In recent years, I have observed brave, worthwhile attempts at convincing the worshiping masses that “worship is not singing.” We, of course, have meant to say that there are far more ways to worship than simply singing. We have invested much effort in educating the church to see the many different ways to worship. I have whole-heartedly joined in the efforts at educating, and I have been thrilled to see the church at large growing in its theology of worship. However, I have chuckled at times because it has felt on occasion as if we’re leading worshipers to believe that “singing is not worship.” So let me shout this loud and clear:
Singing is a great way to worship the Lord!
That said, at our church, we attribute great value to singing and we want to enable people to worship and experience God in singing. We believe that the most seasoned believers and the most inexperienced seekers can have a rewarding spiritual experience by singing in worship services. I have been leading singers in worship for over 25 years. Throughout those years, I have found myself leading in living rooms with a handful of singers. At other times, I have led in large auditoriums and arenas, with crowds exceeding the population of the town I grew up in. Here are a few practices I’ve grown to utilize in order to encourage people to sing in times of worship.
Use Singable Songs
Because we value people singing in worship services, we are committed to choosing songs that are easy to sing. I risk sounding critical, but far too many of the songs showing up in our worship services cause worshipers to stand and watch, as opposed to stand and sing. I would never attempt to argue that worship cannot happen in the heart of one standing and watching a stage of singers. But I would argue that worship is much more likely to occur in the heart of one who is standing and singing. In order to facilitate “singing,” I am committed to utilizing “singable” songs.
It is near tragic to me that many of our song choices are overwhelming musically while underwhelming theologically. This is why songs like Townend & Getty’s “In Christ Alone” have been such a gift in recent years. “In Christ Alone” is easy to sing and also theologically rich and profound. Far too many of our other recent songs are difficult to sing and could have easily been sung to my high school sweetheart than to the Holy Trinity.
Likewise, when a song’s rhythms are complicated and unpredictably syncopated, I am convinced we start discouraging singing. When a song’s lyrics roll by at an overly rapid pace, I am convinced we start discouraging singing. When we have led out into such multiple discouragements of singing, we find ourselves void of trust from those we are attempting to lead. In this state of non-trust from those we intend to lead, we end up seeing folks standing and staring at us while we alone sing.
When we value people singing, we will be willing to trade impressive musical acrobatics for simple musical accessibility. If you want to enable people to sing, don’t pick songs that are just the latest CCM top 40 songs that are fun to listen to on the radio. I’m ever grateful for and celebrate the radio songs are that are artistically superior, thought provoking, and inspiring to listen to. I save those songs, however, for the moments in our services where we intend people to worship as they sit and listen.
Arrange Songs Mindful of the Novice Singer
In my sincere attempts at musical creativity and cultural relativity, I have been guilty on occasion of turning a well-crafted singable song into a horribly non-singable arrangement. Early in my worship leading years, I was often a hymn’s worst nightmare. I used to spend hours altering timeless familiar melodies into overly clever and unpredictable disasters. I’ve grown to appreciate brilliantly simple and accessible arrangements.
In order to encourage worshipers to sing, I arrange songs for the novice singer. What does this look like? As a general rule, it often looks like making sure that though the music accompaniment in an arrangement can grow to be wonderfully complex and intricate, the melody and phrasing has to remain straight ahead and predictable.
I am committed to putting songs in an accessible key and making sure that the phrasing of the lyric is easily followed. I personally believe that it is overly ambitious to ask the average novice singer to sing above a D. When a song’s melody is higher than a D, I am convinced we start discouraging singing. I’m not tossing out all the great songs that have melodies reaching above a D, but I am encouraging more songs keyed for congregation instead of being keyed for the accomplished worship artist in a concert setting.
When you want to make singing accessible in your services, simple is always best. I encourage worship leaders to phrase the song and key the song for the average novice singer, who would be mocked ruthlessly during American Idol auditions.
Ask Nicely
When I lead in singing, I am ever mindful of my very Dutch brother-in-law Dirk. Dirk is a 6 foot 7 walking encyclopedia of sports trivia. He’s not a musician, he’s not artsy, and he rarely shows an ounce of emotion. He is, however, one of the most deeply committed Christ followers that I know. He loves his wife and three children. He is very involved in his church and volunteers endless hours every year to numerous areas in the church. Throughout the years, Dirk has stoically, in his Dutch way, voiced his numerous frustrations with those who lead in worship. I heard his frustrations and adjusted accordingly. I now strive to lead in ways welcoming to the most exuberant and the most emotionally reserved.
When I look back at my worship leading in my younger years, I marvel at the grace that was extended to me. Back then, in my zeal and excitement, I would franticly bark out specific commands to encourage worshipers to sing. In pep rally fashion, I would attempt to get all those present to engage in the same expressions and activities. My nervous twitch was to give yet another “YOU, do this!” I have since grown.
Lately, I tend to ask nicely, utilizing questions, options and the wonderful word “we.” Human nature is prone to dislike being told to do anything. Lately, I don’t tell people to do anything while I’m leading worship. I calmly and clearly make suggestions and give options while leading. Nowadays, I say things like:
- As we sing this morning, maybe, you would be willing to lift your eyes to heaven, or maybe you would be willing to close your eyes-whatever would help your heart to engage with God’s heart this morning.
- Would you be willing to sing this once more, mindful of the depth of God’s love?
- Would you be willing this morning, to attempt to grasp the weight of this truth that we sing of? Maybe for you, that looks like singing with your hands raised high to heaven.
- Or maybe you would like to just stand silently and reflect on the words of this song—whatever it looks like for you. We want to give you a moment to reflect on the depth of this great truth we are singing about.
Notice, I use “we” and “maybe,” and I give options in the form of questions. I have found people sing and engage far more than when I lead in a pushy way. When I lead this way, I do not feel that I come across as an insecure leader, but instead as confident leader who leads in a spirit of humility.
I am hearing more and more that worship leaders are being instructed by their leaders to not speak at all while leading. I am convinced that this is due to the often ill-prepared, overly commanding and frantic fashion that many worship leaders attempt to encourage their congregations to sing. Moments of instruction and exhortation are vital to most effectively help others worship. As we commit to utilize these brief speaking moments by asking nicely, I hope that more and more worship leaders will be given the latitude necessary to best help others sing out and thus experience greater and greater moments of worship.
Apply it:
- Take an inventory of songs you have used in worship and check arrangement, key, lyrics, and melody for singability.
- Ask trusted members of your congregation about your sensitivity as a worship leader.
- Check out Curt’s Worship Leader Webinar “Leading Worship In-Between the Songs” on September 9.
As well as being a clinician for Maranatha’s Worship Leader Workshop and a workshop teacher at multiple National Worship Leader Conferences, Curt Coffield has led worship for Promise Keeper events around the country, has been a part of numerous recordings, and has penned nearly 50 songs that are used in churches around the world. Curt Coffield is currently the Pastor at Sewickley Valley North Way Christian Community in Pennsylvania.
