At a time when common hymnals and worship songbooks are ever less common, and many contemporary worship songs come and go as quickly as any other ephemeral cultural thing, it might seem foolish or idealistic to consider which new songs (if any) will become standards. But as the decade winds to a close, we can at least celebrate some of the excellent new worship songs that have blessed the church in the 2010s, even if we can’t predict which of them will still be sung in the 2020s, 2030s, and beyond.
The following 35 songs are my picks for the best new worship songs written and released between 2010 and 2020. In compiling this list I focused on songs that are both theologically sound and musically beautiful; as well as songs that are easy to sing and, in most cases, already widely sung in congregations around the world. Some have been certifiable “hits” on the praise charts. Others are lesser known. All are songs I hope the church keeps singing, and keeps remembering, for years to come.
If you aren’t familiar with some of these excellent songs, you can listen to them on this TGC Spotify playlist or Apple Music playlist. Pastors and worship leaders: consider adding some of these into your congregational-worship rotation. May these songs—combined with treasured classics from centuries past, and yet-to-be-written songs to come—keep leading God’s people to declare his praises, tuning our hearts to sing his grace.
- “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery,” Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Michael Bleecker (2013)
- “Is He Worthy?” Andrew Peterson (2018)
- “We Will Feast in the House of Zion,” Sandra McCracken (2015)
- “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord),” Matt Redman (2011)
- “O Praise The Name (Anastasis),” Hillsong Worship (2015)
- “Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me,” CityAlight (2018)
- “His Mercy Is More,” Matt Boswell and Matt Papa (2016)
- “He Will Hold Me Fast,” Matt Merker (2012)
- “Great Are You Lord,” All Sons and Daughters (2012)
- “God Is for Us,” CityAlight (2018)
- “This I Believe (The Creed),” Hillsong Worship (2014)
- “O God of Our Salvation,” Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker (2010)
- “Living Hope,” Phil Wickham (2018)
- “What a Beautiful Name,” Hillsong Worship (2016)
- “Father, Let Your Kingdom Come,” Porter’s Gate feat. Urban Doxology (2017)
- “My Worth Is Not in What I Own (At the Cross),” Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick (2014)
- “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor,” Matt Boswell and Matt Papa (2014)
- “Man of Sorrows,” Hillsong Worship (2013)
- “Build My Life,” Pat Barrett (2016)
- “Lord, I Need You,” Matt Maher, Christy Nockels, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, Daniel Carson (2011)
- “Great Is Our God,” Young Oceans (2012)
- “Cornerstone,” Hillsong Worship (2011)
- “The Lion and the Lamb,” Brenton Brown (2015)
- “O Come to the Altar,” Chris Brown (2015)
- “Forever,” Kari Jobe (2013)
- “Christ Is Mine Forevermore,” CityAlight (2016)
- “Promises,” Antoine Bradford (2019)
- “Behold Our God,” Sovereign Grace Music (2011)
- “All Glory Be to Christ,” Kings Kaleidoscope (2012)
- “Ancient of Days,” CityAlight (2018)
- “The Lord Is My Salvation,” Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Nathan Nockels, Jonas Myrin (2016)
- “No Limit to Your Love,” John Van Deusen (2018)
- “814,” Isla Vista Worship (2019)
- “Who You Say I Am,” Hillsong Worship (2018)
- “Come to the Feast,” Sandra McCracken, Jeff Lawson (2013)