Stop 9 Church
We want to share important pieces of our worship service with those who might not have been able to be there in person.
Stop 9 Church
March Madness Sunday: Celebrating Our Favorite Worship Songs of 2025
Worship forms the heartbeat of our faith—a universal language through which we express gratitude, surrender, and adoration. During our special "March Madness Sunday," we set aside traditional sermon formats to immerse ourselves completely in musical praise, featuring the top eight worship songs as voted by our congregation.
What makes worship truly powerful isn't musical excellence but authenticity of heart. As our worship leader beautifully reminded us, "If you have words in your mouth, you need to use them to worship the Lord." This freedom to come before God without performance pressure created a sacred space where everyone—regardless of musical ability—could participate fully in praise.
One of the service's most touching moments came through the spontaneous celebration of intergenerational worship. The sound of children's voices joining with adults created a powerful picture of faith being passed down. "Don't think they're loud," one member encouraged parents, "there's no better visual of passing it on to the next generation than to see those kids standing up there singing with all their might."
The songs themselves—from timeless hymns like "Holy, Holy, Holy" to contemporary favorites such as "The Battle Belongs" and "Goodness of God"—offered diverse expressions of faith, while prayers between selections helped us reflect on each song's meaning. Each musical offering reminded us that worship isn't confined to Sunday mornings but should flow outward, influencing everyone we encounter throughout our week.
Whether you're seeking deeper connection in your worship experience or simply love music as spiritual expression, this episode offers both encouragement and practical wisdom. Join us in discovering how authentic praise can transform not just our church services but our everyday lives. Share this message with someone who might need the reminder that God welcomes them just as they are.
Good morning. All right, go ahead and come up here. So we made it to our March Madness Sunday. Woo, yeah, one person's excited, I'm excited. So it's going to be a little bit of a different morning. Okay, we're going to have a lot of time with some praise and worship this morning. So we're going to spend some time in song and then we're going to move to our regular communion time and then we're not having junior worship today. So all the kids are staying. I'm seeing lots of. Are you serious? All the kids are staying in here all morning with us.
Speaker 1:Now, when we go to greet and welcome, we have something for the kids, for the young ones, so make sure you grab one of those. But we're just going to spend the morning in worship and song and we're going to have a good morning together. So, morning in worship and song and we're going to have a good morning together. So why don't we stand up? And we're going to get our worship started. So here's what happened. We voted for some of our favorite songs. It's just kind of a fun way to see which songs you guys like, what songs we like. So they're going in order of our favorite on the brackets. So this would be number eight, the eighth favorite song. We made it to the elite eight. Okay. So this is a highly exalted and I really liked this song.
Speaker 1:So now what we're going to do is we're going to sing the songs, and what I would like to do is, after each song, I would like us just to bow our heads or close our eyes, and I'm just going to say a brief prayer after each song of praise, and then we will move on to the next song. We will reveal the next song. Does that sound good to everybody? Okay, let's begin our worship this morning, though, with a word of prayer.
Speaker 1:God, we thank you for this morning, and we just thank you for everybody that chose to be in this room this morning, lord, and we thank you for your Holy Spirit that you sent for us, to aid us, and we just ask that that Holy Spirit is in this room right now to help us worship and to exalt you, and not only in this room, father. We just ask that it stays with us throughout the week so that people can see a difference in us, so that they can see that there is something about the way we love and the way we care for people that makes them curious and that just makes them ask what is it that I'm missing? And we thank you that you gave us our missing piece, lord, and we thank you for your son and what he did for us, and it's in his name we pray, amen.
Speaker 3:You were despised, you were rejected, lord. Those who passed by Even averted their gaze from the sight. Such was the suffering you bore for us. Led like a lamb, a lamb to the slaughter, you spoke not a word, but chose to be silent. Though you did no wrong, nor was deceitfulness found in you. Yet by your wounds our salvation has come. Yet by your suffering our freedom is won, for God has highly exalted your name. He has enthroned you on high, jesus, the name above all names. God has highly exalted your name. He has enthroned you on high, jesus, the name above all names. You were despised, you were rejected, lord. Those who passed by even averted their gaze from the sight. Such was the suffering you poured for us, led like a lamb.
Speaker 3:A lamb to the slaughter you spoke not a word, but chose to be silent, though you did no wrong, nor was deceitfulness found in you. Yet by your wounds our salvation has come, yet by your suffering our freedom is won, for God has highly exalted your name. He has enthroned you on high. Jesus, the name above all names God has highly exalted your name. He has enthroned you on high. Jesus, the name above all names. You were despised. You were rejected.
Speaker 3:Lord those who passed by Even a nerd in their case from the sight. Such was the suffering you bore for us.
Speaker 1:God, we just thank you this morning that you exalted the name of Jesus. That's the greatest news that we could ever hear on this earth and we thank you for that, and we exalt the name of Jesus along with you. Father, we thank you for Jesus, we thank you for sending him for us and we thank you for what he did for us. Amen and number seven, a classic Holy, holy, holy.
Speaker 3:Holy, holy, holy. Lord, god Almighty, early in the morning, our song shall rise to Thee Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty God in three persons, blessed Trinity. Holy, holy, holy. All the saints adore Thee, casting down their golden crowns, down their golden crowns around the crystal sea, cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, who was and are and evermore shall be. Holy, holy, holy. Lord, god Almighty, all Thy works shall praise Thy name In earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
Speaker 1:Lord, we bless your name this morning. We thank you for your holiness and we just want to say, lord, all thy works shall praise thy name. We know that there are things that point to you, father, that we can look around and we can see things that say you are holy. Everything that was created points to you, lord, and we thank you for that, and we just want to say you are holy. Everything that was created points to you, lord, and we thank you for that, and we just want to say you are holy, amen. Number six Appreciate that this was an interesting one for me Doxology, because we haven't sang this one very much, but it's a great song.
Speaker 3:Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, son and Holy Ghost. Son and Holy Ghost. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, son and Holy Ghost.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen, father, what more can we say but praise you? Amen, father, what more can we say but praise you, praise you, praise the Son, praise the Holy Ghost and praise all things that flow from you. Father, amen, go ahead and be seated, all right. Number five, another classic Sing and Be Happy.
Speaker 2:If the skies above you are gray.
Speaker 3:you are feeling so blue If your cares and burdens seem gray all the whole day through there's a silver lining that shines in the heavenly land. Look by faith and see it, my friend. Trust in His promises, grand Trust in His promises grant, sing and be happy, press on to the goal. Trust in Him who leads you. He will keep your soul. Let all be faithful, look to Him and pray. Lift your voice and praise Him in song, sing and be happy.
Speaker 2:Today, often, we are troubled and tired sick with sorrow and pain.
Speaker 3:When our brothers living in sin, blessed with earthly gain, take new courage, we cannot tell what the morrow may bring. When the dark clouds vanish away, then your heart truly can sing. Sing and be happy. Press on to the goal. Trust in him who leads you. He will keep your soul. Let all be faithful, look to him and pray. Lift your voice and praise him in song. Sing and be happy. Today, oft, we fail to see the rainbow up in heaven's fair sky when it seems the fortunes of earth frown and pass us by. There are things we know that are worth more than silver and gold. If we hope and trust Him each day, we shall have pleasures untold. Sing and be happy. Press on to the goal. Trust in Him who leads you. He will keep your soul. Let all be faithful, look to him and pray, lift your voice and praise him in song Sing and be happy today.
Speaker 1:Father, thank you for putting a song in our hearts, thank you for making us happy and joyous. We know that all things come from you, father, and we just thank you for the joy that you have given us. We thank you for the blue skies and the birds that are singing and we just thank you for all these beautiful things that we can look out and say that's from the Lord and it's in your son's name. We pray, amen. All right, so we're going to get back to our worship now, and I don't know about you guys, but obviously this is one of my favorite Sundays because we sing a lot, and obviously this is one of my favorite Sundays because we sing a lot and I love singing. Singing to me is my way of offering the most beautiful praise that I feel like I can make to the Lord. Folks are blessed with public speaking. Josh is a great speaker. He's great at studying and preparing sermons. People have many talents for the Lord and I just thank God that he gave me a voice to worship the Lord and I hope that by doing this Sunday, by singing these songs, by learning these songs and singing all together, that you will realize also that the Lord gave you a voice to worship him.
Speaker 1:If you have words in your mouth, you need to use them to worship the Lord. And you know it's kind of a cliche but you may think that you can't sing or you can't hold a tune, but trust me when I say that your heartfelt worship is enough. It doesn't matter what it sounds like, it doesn't matter if you're singing the right note. It doesn't matter if you're singing the right words. It doesn't matter if the slide's not up there and we can't see the words coming up. It doesn't matter. The worship is enough. So I just want to encourage you this morning to sing these songs to the best of your ability, but also sing them with your heart and think about the words that we're saying. We're just praising the Lord this morning and we're just lifting up his name. We're just lifting up his name. So let's move on to. This would be our fourth favorite song, which I believe is Battle Belongs, when all I see is the battle, you see my victory.
Speaker 3:When all I see is the mountain, you see a mountain move. And as I walk through the shadow, your love surrounds me. There's nothing to fear now, for I am safe with you. So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees, with my hands lifted high. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Every fear I lay at your feet, I'll sing through the night. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. And if you are for me, who can be against me? For Jesus there's nothing impossible for you.
Speaker 2:When all I see are the ashes.
Speaker 3:You see the beauty, ashes. You see the beauty when all I see is a cross, god, you see the empty tomb. So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees with my hands lifted high. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Every fear I lay at your feet. I'll sing through the night. Oh God, the battle belongs to you.
Speaker 2:An almighty fortress, you go before us.
Speaker 4:Nothing can stand against the power of our God.
Speaker 3:You shine in the shadows. You win every battle. Nothing can stand against the power of our.
Speaker 3:God against the power of our God. An almighty fortress, you go before us. Nothing can stand against the power of our God. You shine in the shadows. You win every battle. Nothing can stand against the power of our God, our God. So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees, with my hands lifted high. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Every fear I lay at your feet, I'll sing through the night. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Oh God, the battle belongs to you. Oh God, the battle belongs to you.
Speaker 1:God, thank you so much that we can lay every fear at your feet and that we can say, god, this battle isn't ours, it's not ours to fight. The battle belongs to you, lord. We just praise you for that this morning. Thank you, god, amen.
Speaker 4:Hey, brace, you know something that you said was on your heart or something. But years ago, when we had little kids but now they're bigger than me, but anyway we had little kids we always worried about wow, they're loud, wow, they're loud. It's just awesome to hear the voices of these little kids. Don't think they're loud, because they're not, you know, I mean. So that's right you know none.
Speaker 1:Let them ring, because it's great to see the kids in here and to see them standing up here on the stage and worshiping with us. I mean, to me there's no better, there's no better visual of passing it on to the next generation than to see those kids standing up there singing that song with all their might. It's an amazing thing. Thank you for saying that, jimmy. All right, number three. This would be our third favorite, just as I Am Now. This is an interesting one because this is a classic mixed with a new portion, so I really like this song.
Speaker 3:Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me and that thou bidst me come to thee. O Lamb of God, I come, I come and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blood, each spot. O Lamb of God, I come, I come. I come broken to be mended. I come wounded to be healed. I come desperate, to be rescued. I come empty to be filled. I come guilty, to be pardoned by the blood of Christ, the Lamb, and I'm welcomed with open arms.
Speaker 3:praise God just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me and that thou bidst me come to thee. O Lamb of God, I come, I come, I come. I come. Broken to be mended. I come, wounded to be healed. I come, desperate to be rescued. I come empty to be filled. I come guilty to be pardoned by the blood of Christ the Lamb, and I'm welcomed with open arms. Praise God just as I am. Praise God just as I am.
Speaker 1:Praise God. Thank you, god, so much that we can come to you just as we are. We don't need to change a thing. We thank you for that, father. We just praise you that you have the power to take us right where we are broken, defeated, downhearted and we just thank you that you take us and you accept us just the way we are and that you repair us and you fix us and you mend us. No one else can do that, father, no one else can give us that peace, and we thank you for that. We thank you for your son that gave us that true example of love and sacrifice and mercy, that we have an example to follow. We just praise your name this morning, father, and we just want to say thank you, amen, all right. Number two this would be our second favorite, as voted by the general population.
Speaker 3:gratitude population Gratitude. All my words fall short. I've got nothing new. How could I express all my gratitude? I could sing these songs, as I often do, but every song must end and you never do so I throw up my hands and praise you again and again, because all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah, and I know it's not much, but I'm nothing else fit for a king Except for a heart singing hallelujah, hallelujah. I've got one response, I've got just one move. With my arms stretched wide, I will worship you so.
Speaker 3:I throw up my hands and praise you again and again Because all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah, and I know it's not much, but I'm nothing else fit for a king, except for a heart singing hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah, hallelujah. Come on, my soul, oh, don't you get shy of me. Lift up your song, cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs, get up and praise the Lord. Come on my soul, oh, don't you get shy on me.
Speaker 3:Lift up your song Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs. Get up and praise the Lord. Come on my soul, oh, don't you get shy on me. Lift up your song, cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs, get up and praise the Lord. So I throw up my hands and praise you again and again, cause all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah. And I know it's not much, but I'm nothing else fit for a king, except for a heart singing hallelujah, hallelujah.
Speaker 1:Father God, sometimes all we can say is hallelujah. When we don't know the words to say, all we say is hallelujah. We thank you for your presence in our life. We just thank you for your daily influence on our lives, that whenever we feel that we don't know what way to go, and whenever we feel so troubled that we could just break down, all we have to do is just get on our knees and say Hallelujah. Thank you, god, for sustaining us. We thank you for your presence. Thank you for your presence in here this morning, lord, amen. All right, the moment. You've all been waiting for Drum roll, please. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thanks for playing along the number one song. Wow, there we go, thundress, the number one song that we voted on. All right, let's see what it is, goodness.
Speaker 3:I love you, lord. Oh, your mercy never fails me. All my days I've been held in your hands. From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head, I will sing of the goodness of God. All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God, of God. I love your voice. You have led me through the fire In darkest night. You are close like no other. I've known you as a father. I've known you as a friend.
Speaker 3:I have lived in the goodness of God All my life. You have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me With my life laid down. I surrender now. I give you everything. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me With my life laid down. I surrender now. I give you everything. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me. All my life you have been faithful All my life. You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.
Speaker 3:I will sing of the goodness of God.
Speaker 1:God, we just thank you for your goodness this morning. You are a good, good Father, and we thank you for that. You have been faithful. You have a good, good Father, and we thank you for that. You have been faithful, you have been good to us. You keep us in your hand and we thank you for that. We just praise you this morning, father, and we pray that this praise outflows from here into our communities, into the streets, and just influences everybody we come into contact with. We love you, father, and we thank you for your son and what he did for us, for his example of love and goodness and mercy and gentleness, and we thank you for your Holy Spirit that you sent for us. Keep it with us, father, help it, give us worship, give us words to say, give us emotions toward you. We just thank you for your sustaining power and it's in your son's name we pray. Amen. God bless you everybody. Have a great week. Tell somebody about Jesus this week.