You’ve heard it. Honestly, if you’ve stepped foot in a church in the last fifteen years, you haven’t just heard it—you’ve probably shouted it at the top of your lungs. We are talking about a song that basically redefined modern liturgy. When people search for our god chris tomlin lyrics, they aren't just looking for words to put on a PowerPoint slide. They’re looking for the story behind a global anthem. It’s a song that somehow feels both massive and incredibly intimate at the exact same time.
Chris Tomlin didn't just sit down and decide to write a "hit." That’s not how these things work in the CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) world. This track, released on the 2010 album And If Our God Is For Us..., was a collaborative effort involving Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, and Jonas Myrin. It was a perfect storm of songwriting talent.
The Theology Behind Our God Chris Tomlin Lyrics
It’s pretty simple, really. The song starts with a list of miracles. "Water you turned into wine, opened the eyes of the blind." It’s a direct nod to the Gospel of John. But then it shifts. It moves from what God did to who God is. That’s the hook. That’s why it sticks.
"Our God is greater, our God is stronger."
These aren't complex metaphors. They’re declarations. In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, there’s something deeply grounding about singing a superlative. It’s not just that God is great; it’s that He is greater than whatever specific mess the listener is dealing with that morning.
I remember talking to a worship leader who mentioned that the bridge—"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us"—is essentially a paraphrase of Romans 8:31. It’s a brilliant bit of songwriting because it takes a dense theological concept and turns it into a rhythmic, percussive chant. You don't need a divinity degree to get it. You just need a pulse.
Why the "Into the Darkness" Line Matters So Much
Most people gloss over the verse: "Into the darkness you shine, out of the ashes we rise."
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Think about that for a second. It acknowledges the "ashes." It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The lyrics recognize that people are coming into a service from places of grief, failure, or exhaustion. It’s the "out of the ashes" part that provides the emotional payoff. It’s a movement from death to life.
Chris Tomlin has often said in interviews that his goal is to give people "songs to sing back to God." He’s not trying to be a poet laureate. He’s trying to be a facilitator. If the lyrics are too clever, people stop to think about the cleverness instead of worshiping. By keeping the language accessible, the our god chris tomlin lyrics allow the singer to disappear into the melody.
The Production Secret of the Passion Movement
You can’t talk about these lyrics without talking about the Passion Conferences. This song was the centerpiece of Passion: Awakening.
Louie Giglio, the founder of Passion, has a specific vision for these songs. They have to work for 40,000 college students in a stadium. This influenced the structure of "Our God" significantly. The repetition isn't an accident. It’s designed for a massive crowd to catch onto the melody by the second chorus.
- The tempo is roughly 105 BPM.
- It’s a mid-tempo drive.
- The kick drum mimics a heartbeat.
When you see the lyrics written out, they look short. Sparse, even. But when you add that U2-esque guitar delay and the swell of a thousand voices, the simplicity becomes a strength.
Common Misconceptions About the Songwriting Process
People think Chris Tomlin writes every word alone in a room with a Bible.
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Actually, "Our God" was a "Frankenstein" song in the best possible way. Matt Redman brought some ideas. Jonas Myrin brought that iconic "Our God is greater" melody. They were in a village in England, just trying to find a way to express the power of God.
It wasn't a corporate board meeting. It was a group of friends trying to find words for the "indescribable."
How to Use These Lyrics in Your Own Worship Sets
If you're a worship leader looking for the our god chris tomlin lyrics to use this Sunday, don't just copy-paste them. Understand the dynamics.
- Start small. The original recording starts with a palm-muted guitar and a light synth pad. Don't blow the roof off in the first five seconds.
- Build the bridge. The "If our God is for us" section is designed to be a build. Start it as a whisper. Let the congregation feel the tension.
- The "And If" Transition. The transition from the bridge back into the chorus is the "money" moment. It’s where the drums should be most aggressive.
A lot of churches make the mistake of playing it too fast. If you rush it, the weight of the words gets lost. "Greater" needs room to breathe. "Stronger" needs a heavy downbeat.
The Global Impact of a Simple Hook
"Our God" has been translated into dozens of languages. From Spanish ("Cuan Grande es Dios" is a different song, but "Nuestro Dios" covers this one) to Mandarin.
Why? Because the concepts are universal. Everyone understands the idea of a "higher" power being "higher than any other." It’s foundational.
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According to CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International), this song remained in the top 5 most-sung songs in churches for years. It’s a "pillar" song. Even now, years after its release, it’s a go-to for Easter, for youth rallies, and for funerals. It covers the whole spectrum of human experience because it focuses on a God who exists outside that spectrum.
The Contrast with Modern Worship Trends
If you look at lyrics from 2024 or 2025, songs are getting longer and more narrative-heavy. Groups like Maverick City or Upperroom often lean into spontaneous, "flowy" lyrics.
Tomlin’s "Our God" is the opposite. It’s tight. It’s disciplined. Every word has a job to do. There is no fluff. This is why it remains a staple even as styles change. It’s a "macro" song in a world of "micro" expressions.
Actionable Steps for Deepening Your Connection to the Song
To truly appreciate the our god chris tomlin lyrics, move beyond just reading them on a screen.
- Read Psalm 145 and Romans 8 alongside the lyrics. You’ll see exactly where the inspiration comes from, which makes the singing feel more like an act of Scripture meditation.
- Listen to the "Acoustic" version. Tomlin released a stripped-back version on his Adore or Essential collections. Hearing it without the stadium production helps you realize just how sturdy the melody is.
- Study the "God is Healer" line. In the bridge, there is a subtle mention of God as a healer. If you are going through a physical or emotional trial, focus your prayer specifically on that phrase during the song.
- Check the Key. If you're singing this in a small group, the original key of G or A might be too high for most people. Drop it to E or F. The lyrics land better when people aren't straining to hit the high notes.
The longevity of this song isn't due to a marketing budget. It’s because the lyrics tap into a fundamental human need to believe that something bigger than us is actually for us. When you sing "God you are higher than any other," you're not just stating a fact; you're realigning your perspective.
By focusing on the "Greater" and "Stronger" attributes, listeners are forced to shrink their problems in comparison to the subject of the song. That is the ultimate goal of any worship lyric: to change the size of the giant in the listener's mind.