Check out our comprehensive guide for 2000s praise and worship songs, late 90s and early 2000s Christian music and early 2000s youth group songs. I know you’re looking for a list of the 2000s’ most popular praise and worship songs. I’ve got you covered.
The 2000s were a time of many ups and downs. I was in my teens, my brother was a freshman in high school, George W. Bush got re-elected for a second term, and Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit enjoyed megastardom; it was great. However, the music scene throughout the decade was awful; many memorable tunes will forever be lost to the sands of time. Thankfully, we have YouTube to remember for us. However, for reasons unbeknownst to me, we simply don’t have many praise and worship songs from this wonderful decade (don’t get me started on The ‘Tens).
There’s no better way to start the day than with a little praise and worship. Whether you’re just getting up, or you’re already halfway through your day, these songs are guaranteed to make you feel like you can take on the world! Here are some of our favorite praise and worship songs from the 2000s:
“Our God Reigns” by Hillsong United: This song is perfect for getting a boost during a long day at work or school. The lyrics are uplifting and encouraging: “Our God reigns; He’s alive! Our God reigns; He’s alive! Our God reigns; He’s alive! Our God reigns!”
“On My Side” by Kutless: This song is great for those who need encouragement when they feel like giving up. The lyrics remind us that God has us covered no matter what happens in our lives: “You never leave me standing alone. You’re always standing right beside me. When all my friends have left me behind, you’re always right behind me.”
Praise You in This Storm – Casting Crowns
Praise You in This Storm was first released on the album Lifesong by Casting Crowns in 2005. The song is a declaration of praise and worship for God, even in times of great difficulty. Lead singer Mark Hall describes how he wrote the lyrics after learning that his father had terminal cancer. “I had never seen my dad cry before, but he cried all night long,” Hall said in an interview. “It just crushed me like no other thing ever did. I remember walking down to my garage and it was raining outside and I just started yelling at God as loud as I could, just telling Him how mad I was.”
He continued: “And then I heard this voice inside me saying, ‘But you’re going to thank Me for this.’ And it didn’t make sense to me at all because it would be the worst thing that ever happened to me if my dad died of lung cancer at 45 years old.”
Yet despite his anger, Hall praised God anyway—and found himself able to do so with even more conviction than before. A year later, his father’s cancer went into remission.
Hall attributes much of this miracle to prayerful people who pushed him into praising God in spite of his pain: “I’ve got friends who were praying for [my dad], and they called me up one day said ‘Hey man, we’re trying…we want you to pray that your Daddy will get well,’” he recalls them saying. “And they just started lifting my prayers up…and they gave me no choice but to believe that He’d do what He promised us He would do.”
Shout to the Lord – Hillsong
So now that you’ve heard some of the most hyped-up songs from the “worship wars” era, let’s take a moment to appreciate one of the 2000s’ biggest crossover hits. Shout to the Lord was composed by Darlene Zschech and Reuben Morgan and made popular by Hillsong Worship. Numerous secular artists have also covered it, including Michael W. Smith and Scott Krippayne.
The chorus is no doubt one of the most powerful and popular lines in worship history:
My Jesus, my Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
No One Like You – David Crowder Band
The David Crowder Band was a Christian rock band that formed in 1996. They released six albums before disbanding in 2012. Their album A Collision or 3 + 4 = 7, was released on May 21, 2002, by Six Steps Records and Sparrow Records. The album peaked at number 133 on the Billboard 200 chart, which is generally considered to be one of the most accurate representations of the popularity of an artist’s albums in the United States.
Late 90s Early 2000s Christian Music
Enough – Chris Tomlin
The song “Enough” was released in 2004 on the album Arriving. A lyric video was made later, in 2013.
This is a song of worship that has you smiling while singing it. It’s a simple song with basic chords that anyone can play, even if you’re new to guitar. The three chords used are D, G, and A. The strumming is simple and repetitive as well, so people can easily participate whether or not they have experience playing music.
As part of the American Edition Deluxe release of Arriving in 2004, the deluxe edition included a DVD called Behind the Music: Chris Tomlin’s Arriving, which told the story behind each track on the album and interviewed other musicians about their work with Chris Tomlin.
Hungry (Falling On My Knees) – Kathryn Scott
As I reflect on my life, I think back to the things that have most impacted me. Much of what has shaped me has happened in church, and an area that has deeply touched me is praise and worship music. Songs like “Hungry (Falling On My Knees)” by Kathryn Scott really hit home for me in a lot of ways. In this song, she talks about how we often seek out things that are temporary instead of eternal. She speaks to us, saying: “You are everything I need; You are all my heart desires… I hunger only for you.”. These lyrics reminded me that sometimes I look for fulfillment in other places where God may not want me to seek it. As Christians, finding our joy and fulfillment in Christ should be our number one goal! So remember as you listen along with this song: let go of your desire for all the wrong things and find your satisfaction in Christ alone!
Blessed Be Your Name – Matt Redman/Beth Redman
By 2002, Matt Redman was a veteran worship leader, teacher and songwriter. His vast knowledge of Christian music and its history started at an early age when he was involved in the youth group at his local church in England where his father served as pastor. He later attended London Bible College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in theology. After graduating, Redman joined the pastoral staff at St Andrews Church in Chorleywood where he became involved with the church’s worship ministry by leading the congregation in singing songs from Stuart Townend, Keith Getty & Stuart Townend (the “Power of the Cross”), Delirious?, Martin Smith (Delirious?) & Geoff Bullock (“Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?”).
The lyrics to “Blessed Be Your Name” were written by Beth Redman and her husband, Matt Redman. The song is also featured on Beth’s album Not Ashamed (2004).
Here I Am To Worship – Tim Hughes
Written in 1999 and popularized by the band Delirious?, this song has been covered by many artists. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, so the message of surrender is easy to remember. Additionally, “Here I Am To Worship” has been translated into many languages and sung all over the world.
Oldie but a goodie.
You Are My King (Amazing Love) – Newsboys
You Are My King (Amazing Love) by the Newsboys is a hit song that puts a modern, upbeat spin on an older hymn. The Newsboys provide their own unique style and flair to this classic Christian tune.
- The lyrics of this song focus on praising Jesus as king and recognizing His sacrifice for all of humankind. One line in particular that stands out is “I’m forgiven because you were forsaken.” It reminds us that Christ took the punishment we deserved when he was crucified, so we could have eternal life through Him.
- This single came from the record Adoration: The Worship Album released in 2003 by Sparrow Records and Inpop Records.
- The Newsboys were a popular Christian rock band from Australia who had hits like Shine, He Reigns, and Entertaining Angels during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, lead singer Peter Furler left the band in 2009 due to health problems with his vocal cords after recording two more albums, Go and In the Hands of God with Michael Tait of DC Talk taking over as lead singer.
As for You Are My King (Amazing Love), it features acoustic guitar strumming with electric guitar accompaniment that gives it its signature sound along with background singers adding harmonies to create catchy hooks to keep you humming along throughout your day! It’s a little over five minutes in length but feels much shorter due to its easy-going nature, which makes it perfect for Sunday morning service or just listening in your car while commuting home from work!
Holy Is The Lord – Chris Tomlin
- Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory*
Released in 2004, “Holy Is The Lord” was a smash hit for Chris Tomlin. The song peaked at #1 on Christian charts and was featured on his Arriving album. It was written by Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and Louie Giglio, all of whom are still active in the music industry today.
Indescribable – Chris Tomlin
There is no way to fully describe the wonder, glory and majesty of God—but “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin comes pretty close. The song’s lyrics convey the awesomeness of God so powerfully that it becomes almost difficult to comprehend that He’s even real. For example, you’ll find yourself having an out-of-body experience while singing along to these lyrics:
“From galaxies ’til galaxies / You know it all / You know every star by name”
But if you’re not prepared for an extraterrestrial-themed religious experience, fret not! There are plenty of other awe-inspiring lines (the ones about the oceans not being able to contain Him, or His knowledge being higher than ours), making this a great worship song for any occasion.
The instrumentation is simple but effective, featuring a strong and steady acoustic guitar strumming pattern with a few percussion accents added here and there. It’s very reminiscent of early 2000s praise music when you look at more popular songs from artists like Hillsong United, Jeremy Camp and Lincoln Brewster. If you’re looking for something to add some variety while still maintaining a nostalgic feel in your next worship playlist or setlist, definitely consider adding this one!
This Is Our God (The Stand) – Hillsong United
“This Is Our God” is an excellent praise and worship song that came out in 2008. It starts off with a strumming electric guitar, moving into the lyrics: “We stand and lift up our hands / For the joy of the Lord is our strength.” This song has a chorus that will get stuck in your head for days. The soft and soothing vocals make you feel like you’re at home at church.
Some people would argue that this song is not as good as other songs by Hillsong United. But if it’s taught to you by a music director who uses it to teach choir members how to sing, then it must be pretty good!
Here I Am to Worship –2001 – Tim Hughes Oceans of Mercy –2003 – Misty Edwards Jesus Messiah –2004 – Chris Tomlin Give Us Clean Hands –2002 – Charlie Hall
You can find a mix of the whole list below, organized by year, but here are four modern worship songs to get you started:
- “Here I Am to Worship” –2001 – Tim Hughes
- “Oceans of Mercy” –2003 – Misty Edwards
- “Jesus Messiah” –2004 – Chris Tomlin
- “Give Us Clean Hands” –2002 – Charlie Hall
Early 2000s Youth Group Songs
In the 2000s, praise and worship music gained popularity as a way for people of all faiths to express their love of God. The songs are often uplifting and joyful, but they can also be contemplative and inspirational. Below is a list of some of our favorite 2000s praise and worship songs.
- “Open Up the Heavens” by Israel & New Breed (2000)
- “Free To Worship” by Chris Tomlin (2004)
- “You Are My King” by Hillsong United (2005)
- “God Is Able” by Matthew West (2006)
- “All For You” by Freewill Band (2007)