So you’re prayed up and have spent the week thinking about the service. You know the service shape & sense where it’s heading – sort of. You’ve selected the songs, or at least a final group of songs, but there’s one song that needs to be picked that’s arguably more important than all the others.
That’s not to say that the other’s aren’t important, or that you don’t spend time in prayer and worshiping over every other choice. There’s just one song that may be the turning point in a person’s life, or cause them to be more committed as they go into their week, to commit to God’s cause, or to be more like Jesus – or some other transformative response. Yes, it’s the work of the Spirit, yet a well chosen finish could transport how the worshipper needs to respond.
That song is the final song of the service – the response song. I think it was one of the Wesley’s who said something like this –
“I don’t care who preaches the sermon, so long as I can pick the final hymn”
(My paraphrase)
In other words, he wasn’t putting down preaching, but elevating the final song, knowing that it had the potential to be what people hummed and mulled over as they left church. Music has a greater capacity, seemingly, to stick in people’s minds. And who can forget singing “Just as I am” as a response song after every Billy Graham crusade (OK… if you’re over 50- ish!)
So while the choice of all aspects of the service are important, and should be prayerfully considered and acted on under the Spirit’s leading, the final song may just be the most vital.
Here are a few ideas about how & what to pick, and what to avoid…
- Consult with the preacher. While you don’t have to know every detail of the whole sermon, knowing the desired response helps. Is it praise, thanksgiving, worship, re-engaging with God, brokenness, healing… Find a song that helps people respond in a way that honours God and is open and true.
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit – trust Him to help.
- Have a list of responsive songs. When people sing “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free” there is something that resonates in their soul that brings transformation. Any song that lifts the spirit, encourages the soul, softens the heart, challenges the will, searches a deep need… or simply one that says”Yes” to God, to makes them more like Jesus.
- Use a part of a song – often a chorus or a bridge – which encapsulates both the heart of a song, as well as contain the lyric and musical “hook”. Verses can work sometimes too. This can help to drive home the response, as well as stick in the mind and heart as people go into their week.
- Have two or three response songs ready that you choose from, if it’s not clear, or the response has changed. I’ve been known to do that many times, and simply indicate to the team which one we’ll use.
- Avoid new songs that you’ve learnt that day, or last week. There may be the odd exception, but use songs you know people connect with.
Of course, singing isn’t the only way to respond (prayer, readings, altar calls, cards etc…) and creativity might just be the thing that sparks a fresh response in a worshipper. God’s desire is that every person experiences Him each week, and leaves a different person.
What kind of songs do you use for response songs?
Share your thoughts below.
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