God-Centered Worship| Posted September 23, 2025 What You Need to Know GRAMMY Award-winning worship artist Chris Tomlin recently released The King Is Still The King, his 18th studio album. The 16-track album, which was inspired heavily by the book of Psalms and emphasizes singing God's Word, features lead single "How Good It Is," title track "Still The King," and collaborations with fellow Christian artists Phil Wickham ("He Has Done Great Things"), Ben Fielding ("The First Hymn"), Aodhán King, Jamie MacDonald and CalledOut Music ("My Father's World").
What It Sounds Like The King Is Still The King features songs of worship packaged in a diverse range of sounds. Some songs feel like the joyful, uptempo first song to kick off a church service ("How Good It Is," "Rivers of Joy," "That's Who He Is"). There are the peaceful and reflective worship ballads that are theologically rich in content ("The First Hymn," "Coming Soon"). There are the church anthems that I know congregations will easily latch onto and begin passionately singing as a mighty chorus of God's people praising Him ("Doesn't He," "Jesus Saves"). There's even a prayerful song of hope and declaration to anchor your heart and soul in God's care and His power when the world feels tumultuous ("My Father's World"), accompanied by a beautiful string arrangement.
Spiritual Highlights This album is so godward, which I realize seems like an obvious thing to say about a worship album, but it's true. Tomlin has been open about sharing that so many of the lyrics come right from the book of Psalms in Scripture. He says, "As worship leaders, I think we should use as much of God's word as possible. So much of this album is singing God's Word back to Him." Over the past several years, worship music has rightly expanded to encompass the full range of topics we can sing to God about in worship and prayer, just as we see in the Psalms. However, in my view, songs written and sung directly to God about His character have become somewhat unbalanced.
It was refreshing to hear song after song on The King Is Still The King exalt God for His attributes, creating space for the listener to truly reflect on who God is, what that means for our lives, and to worship Him in response. In one way or another, each song emphasizes God's character as savior, king, Lord, the one who does good things for His people, and so on. I found Bible passages (like Ephesians 1:19-23 or Colossians 1:15-20) about the authority, sovereignty, power, and majesty of Jesus coming to mind often as I listened to this album.
Best Song The King Is Still The King is an album that once again makes it difficult for me to choose just one favorite song. So, I'll give you two.
As a worship leader, "Doesn't He" was the song that immediately stood out to me as one I can't wait to incorporate into my worship song rotation and introduce to my community. It's about how God is the only one worthy of our worship and He deserves our praise in every moment and every season. The chorus is so singable that you will catch it and sing it back to God right away. I can see this one becoming a congregational anthem for the church.
"Help My Unbelief" is inspired by the biblical story in Mark 9:14-29, which recounts a father's interaction with Jesus as he sought help to heal his son from an evil spirit. The lyric is a prayer that brings our questions and needs to God, trusting that He can help and that anything is possible for Him. At the same time, though, it confesses the places in our hearts that struggle to believe and asks Him to give us faith. Part of walking with God is learning to worship and cry out to Him in moments of weakness and doubt, mixed with faith, and "Help My Unbelief" captures that reality so well.
Final Word The King Is Still The King is one of Chris Tomlin's best collections of songs--godward, scripture-rich, passionate, and singable. This project will surely ignite renewed love for God, fresh enthusiasm in worship, and create many staple songs for both personal and congregational worship.
Buy the album on Apple Music or stream it on Spotify.
Praise and Worship from Chris Tomlin| Posted October 01, 2025
Chris Tomlin returns with The King is Still the King, his eighteenth studio album, and first since 2022’s Always, which featured the song “Holy Forever”. The new album features sixteen new recordings, including four emoji-titled interludes.
I’ve long enjoyed and been blessed by Tomlin’s music. This new praise and worship album is an excellent addition to his catalog and will surely be on my top albums for 2025.
Here are a few comments about, and a key lyric from, each song: How Good It Is - The album's lead single was written by Tomlin, Jess Cates and Jordan Mohilowski, and produced by Tomlin, Mohilowski and Jonathan Smith. It is an upbeat joyful anthem inspired by Psalms 92, 98, 100, and 113. It sounds like a classic Tomlin song.
Key lyric: Oh, how good that it is to sing praise to the Lord
Oh, how great is the name above all names
From the rising of the morning sun to the setting of the same
Oh, how good that it is to sing praise
How good it is Doesn’t He – This uplifting song was written by Tomlin, Patrick Mayberry and Jess Cates, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. The song is about how Jesus is the only one worthy of our worship and praise. The song features a choir.
Key lyric: Praise Him with a hallelujah
Praise Him with a thousand tongues
Praise Him in the light of morning
Praise Him when the night is long
Doesn't He? Doesn't He?
Doesn't He deserve it all? Still the King – This worship song was written by Colton Price, Jess Cates and Kaelob Mecum, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. Jesus is worthy of all our worship and the praises we bring.
Key lyric: For the blood is still the blood
And the King is still the King Rivers of Joy – This upbeat and joyful song was written by Tomlin, Jason Ingram and Pat Barrett, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. For the thirsty heart, and the soul that's dry, Jesus is the rain in the desert, the fountain of life.
Key lyric: I got rivеrs of joy down in my soul
Like nothing I've ever known
I got rivers of joy deep in my bones
Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow He Has Done Great Things – This reimagined Bethel Music song was written by Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jonas Myrin, Phil Wickham and Brian Johnson, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. The beautiful song which references Psalm 103:12, features Phil Wickham and Tomlin singing accompanied by acoustic guitar and strings, and later joined by a choir.
Key lyric: As high as the heavens above
Great is His everlasting love
Rivers of mercy
Run over us, run over us
As far as the East from the West
He has removed all our sin
We are forgiven
By His blood Jesus Saves – This upbeat gospel music song was written by Tomlin, Chris Davenport, Jason Ingram, Phil Wickham and Ben Fielding, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. The song features a choir and hand claps. Anyone can be set free by confessing and believing in Jesus.
Key lyric: Jesus saves, Jesus saves
His mercy came running
When I called His name
Help My Unbelief – This song based on Mark 9:24, was written by Tomlin, Ben Johnson and KK Johnson, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. The song features a choir and hand claps.
Key lyric: When my eyes can't see, God
Light my way, give me the faith to say, "I believe" You Are My King (Amazing Love) – This acoustic guitar driven song was written by Billy Foote, and has previously been recorded by the Newsboys. The chorus uses lyrics and melody from Charles Wesley's hymn, "And Can It Be". The song was produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith, and features backing vocals.
Key lyric: Amazing love
How can it be
That You my King would
Die for me
Amazing love
I know it's true
It's my joy to honor You
In all I do I honor You That’s Who He Is – This upbeat and joyful song was written by Tomlin, Jonathan Smith and Jeff Pardo, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. The is a worship song to the Father and Son.
Key lyric: The only One True God
That's who He is The First Hymn – This worship song was written by Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding based on the earliest known copy of a Christian Greek hymn dating back to the 3rd Century. The papyrus manuscript was discovered in 1918. The song features Fielding, and was produced by Jonathan Smith.
Key lyric: All powers cry out in answer All glory and praise forever To our god The Father, Son and Holy Spirit Amen, we sing, amen Coming Soon – This song about the return of Jesus was written by Tomlin, Chris Davenport and Nick Herbert, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. The song builds powerfully toward the conclusion.
Key lyric: We don't know when, but we believe it's true
He is coming soon This is My Father’s World – This song is based on the 1901 hymn written by Maltbie D. Babcock, and produced by Tomlin and Jonathan Smith. The song features Aodhan King, Jamie MacDonald and CalledOut Music and includes a new chorus.
Key lyric: This is my Father's world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres
I thoroughly enjoyed this album. My favorite songs would be:
How Good It Is
Doesn’t He
He Has Done Great Things
Jesus Saves
The First Hymn
Coming Soon
to add lyrics if not listed.
