These 120 Songs Just Took a Big Step in the Christian Music World

Ever wonder what the next big anthem for your Sunday drive or quiet reflection might be? Well, a whole lot of aspiring artists just got a significant nod. InspireMore has officially announced the semi-finalists for its 2025 Christian Song Contest, narrowing down a sea of submissions to a select 120 tracks.

Think of it as the musical equivalent of making it to the regional finals, where every song is trying to hit that perfect balance of spiritual depth and earworm potential. Soon, we'll get the top 25, then the category winners, and finally, the grand champion. Because, as with any good contest, there can only be one.

For now, let's take a moment for the semi-finalists — a diverse group of tunes and artists who clearly struck a chord with the judges. It's a list that ranges from the poetically titled "Oaks of Mamre" to the strikingly direct "Amen" and the intriguing "Found God in Tennessee." Somewhere in this mix, there's likely a song destined for heavy rotation in cars and churches everywhere.

Here’s a look at the full list of semi-finalists, because sometimes, you just need to see all the names to appreciate the sheer volume of talent vying for that top spot:

• "A Heart Like David" By Michael Reinoehl
• "A Mighty Thanks" By Robert Grove (Josh Grove)
• "A Million Praises" By Gannin Arnold and Lily Arnold
• "A Prayer for the Broken" By Joe Bommersbach (Blind Joe)
• "All Belong Here" By Lenora Rand (THE MANY) and Hannah Rand
• "Amen" By Jaehoon Jin (Jae Jin)
• "Oaks of Mamre" By Andrew Bryan Fernandes
• "Arms Open Wide" By Sven Tydeman (Artisan Faith)
• "At Your Feet" By Jessie Villa (Consider The Lilies)
• "Beautifully Broken" By George Koehl and Rachel Connolly
• "Between My Last Amen" By Chris Nelson
• "Between Skies" By Josh Burke
• "Blessed Exchange (Amazing Grace)" By George Koehl and Justin Kintzel
• "Blessing In Disguise" By Angela Morano
• "Bones" By Emmaline Pennell (PENNELL), Gabriel Wilson, and Miles Pennell
• "Child of God" By Daniel Alcorn (Danny Alcorn)
• "Come Back to Me" By Meredith Joy Keller and Joshua Cockerham
• "Covenant Love" By Valarie Shakespeare
• "Crucified With Christ" By Madison Earl
• "Dig Down Deep" By Michael Young, Brooke George, Jennifer Bryant, and Marina Crouse
• "Every Breath A Hallelujah" By Kimerly Lemler (Kimberly Elle Brown)
• "Every Christmas" By Murray Decock
• "Every Word I Say" By Krystal Adcock
• "Faith Like This" By Zane Walls
• "Final Say" By Ollie Riddick Jr.
• "Found God in Tennessee" By Corben Champoux (Corben), Chris Molitor, and Shane Thompson
• "From The Ground Up" By Ashley Smith, AJ Pruis, and Paul Duncan
• "God Came" By Charles Brion Gates
• "God Gave Her Boys" By James Lake
• "God Stepped In" By Peter Dombrowski
• "God Uses Scars" By Robert Grove (Josh Grove)
• "God’s Hands" By Yvonne Pambakian (James Bakian)
• "Halfway to Hallelujah" By Derek VanBoxel
• "He Loves You" By Ethan Koch (Psalms of David)
• "He Showed Me Him" By Chris Nelson
• "He Spoke To Me" By Steven Hickman (B. Hickman)
• "He That Dwells" By Shannon Lowe (Min. Shannon T. Lowe)
• "Hey Maker" By Eric Burgett
• "His Grace" By Kathleen Fuentes (Katie Fuentes)
• "His Way" By Alexandra Ulmer (Alexa Michele), Josh David, and Sarah Sorenson
• "Holy Place" By Faith Child
• "Homesick" By Isaiah Carrell (Isaiah William), and Gable Price
• "I Believe" By Josh Myles
• "I Do" By Matthew Soileau (Nash Revival), and Brandon Chase
• "I Know (I Don’t Know)" By Isaiah Carrell (Isaiah William), and Gable Price
• "In My Bed" By Heath Jackson
• "I Speak to God" By Attila Janos Kun
• "I Stay" By Samantha Blount (Chanel Miel)
• "I’ll Take Yours" By Jeffrey Joslin
• "I’m Falling In Love" By Jason Koch
• "I’m Free" By Madison Metcalf (Madison Metcalf Shelton)
• "In the Middle of It All" By George Furlott
• "In The Stillness" By Stephen George Williams
• "Jericho" By Zane Walls
• "I’ve Been There" By Jerrin Howard
• "Jersey 12" By Timothy Downey
• "Jesus" By Vihan Damaris and Seth Mosley
• "Jesus Is King" By Edward Leija (E Set Free)
• "John 11:35" By Austin Webb
• "John’s Lament" By Brian Lau and Morgan Coblentz
• "Joy Is Mine" By Cassandra Igo (Cassi Igo), AJ Pruis, and Paul Duncan
• "Just The Beginning" By James Morgan (Jimmy Mor)
• "King Of Glory" By Sam Tejada (Sons of Thunder) and Israel Tejada
• "Lavish" By Trey Hill (Revive Worship) and Kimber Terry
• "Let The Sun Shine Bright" By Norm Mcdonald, Liz Tay, and Joseph Wandass IV
• "Lilies (Song of Songs) By Lara Overy (daughter) and Madison Overy
• "Living for a Reason" By Mackenna Strohmeier (Mackenna Swann), Les Downs, Dan Knittel, and Cole Nesson
• "Love The Child In Me" By Darren Piper (Optikz)
• "Loved By The Great I Am" By Chris McQuistion, Kevin Winebarger, and Jonathan Jackson
• "Loved By You" By Marisel Rodriguez
• "Luke" By Joel Broughton (Tahan Music Co.)
• "Making Us One" By John Ball Shades, John-Mark Dorough, Jeremy Moore, and Joseph Wolnski
• "Mama I Made It" By Dwight Holmes (Just Juun)
• "Mary Ann" By Christopher Scalco
• "Mercy" By Aaron McClain
• "Narrow Road" By Donald Parker (A.G.T.G.)
• "Nebula Sound (Psalm 93)" By Brittany Bryant and Jake Wolfe
• "Neighbor" By Alex O’Briend (Meeting of the Mimes)
• "No Greater Love" By Matthew Soileau (Nash Revival) and Brandon Chase
• "O’s" By Esli Martinez (Lound)
• "On The Water" By Daniel Poyerd
• "One True Savior" By Robert Grove (Josh Grove)
• "Pieces in Your Peace" By Shaylee O’Neill (Shaylee Simeone) Savannah Locke, and Jillian Edwards
• "Praise Him" By Gerard Morin (Jerry Morin)
• "Prodigal" By Jared Buabeng (Jakob)
• "Psalm 13" By Robert Grove (Josh Grove)
• "Ransomed Heart" By Marc Hoover
• "Rest In Peace" By Dave Keyes and Mark Sameth
• "Skydiving" By Daniel Alcorn (Danny Alcorn)
• "St. Anthony" By Mateo Rodriguez (MATEO)
• "Start Singing (Hallelujah)" By Katie Sutherland (Katie Rey), Maggie Youngs and Max Allard
• "Still Amazin’" By Darrell Cress (Uncle D-Rail)
• "Strong and Mighty Fortress" By Jacob Bond (Thief To King)
• "Sunshine On A Rainy Day" By Bryan Wooten (AustinThaNoble), Goran Novakovic, and Jessie Grisham
• "Sweeter" By Aaron McClain
• "Take Me To The Water" By Allen Aur (AL CASSO) and Hologram
• "Taste & See" By Joseph Spencer
• "The Cross" By Dan Brockelbank and Stewart Fenters
• "The Glory Road" By Michael Shugart
• "The Goat In The Wilderness" By Jerimy C. Stoll
• "The Hill" By Tolan Shaw and Warren Sellers
• "The Old White Bible" By Ronald Tucker
• "To The River" By James Stewart (Jas Stewart)
• "Together Alone" By Salvador Baca (Shelltown Paradise”
• "Two Sinners and a Savior" By Bobbi Matthews
• "Under That Oak Tree" By Jack Jensen Wibholm
• "Victory" By Danny Alcorn
• "Walk On" By Jonathan Tankersley (Church Friends)
• "Walking on Water" By Danny Alcorn
• "Waterwalker" By Christian Moore (Light The Way), Andrew Charles Carlin, Christian Tweed Moore, Evan Ramon Sides, and Christian Rolfe Appel
• "What A Waste (Judas’ Song)" By Michael Young, Brooke George, and Javier Batista
• "What Would Jesus Want For Christmas" By Stuart Skaroff (Gabriel Stuart)
• "Where I Find My Freedom" By Nick Saporito, AJ Pruis, and Paul Duncan
• "Where the Chicory Grows" By Rachel Matkin (Dirt Road Opera)
• "WWYD" By Isaiah Carrell (Isaiah William) and Gable Price
• "You Are Good (Even When)" By Brandon Jamison
• "You Are the Hero" By Joe Jacobs
• "You Came Back For Me" By Daniel Olsson (Oliver Dodge)
• "You Go Before Me" By Andrew Bryan Fernandes
• "You Hold My Days" By Daniela Barroso
• "Your Name" By Lissette Quintana (Five1Nyne)
• "Your Story’s Not Over Yet" By Jessica Cate (Layla Capri), Bailey Hager, and Chris Clayton
• "Yours" By Jessie Villa (Consider The Lillies)
• "Yours Forever" By Kara Lee (Hinge Point), Kassidy Laine, Kalli Clare, and Kandy Jane

It’s a lot of songs, for sure. But hey, more options for finding that perfect soundtrack to your spiritual journey. Good luck to all the semi-finalists; the next few weeks will tell us who's moving on to the big leagues.