The Church Is Singing! 10 Reasons that Churches Are Singing More And More

1. Churches know their audience.
One of the most important factors in communicating in a manner that draws people in is to consciously focus on the audience...which in this case is your congregation.  Singing is communicating with the Lord...and with each other.

Church leadership is aware of the make-up of their congregation and not lost in the quagmire of tradition versus contemporary debate.  The reality: Every church is unique, whether 100 feet apart or 100 miles.

2.  Music style inspires participation.
If you live in an area where country music is huge, deliver songs that have a little more twang.  An older church (generationally) will likely appreciate more hymns and maybe some Gaithers and southern gospel quartet sangin'.  In a more rural area, bluegrass gospel may be the cornerstone.  Younger, hipper churches may be modern or hipster or rock focused...because that's the form that identifies with them  Some churches are hymn churches and others are worship rock and some are gospel funk friendly.  People sing what they know and what moves them.

Worship leader, ask yourself...and others: "What inspires them to participate?"

Oh...and a mature church trying to gather a younger crowd needs to value the opinions, and the "immaturity", of the younger folk.  A young man doesn't have 20+ years experience singing the old hymns, and they may sound very foreign to his ear...as does rap to others.

As the leadership of the congregation demonstrates a call to worship through example, the rhythm and pulse of music underpins the connection to the body and mind, Scriptural connection in the lyrics connects to soul and spirit.  The outpouring during a modern hymn is no less real than an old hymn.

3.  Volume!
It is important that the volume is correct for the form...not too soft and not too loud.  A church with only a piano accompaniment might not need much amplification from the stage, especially in a small, intimate setting.  But, but a large church with no PA can be challenging if you can't hear the accompanist banging out a sweet phrase on the ivories.

Contemporary worship that is too soft misses the edge and the groove (REMEMBER: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GROOVE) that comes with the instrumentation and arrangement; and, let's face it...younger people want louder music.  If it's too loud for you personally, but everyone else seems to enjoy it, don't demand that it be turned down.  Put in some ear plugs or turn down your hearing aid (clears throat), turn your voice towards heaven and worship!  If it's genuinely too loud, as in approaching pain level or causing ear ringing, that's a problem that MUST be addressed.

Balance is important.  Instrumentation needs to balance with the drums.  The bass player needs to hear himself more. Always.

4. The song selection rocks!
Do you have a favorite song that makes you want to jump up, throw your hands in the air, and worship with all that you are?  Singing is a form of worship, and song selection is critically important.  Songs can reinforce the message by tying directly into Scripture or theme.  They build a spiritual foundation or energy for the delivery of the Word.

I'm an old 80's rocker, but as a band geek and a Nashville native, I have played virtually every style of music known to man over the past 40 years of musical experience, so my approach to musicality is a little different than the 24-year-old just out of college.  I had a great conversation with a guy at church who is in his late 50's.  I was introducing songs to a more "traditional" church from Newsboys, Third Day, Lincoln Brewster and other artist with a bit more guitar-driven foundation.  He came up after service one morning, shook my hand and said, "Thank you! I was a teenager in the 70's when rock music was really coming together.  I like hymns and some of the worship stuff, but these songs remind me of when I was a much younger man in my muscle car driving too fast."


While there is a critical importance in pursuing the hearts and ears of young people, remember that the folks in their 50's, 60's and even 70's were present when rock and roll came into its own.  Spirit in the Sky.

5.  Musicianship Is Fairly Pervasive.
Some people have a difficult time singing with confidence if the musical leadership is not strong, especially in learning new songs.  But, today's church likely has more adept musicians than most would imagine.  One of the results of the music explosion in the mid 20th century was an increased interest in being in a band.  Face it...there's a certain cool factor in being with the band.   Put the word out that you need musicians and will be having try-outs.  Players will show up.

This is where an experienced worship leader can really shine, putting together a group of musicians that become a team to deliver on the music that is right for the environment.  And, most importantly...REHEARSE!

Having the opportunity to view other worship teams through online media brings another level of consideration.  As a whole, musicians and singers listen to others and connect not only with styles, but with delivery.  We know...and instruct...that music is a form of worship and should be delivered with as much excellence as can be delivered.  A solid foundation gives people freedom to sing and not worry about the unexpected key change.  :)

6. People Feel An Atmosphere of Worship.
At many churches, there is a definitive focus on atmosphere.  For some, the lights come down in the house and up on the stage.  The smoke machine gives the lights definition.  The worship team approaches with a prayed up, lifted up, intentional motivation.  This is for God.  All of it!  Let's do this...together.  We worship...the Holy Spirit responds.

Again, leadership is key here.  A church with leadership that expresses an openness to worship through music will most often see their church react, and will attract people that love the act of worshiping in song, not as the focus of worship but as an integral part OF their worship.

7. A new song!
Is there a limit to the number of country songs or rock songs that a person will enjoy over their lifetime?  Do teenagers have a new favorite song every other week?  Will you always listen to the Beatles...but nothing else, ever?

An experienced and discerning worship leader can introduce at least one new song per month, especially if the congregation follows KLOV or The Fish or WayFM.  A song that speaks to the hearts of the worshipers can become an almost instant favorite, and trying new things is important.  Some of the songs that are popular today become the standards of tomorrow.  "Because He Lives" was actually a new song at one point in the distant past.

What's also fun about introducing new songs is that a Southern Gospel number or a bluegrass tune can really liven up a "typical" Sunday that is already awesome.  It's like deer at a stream.  Heads go up with a quizzical look, eyes darting back and forth.  YES!

Modern worship artist are plentiful, and so are the songs that are capable of drawing the singer into a personal offering of worship.  There are more than enough songs with the "umph" needed to add one every other week.  Will they stick?  Some will.  Others will be sung once or twice in your church, but a constant rotation in other churches.

There is no try.  There is only Do...or Do not.


8. Teach people to sing parts!
Believe it or not, a remarkable number of people in your congregation know music.  They participated in marching band or in choir in school, and/or have sung in garage bands or church choirs over time.  They know harmony.  They know echos and repeats and drops.  Take a few minutes to teach cool parts to the congregation.  Then, when visitors come in, they hear the congregation singing parts and having fun.  If they are a singer themselves, all the better.

9.  Worship leader -- steps aside.
This is one of my favorite times.  The congregation starts singing a song with such passion that I can wave the team down, pull back, and give the church the mic, so to speak.  It's in these moments that I need to find the tissue box.  I am overwhelmed with the majesty of God's Word and the heart of worship in His people.




10.  Music speaks to the mature and the immature - spiritually speaking.
Music is one of the universal languages and, unlike math or science, most everyone can speak it.  Imagine for a moment a world completely devoid of music.  Sad...



Songs of faith and hope and joy and promise can reveal Truth to a person's heart in 3 minutes and 43 seconds in a manner that is pretty unique and specific to music.  Music invokes imagery and emotion, and while it is not an emotion response that is foundational, emotion is connected closely to memory and experience and, yes, to worship.  Our hearts becomes overjoyed from the celebration of Christ's redemption, or saddened by the realization of our own need for forgiveness.  It is emotional to face one's own life and blessings and shortcomings.  There is joy in overcoming.  There is shouting at victory.  There are tears as we seek peace for a loved one in pain.



Prayer is emotional.  Worship is emotional.

11.  (Bonus)  Sometimes...a concert is OK.