Twelve Hymns to Sing as a Family

A mom in our church recently texted me a question:

“I’d like to know what top 12 hymns you would recommend all children know.”

Great question!  This mom planned to teach her children a “Hymn of the Month” in her home.  Great idea!  Praise God!  What pastor doesn’t delight in such a question and such a desire? 

Without even giving it any deep thought, I fired off these twelve:

1) Holy, Holy, Holy

2) Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

3) How Firm a Foundation

4) The Church’s One Foundation

5) And Can it Be?

6) It is Well With My Soul

7) A Mighty Fortress

8) Rock of Ages

9) On Christ the Solid Rock

10) My Lord I Did Not Choose You

11) Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

12) In Christ Alone

So, there you have it!  I could have easily listed dozens more.  My childhood was crammed with hymns.  And we filled our home with hymns too, when our girls were growing up.  While there is no substitute for reading and discussing the Bible with your kids in your home, singing hymns ought to be a centerpiece of every Christian home.  Great hymns help us lock sound theology into our minds forever.  God is so often pleased to grant grace to us as we sing these magnificent truths of who God is, who we are, who Christ is, and how we must repent and believe. 

Do you know these twelve hymns?  Do your children?  Grandchildren?  Are you singing them regularly in your homes?          

“Sing praises to the Lord, all you His saints, and give thanks unto His holy name” (Psalm 30:4). 

by Keith McWhorter