Christian Rock/Pop

Emerging out of the Jesus Music revolution of the late '60s, Christian rock embodies a dizzying diversity of styles, but finds common ground around a strong spiritual message and a desire to reach fans with a contemporary sound. These tunes are among the best-known pop music hymns of our time, starting with Texans MercyMe ("I Can Only Imagine") and Chris Tomlin ("How Great Is Our God"). Feel the power of Sonic Flood and their spiritual rock brethren, in Next Steps.

Thanks to the success of Amy Grant and other Christian artists in the early '80s, Christian music has become increasingly familiar to mainstream audiences. Discover more of the glories of Christian rock and pop by delving into these next tracks. "I Want to Know You" appeared on Sonic Flood's 1999 self-titled debut, a Dove Award winner in the Praise and Worship Album category. Inuit folk rhythms carry the Lord's message, in Deep Cuts.

It's been quite a ride for Christian rock and pop since the guitar strummers of its early coffeehouse days. Today, everything from reggae to speed metal can carry Bible-based messages. These cuts provide evidence of just how varied today's Christian music makers truly are: Susan Aglukark — raised in the Northwest Territories — combines Inuit folk music traditions with a mainstream pop sensibility for tracks like "One Turn Deserves Another."

Sample the full power and glory of Christian music with these key rock and pop cuts, each one energised by faith and delivered with finesse. The days when we found our spiritual groove by tapping on a tambourine through several enthusiastic verses of "Kumbaya" are long gone — there are simply thousands of great tunes to lift us higher these days, from the easy-rockin' ecstasy of Tree 63 ("Blessed Be Your Name") to the trance-y, synth-pulsed euphoria of Newsboys ("Something Beautiful") and the alt-metal soul-stirring of Flyleaf ("All Around Me").