Top 10 Worship Songs of 2016

10. Crowder "My Victory" from Crowder's "American Prodigal"

"My Victory" feeds a lacuna in worship songs as it addresses our need for self-surrender in order to fully embraced Christ's victory on the cross.  A message that is cardinally Biblical yet so often neglected. 

9. Paul Wilbur "Forever Good" from Wilbur's "Forever Good"

The title track "Forever Good," written by Michael Farren, Steve Merkel and Brian Campbell, finds Wilbur at his most heartfelt moments.  Simple in its lyric content and melodic structure but yet so faith affirming, this stellar worship proves that one doesn't have to be too clever to be effective. 

8. Vital Worship "My God is Stronger" from Vital Worship's "Songs for the Living King Volume 2" 

Josh Bayne & The Classic City Collective's "My God is Stronger" is so catchy that it's a song you want to put on repeat.  Exalting the Lordship of Jesus over the wind and the waves, this is the type of song that will dispel all fears from our lives. Todd Wright, who has a striking vocal nuance that calls to mind Paul Wilbur and Rend Collective, gives the theme of Christ's death and resurrection a refreshing read as he ties the Cross of Jesus with the crosses we have to carry for Him.  Soteriology and sanctification are gloriously interacted over a sublimely catchy tune.

7. Paul Baloche "Once for All" from Baloche's "Your Mercy"

"Once for All," co-written by Baloche and Matt Redman, bears all of Redman's fingerprints.  If you love Redman's worship songs with all of their big hook-laden choruses, "Once for All" will get immediately get a two thumbs up.

6. Prestonwood Worship "You Cover Me" from Prestonwood Worship's "Songs of the People"

 "You Cover Me" is one of those few songs that can take the theological notion of Christ's imputation and make it so perspicuous and affecting without sounding like a scholarly monograph. 

5. Ian Yates "No Longer I" from Yates' "Awaken to Love"

In terms of familiarity, many would resonate with Yates' "No Longer I."  Fans who have had bought Redman's "Unbroken Praise" would realize that "No Longer I" was written by Yates, Redman and Sam Blake. A hybrid between the hymn "At the Cross" and a newly written song, "No Longer I" capitalizes on the theological richness of hymnody as well as it avails contemporary expressions of worship back to God.  This is the type of worship songs that ought to be dominating our churches today.

4. Steven Curtis Chapman "Who You Say We Are" from Chapman's "Worship and Believe"

In our culture, where we are often defined by the idols we associate with, be it wealth and success, "Who We Say We Are" rightly exhorts us to seek our identity in the fact that we are nothing without being loved by our Father. 

3. Chris Tomlin "God of Calvary" from Tomlin's "Never Lose Sight"

"God of Calvary" is this album's "At the Cross (Love Ran Red)."  A gorgeous ballad that gives details to the final hours of Jesus Christ backed by a crescendo building tune, "God of Calvary" is vintage Tomlin.  This song ought to be the anthem of churches not only during Easter but throughout the year.

2. Leeland "The Lion and the Lamb" from Leeland's "Invisible"

The album's lead single "The Lion and the Lamb" is a career-defining record.  This song is to Leeland what "Shout to the Lord" is to Darlene Zschech. Theologically, this song is a gem. Few songs (if any) capture the Biblical tension of Jesus being both the Judge (the lion of Judah) as well as the sacrifice (the lamb) as judiciously and as gloriously as Leeland has.

1.      Hillsong Worship "What a Beautiful Name" from Hillsong Worship's "let there be light"

One doesn't need to be a prophet or the son of a prophet to know that the album's current single "What a Beautiful Name" is going to be a mainstay in the top rungs of CCLI for years and years to come.  Co-written by Brooke (Fraser) Ligertwood and Ben Fielding. "What a Beautiful Name" has a strong melodic structure (ala "Mighty to Save" and "The Desert Song") with words that are poetically stunning: "You didn't want heaven without us/So Jesus you brought heaven down."

 

Tags : top 10 worship songs of 2016 Crowder hillsong worship Steven Curtis Chapman vita worship Paul Baloche Paul Wilbur prestonwood worship Chris Tomlin ian yates leeland bethel music Integrity Music