Creating an Engaging Worship Set for Your Church

This multi-part series aims to add immense value to one of the most searched topics among worship leaders: how to create an engaging set for your church.

The Heart of Song Selection

One of the most crucial aspects of a worship leader's role is choosing songs for Sunday services. This topic is widely discussed and frequently searched by worship leaders of all stages. At the core, our goal is to select songs that allow the congregation to respond to the glory of God wholeheartedly. The songs we choose and how we arrange them into a set truly matter.

A worship leader who prayerfully considers song choices and tests them against the Word of God will serve their church more faithfully. This series will consist of five parts, with this first part focusing on the criteria for selecting and evaluating songs.

Criteria for Song Selection

1. Biblically Accurate

This is the most important criterion. Songs must align with Scripture. If a song contains lyrics that contradict the Bible, it should be excluded. Songs that are not theologically incorrect but require complex explanations to make sense biblically should also be reconsidered. If a song requires the congregation to jump through multiple hoops to understand it, it might be unhelpful.

2. Singable

A song should be easy to sing. If your vocalists or you struggle with the song, it might not be the best choice. A good rule of thumb is if you can repeat the chorus after hearing it twice, it’s singable. If a song inspires you to sing along, it will likely have the same effect on your church.

3. Approachable

Consider whether the song makes sense for your church at the time. Is it too abstract in melody or instrumentation? Can your band play it well? Not every popular song is suitable for your church.

4. Season

Select songs that resonate with the current season of your church. What aspects of God's character or work do your congregation need to sing about right now? Choose songs that will edify the body and bring maximum glory to God.

5. Context

Evaluate the source of the song. Do you trust the theology of the church or ministry that produced it? Sometimes, even if a song is biblically accurate, the source may not align with your church’s theology. Additionally, consider the style and era of the songs you select. It’s important to sing a "new song" to the Lord, including contemporary songs, while not excluding older hymns.

Practical Steps

When building your set for Sunday, use these criteria as a foundation. Having a clear metric for song selection will save you from many headaches and debates about which songs to include.

Next week, we’ll discuss how to arrange these selected songs into an inspirational set that will help your church sing out with all their hearts.

By thoughtfully and prayerfully choosing songs, you can create worship sets that deeply engage your congregation and honor God.