Summer worship songs are about so much more than catchy tunes and feel-good music. While there’s nothing wrong with catchy tunes and feel-good music, summer worship songs should lead us to the feet of Jesus. The lyrics should help us reflect on the character of God and overflow in our praises to Him.
In The Complete Works of C.H. Spurgeon, he says, “Worship is the highest elevation of the spirit, and yet the lowliest prostration of the soul.” Spurgeon recognized that in worship we both exalt the Lord and acknowledge our desperate need for Him.
As you plan out your summer worship services, consider adding in one or more of these songs and reminding the people in your congregation about the importance of their messages.
Top 20 Summer Worship Songs
1. Surrounded (Fight My Battles) by Elyssa Smith
Artist: Josh Baldwin
CCLI# 7098758
Significant Lyrics:
It may look like I’m surrounded
But I’m surrounded by You
This is how I fight my battles
It’s easy to be overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and worry when we look at the circumstances around us. However, with Jesus, we never have to walk through these circumstances alone. He not only gives us the strength to get through them, but He fights for us in the midst of them. We can confidently walk through difficulties because we have the King of Kings fighting for us (Deut. 20:4).
2. Goodness of God by Ben Fielding, Brian Johnson, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson
Artist: Jenn Johnson
CCLI# 7117726
Significant Lyrics:
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
Psalm 98:7 says, “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.” These lyrics were written to praise the Lord for his faithfulness. Looking back, it’s often easy to see the way God has guided steps and directed path for His glory and our good. Remembering this can spur on thankfulness in our hearts and remind us that the Lord is in control and He is good even when it doesn’t feel that way.
3. Champion by Bryan & Katie Torwalt
Artists: Bryan & Katie Torwalt
CCLI# 7065984
Significant Lyrics:
Our champion, You fight for us
You made a way, where there was none
Our champion, You’re strong in us
The debt we owed, You paid in blood
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, died a horrific death on a cross, but rose again victorious all for us. There is nothing that we can do on our own to be good enough to spend eternity with Jesus Christ (John 14:6). We needed a champion to take our place. Jesus made a way and paid our debts. Hallelujah, what a savior!
4. Hands and Feet by Audio Adrenaline
Artists: Bob Herdman, Charlie Peacock, Mark Stuart, Tyler Burkum, Will McGinniss
CCLI# 2904027
Significant Lyrics:
An image flashed across my TV screen
Another broken heart comes into view
I saw the pain and I turned my back
Why can’t I do the things I want to?
I’m willing yet I’m so afraid
You give me strength when I say
I wanna be your hands
I wanna be your feet
I’ll go where you send me
I’ll go where you send me
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” We are called to be the hands and feet of God on Earth. When we see people in need, we aren’t to turn away or walk in the opposite direction. We’re called to get involved. On my own, I wouldn’t do anything, but living in God compels us to act.
5. Raise a Hallelujah by Jake Stevens, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs
Artist: Bethel Music
CCLI# 7119315
Significant Lyrics:
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, he defeated death once and for all (2 Timothy 1:10). Because of this, we can rejoice even in our trials. Jesus is worthy of all of our praise and has given us hope that can never die. While our circumstances may not be ideal, Jesus deserves our praise in the midst of them.
6. How Deep The Father’s Love For Us by Stuart Townend
Artist: Austin Stone Worship
CCLI# 1558110
Significant Lyrics:
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Most of us are familiar with John 3:16, but have you ever meditated on the first part? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”. This song gets at the heart of that. God’s love for us is deep, vast, and beyond measure. He sacrificed His only son for us so that we could become children of God.
7. Jesus is Better by Aaron Ivey, Brett Land
Artist: Austin Stone Worship Feat. Aaron Ivey
CCLI# 7006188
Significant Lyrics:
In all my sorrows, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
In all my victories, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Than any comfort, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
More than all riches, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our souls declaring, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our song eternal, Jesus is better – make my heart believe
In Mark 9:24, we see a father who has a demon-possessed son asking Jesus to heal him. He exclaims, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” We often say that we believe Jesus is good and better than both our good and bad circumstances, but our heart needs reminding. This song is the perfect reminder that Jesus is better than it all, and it’s a plea to the Lord to help our unbelief.
8. King of My Heart by John Mark McMillan, Sarah McMillan
Artist: Sarah McMillan
CCLI# 7046145
Significant Lyrics:
Let the King of my heart
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my song
Our hearts are so prone to wander and chase after other things, but Jesus should be the one who is the King of our hearts. Throughout this song, we see that Jesus is our firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-27) and living water (John 7:37-39). He is worthy of all of our praise and worship. Not only are we reminded that our focus should be on the one true King, but that He has given and provides for our every need.
9. Who You Say I Am by Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan
Artist: Hillsong United
CCLI# 7102401
Significant Lyrics:
Who am I that the highest King
Would welcome me?
I was lost but He brought me in
Oh His love for me
Oh His love for me
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I’m a child of God
Yes I am
In today’s culture, we are told daily that we aren’t enough. We aren’t good enough, skinny enough, talented enough, smart enough, etc. However, Jesus says that we are children of God (1 John 3:1) and that’s what matters. Our identity in Jesus Christ is so much more important and worthy than anything this world tells us. How amazing is it that the King of Kings knows us, loves us, and values us!
10. My Victory by David Crowder, Hank Bentley, Ed Cash & Darren Mulligan
Artist: David Crowder
CCLI# 7054548
Significant Lyrics:
You came for criminals
And every Pharisee
You came for hypocrites
Even one like me
This song of repentance and adoration calls people to acknowledge the extent of our sin and the deep need for a savior. We see in scripture that even Paul said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15). While we are sinners, the best news is that Jesus died for us and rose again victoriously!
11. O Praise the Name (Anastasis) by Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson & Benjamin Hastings
Artist: Hillsong Worship
CCLI# 7037787
Significant Lyrics:
O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
The Lord is worthy of all of our worship! Sometimes this involves bowing down reverently before Him, and other times this involves singing with our voices raised praising Him for who He is and what He did for us. In Psalm 148, the Psalmist praises the Lord, and through this song, we can praise Him too!
12. So Will I (100 Billion X) by Benjamin Hastings, Joel Houston, Michael Fatkin
Artist: Hillsong United
CCLI# 7084123
Significant Lyrics:
And as You speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born
In the vapor of Your breath, the planets form
If the stars were made to worship so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve made
Every burning star
A signal fire of grace
If creation sings Your praises so will I
In Genesis 1 we read and reflect on the creation story. God simply spoke and formed all that we see. As you gaze out at the ocean, look up at the night sky, or stare out at the horizon from the mountaintop, it’s easy to be in awe of the beauty of God’s creation. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” Creation points to the Creator!
13. Resurrecting by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Matthew Ntele, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
Artist: Elevation Worship
CCLI# 7051507
Significant Lyrics:
By Your spirit I will rise
From the ashes of defeat
The resurrected King is resurrecting me
In Your name I come alive
To declare Your victory
When Jesus died on the cross for us and resurrected from the grave, He declared the ultimate victory over death. As followers of Jesus, He tells us that we too must be born again (John 3). This involves putting away our sinful self and selfish desires and choosing to obey and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. In Jesus, we no longer are defeated or need to have fear of death, instead, we should rejoice and tell others about the victory we have through Him.
14. What a Beautiful Name by Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood
Artist: Hillsong United
CCLI# 7068424
Significant Lyrics:
You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now
What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
The name of Jesus is powerful, beautiful, and wonderful! Instead of choosing to live in Heaven without us, He made a way for us to join Him forever when we choose to follow Him. In this song, the lyrics focus on the greatness of the name of Jesus. When we hear it, speak it, and claim it, we announce our love for Him and the power that is His alone.
15. Living Hope by Brian Johnson, Phil Wickham
Artist: Phil Wickham
CCLI# 7106807
Significant Lyrics:
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope
There’s absolutely nothing we can do to be good enough for Heaven without Jesus. It’s so easy to try to do it all on our own and take things into our own hands, but the reality is that we will fail over and over. While this is defeating, there is victory in Jesus. His great love for us bridged the chasm of death and made a way for us. Because of this, He alone is our hope (Psalm 33:20-22). Knowing this gives us strength for each day and hope for tomorrow.
16. The Greatness of Our God by Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan, Stuart Garrard
Artist: Hillsong United
CCLI# 5660739
Significant Lyrics:
Give me eyes to see
More of who You are
May what I behold,
Still my anxious heart.
Take what I have known
And break it all apart
For You my God, are greater still.
These lyrics should be the prayer of our hearts. Without Jesus, our perspective is narrow and our hearts are anxious. Often, we think we know the best path to take, but in the end, we end up in places we never intended to be. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” This song is a cry to the Lord to reveal His purpose and reflect on His goodness.
17. Forever (We Sing Hallelujah) by Brian Johnson, Christa Black Gifford, Gabriel Wilson, Jenn Johnson, Joel Taylor, Kari Jobe
Artist: Phil Wickham
CCLI# 7001228
Significant Lyrics:
The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Savior of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon him
One final breath He gave
As Heaven looked away
The Son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken
The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated
This is the Gospel. The death and resurrection of Jesus changed everything for all time. Because He rose victoriously, we can be confident that our future is secure. It’s easy to get caught up in the here and now, but our God is an eternal God. Psalm 146:2 says, “I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” God deserves our praise each and every day of this day and of the days to come.
18. Reckless Love by Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, Ran Jackson
Artist: Cory Asbury
CCLI# 7089641
Significant Lyrics:
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
In the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, Jesus teaches us that Heaven rejoices over just one lost sinner’s repentance. Jesus would do anything for us. Anytime we are tempted to do things on our own, this truth should be what turns us around and sets our eyes back on Jesus. He loves us unendingly, and that truth alone should bring us to our knees overwhelmed and thankful.
19. Lord, I Need You by Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Maher
Artist: Matt Maher
CCLI# 5925687
Significant Lyrics:
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
We aren’t meant to do life on our own. Sometimes, a simple plea to the Lord to help and to be near can change our outlook even if it doesn’t change our circumstances. Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him”. God is our defense and our righteousness, and we need Him desperately every minute of every day.
20. O Come to the Altar by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
Artist: Elevation Worship
CCLI# 7051511
Significant Lyrics:
Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
If you are hurting, overwhelmed, anxious, scared, and broken, God is waiting for you to run to Him. His arms are always open and ready to embrace you. He even quiets you with His love (Zephaniah 3:17). It can be intimidating to walk to the steps of the altar and bow down before God, but if He is calling you, know that it is because He loves you and wants to make whole what was broken.
Next Steps
Hopefully, this list of summer worship songs has given you just the song you’re looking for to lead your congregation in worship this summer. Not only that, but hopefully these summer worship songs have drawn you closer to the Father and guided you in worship. For more worship song resources, check out Sharefaith’s extensive guide to worship music.