rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News
Vendor Guide

Data reveals most popular worship songs and sermon topics of 2020

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Jan. 11, 2021 – Data compiled by Faithlife, makers of integrated church technology products including Logos Bible Software, in the Year-End Song & Sermon Report provides insight into the worship songs, sermon topics and Scriptures most prevalent in churches across North America throughout 2020 and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The 2020 Faithlife data highlights the relevancy of church leaders in meeting the needs of their congregants and community during a difficult year,” said Bob Pritchett, co-founder and CEO of Faithlife. “The words of the top worship songs and most used topics of the sermons were speaking to the issues of the day in order to offer comfort among the chaos.”

Worship Song Trends

The most popular worship song in 2020 was “Way Maker” by Nigerian gospel singer Sinach, according to the data from Faithlife Proclaim, Faithlife’s church presentation software.

“Way Maker” reached its peak popularity with Proclaim users the weekend of March 22, 2020, when almost 7% of all worship presentations included the song. “Build My Life” by Pat Barrett (the top song in 2019) was the second most popular, followed by “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” by Matt Redman.

Image

An analysis of songs bringing comfort to churches during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic shows an interesting mix of modern and historic hymns such as “It is Well with My Soul” and “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” as well as “His Mercy Is More,” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. Other new songs on the list include “Goodness of God,” released in early 2019 by Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson, “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship, and “See a Victory” by Elevation Worship.

Image

Sermon Topic Trends

According to data from ​Faithlife Sermons,​ there were nearly 200 different topics, including ​loneliness,​ ​friendship​, ​fear,​ ​contentment or ​leadership, represented in at least 100 sermons throughout 2020.​ The most common topics included ​God,​ ​Jesus,​ ​love,​ ​faith,​ ​power​ and​ glory​.

Early in April, during the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and in anticipation of Easter, topics of ​fear, prayer, faith, suffering, comfort, grief, stress, and church ​were all trending.

Government, justice, freedom, anger, ​and ​judgment peaked in the summer months when there was a wave of civil unrest, including protests and riots following the death of George Floyd. By fall, church fellowship, service, church leadership, work, a​nd ​election w​ere most trending with peace a​nd ​hope having the largest overall sermon trend of the year with peak popularity in December, the season of Advent.

Image

Data Information

Worship music trends are based on data from Faithlife Proclaim​ Church Presentation Software across the over 2.2 million times churches sang 7,000-plus songs together in more than 568,000 services. Insight into what topics and Scriptures pastors preached about in 2020 were compiled using data from over 60,000 sermons posted to ​Faithlife Sermons of which 75% included topic tags created by the author that describe an idea, person, or theological concept covered.

Additional data in the report includes songs that gained popularity in accordance with key calendar dates, including Easter. Father’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the top 10 most-preached Scriptures in 2020.

To download the full Year-End Song & Sermon Report from Faithlife, visit Faithlife.com/songs.

About Faithlife:  Faithlife, based in Bellingham, Washington, with offices in Arizona and Mexico, has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for more than 25 years. Since 1992, Faithlife has developed a full suite of church management tools, academic study resources, smart digital books, and Logos Bible Software, all part of its integrated ministry platform that automates tasks and simplifies workflows. For more information, visit Faithlife.com.

Media Contact:  Melany Ethridge, 972-267-1111  melany@alarryross.com

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 JESUS LISTENS
SARAH YOUNG
4 FIND YOUR PEOPLE
JENNIE ALLEN
5 I GUESS I HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT YET
SHAUNA NIEQUIST
6 THE TRUTH AND BEAUTY
ANDREW KLAVAN
7 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
8 EMBRACE YOUR ALMOST
JORDAN LEE DOOLEY
9 LIFE MAKEOVER
DOMINIQUE SACHSE
10 PROPHETIC FORECAST
JOSHUA GILES
View All
1 FIND YOUR PEOPLE
JENNIE ALLEN
2 WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING?
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF
3 THE LADY'S MINE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 UNCANCELED
PHIL ROBERTSON
5 40 DAYS THROUGH THE BIBLE
LYSA TERKEURST
6 IF THE TOMB IS EMPTY
JOBY MARTIN WITH CHARLES MARTIN
7 M IS FOR MAMA
ABBIE HALBERSTADT
8 BLESSED ARE THE CHOSEN, VOLUME 2
AMANDA JENKINS, DALLAS JENKINS AND DOUGLAS S. HUFFMAN
9 SAY ALL THE UNSPOKEN THINGS
JOHN A. SOWERS
10 ATTACKING ANXIETY
SHAWN JOHNSON
View All
1 THE LADY'S MINE
FRANCINE RIVERS
2 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
3 UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS
T. I. LOWE
4 REDEEMING LOVE (MOVIE TIE-IN)
FRANCINE RIVERS
5 MULBERRY HOLLOW
HUNTER, DENISE
6 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
7 THE HARBINGER
JONATHAN CAHN
8 THE SUGARCREEK SURPRISE, 2
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
9 SEA GLASS COTTAGE
IRENE HANNON
10 UNTIL LEAVES FALL IN PARIS
SARAH SUNDIN
View All
1 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 JESUS LISTENS
SARAH YOUNG
4 FIND YOUR PEOPLE
JENNIE ALLEN
5 I GUESS I HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT YET
SHAUNA NIEQUIST
6 THE TRUTH AND BEAUTY
ANDREW KLAVAN
7 GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
JENNIE ALLEN
8 EMBRACE YOUR ALMOST
JORDAN LEE DOOLEY
9 LIFE MAKEOVER
DOMINIQUE SACHSE
10 PROPHETIC FORECAST
JOSHUA GILES
View All
1 GOD GAVE US EASTER, Hardcover
LISA TAWN BERGREN
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 GOD GAVE US EASTER, Board book
LISA TAWN BERGREN
4 THE CREATOR IN YOU
JORDAN RAYNOR
5 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
6 THE STORY OF EASTER
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
7 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
8 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
9 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
10 THANK YOU, MAMA
LINDA MEEKER
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH TAMA FORTNER AND BETH CLARK
2 LIVE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK
3 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
4 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
5 THE MANUAL TO MANHOOD
JONATHAN CATHERMAN
6 OUTDATED
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
7 I AM
SONS &. DAUGHTERS
8 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GUYS FOR TEEN GUYS, Hardcover
PATTI M. HUMMEL
9 ADORED: 365 DEVOTIONS FOR YOUNG WOMEN
ZONDERVAN
10 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GIRLS FOR TEEN GIRLS
PATTI M. HUMMEL
View All
1 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND THE EASTER STORY
JAN BERENSTAIN AND MIKE BERENSTAIN
2 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST. JOHN
3 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
4 WORRY LESS, PRAY MORE
DONNA K. MALTESE
5 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS' EASTER SUNDAY
MIKE BERENSTAIN
6 LOTS OF KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES FOR KIDS
WHEE WINN
7 THE CASE FOR EASTER
LEE STROBEL
8 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
9 GOD'S PROMISES FOR YOUR EVERY NEED, NKJV
THOMAS NELSON
10 HE FIGHTS FOR YOU
MAX LUCADO
View All
1 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
2 NLT PREMIUM GIFT BIBLE
TYNDALE
3 NLT DELUXE EXPLORER EVERY MAN'S BIBLE
STEPHEN ARTERBURN
4 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
5 ESV STUDY BIBLE
T. DESMOND ALEXANDER
6 NIV BEAUTIFUL WORD BIBLE UPDATED EDITION
ZONDERVAN
7 ESV STUDENT STUDY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
8 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Rose Gold
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS
10 NIRV ADVENTURE BIBLE FOR EARLY READERS
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
3 NLT ECONOMY BIBLE
TYNDALE
4 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
5 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE FOR KIDS
ZONDERVAN
6 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV LARGER PRINT BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NIV OUTREACH BIBLE, STUDENT EDITION
ZONDERVAN
9 NIV HOLY BIBLE, ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
10 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 New Living Translation
4 King James Version
5 Christian Standard Bible
6 New King James Version
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 New Revised Standard Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
2 GANA LA GUERRA EN TU MENTE
CRAIG GROESCHEL
3 ERES MAS FUERTE DE LO QUE PIENSAS
JOEL OSTEEN
4 JESUS TE LLAMA
SARAH YOUNG
5 EL PODER DE LA GRATITUD
JOYCE MEYER
6 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H PUBLISHING GROUP
7 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
8 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
9 EL CAMPO DE BATALLA DE LA MENTE
JOYCE MEYER
10 MAPA DE ORACION PARA MUJERES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL CON INDICE
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS, SIMIL PIEL
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL GRIS Y MARRON
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960/ESV SPANISH ENGLISH PARALLEL BIBLE
CROSSWAY BIBLES
7 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
8 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO PARA MUJERES
DOROTHY KELLEY PATTERSON AND RHONDA HARRINGTON KELLEY, EDITORS
10 NVI BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON, EDITOR
View All
1 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR (REVISADO)
GARY CHAPMAN
2 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
3 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
6 180 DEVOCIONALES PARA CUANDO LA VIDA ES DIFICIL: ANIMO PARA EL CORAZON DE LA MUJER
RENAE BRUMBAUGH GREEN AND COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
7 ORACIONES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA MUJERES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
8 LECTURAS DEVOCIONALES PARA UNA MADRE CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
9 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
10 EL PODER DE LA ESPOSA QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
View All

Upcoming Events

Top Shelf Book Cover Award submission period
April 15 to August 15, 2022
International Christian Rights & Exports Fair (ICREF)
June 28-29 | Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 25-27 | Savannah, Georgia
ECPA PubU (Publishing University)
November 16-17, 2022 | Lipscomb University, Nashville

Career Center

Assistant Marketing Manager
Baker Publishing Group, Bloomington, Minnesota
Art Director, Worthy Kids
Worthy Publishing/ Hachette Book Group, Nashville or New York // hybrid, remote
INTERNSHIP: Editorial/Marketing/SPPI
InterVarsity Press, Westmont, Illinois or Remote
INTERNSHIP: Digital Marketing
Tyndale House Publishers, Illinois
INTERNSHIP: Help Desk
Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois
INTERNSHIP: Acquisitions
Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois
Operations Lead
Two Words Publishing, Remote
INTERNSHIP: Editorial
Our Daily Bread, Michigan
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center at jobs.ecpa.org, and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA @ChristianBkExpo
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2022 · ECPA