The music and lyrics from a Casting Crowns album are difficult to ignore. Believers are challenged to be uncomfortable in apathy and driven towards action in discipleship. Their music is inspiring, yet convicting as the lyrics penetrate into our hearts and minds. The following 12 songs from Casting Crowns are my personal favorities:
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).
There are so many voices to silence in our hearts—voice of doubt, voice of rejection, voice of shame, etc. This song brings a refreshing word of encouragement for those of us desperate to hear the voice of truth from our God and Savior Jesus Christ. The voice of God spoken through scriptures gives us the courage to move forward in times of fear or doubt.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).
We live in a generation searching for significance. However without God—life is meaningless and without purpose. Who Am I focuses the attention on not who we are or what we do as believers, but on Who Christ is and what He did on the cross. In Christ, there’s purpose for everything, everyday, and every person.
“Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6).
This song highlights the feebleness of our minds when it comes to sin because not one of us is above being deceived by our own hearts. Slow Fade is a haunting reminder of how believers must be alert to the weaknesses of our flesh and do whatever it takes to keep ourselves from falling back into a sinful lifestyle.
“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust” (Psalm 25:1).
The beauty of this song lies in it’s simplicity of trusting in Jesus. This melody awakens the soul to rest and trust in the Lord to make all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Because of the Holy Spirit within, we are compelled to lay down our worries and fears to simply trust.
“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8).
Our lives are lived out in melody to the One who created us. We are the sheet music of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness to those around us. There’s joy in the midst of pain and peace in the storm for those whose life song embraces Christ-likeness.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Many believers live in fear of walking in faith because of the risk of persecution, rejection, or isolation. However, Courageous reminds us of our calling and drives us towards accomplishing something great in our lives for God. It’s time for the undercover Christians to step out and make bold decisions for the cause of Christ.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
The body of Christ or the Church is intertwined with many diverse groups of people. This song brings to light how we aren’t a disjointed group of believers, but rather how we depend on each other to build the kingdom of Christ one person at a time.
“And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14).
The first and last lines of this song are incredibly convicting—to run in the wrong direction at a fast pace. It signifies our society of fast moving apps, video games, and action movies. The thoughtful, kind, and loving attention of Christ’s people can slow down the pace of destruction for a whole generation.
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuh 3:17-18).
This song can be difficult to sing if you haven’t settled in your heart that God is in control even in the storms. Praising God in the storm is trusting in God’s unseen hand through difficulties. Spiritual maturity is born out of the hearts of those who learn to praise in the storm.
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
There should be an unrelenting dissatisfaction within every believer for the lost souls surrounding us every day. Until the Whole World Hears reminds us of how we have a commission to witness and reach out to the world. We are compelled by the Spirit of God to be His witnesses.
“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
This Casting Crowns song is the Good News wrapped in a lively melody of music. Jesus loved us so much that He stepped out of His glorious dwelling to be born of a virgin, lived among the sinful people, took the penalty of our sins, and rose again. The Glorious Day ignites our hearts to look forward to Jesus’s return.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).
East to West should cause each of us to pause on the enormity of our sinfulness that has been completed forgiven by God. His love for us is unimaginable in that we experience complete freedom and forgiveness in spite of ourselves. No measurement whether it’s east to the west or the depths of the sea can ever take into account the enormity of God’s love for His people.
Casting Crowns has released their latest album, Thrive (2014), in keeping with their theme of challenging believers to stretch their faith outside of the church building. As they continue their commission of worshipping God in spirit and in truth, may all of us continue to stretch ourselves in the faith.
Crystal McDowell is a writer, speaker, and teacher with a passion to encourage believers to know and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through practical application of God’s word.
Crystal and her husband, Marshall, raise their five children in the Bloomington, IL. As a freelance writer and editor for over 13 years, Crystal has published numerous Christian curriculums for Sunday School and VBS as well as many articles dealing with marriage, motherhood, and relationships. She’s a weekly staff writer for www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com as well as writing her own blog at http://crystalmcdowellspeaks.blogspot.com.