The importance of song selection pt. 2

Ok. So now we all agree that prayer and communication is the first part of selecting our songs. Once we have prayed through the set and have some type of direction we’re ready to start constructing.

2. Direction  & Journey - 

You’ve been preparing spiritually for this set…….what did God speak to you? Which direction are we heading? Again it’s not just about putting songs together it’s about putting the right songs together. Your worship set should have a common thread and a distinct flow. This is what will set your worship set apart from the typical hum drum set you may hear every other Sunday somewhere else. Be deliberate. 

First, Direction - 

What direction will you being heading in this service? As a worship leader what is God laying on your heart? Do you feel like God wants to communicate His greatness this week? Then choose songs that do. Does there need to be a shift in worship to be outwardly focused? Choose some anthem type songs that will direct focus off of them and on to the community. Sometimes we need to create moments in the set where we force our people through song to communicate with God and seek or receive forgiveness. Choose the right song. Do you see how the importance of song selection is becoming more and more important? If we are not in prayer and aren’t in tune with the pulse of our church then we slip in to singing songs. That’s not what we do as worship leaders. We lead WORSHIP. We create enviroments in which our people can connect, communicate and touch Jesus. You don’t accomplish this over all by just singing songs. What direction is God leading you in? Figure it out and begin to narrow down those types of songs.

Second, Journey - 

Now that you have your direction and you have narrowed those songs you need to create the journey. There are two things to consider. One, how does your church service flow? Does you pastor like the worship to end up and energetic or low and worshipful? Figure that out then continue with the journey. At my church I use the ‘V’. The ‘V’ is a flow of songs. We like to end up and energetic. But, no matter how your service flows the following ideas will work when you prepare your set. The ‘V’ in a 4 song set is 1. High Energy, 2. High/Medium Energy, 3. Medium/Low or Worshipful and then 4. High Energy. So, replace the highs and lows wherever they go according to your flow of service.

Now, create the journey. You know the direction so let’s take your people on a journey. In the ‘V’ song 1 is high praise. High energy…time to wake up….sing out loud….song. Song 2 starts to ground and take shape on the journey. In every set I have what I call ‘the weird’ moment. The peak of the set. Maybe it’s in the third worshipful song or maybe it’s the final song but whatever the case the whole set should drive towards ‘the weird’. For me, it’s usually the third song. Find your peak and drive towards it. So, song 1 is high, song 2 is high but then I transition from the 2nd to the third in a very purposeful way. Maybe I need to sing through the 3rd chorus just acoustically to prepare the crowd or maybe I bring it down and pray to prepare them. Whatever you do, you need to make sure and transition well. Make it flow. Hard stops can be very distracting and disjointed. Try to build in time for your people to respond during the peak of the set. Maybe you need to create silence after the song to help them digest the moment. Let them respond. Then finally, celebrate. This why I like the ‘V’. Once you’ve hit your peak…CELEBRATE God’s goodness! We should rejoice. That’s how I communicate it to our people because again, one of the easiest ways to kill the moment is a bad transition. Maybe a short prayer thanking God for his faithfulness and announcing that celebration is in order would be a good idea.

 However you decide to create your set do it purposefully. Put your heart and soul in to it. The greatest compliment you could receive as a worship leader is that they can see your heart when you lead. That means that you’re not portraying a showman attitude but also the heart behind your set was seen. You communicated the journey well. 

Push for the God moment…..go for the WEIRD! 

The importance of song selection pt. 1

Song selection is the FIRST step in having a successful praise and worship set. Some of you are saying ‘duh….it’s the first thing you do!’. Well I’m not talking about the action behind it I’m talking about the philosophy behind it. Here are some things I would encourage you to consider when preparing for you set.

1. Prayer - This seems 101 I know but if you’re honest with yourself most leaders don’t pray about the set their putting together. They select songs that they know people like, or that are on the radio or songs that they like and no one else will really get in to. We’ve all had the experience of being in the middle of a worship set and something just isn’t clicking. You can’t pin point it but it just lacks something. Often times I’ve found it’s preparation. I haven’t prayed enough about the set or I didn’t have a clear direction from God on where the set needed to go so it basically didn’t go anywhere. I choose songs that I thought people would get in to and they didn’t. I didn’t pay attention to God. It is SO important that we include God in the process.  In fact He should be the first step of the process. Worship is about connecting with God. Don’t you think God knows the best way to connect? Listen to what God may be speaking to your heart as you think all week about your set. I don’t know when your ministry’s practice times are but it’s my opinion that the later in the week the better. This gives you as much time with God as you need to find that direction. Also, if you’re unsure about a song or two, practice a few extra songs so that on Sunday if you decide to let God deviate your plan you’ll be prepared. Also, don’t be afraid to commit to the urge of the Spirit on Sunday if that’s what you feel. If over the weekend you feel that God is choosing a song that you didn’t choose previously then go for it. If it’s God it will work. He won’t leave you hanging. If it was just bad pizza talking back to you then you might be in trouble!

Let’s learn to stop, breathe and listen to God. Let Him direct our worship leading. There is no other source that should dictate to us the direction of a worship set. God and God alone. It’s about Him anyway. Don’t you think we should include Him?