406:". Lyrically, it "admonishes the church to show compassion" and "laments how the world knows many Christ followers more by what they are against than what they are for". The opening verse of the song, "Jesus Friend of Sinners/we have strayed so far away/we cut down people in Your name/but the sword was never ours to swing/... The world is on their way to You/but they’re tripping over me/always looking around, but never looking up/I’m so double-minded", has been described as an example of the "bold lyric" that has been a "trademark" for Casting Crowns.
303:
in the song to grab attention, the true focus of the song is the chorus, which calls the church to be more aware of the world and to let their hearts be "led by mercy". While Hall noted the song was "one of the more direct songs have written", he said that "it also speaks truth. And I think believers should speak truth to each other as long as we do it in love". Additionally, Hall noted that the band isn't simply criticizing others within the church with the song; he commented the first verse of the song speaks about himself.
358:
441:". Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday commented that "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" has "the most challenging message on " and praised the song's "bold" lyrical content". Lindsay Davis of GMC.com stated that the song, along with several others on the album, "are directed to the church, doing what does best – bluntly calling out the way the world views Christianity based on the way Christians live their lives".
302:
wrote "Jesus, Friend of
Sinners" to address the idea that the world knows those who follow the Christian faith more for what they oppose than what they support; he stated that the song is a "reminder that we need to do something about that". He also commented that, despite the use of "strong words"
262:"Jesus, Friend of Sinners" met with a positive reception from critics, many of whom praised the song's lyrical content. A music video has been released for the song. It has peaked at No. 1 on the
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342:
was handled by Sam Hewitt, while digital editing was done by Matt Naylor and
Michael Hewitt. The song was submixed by Bacho Shin at ShinShack Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and it was
449:"Jesus, Friend of Sinners" began going for radio adds on the Christian AC, Christian CHR, and Soft AC/Inspirational formats on March 3, 2012. It has so far peaked at No. 6 on the
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stated that the song "effectively illustrates the true message Christ came to deliver" and called it "a veritable musical sermon". Ed
Cardinal of
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A 27-second audio sample of the song, which rebukes the
Christian church for focusing on what it is against rather than what it is for.
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414:"Jesus, Friend of Sinners" received positive reviews from critics upon the release of
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by Mark A. Miller, it was released as the second single from the band's 2011 album
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on the song were arranged by David
Davidson and recorded by Bacho Shin at
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Soft AC/Inspirational chart, and No. 20 on the
Christian CHR chart.
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by Andrew
Mendleson at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, Tennessee.
1021:"Casting Crowns Albums & Song Chart History - Christian Songs"
678:(CD back cover). Casting Crowns. Reunion Records. 2011. p. 1.
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Musically, "Jesus, Friend of
Sinners" has been described as a "
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called the track an "early standout " and a "thoughtful
306:"Jesus, Friend of Sinners" was written by Mark Hall and
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759:"Come to the Well by Casting Crowns CD Book Reviews"
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1106:"Jesus, Friend of Sinners (Official Music Video)"
646:"'Come to the Well': The Songs by Casting Crowns"
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688:: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
283:charts, and No. 20 on the Christian CHR chart.
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469:Christian AC Indicator chart, No. 21on the
272:Christian AC Indicator chart, No. 6 on the
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714:"Casting Crowns' Well Draws from the Word"
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268:Soft AC/Inspirational chart, No. 2 on the
29:
982:"Going for Adds – Soft AC/Inspirational"
865:"Come to the Well – Casting Crowns"
795:"Casting Crowns – Come to the Well"
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1077:Christian AC Indicator. June 23, 2012.
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1598:Songs written by Mark Hall (musician)
1095:Soft AC/Inspirational. July 28, 2012.
881:from the original on 25 December 2011
7:
807:from the original on 3 November 2012
1348:Until the Whole World Hears... Live
769:from the original on 5 January 2012
1521:I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
1120:from the original on 29 March 2012
831:"Casting Crowns, Come To The Well"
829:Davis, Lindsay (18 October 2011).
25:
1475:Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)
1373:The Acoustic Sessions: Volume One
730:from the original on 26 June 2012
656:from the original on 7 March 2013
1059:Hot Christian AC. July 21, 2012.
943:"Going for Adds – Christian CHR"
712:Cardinal, Ed (18 October 2011).
390:Problems playing this file? See
372:
904:"Going for Adds – Christian AC"
318:by Sam Hewitt at Zoo Studio in
1144:Christian CHR. August 4, 2012.
994:. 3 March 2012. Archived from
955:. 3 March 2012. Archived from
916:. 3 March 2012. Archived from
793:Lennie, Tom (18 August 2011).
644:Hall, Mark (10 October 2011).
481:Casting Crowns has released a
1:
1593:Songs written by Matthew West
27:2012 single by Casting Crowns
1380:Glorious Day: Hymns of Faith
610:Soft AC/Inspirational radio
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1461:Until The Whole World Hears
1341:The Altar and the Door Live
1262:Until the Whole World Hears
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368:"Jesus, Friend Of Sinners"
314:by Mark A. Miller. It was
86:Eagle's Landing, McDonough
33:"Jesus, Friend of Sinners"
1355:A Live Worship Experience
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1489:Jesus, Friend of Sinners
1468:If We've Ever Needed You
1426:Praise You In This Storm
839:Gospel Music Association
226:" is a song by American
224:Jesus, Friend of Sinners
199:Jesus, Friend of Sinners
18:Jesus, Friend Of Sinners
1031:Prometheus Global Media
527:Christian AC Indicator
1562:Awards and nominations
1255:The Altar and the Door
564:Soft AC/Inspirational
361:
1433:Does Anybody Hear Her
360:
1583:Casting Crowns songs
1552:Beach Street Records
724:Salem Communications
605:Christian CHR radio
465:chart, No. 2 on the
458:chart, No. 6 on the
336:Nashville, Tennessee
1513:Other notable songs
1282:The Very Next Thing
987:Radio & Records
948:Radio & Records
909:Radio & Records
765:. 21 October 2011.
763:New Release Tuesday
684:cite AV media notes
650:New Release Tuesday
595:Christian AC radio
552:Hot Christian Songs
456:Hot Christian Songs
320:Franklin, Tennessee
277:Hot Christian Songs
1398:If We Are the Body
998:on 31 January 2013
959:on 1 February 2013
920:on 31 January 2013
410:Critical reception
362:
324:McDonough, Georgia
179:singles chronology
1608:Songs about Jesus
1570:
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1327:Live from Atlanta
1114:Salem Web Network
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445:Chart performance
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332:Ocean Way Studios
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16:(Redirected from
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62:March 3, 2012
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1588:2012 singles
1488:
1440:East to West
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1365:Other albums
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996:the original
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961:. Retrieved
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599:Beach Street
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158:Matthew West
140:Beach Street
74:Zoo Studio,
50:
1557:Discography
1197:Juan DeVevo
483:music video
350:Composition
166:Producer(s)
1603:2011 songs
1577:Categories
1503:Only Jesus
1482:Courageous
1287:Only Jesus
617:References
477:Other uses
392:media help
287:Background
190:Courageous
80:Lifesong,
1454:Slow Fade
1447:Every Man
1213:Mark Hall
1141:Billboard
1092:Billboard
1074:Billboard
1056:Billboard
1026:Billboard
992:VNU Media
953:VNU Media
914:VNU Media
562:Billboard
549:Billboard
536:Billboard
524:Billboard
512:Billboard
506:position
471:Billboard
467:Billboard
460:Billboard
452:Billboard
300:Mark Hall
274:Billboard
270:Billboard
265:Billboard
236:Mark Hall
154:Mark Hall
94:Nashville
90:Ocean Way
82:McDonough
1419:Lifesong
1405:Who Am I
1248:Lifesong
1192:Josh Mix
1118:Archived
1036:27 March
1002:28 April
963:28 April
924:28 April
879:Archived
870:Allmusic
805:Archived
767:Archived
728:Archived
654:Archived
422:Allmusic
344:mastered
316:recorded
312:produced
296:frontman
244:produced
112:pop rock
76:Franklin
59:Released
1390:Singles
1110:GodTube
885:7 April
849:7 April
835:GMC.com
811:7 April
773:7 April
734:7 April
660:7 April
584:Format
212:(2012)
203:(2012)
194:(2011)
1292:Healer
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587:Label
340:Mixing
118:Length
68:Studio
39:Single
1124:3 May
581:Date
230:band
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103:Genre
1126:2012
1038:2012
1004:2012
965:2012
926:2012
887:2012
851:2012
813:2012
775:2012
736:2012
690:link
662:2012
504:Peak
439:hymn
404:hymn
310:and
279:and
257:hymn
242:and
238:and
1116:).
517:20
436:pop
401:pop
334:in
254:pop
210:'"
41:by
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