Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

The Worship Leader’s Setlist Planning Challenge

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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. 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. Setlists created for concerts are meant to entertain. Songs picked for worship are meant to pastor.

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 8 Week Setlist Challenge

So I’m presenting an 8 week challenge. Get ahead on your weekend setlists by 8 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?

Not only is it good to think about the current season of what God’s doing in your church, but also to strategically find songs that emphasize important truths throughout the year. Don’t just pick what’s popular. Pick what will magnify the glory of God in people’s hearts and minds.

Maybe you need opening songs that are simple and more light hearted to help people ease into the morning. Maybe you need more songs of confession. Maybe you need more calls to worship.

Pray through where God has you and outline the next 8 weeks.

Don’t necessarily commit to all these songs in Planning Center yet. This can actually be a valuable touch point to have with your lead pastor about the upcoming worship song diet of your church. Get his input. Anticipate upcoming weekends and what songs would work best with service flows.

Compile them in a Google Doc. This is a very practical way to move Beyond Sunday in your planning. You’re not just maintaining songs one weekend at a time. You’re looking at the big picture.

Worship leader, are you up for the challenge? Comment below and we can collaborate on some old and new songs you’re planning to do.

It’s always better when you share. You can leave a comment by clicking here.

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Comments

  2. Dan says

    Hey David, you’re confirming a lot of what I do, which is always helpful to know I’m on the right path. One strong item you added to my prep here is asking, “What does our congregation need to hear?” I just picked up Hicks’ “The Worship Pastor” and am looking forward to reading more of his philosophy.

    One helpful tool I use: I divide my songs into “function” on a spreadsheet. I have all of our songs listed on a left column. On the following columns I have: “Call to Worship, Creed, Confession, Praise, Adoration, Communion, Response, Sending, Other, Christmas.” Each song has an x under any applicable categories so I can sort and filter when I need a song. By using this, and planning about 6 weeks out, I can use appropriate songs, mix up the bunch so I’m not using the same go-to ad infinitum, and save tons of time. Combine that with the sermon series/topics and prayer and it’s been working pretty well.

  3. Jodi says

    I really enjoy your blog, thank you for being transparent. Last week we had a 20th anniversary celebration for our church. We pulled out old songs that you may have heard 10, 15, 20 years ago in worship. One song in particular really was a blessing and just want was needed that morning. It was God is Here (there is a sweet anointing in the sanctuary…there is a stillness in the atmosphere) A few people were on their knees. We may bring that one back, even if just as a tag, for awhile b/c it really did bless our team and our congregation.

  8. GSharp says

    Good to ponder. As an “older” worship leader, I have lived thru it all…the adding of instruments, the changing of the songs, the style wars, the ridiculous discussions on “blended vs. contemporary”, etc. I have had discussions on the topic of this post with worship teams and leaders I have sought to mentor and I often feel like it just goes over their heads. Most just aren’t interested in how to become a “minister”. They have some musician skills and some stage presence, but they lack the depth that a minister needs to use the process described to influence their choices. I get weary of the radio having more influence on our worship than the Holy Spirit and discerning through God’s Word how He wants to best move through us and where we are at on any given Sunday.