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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Four Step Approach to Worship Set Planning - Applied


In the last post I promised you some practical applications for the Four Step Approach to Worship Set Planning. Here are some pointers to help you apply the Four Step Approach:

A.   Begin where the people are at by singing songs of testimony.
·      Start with a song or songs of personal testimony or experience.  These are more subjective in content. In the midst of the challenges of life it allows them to acknowledge God’s goodness to them personally.
·      Encourage them to consider what the Lord has done for them – personally and specifically.  He is the God who comforts us, clothes us, gives us the songs of the birds and the flowers of the fields, etc.  Meet your people where they’re at.
·      “For He knows we are but dust” (Psalm 103:14).  Although songs of testimony would be a shallow steady diet, they still have their place.  God likes us to thank Him for the way He has personally blessed us in real and tangible ways.  This may be the only place some people can start.  When Jesus walked on this earth He touched people where they lived.  He humbled His language and His perfect communication skills just because He wanted to touch our lives where He found us.  Should we be any different than Jesus? 
·      Examples – And That My Soul Knows Very Well (Russell Fragar & Darlene Zschech), My Redeemer Lives (Reuben Morgan), Friend of God, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), My Jesus I Love Thee, Thy Word, This Is The Day, Heaven Is In My Heart

B. Gently move the congregation into songs of thanksgiving for His past favours. This is a concentration on what God has done. 
·      Move them from a consciousness of what has been done in and for them (testimony songs) to who did it in and through them (thanksgiving).
·      Joyful, not mournful
·      Songs of Testimony and Thanksgiving are often the same or very similar.
·      Examples – How Can I Keep from Singing, Trading My Sorrows, Your Love Never Fails, My Glorious, O Give Thanks, Give Thanks, Thank you Lord For Saving My Soul.

C.  Move people from songs of thanksgiving for past favours to songs of praise for who He is today, His present mercy, His character, Higher and more intimate concepts of God.  (Examples – God of Wonders, Forever, How Can I Keep from Singing, Praise Adonai, Sing Out, Good To Me, Hosanna Hosanna, We Bring The Sacrifice Of Praise)
  • The closer we move to the goal of mature worship, the more the songs will be concerned with God Himself, and less of ourselves.  “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:30)


D.  If you are successful in moving people to a mature, deep worship, then any emotional responses are not mere soulishness and emotionalism.  They’ll have depth and devotion for grounding.  (However, mere emotions are not always necessarily an indicator of God’s moving in lives in a deep, life changing way)  Another description is to “bask in the presence of God.”  There is a deep sense of our need for God.  We’re in awe of who He is.  Often, the songs at this point use more simple words to allow for Christian meditation.  (Examples – Filled With Your Glory, God of Wonders, Great is Your Faithfulness (Baloche / Kerr), We Exalt Thee, Blessed Be The Lord God Almighty, Create In Me, Lord You Are More Precious Than Silver)  Be delicate in breaking the sensitivity of this moment.  It’s a special time of healing and restoration.
·      “Singing should not be considered an end in itself.  But people have to be led from the natural to the spiritual and from the expressions of self-needs to an expression of spirit-worship.  This is the task of the song leader.  If he succeeds, he will be a leader of worshipers more than a leader of songs.” - Judson Cornwall.

In the next post, I’ll cover the “funnel approach” to worship set planning. Stay tuned . . .



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