One of the best things about Skillet is the band's versatility. We've seen how they can rock your face off with a song like "Feel Invincible" or "Awake and Alive" and then turn around and make you cry with their more introspective songs like "The Last Night" and "Never Surrender." 

Skillet has found so many fans out in the general market because they introduce themes and songs that apply universally, regardless of one's faith background. These are the struggles of life, of questions and frustrations that demand a response.

Although there's plenty of poetry, nuance and metaphor used in their songwriting, Skillet's discography is one rife with overt messages that the real answer, their hope and confidence comes from Jesus Christ. 

The band has ebbed and flowed in their overtness over the years, but with the release of Unleashed, we see a continuation of a career that has lifted Jesus high. Here's a quick crash course on some of their best faith-forward songs.

1. "You Are My Hope"

This song from 2001's Alien Youth digs way back into the discography, but it's one that stands the test of time. The song talks about how "times are hard," and yet God is "the hope of all the earth." The song was particularly poignant in the days surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, when Christian radio stations (and even some non-Christian stations) played the song, overdubbed with some stirring words from the Rev. Billy Graham and President George W. Bush.

The chorus is powerfully simple and worshipful: "You are my hope  / You are my strength  / You're everything / Everything I need / You are my hope / You are my life / You are my hope."
 
2. "Stars"

"You spoke a word and life began / Told oceans where to start and where to end," begins this worshipful song of trust from Skillet's newest offering, Unleashed. The mid-tempo vertically oriented, musical prayer expresses faith in God's ability to take care of us, because He takes care of the entire universe: "If you can hold the stars in place, you can hold my heart the same ... If you can calm the raging sea, you can calm the storm in me." 
 
3. "Rest" 

From the same general era of Skillet as Alien Youth, its Year 2000 predecessor, Invincible, brought another contemporary Psalm-like ballad with "Rest." Finding its place with both Psalms 23 and 91, the main chorus proclaims, "And I rest in the shelter of your love / And I rest in the wonder of your grace ... And I rest in the wonder of you." The easily identifiable track has instrumentation that combined electronic elements and grooving guitars--long before it was cool.
 
4. "My Religion" 

Musically speaking, "My Religion" was the most out of place track on 2013's Rise, offering "a Southern drag of rockabilly," as NRT Founder Kevin McNeese said way back in his official review of the album. Lyrically speaking, it is a pretty overt declaration of where Skillet stands in their faith. (For that album, "Salvation" is a pretty good one, too, in this regard.)

They take more than four minutes to talk about their theology that Jesus is beyond traditions, intermediaries and opinions: "I don't need to stare at stained glass and a steeple / I don't need to dress to impress all other people / Don't need no priest, don't need no pew / You are my religion, my religion is you ... I don't need no other purpose, you give me a reason / Ain't their business what I wanna believe in / You are my priest, you are my truth / You are my religion, my religion is you."
 
5. "Forgiven"

There aren't a lot of confessional songs in the Church, and so it's especially powerful to hear this song to God, repenting of being "unfaithful" and having "loved another." This ballad from Awake sings a powerful truth that we've already been forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus, and that our confession and repentance draws us close to Him again. 
 
BONUS! Ardent Worship

Newer fans of Skillet probably aren't aware that back in 2000, they released a live worship record called Arden Worship: Skillet. On that project, John and Korey Cooper can be heard singing a number of worship songs that were all the rage back at the turn of the millennium, including "Shout to the Lord," "How Deep the Father's Love For Us," "Jesus, Jesus (Holy and Anointed One)" and others. My personal favorite is "Your Name is Holy." Check it out and enjoy!
 
What are your favorite faith-forward Skillet songs?