The Gartleys

Songs from a family walking with Jesus through real life.

Song

Tear the Loaf

A table song written around remembrance - holding Jesus as the Bread of Life, His body given for us, and the open invitation of His salvation.

Released April 17, 2026Acoustic worship / family recording
Anchored in John 6:35 and John 20:27.

Listen

Behind This Song

This song started at the table - in the mystery of Jesus giving Himself for us and inviting us to come close again. We wanted it to feel simple, open, and full of remembrance.

What kept surfacing was that line of return: coming back to the Bread of Life, back to the place where need is met in Him. The song became less about explaining communion and more about staying near Jesus in it.

It also carries that tender invitation from the Gospel - Jesus meeting doubt, hunger, and need with His own wounded body and open welcome.

Lyrics

Bread of life, come feed the nations Living water, flow It’s Your body, torn and broken For every hungry soul You’re more than enough, more than enough You’re more than enough, more than enough Come and put your hands in His side Where every need is satisfied Jesus, our salvation, the bread for every nation Heaven’s gates are open wide We give thanks, we come to the table Room for everyone Drink the cup of our salvation As we tear the loaf I can tear the loaf again and again and again Trust the man that was crushed, who bled and died Who took up the cross, was crucified I can tear the loaf again and again and again

Rooted in Scripture

John 6:35

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

This song returns to Jesus as the source - trusting He is enough.

John 20:27

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."

This moment shapes the song - Jesus meeting doubt with invitation.

From Writing to Release

  1. August62024

    First phone demo

    The first simple recording we made after working out the chords and structure, just to hold onto the song as it was beginning to take shape.

    An early phone recording from the room, kept as a first-step document of the song.

  2. April172026

    Release day

    Released as an invitation back to the table, sharing the song's themes of provision, remembrance, and welcome.

Handwritten Notes

Handwritten lyrics in progress for Tear the Loaf (page 1)
An early notebook page with in-progress Tear the Loaf lyrics, edits, and structure notes.
Handwritten lyrics in progress for Tear the Loaf (page 2)
A second draft page capturing additional lines and revisions from the writing process.

A Prayer

Jesus, Bread of Life, thank You for giving Your body and blood for us and for opening the table wide. Feed what is hungry in us, steady our faith in Your finished work, and teach us to come again and again to the place where every need is satisfied in You. Amen.

Keep Following

Keep up with new songs and the stories behind them

If this song met you in a meaningful place, you can keep following the journey through the journal, the larger story, and the ongoing songs the Lord is giving us.