Often our repertoire for singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is nothing short of limited. We sing on Sunday morning, maybe Sunday night and the for the ‘faithful’ we’ll sing on Wednesday night. But if you were to really push yourself, how many songs (from the hymnal) do you know? Song leaders, honestly, how many options do you have at the ready when Sunday morning comes? If you were to list out 5 or 6 “Communion” songs…which ones would you write down? Right now, as you read this, can you list out 8 or 9 songs that would be good to lead before a prayer?
We have our favorite hymns, but do we know which ones should be placed where in our ‘order of worship?’ What would top your list? Would you include; “How Deep the Father’s Love,” “Ivory Palaces” and “It Is Well with My Soul?” Certainly you would have some of the all-time favorites such as; “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace” and 728b, “Our God, He is Alive.”
Let’s try this short exercise to see how you would pull together an order of worship for Sunday morning…which of the following would be good for opening worship:
“Be Still and Know,” “Faithful Love” or “O Worship the King” (Why do you choose that song?)
How about the song before the Lord’s Supper:
“How Deep the Father’s Love,” “Bind Us Together” or “Break Thou the Bread of Life” (AGAIN…WHY?)
What about the song before the lesson, a sermon entitled “Heaven is My Home,” would you lead before the lesson;
“My Jesus, I Love Thee,” “Sing to Me of Heaven” or “This Is My Father’s World” (CONSIDER THE QUESTION…WHY DO YOU PICK THE SONG YOU PICK?)
So many options are available, but perhaps with this exercise you can see that just because you like a song or you think it’s a good one, you need to ask why you’re picking each specific song. Realize you have the responsibility to ‘set the mood’ for the moment of worship, then your song selection becomes more focused. And keep in mind, if your repertoire of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is limited you won’t be able to grow in your worship and leadership as you lead the congregation in singing.
Let me encourage you to wear out your hymnal. Spend long hours reading the words and come to a better understanding of what you’re singing. Then you’ll see what Paul was talking about when he wrote I Corinthians 14:15, “I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with understanding (the mind).”
2 Replies to “Which Song Should We Sing…”
I chart the songs I lead in a spreadsheet. This is a practice I have been following for about 10 years now. This helps me see which songs I lead too often as well as which songs I neglect. I now have gotten to the point that I try not to lead a given song more than once every quarter.
As far as picking out songs, I couldn’t agree more. Song leaders should consider themselves to be worship leaders in that they are leading worship through songs. Setting the mood is critical to a good worship service that creates a flow throughout the assembly as well as into the sermon. But, most importantly, I believe it is a critical component in creating an atmosphere of praise to our God.
Thanks Mike…keeping a record/log of songs is so important to provide a fresh approach to our singing. The important thing for congregations with multiple song leaders to communicate their song selections with each other. And knowing you, I’m not surprised the selection and placement of songs is important. You do a great job! Hopefully more men are taking the approach you are taking and focusing on the responsibility of leading worship.
for the ‘faithful’ we’ll sing on Wednesday night. But if you were to really push yourself, how many songs (from the hymnal) do you know? Song leaders, honestly, how many options do you have at the ready when Sunday morning comes? If you were to list out 5 or 6 “Communion” songs…which ones would you write down? Right now, as you read this, can you list out 8 or 9 songs that would be good to lead before a prayer?
you lead before the lesson;
I chart the songs I lead in a spreadsheet. This is a practice I have been following for about 10 years now. This helps me see which songs I lead too often as well as which songs I neglect. I now have gotten to the point that I try not to lead a given song more than once every quarter.
As far as picking out songs, I couldn’t agree more. Song leaders should consider themselves to be worship leaders in that they are leading worship through songs. Setting the mood is critical to a good worship service that creates a flow throughout the assembly as well as into the sermon. But, most importantly, I believe it is a critical component in creating an atmosphere of praise to our God.
Thanks Mike…keeping a record/log of songs is so important to provide a fresh approach to our singing. The important thing for congregations with multiple song leaders to communicate their song selections with each other. And knowing you, I’m not surprised the selection and placement of songs is important. You do a great job! Hopefully more men are taking the approach you are taking and focusing on the responsibility of leading worship.