OPC Praise 40 of 2016

American CCM artist Chris Tomlin takes the #1 spot on this blog's Praise 40 of 2016. After five weeks atop our weekly Praise Parade, the most by any artist this year, he was able to best other fave tracks such as "One Step Away" by the Casting Crowns and "Only You" by Hawk Nelson. What's really striking for me about this song is how it brings to attention how hurt God the Father must have felt when His Son was on the cross, he had to look away. As another year is under way, may we be reminded that of the sacrifice of the "God of Calvary." By His wounds, we are set free; By His blood, we have been redeemed! Praise Him!

OPC Praise 40 of 2016

1. Chris Tomlin, "God of Calvary"
   FIVE WEEKS AT #1 • LYRIC VIDEO
2. Casting Crowns, "One Step Away"
   FOUR WEEKS AT #1 • LIVE VIDEO
3. Hawk Nelson, "Only You"
   ONE WEEK AT #1 • PSEUDO VIDEO
4. Jordan Feliz, "Never Too Far Gone"
   FOUR WEEKS AT #1 • MUSIC VIDEO
5. Big Daddy Weave, "The Lion and the Lamb" LYRIC VIDEO
6. MercyMe, "Dear Younger Me"
   THREE WEEKS AT #1 • LYRIC VIDEO
7. Kerrie Roberts, "Upside Down"
   ONE WEEK AT #1 • AHG VIDEO
8. David Dunn, "I Wanna Go Back" MUSIC VIDEO
9. 7eventh Time Down, "Lean On" MUSIC VIDEO
10. Britt Nicole, "Through Your Eyes"
    TWO WEEKS AT #1 • ACOUSTIC VIDEO
11. Stars Go Dim, "Walking Like Giants"
    ONE WEEK AT #1 • LYRIC VIDEO
12. Audio Adrenaline, "World Changers" PSEUDO VIDEO
13. Group 1 Crew feat. My Kid Brother, "Power" MUSIC VIDEO
14. Ryan Stevenson feat. GabeReal, "Eye of the Storm"
    ONE WEEK AT #1 • ACOUSTIC VIDEO
15. Kutless, "Bring It On"
    ONE WEEK AT #1 • MUSIC VIDEO
16. Skillet, "Stars" MUSIC VIDEO
17. Bethel Music & Leeland Mooring, "Lion and the Lamb"
    FOUR WEEKS AT #1 • LIVE VIDEO
18. TobyMac, "Move (Keep Walkin')"
    TWO WEEKS AT #1 • LIVE VIDEO
19. Zach Williams, "Chain Breaker" MUSIC VIDEO
20. Chris Tomlin feat. Danny Gokey, "Impossible Things"
    THREE WEEKS AT #1 • LYRIC VIDEO
21. Every Nation Music feat. Bryson Breakey, "Author of My Life" MUSIC VIDEO
22. Sidewalk Prophets, "Impossible"
    ONE WEEK AT #1 • MUSIC VIDEO
23. Matthew West, "Unto Us" ACOUSTIC VIDEO
24. Newsboys, "You Hold It All (Every Mountain)" LYRIC VIDEO
25. Citizen Way, "On My Side"
    TWO WEEKS AT #1 • AUDIO
26. Matthew West, "Untold" MUSIC VIDEO
27. Building 429, "Be with Us Now (Emmanuel)"
    ONE WEEK AT #1 • LYRIC VIDEO
28. Jason Gray, "Celebrate"
    ONE WEEK AT #1 • LYRIC VIDEO
29. The Afters, "Battles" LYRIC VIDEO
30. Jordan Smith, "Stand in the Light" MUSIC VIDEO
31. Meredith Andrews, "Soar" LIVE VIDEO
32. Rend Collective, "Joy of the Lord" LIVE VIDEO
33. Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, "Thy Will" MUSIC VIDEO
34. Tauren Wells, "Love Is Action" MUSIC VIDEO
35. Hawk Nelson, "Live Like You're Loved" LYRIC VIDEO
36. Francesca Batistelli, "Giants Fall" LIVE VIDEO
37. 7eventh Time Down, "God Is on the Move" MUSIC VIDEO
38. Matthew West, "Mended" LYRIC VIDEO
39. Phil Wickham, "Your Love Awakens Me" MUSIC VIDEO
40. Planetshakers, "Stronger Than a Thousand Seas" SPOTIFY

Notes:

• Four artists have multiple entries this year: 7eventh Time Down, Chris Tomlin and Hawk Nelson each have two, but Matthew West has three.
• Eighteen artists return from last year, including Danny Gokey who is featured in Chris Tomlin's "Impossible Things."
• Five artists have been present in every edition of the year-end charts since 2013: Big Daddy Weave, Building 429, Matthew West, MercyMe and Newsboys.