Only Sovereign Lord Worship Leader Guide

About the Song

“Only Sovereign Lord” is a worship anthem born out of a deep desire to honor the supreme authority, holiness, and redemptive power of God. The heart of this song is simple but profound: there is no one like our God, and He alone is worthy of our full surrender.

It’s a song that invites the Church into both reverence and response—to recognize God’s throne and bow before it with surrendered hearts.

Song Assets

Song Title	MP3	Lead	Lyrics	Chords	Slides	Video
Only Sovereign Lord

Biblical Foundation

This song draws from multiple Scriptures that proclaim God’s unmatched sovereignty and the Lamb’s redemptive work:

• Acts 4:24 – “Sovereign Lord… You made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”
• Psalm 146:1–2 – “I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”
• Revelation 15:3 – “Great and marvelous are Your deeds… just and true are Your ways, King of the nations.”
• John 1:29 – “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

These verses speak to the holiness of God, His creative power, His kingship, and Christ’s work of redemption. This song is a declaration of those truths.

Use this song when your worship service includes themes like:

• Sovereignty of God – Great for sermons about God’s authority, trust, or divine kingship.
• Surrender and Consecration – Ideal for altar calls or post-sermon reflection.
• Easter or Communion – Mentions of the Lamb of God and overcoming through the blood make it a powerful Easter or communion response.
• Call to Worship – Can also work early in a set as a reverent call to bow before God.

Musical Characteristics

• Key: E minor
• Tempo: ~110 BPM
• Time Signature: 4/4
• Mood: Reverent, anthemic, slightly mellow rock feel

Instrumentation & Strumming Tips

• Acoustic Guitar:
  Try a steady down-strum pulse during verses leading to a build. As the chorus hits, open up the strumming to full down-up rhythm to lift the dynamic.
• Electric Guitar:
  Use ambient chords or soft overdrive swells during the verses. For the chorus, layer in rhythm chords or lead lines that follow the melody.
• Keys/Pads:
  Use warm pads or piano for the intro and verses. Swell into a slightly brighter tone during the chorus for a lift.
• Drums:
  Start sparse—just kick and rim clicks. Build into full snare + crash in the chorus. Keep dynamics in check to preserve the reverence of the message.

How to Introduce It to Your Church

Consider saying something like this before leading the song:

“This next song is a response to who God is. He is holy. He is sovereign. He is worthy. And because of what Jesus did as the Lamb of God, we can come boldly before Him. Let’s sing this together as a declaration of who He is—and as a moment of surrender to the only Sovereign Lord.”

Introduce the chorus first to the congregation if you’re doing it for the first time. The repetition of “Only Sovereign Lord, at Your feet I fall” makes it very easy for people to join in quickly.

Devotional Thought

Leading worship is about pointing people to Jesus, not performance. This song is a tool to create space for awe and surrender. Let the Spirit guide your dynamics and pacing. Don’t be afraid to sit in the bridge or repeat the chorus as your congregation responds.

Invite the church not just to sing, but to bow their hearts before the Lord. That’s what this song is ultimately about—posture, reverence, and offering ourselves to the King of Kings.

Final Checklist

Before leading this song:

• Print chord charts in the key of E minor (or suitable transposition)
• Briefly rehearse vocal parts—consider harmonies in the chorus
• Set your band’s dynamic structure (start soft, build through bridge)
• Optional: prepare a Scripture reading (Acts 4:24 or Revelation 15:3)
• Pray over the moment—ask God to use this song for heart-level surrender

Thank you for leading this song.

If you use Only Sovereign Lord in your church, I’d love to hear how it went! — John Earl Pape