[This post is part of a series on Your Guide to Selecting and Leading Songs for Worship. Check out the rest here.]
You may not consider yourself a “talented songwriter”. You may even feel that you just get by picking out songs and leading a band on Sunday morning. That’s OK. This post is still for you. Writing songs for your local church may seem like an daunting task.
I hope to convince you otherwise.
First off, why should you write songs for your local church?
1. It helps people process what God is speaking
I’m a fan of churches being united and concentrated together. It’s incredibly helpful when the worship leader sings what the pastor is preaching. It brings continuity and focus to people in the congregation. It helps make our messages “sticky”.
2. It keeps you in tune with the flow of the Holy Spirit
As a worship leader, it’s easy to coast. To show up, assemble a list of hit worship songs, and plow through the music. I think it’s better that we are intentionally invested in what God is speaking to our people. That’s why I write songs. It helps me process, “God, what are you saying to us? What do you want us to sing?” It’s more than just a cool “rockstar” thing to do. It helps keep us in tune with where the Holy Spirit is leading us.
To close this post, here are some simple ideas on making it happen:
- Schedule it
- Write with a fellow worship leader/songwriter
- List out the sermon series’ for the next year
- Do a songwriting retreat with a few key team members
- Talk with your senior pastor about themes he wants to reinforce
- Test songs out during “altar time” or with a small group
- Write out a list of themes with your worship team
- Bring in a great vocalist to give feedback on the ‘melody’
- Get lots of feedback from trusted sources
- Don’t try to write a ‘hit’. Keep it simple and focused on your church.
As a side note, if you ever have any song ideas or personal questions regarding songwriting, leave a comment! I read all comments and would love to help you in what you’re trying to accomplish.
Ready. Set. Comment!
Awesome! You know I actually just started writing a song… I have most of the lyrics and some of the music. I’m going to finish it with a friend next week!
Great! Is this the first song you’ve written?
Good stuff bro. I’ve really been feeling that God wants me to write songs that are specific to what he is doing and what he wants to do in our congregation. This was an encouraging word that I needed to hear.
Thanks buddy. How is that song coming along you showed me?
(I thought I subscribed to comments on here. Guess not lol)
It’s done, I think. Just needs some good ears for review 🙂
I’m all ears. Bring it.
This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while. Instead of learning a new Hillsong or Tomlin song, write something specific for your church and community.
One thing I try to do to get some songwriting practice is using scripture only for lyrics. Psalms and Proverbs obviously, but God can bring some things off the page to you when you ask Him.
What a great idea, Jeff. Writing out of the Psalms is such a great practice.
Totally agree. We had two students who wrote songs in our youth group. And they always connected on a powerful way and seemed to speak to the spiritual tempture of the youth group.
True that. Are you a songwriter, bro?
nah dude i don’t write songs…my wife is a song writer, she is uber talented.
Hi my name is chavelle but you may call me chevy i’m from waianae hawaii and i go to a church called power house im not a worship team leader although i feel like our leaders shouldnt be leaders at all due to that i feel its all about them not the church or god. I want it to be about god not about them the spot light should be on god not them i love praiaing the lord but every time i see them and we start singing they want all the spot light and they have rules like school i alwAys believed that it doesnt matter hoe you look or how you dress the lord says come as you are i wrote 3 worship songs but i dont want to sing it and let them take all the credit for it but one of um i really wanna sing in church i dont know what to do
Hi,
Im a Worship Leader/Songwriter…two question for sir:
1. how do you recover from “writers’ block”?
2. how do I create new, fresh melodies that do not sound exactly the same as all the other praise and worship songs that are out right now
Oslien, the best way to recover from writer’s block is to do what energizes you. Go outside, read a good book, get inspired by what your role models are creating. Then, keep creating. Get your creativity on a schedule. Create when you don’t feel like it, every day.
As for creating fresh melodies, try multiple melodic ideas for the same song. Don’t settle on your first idea. Hope that helps!