The list below illustrates song possibilities for each of the five worship phases. The assigned categories are not rigid; a song may serve in more than one category. The list below includes both choruses and hymns.
Invitation
We Bring a Sacrifice of Praise
Don’t You Know It’s Time to Praise the Lord
I Just Came to Praise the Lord
Let’s Forget about Ourselves
Spirit Song
Come, Worship the Lord
As We Gather
This Is the Day That the Lord Has Made
Come Christians Join to Sing
Praise the Savior Ye Who Know Him
My Faith Has Found a Resting Place
Let’s All Go Up to Zion
Come We That Love the Lord
Engagement
Our God Is an Awesome God
How Majestic
Rejoice in the Lord Always
He Is the King
Great and Mighty Is He
The Celebration Song
I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord
I Shall Prepare Him My Heart
O Worship the King
All Creatures of Our God and King
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Come Thou Almighty King
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Exaltation
All the Earth Shall Worship
Let There Be Glory and Honor and Praises
All Hail King Jesus
We Exalt Thee
Our God Reigns
Thou Art Worthy
Majesty
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Immortal, Invisible
Rejoice, the Lord Is King
How Great Thou Art
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Adoration
We Worship and Adore You
Glorify Your Name
His Name Is Wonderful
I Love You, Lord
Emmanuel
Lord, We Praise You
Father, I Adore You
Praise Song
Fairest Lord Jesus
My Jesus I Love Thee
Be Thou My Vision
Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
He Hideth My Soul
Intimacy
O Lord, You’re Beautiful
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
My Delight
Alleluia, Alleluia
As the Deer
Sweet Perfume
Holy Ground
In Moments Like These
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
Jesus the Very Thought of Thee
Children of the Heavenly Father
Close to Thee
O to Be Like Thee
Savior, Like a Shepherd
I Need Thee Every Hour
In the Garden
Close-out
We Are One in the Spirit
In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified
Holy, Holy, Holy
Shine, Jesus, Shine
He Is Able, More than Able
Thank You, Lord, for Saving My Soul
Our God Reigns
It Is Well with My Soul
My Tribute
To God Be the Glory
And Can It Be
Our Great Savior
May the Mind
Fairest Lord Jesus
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Because He Lives
You can arrange your own chorus and hymn repertoire into these phases. Notice I have chosen upbeat choruses in the first three phases. You, however, might fill these cells with an entirely different array of choices and obtain a quite different mood and feel, and yet be guided by the same principles and techniques, namely:
worship that has a goal and direction
worship that respects the psychological dimension
worship that reflects the character of God (both transcendence and intimacy)
lyrics that point to function (singing “about” and later “to” God)
mixing of hymns and choruses (richness, variety)
smooth transitions (linking both pieces and phases)
avoiding distractions (not “jumping around”)
common tempos
common words
common keys
adequate preparation yet open to the leading of the Spirit.
– Barry Liesch
Summer/93 LEADERSHIP 103
Copyright © 1993 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
