How to Choose Music for a Worship Service - by Jon Harris

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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This is a pretty good article on the whole, but we have a few comments.

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I have been involved in music ministry for the past two decades. Serving in various ministries, regions, and contexts has exposed me to different approaches to arranging worship musical selections. One of my consistent observations is that music often sparks controversy in churches, with congregants holding strong preferences and artists known for their particularities. These experiences, coupled with my commitment to excellence as a minister of music, have inspired me to develop a specific approach to musical selection. Here are some insights I have gained to help craft worship services that honor God, foster unity, and ensure that corporate music effectively fulfills its sacred purpose.

Why Music?

Music is a vital element of church liturgy, serving as a powerful instrument for worship. It enables believers to share God’s truths with one another (Ephesians 5:19), (Let's quote: 

Ep. 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord...

This verse does not tell us to specifically to sing truths to one another. Perhaps there are other verses that tell us to do this, but if so the author needs to cite them.)

offers an emotional outlet for expressing joy and gratitude to God (Psalm 84:4-6; James 5:13), (Let's quote: 

Ps. 84:4-6 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.  

Ja. 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

Ps. 84:4-6 is directed to God, but Ja. 5:13 is instruction to his readers. However, neither are expressions of joy or gratitude sung to God.)

and provides a creative means to adorn and teach divine truths (Psalm 150:3-5; Colossians 3:16). 

(Ps. 150:3-5 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Ps. 150:3-5 is an exhortation, not an instruction. 

Col. 3:16 is Paul instructing, and that instruction appears in two parts. The first is a command to teach one another [spoken], and the second shifts to gratitude directed to God [singing]. 

The author is being sloppy.)

While the New Testament often emphasizes joy and thanksgiving, Christian music also embraces expressions of lament and judgment, as seen in the diverse themes of the Psalms. (There is a difference between "Christian music" and music for a worship service. Therefore, it may indeed be good to sing laments and songs of judgments, but that does not make those songs appropriate for a worship service.)

Thus, music promotes truth and fosters encouragement in ways conducive to corporate worship.

The Nature of Corporate Worship Music

Scripture highlights “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16), affirming a wide variety of musical forms acceptable for worship. Yet, across all traditions, places, and times, corporate worship music should embody certain universal characteristics to fulfill its purpose.

First, songs must be God-directed. From Old Testament temple worship (1 Chronicles 16:23) 

(1Ch. 16:23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.

We heartily agree, we sing to worship and praise God, we generally should not use the worship music to address one another. 

But here the verse is an exhortation directed to the audience, not God.)

to the Psalms (Psalm 95:1) 

(Ps. 95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

The Psalmist also offers exhortations directed to his audience. So to flip this into the right frame we would point to a similar idea, more suited to worship, Ps. 59:16-17:

16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. 17 my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

See the difference between an exhortation and an expression of worship?)

and the worship in Revelation (Revelation 5:12),

(Re. 5:12 In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

This great chorus has been attempted at various times, but we haven't yet heard the entirety of this heavenly chorus put to music in a way that conveys its magnitude.)

singing is an act of praise offered to the Lord. Music that focuses on individual experiences rather than God, as some contemporary Christian songs may do, fails to serve the purpose of corporate worship. (We would tend to agree. In fact, we would suggest that in corporate worship most if not all of the songs should be addressed directly to the Lord, and not to one another.

But one caveat: The author rightly notes the problem of singing about "individual experience," that is, forcing the congregation to sing lyrics that are very personal to the songwriter but haven't necessarily been the experience of the congregation. Example, Lauren Daigle's song "You Say": 

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Congregants certainly should not sing lyrics like these if they haven't had such an experience. In fact, such lyrics do not belong at all in congregational worship.

However, songs can express worship in an individual sense, like "Yes I Will:"

Yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name

Using the singular "I" instead of the plural "us" is not necessarily an impediment to a good worship song, until it becomes clear that the song is really "explaining" one's self to God or to the congregation. One unfortunate example is "Who you say I am:"

[Verse 1]
Who am I that the highest King would welcome me
I was lost but He brought me in
Oh His love for me, oh His love for me

[Chorus]
Who the Son sets free is free indeed
I'm a child of God, Yes I am

[Verse 2]
Free at last, He has ransomed me, his grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin
Jesus died for me, yes He died for me

This song has received a lot of airplay and is sung in a lot of churches, but it's a bit insidious. The song is doctrinally accurate and even quotes the Bible [Who the Son sets free is free indeed], but notice the almost complete lack of expressions of worship, that it's directed to the congregation, and, aside from the Bible quote the song is completely "I" centered. 

Lyrics are best written to God as the audience, and are probably best expressed with "you are" statements:

• You are savior
• You are glorious
• You are holy
• Your judgments are just
• Your words are perfect
• Your kingdom is advancing 

This approach probably won't work in every situation, but it does avoid the insertion of I, me, we and us into the lyrics.)

Second, songs should be congregational. Ephesians 5:19 instructs believers to sing “to one another,” implying that music should be accessible and unifying. Songs with challenging vocal ranges, complex styles, or too many that are unfamiliar can hinder participation and should be avoided. (Agreed.)

Third, music must be biblical, embedding the “word of Christ” in the hearts of those who sing and hear (Colossians 3:16). Songs with false or unclear doctrine undermine the integrity of worship. (Semi-agreed. However, we do not require a doctrinal treatise in every worship song. Worship is not about spouting doctrine to God, it is to proclaim His excellencies.) 

Fourth, corporate worship music should be orderly (1 Cor. 14:40). While instruments like drums or electric guitars are not inherently inappropriate, chaotic or overly loud music can disrupt a worshipful atmosphere. (The author contradicts the Psalmist: 

Psalm 150:3-5 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

And what will be happening in heaven?: 

Revelation 19:1-2 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

In actual fact, loud drums and guitars will only disrupt the author's staid, solemn church service.)

Careful attention to volume, performance style, and avoiding unexpected elements helps maintain a reverent focus. ("Unexpected elements." Is there something in the Bible that talks about avoiding such things? Or perhaps, the author is saying that everything must be carefully scripted, and not go overtime or deviate from the norm?

It seems the author is starting to lean toward his tradition rather than the Bible.)

Finally, music should flow from a Spirit-filled heart (Ephesians 5:18). Some charismatic traditions interpret this as a call for spontaneity in worship, while others adhere to structured liturgies. Regardless of approach, true worship carries an intangible, Spirit-led quality that transcends form. (A welcome concession to alternative practices.)

This requires worship leaders to be in right standing with God, addressing unconfessed sin to lead authentically. (While it's certainly desirable to be fully repentant, if that were possible, it is inevitable that come Sunday morning some part of church leadership or worship band will be lacking in this area. If perfection is the standard, no one will qualify.)

By adhering to these principles, worship music can glorify God, edify the congregation, and reflect the Spirit’s presence, regardless of the tradition or setting.

Forming Worship Music Sets

When selecting songs for a Sunday service, I consider multiple factors, including current events, the liturgical calendar, and the sermon’s theme. Different Christian traditions weigh these elements variably—Anglicans often emphasize the liturgical calendar, choosing music tied to holy days and seasonal themes, while Baptists typically focus on aligning music with the sermon’s message.

I base my song choices on four key criteria:

Context: The occasion shapes selections. During Advent, I prioritize seasonal songs regardless of the sermon. In response to a national or church tragedy, I choose comforting hymns to reflect the moment’s gravity.

Sermon Text: I align songs with the preaching passage’s themes. For messages on future hope, I might select “I’ll Fly Away” or “In the Sweet By and By.” For justification, “In Christ Alone” or “Amazing Grace” reinforces the sermon’s focus.

Dynamism: I aim for balance across four elements: songs about God’s character (His holiness and love), songs responding to God (gratitude or awe), at least one song presenting the Gospel, and varied musical styles to enhance the service’s flow.

Service Flow: The service aims to foster genuine worship through intimacy with God. I start with songs highlighting God’s holiness, majesty, and power to refocus worshippers. Next, songs address human obligations, often prompting conviction. This is followed by musical assurance of pardon, exalting Christ’s person and work. Finally, there are at least two songs that tie directly to the sermon theme, culminating the worship service. (We wonder if the preacher should ever tailor his sermon to the worship? It seems to us that the purpose of the worship is to worship, not to prepare the congregation for the sermon.)

This approach ensures music complements the service’s spiritual and thematic goals, facilitating a meaningful connection between Christ and His church.

For a sermon based on the story of David and Goliath, I could begin with “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” which underscores God’s immense power, unchanging nature, and self-sufficiency. Next, I might choose “Hail to Jesus” (based on Psalm 118) to highlight the certainty of future judgment. Following this, a gospel-focused hymn like “The Solid Rock” can reassure believers of God’s grace and love. As we approach the prayer before the sermon, a reflective hymn such as “Be Still My Soul” can encourage the congregation to trust that God is with them through any trial. After the sermon, “A Mighty Fortress” will reinforce the message of God’s strength and protection, echoing the triumph in David’s victory over Goliath.

Conlclusion (sic)

Selecting songs for corporate worship is a profound privilege that deepens the connection between believers, both themselves and their Savior. This task requires careful adherence to biblical principles guiding music’s purpose and boundaries, while considering the congregation’s specific context and traditions. Thoughtfully curating a worship set, rather than hastily assembling songs for mere appeal, yields rich rewards, fostering meaningful worship that glorifies God and edifies the church.