ICYMI, (in case you missed it) we’re in the preaching series on grace in country music. I’m teaching about John Wesley’s understanding of how we experience God’s grace in four ways and how each experience of grace can be reflected in country music. Country music isn’t the only kind of music we can see grace reflected in.
Let’s see if we can build a playlist together, but first let’s establish some definitions:
Grace is the unmerited, undeserved love of God shown to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save us from sin and eternal death and the Holy Spirit is God’s way of being lovingly involved in human existence today.
We experience God’s grace in four ways:
- Prevenient Grace – God’s love for us before we know or experience it.
- Justifying Grace – Experiencing God’s love for us as assurance that our sins are forgiven and are captured in God’s eternal embrace.
- Sanctifying Grace – The experience of God’s love that propels us to mature in our faith in both practice and belief. (Love of God ‘faith’ and love of neighbor ‘works’).
- Perfecting Grace – The experience of being fully consumed by God’s love.
What are some songs or hymns about these experiences of grace? (Click to listen)
- Prevenient Grace: Where He Leads Me, Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling, The Reckless Love of God, I Knew I Loved You (this one is a stretch since it’s about two people, but the idea is there).
- Justifying Grace: Just as I Am, Without One Plea, I Surrender All, Here I Am To Worship, Perfect.
- Sanctifying Grace: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Take Time to Be Holy, Be Still, Love Changes Everything.
- Perfecting Grace: Close to Thee, Near to the Heart of God, Oceans, If Heaven.
What would you add to this playlist? Please comment below:
https://youtu.be/ob3PDVNNGEw
Cody Johnson Bu Your Grace
Sanctifying: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Great addition, Kimberley!
I see the first three experiences of grace in this song:
(My notes in parentheses.)
I’m aware of everything that’s wrong with me
But still You accept me anyway (Prevenient)
I live with a past I can’t get past and it still haunts me
So I’m askin’ for the courage to make a change (Sanctifying)
By Your grace, I have hope
You’ve already paid every debt I owe
Please take my chains and make me see
That by Your grace, I’ve been set free (Justifying)
Teach me, Lord, to seek You day by day
Let only You define just where I stand
Let me not take for granted
All the dеpths of Your forgiveness
Because the only way I’m gonna be a better man (Sanctifying)
Is by Your grace, I have hope (I have hope)
You’ve already paid every debt I owe (debt I owe)
Please take my chains and make me see
That by Your grace, I’ve been set free
I’ve got a long way to go
But Lord, I know
There’s not a step I’m gonna take
When You’re not with me
I’ve got a long way to go
But Lord, I know
There’s not a step I’m gonna take
When You’re not with me
I’ve got a long way to go
Oh, but Lord, I know
There’s not a step I’m gonna take
When You’re not with me
You’re always with me
And by Your grace (by Your grace)
I have hope (I have blessed hope, yeah)
You’ve already paid every debt I owe (every debt I owe) (Justifying)
Please take my chains and make me see
That by Your grace, I’ve been set free (been set free)
By Your grace, I’ve been set free
(By your grace) (Sanctifying)