If there’s one tool worship leaders use more than any other, it’s songs. Songs are our currency. We listen to songs, rehearse songs, lead songs, study songs, write songs and oftentimes have entire conversations using song lyrics. Songs are what we do. I’m not here to bash worship songs. I’m not here to say worship isn’t about songs or a set list. Actually, it is. Of course, worship isn’t only songs. That’s like saying water alone keeps us alive. Actually, we need more than that. We need breath. We need food. The definition of worship isn’t songs, per se, but it’s a massive part of worship, particularly corporate worship.
No other art form unifies like singing. No other art form engages the whole person—intellect, emotions and physicality. Singing helps us feel the truth. As John Piper has said, the glories of God are not just meant to be studied and debated. They are meant to be felt and sung.
The problem with worship songs is that we end up just picking them. We scan the CCLI top 10 and string together a bunch of hits. Little thought goes into what my friend Zack Hicks calls the “theological diet” of our people. Little thought goes into answering the questions:
- What is God doing?
- What do we need to be singing?
- What are our people going through?
- What facet of God’s character do we need to emphasize?
Because that’s just it. Set lists created for concerts are meant to entertain. Songs picked for worship are meant to pastor.
RELATED: WORSHIP PLANNING
There was a time when I picked songs based on how they made me sound. Or I would choose a certain song because it would look impressive to others.
There were times I’d be more concerned with a congregation that was “into it” than us declaring what is true.
The Eight-Week Set List Challenge
So I’m presenting an eight-week challenge. Get ahead on your weekend set lists by eight weeks. And don’t just pick songs haphazardly. Prayerfully determine what your people need to be singing.
- Joy in the midst of suffering?
- Lament in the face of loss or pain?
- The centrality of the cross?
- The beauty of God?
- The work of the Spirit?
- Simple “call to worship” declarations?
