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Roots of Reason · Track 7

Acts of the Apostles

Roots of ReasonTrack 7 of 12
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About this songThe dusty, chain-marked, joy-filled road of the apostles — singing louder than the rage, trading bright gold for a kingdom-come sky.
Big ideaThe apostolic mission is a hard, joy-filled road — chains, stones, and shipwrecks met with songs of praise — because the Lord who sends His people is the same Lord calling them home.
Doctrine
Mission · Perseverance · Joy in suffering
Anchor text
Acts
Form
Roots reggae anthem
Voices
Paul · Silas

Sand grinds hard on the leather-worn feet
Sun burns deep in my skin
Scrolls half torn
But the Word still calls
And the road keeps pullin' me in
Dust on my cloak
Chains on my wrists
Faith lines cut by the gale
Got a fire in my grin
Joy liftin my chin
And a prison door in my trail

Raise it high
Glory's on the horizon
Let it shine
Hear the temple crowds cryin'
If you got fear
Better lay it at His throne
'Cause the Lord sends all
And he's calling us home (hey!)

Old friends swear there's a curse on this Way
Stones keep hailin' down death
But we sing so loud that the rage gives in
And we praise with every last breath
Thunder in Rome and the whips rain down
Oars that bite into gale
We trade bright gold for a kingdom come sky
And the king beams down as we sail

Raise it high
Glory's on the horizon
Let it shine
Hear the temple crowds cryin'
If you got fear
Better lay it at His throne
'Cause the Lord sends all
And he's calling us home (hey!)

All for the cross and the grace that we feel
All for the truth that is real
All for the tales that the world calls zeal
Till their proud hearts break at His feet

Raise it high
Glory's on the horizon
Let it shine
Hear the temple crowds cryin'
If you got fear
Better lay it at His throne
'Cause the Lord sends all
And he's calling us home (hey!)

Scripture References

  1. 1.Acts 13:1-3; Romans 1:1
  2. 2.Acts 16:23-24; Philippians 1:13
  3. 3.Acts 16:25-26
  4. 4.1 Peter 5:7
  5. 5.Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19
  6. 6.Acts 24:14; 9:2
  7. 7.Acts 14:19; 7:58-60
  8. 8.Acts 28:16; 2 Corinthians 11:24-25
  9. 9.Acts 27:13-44
  10. 10.Matthew 6:19-20
  11. 11.Galatians 6:14
  12. 12.Philippians 2:10

Study this song

Teaching aids drawn from the song — for personal study or group discussion.

How the song moves

1
The road
Dust on the cloak, chains on the wrists, a fire in the grin — the Word still calls and the road keeps pulling them in (Acts 13:1–3).
2
Singing in prison
Paul and Silas sing so loud the rage gives in, praising with every last breath even as the prison shakes (Acts 16:25–26).
3
Storm and shipwreck
Whips, stones, and oars against the gale; they trade bright gold for a “kingdom-come sky” (Acts 27; 2 Corinthians 11:24–25).
4
Calling us home
All for the cross and the grace they feel, till proud hearts break at His feet (Philippians 2:10; Galatians 6:14).

Key terms & allusions

  • the Way — The earliest name for the Christian movement (Acts 24:14; 9:2).
  • “Raise it high” — The praise-refrain — worship as the apostles’ weapon in hardship (Acts 16:25).
  • “trade bright gold for a kingdom-come sky” — Laying up treasure in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19–20).

Study questions

  1. Paul and Silas sing in the jail. How can worship itself be a response to suffering, not just a reward after it?
  2. The apostles “trade bright gold for a kingdom-come sky.” What earthly “gold” is hardest for you to hold loosely?
  3. What would it look like to carry “joy liftin my chin” into a hard assignment this week?