejoice together at the wonder of Jesus. This
celebratory hymn was written by Isaac Watts and published in 1719. Though not originally
considered a Christmas song, this joyous and triumphant hymn is well-loved by many.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns

Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow

Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love

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 1. Looking at each of the four stanzas, what progression of themes about Christ do you see
emerging?

2. Many have seen Psalm 98 as the inspiration for this hymn. What phrases in this hymn can
you connect with Psalm 98?

3. What spiritual challenge or encouragement do these words bring to you?

4. What phrase in this hymn is your favorite?

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 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Today we will look at an ancient Christmas song that may be a bit less familiar to some of
you. Sung in a minor key and with a lilting melody, this powerful hymn calls mere mortals
to profound silence before their beautiful Savior. As humans are invited to quiet themselves
before the unspeakable wonder of Christ, angels cover their faces in worship and resound in
choruses of unhindered praise.

We live in a world of loud voices and constant noise. The words of Psalm 46:10 offer a kind
invitation from our God: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Stop and ponder the love of God in Christ. May your thoughts rise in fresh wonder and
worship before Christ!

Let all mortal flesh keep silence

And with fear and trembling stand
Ponder nothing earthly minded
For with blessing in His hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth
Our full homage to demand

King of kings, yet born of Mary

As of old on earth He stood
Lord of lords, in human vesture
In the body and the blood
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food

Rank on rank the host of heaven

Spreads its vanguard on the way
As Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away

At His feet the six-winged seraph

Cherubim, with sleepless eye
Veil their faces to the presence
As with ceaseless voice they cry
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High

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 1. Read the words to this hymn and ponder Habakkuk 2:20. Why is silence before God both
necessary and challenging for us?

2. What truths about Christ are expressed in this hymn?

3. How might this song offer a timely message in 2020? Into your life and daily concerns?

4. Celebration and worship can include both weeping and rejoicing. How do the truths about
Christ’s incarnation lead you to both serious reflection and joyous celebration?

5. What is your favorite line in this hymn? Why?

5
 O Come, All Ye Faithful
Every Christmas offers believers an opportunity to ponder afresh the most amazing truth.
The Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. God’s faithful ones are called to adore
Christ. We are called to pause from the cares of normal life, to keep proper perspective on
Christmas pressures, and to take time for intentional worship.

Believers cannot remain faithful in their own strength. Our faithfulness before God results
from His faithful presence among us and within us. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to
me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” We worship a God who
says, “Come.”

This Christmas, how will you respond to Jesus’ loving call to “come”? How will you join
others in the body of Christ to celebrate Jesus’ birth this year?

O come, all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angels

Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God
All glory in the highest
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Yea, Lord, we greet thee

Born this happy morning
Jesus, to thee be all glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

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 1. What does it mean to adore Christ?

2. This hymn offers a call to worship for gathered believers.

a. Why is corporate worship important?

b. How can you share the joy of Christmas with fellow believers this year, when
gathering can be challenging?

3. In this particular season, how is the Lord specifically calling you to “come” unto Him?

4. What line in this hymn is most meaningful to you? Why?

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 Hark ! The Herald Angels Sing
This Christmas hymn is power-packed with rich doctrine. Perhaps because of the majestic
width and breadth captured in these lyrics, we often hear these profound truths proclaimed
through regal chords and the rich harmonies of a choir.

Ponder, learn, reflect, and worship!

Hark! the herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored

Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace

Hail the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give us second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

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 1. What phrases in this hymn speak to the mystery of Christ’s deity and humanity?

2. List the titles of Jesus that are incorporated in this hymn. What does each mean to you?

3. What phrases capture the wonder of the salvation won by Christ?

4. What line in this hymn is most meaningful to you? Why?

9
 O Holy Night
This powerful Christmas song was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847. At Christ’s birth,
glorious hope dawned for humanity. We are rightly called to worship.

Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the
name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.”

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
’Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine

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 1. What “thrill of hope” and promise of a “new and glorious morn” does Jesus bring to you?
See Romans 8:19-24; 13:12 or find other verses that offer you this encouragement.

2. How does Christ’s example of love lead us to love one another? See Mark 12:30-31; John
13:34-35.

3. In what ways do you long for oppression to cease? See Revelation 21:4.

4. Why is the call to “fall on your knees” meaningful to you this Christmas?

5. What words of praise and worship will you offer to the Lord today?

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All Scripture quotations, in this publication are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®
NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.