08/28/2026
Reflection by Pastor Josh Head
Come Praise and Glorify
Years ago as a young worship leader, I found it hard to find upbeat modern songs that aren't cheesy or theologically-thin. I'll always be grateful to my friend Micah for sending this rousing anthem my way, and I've loved hearing the church sing these words and this melody ever since.
Come Praise and Glorify was also the first song I'd heard written by Bob Kauflin; he quickly became for me a mentor-from-afar through his writing and speaking about congregational worship.
What is it that makes this song so strong for gathered worship?
Here are three reasons:
1) The text is an elegant, poetic setting of Scripture.
2) The musical setting is singable and inviting.
3) The theology of the song is robustly Trinitarian.
Let's look at each of these reasons in turn.
First, the text of the song. These words, written by Tim Chester, are straight out of Ephesians 1. The start of Ephesians is a goldmine of gospel goodness. Paul's writing here conveys an out-of-breath excitement for the surprising way God's will has been accomplished. Not only has he forgiven and redeemed us, Paul says, but we are now "In Christ." This phrase is the dominant identifying mark of Jesus’ followers. More the being merely Christians, Paul and the rest of the New Testament repeatedly calls believers “those in Christ.” This beautiful concept points back to Jesus' own words to abide in him as he abides in us. In the upper room, Jesus told the disciples that he is the vine and they are the branches. Just as a branch can only bear fruit when it's in vine, so can they only bear fruit when they are in Him (John 15:1-5).
In Ephesians, Paul is making this connection to the salvation story and showing us the implications in all sorts of places in our lives. Go through and count the times Paul writes the phrases "In Christ" & "In Him" in Ephesians 1:3-14. There are many. The text of Come Praise and Glorify upholds this emphasis while culminating it all into the chorus' final phrase: "You are the God who saves!" Amen. He has saved us to be “In Christ.”
This brings us to the musical setting. Kauflin teaches that good congregational music contains melodies that people are both able to sing and want to sing. That means the melodic phrasing is exciting but not too difficult. Come Praise and Glorify definitely falls into that category. I always love to hear the ascending leaps at the start of the verses and chorus. They give the song a sense of true proclamation as our voices rise together. When we sing like that, we're joining with the ancient words of Paul who is breathlessly proclaiming this surprising good news. The music is in service to the text.
Each verse begins with the same elegant line: "Come praise and glorify our God." This is the general invitation reiterated throughout the song. After that opening line, each verse goes on to focus on a different person of the Godhead. The first verse shows us The Father who pours out blessing and adopts us into his family. Verse 2 is all about the Son who washed us, redeemed us, and rules as the head of the church. The final verse describes the way the Spirit is our inheritance, the seal guaranteeing the eventual completion of God reconciling his creation to himself.
With this Trinitarian structure in place, Come Praise and Glorify sets us up to see all of our life in God. This is true for us in corporate worship just as it's true in prayer.
CS Lewis said it this way: "An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get into touch with God. But if he is a Christian he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God; God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God – that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him. You see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying – the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on – the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole threefold life of the three-personal Being is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man is saying his prayers."
A person praying alone is never alone. Neither are we when we sing. God is deeply involved in the gathered singing of his people. The Father rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). The Son proclaims, ”I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." (Hebrews 2:12) The Holy Spirit pours out understanding and conviction as we "sing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God" Colossians 3:16).
As we sing TO God, we experience the with-ness of him: Father, Son, and Spirit. Sing through the words of this song and you'll see it: We are ushered into the very life of God who has revealed, redeemed, and reconciled us.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRkaHoOAWaM
