SONGS I HAVE SUNG IN HOMILIES

“For 'In him we live and move and have our being,' as even some of your poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'”  (Acts 17:28)

St. Paul speaks these words to the Athenians gathered in the Areopagus, attempting to convince them that the God of Israel, made manifest in Jesus the Christ, is the one true God.  It is interesting that he chooses to quote pagan poets to make his point; clearly Paul realizes that even the writings of non-believers can be used to get across God’s message.  He sees the importance of talking to his audience in their language.

I have always been in awe of Paul’s wisdom on this point.  And I have been inspired to do the same in my own preaching.  However, the influential poets of today aren’t the ones who put pen to paper and publish books; rather, they are the ones who pick up a guitar or sit at the piano and compose songs.  Therefore, given my love for karaoking, it isn’t unusual for me to break into song when I preach.  In this way, I try to follow the great Apostle’s lead by addressing my audience in their language.  As strange as it may first appear, I have been able to find homily material in a wide range of popular songs.  Of course, I often have to give an entirely different spin than that which was originally intended.  To my way of thinking that is simply part of God’s turning all things around to His purpose. 

Here are songs I have sung – sometimes a line or two, sometimes a substantial portion - in homilies.  If you are perplexed as to how I possible could have used a particular song drop me an email [hyperlink] and I will do my best to remember!

"Money, Money, Money" - ABBA

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Green Day
“My Friends Over You” - New Found Glory
" Innocent” - Our Lady Peace
“I’m Free” - The Soup Dragons
“The Middle” – Jimmy Eat World
“Hunger Strike” – Temple of the Dog
“Higher” – Creed
“Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
“Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin
“Celebration” – Kool and the Gang
“Fly on the Windscreen – Final” – Depeche Mode
“My Sundown” – Jimmy Eat World
“Stayin’ Alive’ – The Bee Gees
“You Light Up My Life” – Debbie Boone
“All the Small Things” – Blink 182
“Dare You to Move” – Switchfoot
“Meant to Live” – Switchfoot
“Hanging by a Moment” – Lifehouse
“Everything” – Lifehouse
“I Can See Clearly Now” – Johnny Nash
“Play it Loud” – MxPx
"Don't Walk Away" – MxPx
“Top of the World” – Carpenters
“I’m So Excited” – The Pointer Sisters
“Closing Time” - Semisonic
"Chance of a Lifetime" – Mest
“Loser” – Beck
“Epiphany” – Staind
“Life of a Salesman” - Yellowcard
"Without You Here" - Eve 6
“Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – U2
“With or Without You” - U2
“A Letter to Elise” – The Cure
“Trust” – The Cure
“Alive” – P.O.D.
"Jesus is Just All Right" - The Doobie Brothers
“It’s The End of The World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” – REM
“What’s Love Got to Do With It” – Tina Turner
“Thank You for Being a Friend” – Andrew Gold
“Love is in the Air” – John Paul Young
“Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
“The Impossible Dream” – Andy Williams

 

Hymns, Spirituals, and Religious Songs

There is, of course, a whole class of songs that I have been able to utilize in preaching which don’t seem at all out of place …

“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”
“What Wondrous Love Is This”
“Were You There”
“Hail Mary:  Gentle Woman”
“There Is Nothing Told About”
“This Little Light of Mine”
“Prayer of Saint Francis”
“Now We Remain”
“Come to Me”
“God Has Chosen Me”
“Here I Am Lord”
“Lord of the Dance”
“On Eagle’s Wings”
“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
“When the Saints Go Marching In”
“Awesome God”
“Lord I Lift Your Name on High”
“We Fall Down”

 

Christmas Carols

And then there are the Christmas Carols (for Masses during the Christmas Season as well as Funerals and Weddings during Christmastide) …

 

“O Holy Night”
“Angels We Have Heard on High"
“O Come All Ye Faithful”
“We Three Kings of Orient Are”
“Three Wise Men”
“Little Drummer Boy”
“Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
 “Blue Christmas”
“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”