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Top New Christian Worship Songs For Small Church Worship Ministry
If you’re a worship leader in a small church, before we get to our 3 new worship songs for October, don’t forget:
We have quarterly free conferences specific to small churches; don’t miss the one about worship ministry!
If you haven’t been to one of our Small Church Ministry conferences, you don’t know what you’re missing. Keep an eye on upcoming small church conferences at www.smallchurchministry.com/conferences.
What Makes A Song Perfect For A Small Church?
Some months I struggle to find 3 awesome new worship songs that I would truly recommend for a small church. This was NOT one of those months!
The reasons it can be difficult aren’t because there are no great releases, but I look for a few key things before I recommend them for smaller churches:
- Songs that can be put in a singable range, without the vocal range that most of us can’t sing
- Lyrics that an intergenerational audience can relate to
- Music that can be led by minimal instruments and doesn’t need a full band with backup singers to sound great
- Songs that can be successful with either a piano or a guitar
- Worship songs that are easy enough for non-singers to follow and yet still take us deeper to God’s heart
As I’ve said before, every great worship song is not meant for congregational worship. Worship leading is so much more than worshiping IN FRONT of others; it’s about facilitating THEIR worship.
Think about the people you are leading in worship. It’s incredibly important to consider their skills, their comfort, and their needs as we lead in worship.
So here are three new songs I totally think you should check out!
October Edition: Top New Worship Songs For Small Churches
1. I’ll Follow You (Jonathan Traylor)
- Tempo: Fast
- CCLI Song #: 7183165
- Jonathan Traylor
- My chosen singable key: E
Quick-Paced, Upbeat, With A Positive Message
Don’t let the talent in this recording scare you away from making this song your own!
The keyboard has a gospel-pop feel. There is some quick rhythm, syncopation, and great musicianship here. In fact, it’s so good I wasn’t sure I could recommend this until I tried it on my own.
Honestly, there is nothing I could do to sound anywhere like this recording, but the song itself, I can make it work. If I can, you can too! So, as I’ve said in other blog posts, print out the music, put it in a key that works for you, and play around with what you have.
If you choose to have fun and make your own music, you’ll be a lot more successful than trying to sound like this recording! (Unless you’ve got mad talent like these musicians!)
Verse:
I cannot see what tomorrow will bring
But I know You are with me
I do not know what the future will hold
But You’ll never forsake me
Experiment With Dynamics To Make This Song More Powerful
Whether you have 1 musician or 8, please experiment with dynamics. One of the mistakes less experienced worship bands make is playing at full volume with all instruments through the entire song.
“I’ll Follow You” is a great model of varying dynamics. Start at 1:41 and listen to the bridge build. It isn’t until the second time through the bridge that they add the full percussion. And at the end of the second bridge, at 2:45, there’s a clear drop in instrumentation.
Bridge:
Every step I take You’ve already been there
And every move I make You’ve seen it before
So I won’t turn back now for You are with me
You have led me here so I will trust in the Lord
Varying dynamics like this makes music a lot more engaging and memorable. And it’s not out of reach for your talent base –– even novice musicians can practice this. Your worship band will have lots more fun and bonding over trying new things (and failing at them too!). Practice having fun trying things even if they crash and burn!
Practice laughing together and build in some freedom to experiment with instruments, dynamics, and even reworking a song. It changes your team culture from performance to enjoying the gift of music!
2. Where I’m Standing Now (Phil Wickham ft. Brandon Lake)
- Tempo: Medium
- CCLI Song #: 7176778
- Brandon Lake | Brian Johnson | Phil Wickham
- My chosen singable key: E
Hallelujah, I’m Free!
Just put this song on repeat already. The song starts a bit slower but builds to a great medium tempo.
The verses tell the narrative, the chorus is a declaration, and the bridge is a celebration.
This chorus is gonna stick with anyone who hears it, and the ‘hallelujah’ bridge (wow!) could easily be unending (in a good way!).
I’m just loving it!
Perfect For Themes Of Redemption, Freedom, Name Of Jesus, The Prodigal, & More
As a worship leader, if you ever try to “theme” a service, this is going to be a definite go-to song. Whether the sermon is about redemption, freedom, the name of Jesus, the prodigal, forgiveness, or wilderness … you get the picture … it’s a lot of goodness!
Verse 1:
Out of the wilderness
Into Your deliverance
Look where I’m standing now
These hands that once were chained
Now lifted high in praise
Look where I’m standing now
Look where I’m standing now
“Where I’m Standing Now” is a great sending song to close a service.
I personally would have a hard time sitting down after this song! So, unless you’re going to follow it with another worship song that calms my heart, I think it’s a great pick to close a worship service!
3. Altar (Maryanne J. George | Tribl)
- Tempo: Slow
- CCLI Song #: 7184280
- Dante Bowe | Eniola Abioye | Maryanne J. George | Mitch Wong
- My chosen singable key: E
“Altar” Is Simple, Melodic, & Prayerful
If you’re looking for a true prayer to set a quiet tone, whether moving into silent reflection, repentance, or surrender, “Altar” is for you.
For Congregations That Are Contemporary Or More Traditional In Worship
If your congregation is more traditional but mixes in contemporary choruses, consider “Altar” as a bridge between elements in your service order.
Verse:
Jesus set my heart on fire
Till you’re all I want
Till you’re everything
Chorus:
My life is the altar
My song will be the sacrifice
So let it rise higher
Till You alone are glorified
Less Musicians Does Not Equal Less Worship
One of the things I love about “Altar” is the clear power of simple worship. This song could be powerfully led with one voice and one piano.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the “noise” of worship today and lose sight that less really can be more! If you are in a small church, embrace the gift God has given you.
Our entire ministry at Small Church Ministry is built on the truth that small church ministry isn’t less, but it is different. This one song, “Altar”, is a beautiful choice to highlight the beauty of less is more.
If your church is looking for some hope and encouragement in their “smallness”, please join our Facebook community, Creative Solutions for Small Churches. We’d love to connect.
From children’s ministry to adult leadership, we are all about supporting small churches with resources, conferences, and connections that are created just for them.
Read More
3 New Worship Songs: September
Worship Leading In A Small Church: 4 Keys To Wake Up Your Worship
Dear Laurie, I am a leader of a small church worship team and have found your ideas, encouragements and your list of songs (with input and singable keys) to be a true blessing! I am so thrilled that I found your site! I just want to say thank you and please continue to provide song lists, I spend so much time searching and it can get discouraging at times. Thank you for shining a light of encouragement and information I can share with my fellow team members! I am so grateful!
Cindy, thank you so much for your feedback! It’s such an encouragement to me! ❤️
Hello Laurie, thank you for your website! Are you doing these “New Worship Songs” posts anymore, or was this the last one?
PJ – I’m so sorry! I LOVED doing these posts! When I was doing these posts I was also worship leading, so it worked so well to share what I was finding! At this point, my time is committed to other projects. …. I do hope to return to them someday, or, better yet, find someone else to create these awesome New Worship Song posts too! … I’m glad you’ve enjoyed them!