Elevation Worship + Maverick City Music - Build Your Church Lyrics
Lyrics
On Christ alone
Our Chief Cornerstone
No other foundation
Can we build upon
Not philosophy
Nor the wisdom of man
All other ground
Is sinking sand
Upon this Rock
You build Your Church
And the gates of hell
Will not prevail
When we bind and loose
We proclaim Your truth
And in Jesus’ Name,
We will not fail
Crucified
Raised up from the dead
Led captivity captive
It is finished
He gave us the keys
His authority
Now we are joint-heirs
To the praise of His glory
Build Your Church
Build Your Church
Build it from the ground up
It’s Your Church
Build Your Church
Build Your Church
Build it from the ground up
We’re Your Church
Video
Build Your Church | Elevation Worship & Maverick City
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on April 30, 2021, "Build Your Church" is a powerful collaborative song from Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, captured in an official video format that visually supports its message. The song centers on foundational Christian beliefs, articulating the premise that faith and life must be constructed solely upon the person of Jesus Christ. It starkly contrasts building upon Christ, described as the Chief Cornerstone, with relying on human philosophy or wisdom, which are likened to sinking sand. This establishes a clear, unwavering declaration about the secure and stable basis for the believer's life and for the collective body of believers, the Church.
The lyrics draw heavily on biblical imagery to describe the nature and authority of the Church established by Christ. It proclaims that upon the "Rock," referring to Christ himself and the truth of who He is, His Church is built. A core promise highlighted is that the forces of evil, symbolized by the "gates of hell," will not overcome or prevail against this foundation. Furthermore, the song touches on the authority granted to believers through Christ, mentioning concepts like binding and loosing and the power inherent in the Name of Jesus, assuring that in operating within this divine mandate, the Church will not fail in its purpose.
Central to the song's message is the finished work of Jesus Christ. The lyrics reference His crucifixion, His resurrection from the dead, and His victory over spiritual forces, encapsulated in the phrase "led captivity captive." It affirms that through His sacrifice and triumph, Christ bestowed upon believers the "keys" and His authority. Consequently, those who are in Christ are now joint-heirs with Him, sharing in the inheritance and purpose according to God's plan, ultimately for the praise of His glory. This inheritance includes the commission and empowerment to participate in the ongoing work of the Church.
The recurring theme and call to action in the song is "Build Your Church." This phrase, repeated throughout, emphasizes that the Church is not a human institution built by man's efforts alone, but it is Christ's Church, built upon His foundation, by His power, and according to His design. The lyrics shift from declaring "It's Your Church" to affirming "We're Your Church," identifying the believers themselves as the living stones of the structure Christ is building "from the ground up." It serves as both a declaration of Christ's ownership and work, and an inspirational reminder of the believer's identity and role within the divine architecture of the Church. The message is deeply rooted in scripture, reflecting passages that speak of Christ as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:6-8), the rock upon which the church is built (Matthew 16:18), the authority given to believers (Matthew 16:19, Luke 10:19), Christ's triumph over death and spiritual powers (Ephesians 4:8, Colossians 2:15), and believers being joint-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17).