"Holy" // Storytellers - TravisAgnew.org

We led the song “Holy” on Sunday from the “Stand Firm” project. This was the second song we worked on composing as a group and has been one of our church’s favorites to sing.

The song is based off of 1 Peter 1:13-2:3.

The Scripture

1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The song focused on how Man’s sinful conduct is leagues away from the holiness of God, and yet we need his help to bridge that gap. The precious blood of Christ and the Word of God cleanses us and makes us increasingly all the more holy. We are praying that God continues to make us more like him.

Arrangement

Being the second song we composed, it went through a lot of development. The first time we started playing with the song, we had 10 people contributing. After a lot of work, it came to its current form.

We played around with the selection of keys, but we finally landed on the key of A and got Eric Bryant and my wife, Amanda, to sing lead on this song. While their voices are very different, they worked so well together on this song. Both of them had an honesty in their voices that I thought was so rich on this track. The only sad thing was that she had the flu on the day of the release and couldn’t sing with us. Richenda did a great job taking over though on the spot.

The song has moments where the cello, banjo, or flute shines. I love the layering of the instruments and the interweaving of lines that are happening in the background.

But my favorite part is hearing the worshipers sing out! I love when a song captures the heart of God’s people and they respond to his revelation.