If your church is planning a Sunday that emphasizes serving, choosing songs can get complicated. On one hand, you want to encourage the congregation to live out their faith. On the other, you know that worship is first and foremost for God, not for us. How do you balance songs that inspire people to serve with songs that keep the spotlight on Jesus?
The key is to build your set around gospel-centered worship while leaving room for response songs that connect service to surrender.
Start with Who God Is
Every worship gathering should begin by exalting the Lord. Songs about His greatness, His authority, His love, and His kingdom remind us that worship is about Him. This keeps the service anchored, even when the theme of the day is action-oriented.
Consider opening with songs like:
- “Great Are You Lord” – All Sons & Daughters
- “Christ Be Magnified” – Cody Carnes
- “Be Thou My Vision” (hymn)
These establish a foundation that points everyone’s hearts toward God before moving toward how we respond to Him.
Use Response Songs Wisely
After the Word is preached, that’s the perfect time for outro songs that lean into surrender, mission, and serving. If your service only has one slot for music, just add one or two of these at the end. These become the congregation’s way of saying, “Here I am, Lord, send me.”
Some strong choices include:
- “Available” – Elevation Worship
- “I Give Myself Away” – William McDowell
- “Send Me” – Jenn Johnson
- “For the Sake of the World” – Brian Johnson
Songs like these move people from hearing to responding, while still keeping the emphasis on God as the One who calls and empowers.
Frame the Moment
Not every song about serving is explicitly congregational, and that’s okay. A short pastoral word can make all the difference. For example, connecting “Lay Me Down” to Romans 12:1–2 helps the church see that offering our lives in service is a spiritual act of worship.
You might also use medleys or bridges of familiar songs. Ending a service with “Great Are You Lord” and weaving into the bridge of “Gratitude” can highlight serving as a natural overflow of thanksgiving.
Keep the Focus Vertical
The most important principle is this: worship must remain God-focused. Songs about serving should never be a rallying cry for volunteers. Instead, they should be declarations that our service is unto the Lord. When framed this way, even “mission” songs become worship songs, because they lift our eyes to Jesus and call us to follow Him.
Putting It Together
When you’re building a setlist for a service on serving:
- Start with gospel-centered songs that exalt God.
- Leave room for response songs that express surrender and mission.
- Frame those songs carefully, helping the congregation connect serving as worship.
Done well, the result is a worship gathering that keeps the glory on Jesus while inviting His people to step into service as an act of worship.
