708

Kwake Yesu nasimama (Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand)

Scripture References

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

The Catechism says that those who know Christ’s forgiveness are “to thank God for such deliverance” (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 1, Question and Answer 2). As a result, “With our whole lives we may show that we are thankful to God for his benefits, so that he may be praised through us, and that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ” (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 32, Question and Answer 86).

708

Kwake Yesu nasimama (Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand)

Assurance

By grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
—Ephesians 2:8, NRSV
— Worship Sourcebook Edition Two

Additional Prayers

A Prayer of Acclamation to Jesus Christ
Christ, our Savior, you have stood under the downpour of human evil; you have lifted us from the flood. You have saved us from sin, and cloaked us with your righteous life. You are our place to stand, and we stand there under the blessed downpour of your grace. Amen.
— Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
708

Kwake Yesu nasimama (Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand)

Tune Information

Name
KWAKE YESU
Key
G Major

Musical Suggestion

The song’s simple syncopation is easy to learn, and the tempo can be varied. As an enthusiastic praise song, it can clip along at 136 beats per minute (bpm), accompanied by piano, guitars, and some supplemental percussion. But I’ve also heard it done nearly a cappella at a much slower 80 bpm on a Sunday when a congregation was still reeling from the unexpected death of a beloved member. On that Sunday, the song was a beautiful testimony to Christ, the “solid rock.”
 
It is very nearly a perfect praise chorus—it can be learned in one singing; it’s simple but not trite; it focuses on the work of Jesus rather than on us; and the IV chord on the downbeat lets you sing it a number of times without feeling finished. In fact, it could easily work in a medley with a related song, such as “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less.”
(from Reformed Worship, Issue 88)
— Ron Rienstra

A reworking of “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,” Kenyans sing this “heart song” both as a folk/pop ballad and in a more upbeat a cappella style. Avoid upbeat percussion, as it will quickly sound kitschy.
— Global Songs for Worship
708

Kwake Yesu nasimama (Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand)

Hymn Story/Background

A reworking of “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,” Kenyans sing this “heart song” both as a folk/pop ballad and in a more upbeat a cappella style. Avoid upbeat percussion, as it will quickly sound kitschy.
— Global Songs for Worship

Composer Information

Greg Scheer (b. 1966) has composed hundreds of pieces, songs and arrangements. His music is published by Augsburg Fortress, GIA, Abingdon Press, Worship Today, Faith Alive and in numerous hymnals. He has won commissions from the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Iowa Composers Forum, Linn-Mar High School String Orchestra, Chagall String Quartet and Northwestern College. His electronic piece, "Crossfade," was included on the CD ...from everlasting to everlasting... His string quartet "6" was featured on WQED in Pittsburgh and was also a winning composition in the 2000 Southeastern Composers' Symposium. His hymn "People of the Lord" won the Calvin09 hymn contest and was subsequently sung and published internationally.
— Greg Scheer

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