Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God” (Psalm 100:1-3a).
Scripture invites us to worship God in a myriad of ways, including through instrumental music and singing. For centuries, Christians have regularly and passionately participated in this method of praise as individuals and gathered groups. The variety of musical preferences and expressions in our history make many of us wonder: How do worship leaders decide what to include in communal gatherings? What songs are churches singing this season?
Worship leaders are quick to note that corporate praise is not a performance or an audition; it is a time to experience God together. So, they make prayerful decisions about what will help their community connect spiritually.
“Music is heart language,” says Meghan Good in a PeaceLab podcast interview, “and resonates with different people differently.” She believes church leaders are “practicing hospitality” when they choose songs and prayers to share. They don’t plan based on what is most popular or what sounds best musically; they choose what is going to speak to the people gathered.
Tim Schoeneberg, director of worship at Ebenfeld MB Church, Hillsboro, Kan., enjoys “leading the congregation on ‘The Journey’ into the throne room of God.” During the week, he crafts a service starting with a call to worship, then sharing testimony of who God is and what God has done, followed by praying as a community. After the sermon, the service ends with a benediction and singing the Doxology.
Worship leaders make varying decisions on styles of worship but all of them want to point people to Jesus. A few churches sing directly from passages in Scripture like Psalms, while others tend toward more contemporary styles of worship. Some communities opt to sing a capella, some with an organ accompanist, some with electric guitars. Some use liturgical prayers to open and close their time together while others speak extemporaneously. All of it is meant to be pleasing to God.
When choosing what songs to sing in her church congregation, Lorena Blom, worship coordinator at Bethesda Church, Huron, S.D., looks for music that is “deeply theological in lyrics and singable by the congregation and playable by the volunteers.” Her church desires a “mixed style of worship to minister to everyone” and appreciates hymns as well as recent music from artists like City Alight, Elevation Worship and Matt Redman.
I asked a variety of people what songs speak their heart language at church this season. People are enjoying contemporary songs like “The Goodness of God” and “The Stand” as well as older hymns such as “Amazing Grace” and “Praise God from Whom” (traditionally known as #606 in the Mennonite hymnal).
A few say they don’t mind what style of music is played but are most interested in songs that “lay a foundation of faith” or “focus on God’s greatness.” Worshippers also don’t have to sing to enjoy the music. Some people prefer to listen and praise God by reflecting on the lyrics being sung by those around them.
No matter how a church community chooses to engage with musical worship, Schoeneberg encourages leaders to “make room for the Holy Spirit to lead freely.” We can take time to pause and reflect in our worship. As the psalmist often says, “Selah.”
Caitlin Friesen is a native of Fresno, California, and a 2023 graduate of Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary. She has a passion for Jesus and a heart for children, both of which has been put to use as a backpacking guide, camp counselor and as associate pastor of children and family ministries at North Fresno Church. In September 2017, she and her husband, Ben, moved to Topeka, Kansas, where Ben serves as lead pastor at Cornerstone Community Church.
