Start Adding Songs

How do you know what songs you should choose for a worship service? How do you decide what to sing? In this video we’re going to simplify the song selection process and give you a framework for picking worship songs each week.

Welcome to part 6 of an 11 part series called How To Plan A Worship Service from Start to Finish.

Let’s jump in!

If you missed any of the other videos, I encourage you to go to fwbworship.com where you can watch all 11 videos for free!

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The sixth step to take when planning a worship service is: Start Adding Songs

Now that you’ve done all the prep work, it’s time to start adding songs to your set list.

But how do you know where to start? What songs should you sing?

Just whatever feels good in the moment? Or is there a framework you can use from week to week?

My approach to adding songs to a service is systematic but it’s also based on where I feel like the Holy Spirit is leading.

I don’t think you can have a perfect system in place for choosing songs because planning worship is not just something to check off the list.

It’s a very spiritual process – and it should be.

That’s why I encouraged you in the first video of this series to spend time in prayer before planning, so that you can hear from the Lord what He wants to do.

So if you haven’t prayed about it, start there.

Then use the information you gained in the previous steps of this series to guide you to what songs would be best for the service you are planning.

I typically choose one key element of the service and then build the set list around that element.

For instance, you might have a choir and they are going to sing a new song about the Joy of the Lord.

You can use the choir special as the cornerstone for the rest of the music.

Start choosing songs that you know or that your church has done that compliment the theme of Joy.

Maybe there are baptisms happening and you want to lead your church around the theme of freedom in Christ.

Most of the time, the key element that I build from is a song that I know the congregation knows or will be able to fully participate in.

A few examples of key songs that we use on a regular basis are:

In Christ Alone
Living Hope
Death Was Arrested
King of Kings
What A Beautiful Name
Because He Lives
Great I Am
Forever
We Believe
How Great Is Our God
and others.

These songs are go-to favorites that our church knows well, are musically dynamic and gospel centered.

Using one of these as the key element of the service gives me direction for the rest of the music.

A word of caution: This approach does not mean that a theme should be the main filter in which you choose songs.

When I first started out in worship ministry I felt like every song should be consistent with the theme of the day.

I would work hard to find songs that “fit” so much so that it became more important that the songs fit thematically – than if the song was the best song for congregation at the time.

While it’s not bad to have four songs about the grace of God – for instance, I now believe the theme-first approach has a few flaws.

1. First of all – it limits your options when it comes to what songs you can sing.

There are hundreds of great songs that don’t focus on one specific theme – but are based on a broader gospel centered view.

2. Second, it can cause you to force a song to fit – just so it stays consistent with the theme.
3. Third, you might choose a song that is theologically weak. Making sure each song is Biblically accurate should be a priority when choosing music.
4. And fourth, you might choose a song that just isn’t what your congregation needs.

Looking back, I remember many times leading a mediocre song that I hated and while I was leading it I was thinking – why are we singing this?

Often the song just was not right for our church. But I led the song because I thought it fit with the theme.

So you may be thinking – you first said to choose a key element and then build the set around it – but now you’re saying you shouldn’t use a theme?

Let me be clear.

It is okay to use a theme to build a worship service. I have done it hundreds of times and still do it.

But the theme is no longer THE priority when I plan worship. It’s just a factor I consider.

The gospel is the priority for me now.

Let’s say you have 20 minutes for the music portion of your service.

20 minutes is about 4 songs.

If you choose 4 songs that tell the story of the gospel, either in part or in full, you will have the elements for a great worship service.

The gospel is why we sing. The gospel is why we worship.

Never apologize for leading songs that remind people of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection – and how those events enable us to experience a relationship with almighty God.

The gospel never gets old, it never gets stale, and we will never fully understand all that God has done for us through His Son.

That’s why it’s vital for you as a worship leader to lead songs that remind your church of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That should be your filter when choosing songs.

Do you remember that list of key songs that I mentioned we often sing at our church? Each one of them focuses on the gospel or an aspect of the gospel and how it affects us today.

I realize this video has been more philosophical than practical, so let me give you some practical tips you can use when adding songs to your worship set.

1. Choose songs that are familiar to your congregation both in style and content. Don’t alienate them with 5 new songs in a style they aren’t used to.
2. Don’t use the same songs all the time. Keep the order fresh by slowly incorporating new music. Use a tool that will help you keep a record of how often you sing each song.
3. Only introduce one new song a month. Leading too many songs that are unfamiliar to your church will cause them to watch instead of participate.
4. Use at least one song each week that tells part or all of the narrative of the gospel story. Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, redemption, heaven etc.
5. Choose songs that move you. There are plenty of good songs that stir people toward a better relationship with Jesus. Why would settle for songs that are boring? We are to worship in Spirit – our emotions and in truth! If a song is boring to you – it will likely be boring to the audience.
6. Understand key relationship – I’ll explain this in detail in the next video, so be sure to watch part 7 of this series.
7. And finally, have a clear reason for why you choose each song. Don’t just haphazardly pick 3 songs out of the hymnal. Be intentional with your song selection.

When I was preparing for this portion of the video series, I was tempted to give you a formula to follow when planning worship.

There’s nothing wrong with using a formula but what works for one church, might not work for another church. And as I said at the beginning, planning worship is more Spiritual than that.

Ultimately, the best way to choose songs to sing for worship, is to listen the Holy Spirit and let Him guide you as you plan.

Thanks for watching part 6 of this 11 part series: How To Plan A Worship Service From Start To Finish. I hope you’ll watch the rest of the videos and let us know what you think in the comments.

If you want to go deeper on this topic, we’ve put some additional links in the description below.

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