Where Do We See the Gospel in These Popular Sunday School Songs?

Where Do We See the Gospel in These Popular Sunday School Songs?

When parents drop their little ones off at Sunday school, they trust the people teaching the lessons will make sure the curriculum is pure and points to God. It’s a given that the Sunday school teachers will lead the littles in songs because youngsters love to sing and it’s a great way to keep them occupied. But what’s included in the popular songs they sing as their parents are worshiping in the sanctuary? Do the songs often sung in this environment speak the Gospel to the children?

Where Is the Gospel in Ten Popular Sunday School Songs?

(Unless noted, all the songs on this list are licensed as Public Domain and may be found on the Hymnary website.)

1. Jesus Loves Me

Written by Anna Bartlett Warner

Jesus Loves Me

2. This Little Light of Mine

Admit it, you’re going to hum each one as you read its title, right? Me, too.

The only way a person is going to realize the Gospel in this song is if they look up the applicable Scripture references.

3. Jesus Loves the Little Children

This little hymn is a look at unity. A person’s color does not matter to Jesus; He loves everyone.

Verses two and the first line of verse three include Gospel bits.

Verse 2: “Jesus died for all the children,

Verse 3: “Jesus rose for all the children…”

4. I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy Down in My Heart

2. I've got the peace that passeth understanding,

3. I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus

4. For there is therefore now no condemnation…

5. He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

This is a traditional spiritual.

Okay, the Gospel is not in this song — at all. What it has is a wonderful description of God’s sovereignty. He indeed does have the whole world, the weather, and all people in His Almighty hands. The path to the Gospel using this song would be one that says to the singers, “And what does this mean for us?”

“He's got the whole world in his hands…
He's got everybody here in his hands.”

6. Deep and Wide

Deep and wide is a very easy song and has no direct reference to the Gospel. It’s catchy and easy to remember the simple lyrics.

“Deep and wide
There's a fountain flowing deep and wide”

7. I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

8. My God Is So Big

“My God is so great, so strong and so mighty!
There's nothing my God cannot do!
The mountains are His, the rivers are His,
the stars are His handiwork too.”

9. Oh, How I Love Jesus

“O how I love Jesus,
because He first loved me!

it tells me of his precious blood,
the sinner's perfect plea.”

10. Count Your Blessings

By Johnson Oatman, 1897

“When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”

For these time-honored and well-known songs, it will behoove the Sunday school teachers to add the Gospel elements missing from them.

What Are Some Other Recommended Kids’ Worship Songs?

Sovereign Grace Music has a great representation of Gospel-centered songs for children’s Sunday School.

Five are highlighted here with short snippets of the lyrics:

“He died on the cross to take our place
The final substitute and eternal grace
Then He rose from the grave and up to the throne
Until He comes again, to gather His own!”

“It’s me I love a lot
Stuck here I’m tied in knots
I need a Savior
Jesus, set me free to love You more than me”

“Jesus paid the price
When He offered up His life
So we could be part of God’s great family”

“Our debt was satisfied
On the cross when Jesus died
And if we’ve been forgiven
It’s gotta change the way we’re livin’
How can we hold a grudge
How can we fail to love

5. Good and Faithful Shepherd

“But Jesus gave up His glory
To seek and rescue the lost
To bring us back to His Father
He gave His life on the cross”

Just as our worship music sets our hearts for the forthcoming sermon message, so too these songs can set a child’s heart to hear more about the Gospel — Jesus Christ.