Carlos Whittaker

Sep03

That opening song of the worship set we are all dying to find. What is working?

It’s the thorn in every worship leader’s flesh.
The first song of the set.
We think about it lots, almost pull the trigger…
Then we stick back in Our God or Salvation Is Here.
Both great songs, but c’mon.
It’s time.
So.
Give it to us.
What songs are you using to open the set and it is working?
If you aren’t a worship leader… What energetic song works for you?
Let’s help each other amigos…
Los

http://jamesdwyer.wordpress.com James Dwyer

Here for You by Matt Redman. Either the whole thing or the chorus.

Michelle

I just listened to that one for the first time and I have been looking for a great opening song, thanks!! I love it.

margo

we start off with 2 fast songs and then slow it down. songs like Go from hillsong .. or Endless light. or passion songs like Lay me down ..or I’m not ashamed..those get the congregation on their feet and ready to worship .. it’s so awesome and good even as a worship leader…its not a hype but it just gives so much joy and you can’t help but worship God
http://www.thisisreylo.com Rey

Our God is Love
http://www.robbieforeman.cc robbie foreman

Here and Now by Eddie Kirkland
OUr God is Love- Hillsong
http://Www.gottarunwithit.com Miguel Caraballo

We are the free – redman
Lay me down – tomlin
Rise and sing – fee

Those have all been Great starters for us.

I look forward to stealing some other ideas.
http://perryjross.com Perry

Running – by Hilosong
Deep Cries Out – Bethel
You Have Saved Us – Baloche
You Are Good – Bethel
Your Love Never Fails – Jesus Culture
Adrian

All Because of Jesus (Fee) is always good. Nice long intro to get the lobby stragglers in.

Furious (Riddle) is the same way.

JeannaB

i’m a lobby stragler or more accurately that frazzled mom who is running late yet again and just had to convince an anxiety prone 5 year old that their classroom has NOT changed since the previous week, long intros are great!

Stuart

Furious – Jeremy Riddle
Here and Now – Eddie Kirkland
Glorious – Brandon Gilliam
All Praises Rise – Brandon Gilliam
Exalted One – Elevation Worship

Just to name a few…

Michael

+1 for Brandon Gilliam. Good songs for the Church.

I also like Go by Hillsong, Holding Nothing Back,

andrew

my church loves when we start with “sing sing sing” by tomlin or “bless His name” by jeremy riddle. seriously, the church gets clapping every single time
http://baycommunity.com Trey Taylor

Exalted One – Elevation Worship
Heaven Fall Down – Wickham
Furious – Riddle
Brennan Loveless

Your Love Has Opened My Eyes/New Day- Worship Central
Savior of the World- Worship Central
Kingdom- Jesus Culture
Kris Byerly

The last few weeks have looked like this:
Not Ashamed – Kristian Stanfill
We Unite – Elevation
With Us – Hillsong
Exalted One – Elevation
You Are Holy – Elevation
Fix You – Coldplay

austin white

Not ashamed is by far the best song to play to hype up the youth.
Marssia

Coldplay huh? Pretty interesting:)
Jordan

I did The Scientist by Coldplay as an opener for our college group once. I had heard that Derek Loux did it during an IHOP set once. it’s my favourite worship song not written as a worship song.

Josh

Launching a church plant this Sunday and I am starting off with exalted one by elevation worship then freedom is here by hillsong. Trust me. Been thinking about starting our church plant off right for awhile. Kept coming back to those two songs.
Samuel Turner

Hallelujah by the digital age

http://bridgechristian.org Dano

Big ups, to ya Sam! Digital Age is kickin’. We started 2 weeks ago with that, the only thing to watch out for is people being so blown away by the arrangement of the song, that when its over they are just kind of in awe… know what you’re following it with! We finished it (screaming vocals and everything, thank you very much) and everyone was just kind of like, “Whoa” (in a good way!) and I just started praying… it was perfect.

So excited to see what their full-length gives us.

Conor Scholes

Our God is Love (Hillsong)
King of Heaven (Baloche)
Resurrection Day (Stanley/Scholes)
Marvelous Light (Hall)

http://twitter.com/thedailyrob Rob Brock

King Of Heaven had been a great opener for us!

http://www.gochristfellowship.com Greg

Last Easter we started doing a intro called Pre-Roll. It’s a 5 minute video broken down into 3 parts. The video has clips from everything our church is doing and has a story line. The last 2 minutes of the video the band comes in playing and invite people to stand then we go into song #1 it helps get people going no matter what song you’re doing. Here’s a link to the video http://vimeo.com/m/43109959

Kyle

Wow, what Kind of camera was used to shoot this?
Kyle

Wow, great footage. What kind of camera was used in filming this?

Mark Boys

Here are a few I’m excited about teaching our church this year:

Open Up the Heavens & Light Shine In by Vertical Church Band
Endless Light by Hillsong
Derek Chalfatn

Let God Arise or How Awesome Is The Lord Most High- Tomlin
Your Love Never Fails- Jesus Culture
I Am Free – Everyone and thier brother
Freedom Is Here – United

Derek Chalfant

Can’t even spell my own name right.

http://billywiginton.wordpress.com Billy Wiginton

We love the worship album by ALM:UK, and off of it we like “God Is For Us” and “Great and Glorious”

We also have been doing “Saviour of the World” by Ben Cantelon and “Hallelujah (All I Need) by Stephen Cole as well as “Revival’s Fire” by Andy Cherry!
Andrew P

Not a worship leader (as in front and center vocalist), just a former worship bass player.

I always loved doing “Lord You Are Good” as a kick off. It’s a fairly lengthy song by worship standards, so it gives people a little more time to shuffle in, sit down, put down phone/purse/tablet/journal/smartphone, stand back up and start singing. Plus its just a really fun, high-energy song to play.

I am Free was ok-ish as a song (I just found it boring to play despite the high energy).

Those are the 2 that come to mind. I’ve been off the worship stage for a few years, so a “First song” to me matters less as a “worshipee” rather then on stage as part of the worship team.
Davis Jones

Furious – Jeremy Riddle
Exalted One – Elevation Worship
Our Great God – Casey Darnell
We Will Dance – loswhit

All these songs bring energy in the choruses and get people going
http://micahpringle.blogspot.com Micah Pringle

This week we opened with Like A Lion. And we rocked it. And it fell flat. Then we got silent. Dead silent. It wasn’t planned but I called an audible because we needed to refocus. Not a note or background pads or whatever else we use to keep it from being awkward. And then we flowed into Hallelujah by Ben Cantalon and it blew up big time. It was a reminder to me to stop trying to engineer energy in the room, to shut up, and give God a chance to create the energy. The Holy Spirit’s kind-of a big deal when we turn him loose.

If the electric guitar is now the organ of the church, then manufactured emotion is the new liturgy.

http://billywiginton.wordpress.com Billy Wiginton

Its amazing what listening to the Holy Spirit can do. He is connected to God, He is God, and knows how we should worship.

I also knew someone would throw out a comment or example like this, so here is my experience.

We also opened with Like A Lion this past Sunday. People always love it. They like the strong prophetic word in it. We also have been playing that song for almost two years. Like any song it can take some time for people to warm up to it.

I am thankful that God has gifted us all with unique gifts in ministry. Mine is not like yours. We definitely should listen to the Holy Spirit, even when we are planning, not just on the day of or in the moment. Walk in the Spirit. Thanks for sharing your experience brother.
Eugene Botts

Very good… STOP TRYING TO MAKE STUFF HAPPEN AND LET THE SPIRIT MOVE!!! We seem to have “figured out” how to have church with or without God showing up… Tired of all the formulas….

Travis

Furious-Jeremy Riddle
Make You Move- John Mark Mcmillian
http://twitter.com/thedailyrob Rob Brock

A less well known song that has been amazing for us is Feet That Move by NorthWood Worship from NorthWood Church in Dallas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za_3uBrCvoc
http://theridgechurchblog.com Bobby Williams

Not Ashamed by Stanfill or We Are Free from Newspring Worship are both killer. Makes people bounce!
http://Bennelsonwprship.con Ben Nelson

I am not the same – Aaron Keyes
Take this city – unhindered
steve

I have really liked to play one thing remains by Jesus Culture and right into From the Inside Out. It flows well and its super energetic to me at least
Jesse Holden

I’m not ashamed- Kristen Stanfill
Great energy song!
http://joshuablount.com/worship Joshua Blount

We kicked off the set with Maher’s Chris is Risen – but started it with me programming a drum loop live into a MPC app on my iPad, let that run while I read from the first part of Luke 24. Seemed to really connect with the people. They were already pretty familiar with the song, so playing most of it with a drum loop (and then having live drums jump in when it gets loud in the bridge) added a little something.
Josh Howard

Endless Light and God is Love by Hillsong have worked really well at Campus Crusade meetings for Ohio State.
http://hosswhite.com Hoss

We have a very age-diverse congregation, and many of us come from a church that was very old-school, southern-gospel. I like to typically open with an old hymn done up southern gospel/country style (Power in the Blood, Victory in Jesus, Nothing But the Blood, etc.) Then we will move into more modern stuff. We try and do a little of everything to minister to everyone, and I personally really like lots of different kinds of music, so it works well for our group. There are occasions where the Holy Spirit leads me in a different direction and rather than opening with an uptempto song, we will go right into a slower song and make it very dynamic and build to crescendo. I can always tell when its God or when its just me, because the crowd either gets right into worship and God really moves, or it falls flat and everyone seems to just be kinda watching me. Then we refocus and move on; can’t do it right 100% of the time, and if you never move, you never go anywhere.
http://www.centralAZ.com Adrian Darsee

Love has found us – Bellarive
Exalted One – Elevation
http://andrewgergen.com Andrew

Amazing Grace – Citizens
The Earth is Yours – Gungor
http://themichaelferrari.blogspot.com;lcbcchurch.com Michael

Furious, Exalted One, Light Will Shine. – Killer!
Yuriko

Te doy Gloria by en espíritu y en verdad ( you can find the English version with Klaus). Excellent song? Check it out, don’t dismiss it.

Kristin

I Give You Glory is the English version –

We open with this one regularly. I personally could do with out energetic openers but I do like this one.

LadyShayWrites

These always start us off right…

“Big” -Planetshakers
“Freedom” -Eddie James
“Greatness of You” -Don Moen
http://onelifeknox.com Joe

Heaven Fall Down by Phil Wickham, We Are The Free by Redman, Set Free by Tomlin/Redman, Furious by Jeremy Riddle
http://www.outstretched-arms.com/ Albert

For a regular Sunday service, I currently dig these:

Here For You
Our God Is Love
Heaven Fall Down
Freedom Is Here
Endless Light
Marvelous Light

For youth or a congregation w/ energy.

Exalted One
Saviour Of The World
Not Ashamed
Running
RIse & Sing
http://@PsalmistKym Kym McKandes

I use “Supernatural” and “Nothing Is Impossible” by Planetshakers; “You Are All I’m After ” by Coffey Anderson; “Rise and Sing” by Fee; and “Battle Cry ” by Michael Gungor, just to name a few…
RDH

I love it when service begins with a reflective song or a highly energetic song that calls you to action – get up off your feet and praise the Lord :

- Surrounded by Brandon Gilliam
- Here and Now by Eddie Kirkland
- Rise and Sing by Fee
- All Praises Rise by Brandon Gilliam
http://www.evancourtney.com Evan Courtney

We struggle more with the first song being time filler because less than 50% of the crowd is there.
kelps

We kicked yesterday off with Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee and went straight into All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.

Woooo!!

http://veryliteralhyperbole.blogspot.ca/ Wanda

Sounds wonderful!

Jamie

Not Ashamed in D and transition into Furious has been a cool opener
Andy Hudson

Looking back over the last 4 months, we’ve started with:

“Saviour of the World” – Ben Cantelon
“10,000 Reasons” – Matt Redman
“Song of Moses” – Aaron Keyes

and even (if you’re old school)

“Unchanging” – Chris Tomlin

We have the same problem lots of y’all have. right when the service starts we’re only at half capacity.
http://www.victorylafayette.org Cory Kent

You Are Good (Ricardo Sanchez / Free Chapel)
You Are Good (Bethel Live)
Favor Of The Lord (Israel & New Breed)
Saved By Grace (Israel & New Breed)
You Alone (Anthony Evans)
Hear The Sound (Malachi Jaggers)
Everywhere That I Go (Israel & New Breed)
http://marshallheppner.com Marshall

What if we step away from our formula on “How to do church” and seek God in why we do church…

I just came off a coffee with a good friend and we were just talking about this. We don’t even know why we do what we do. In scripture the word was shared and then the people responded in praise. Why do we have to hype people up to get them “in the mood” per say.

I think we naturally fall into our service planning meetings with all ready set formats and formulas on how to get the people engaged rather than teaching theologies about what Worship really is. Authentic Biblical Worship. Lifestyle worship. Why are we so weekend service driven that we have to every Sunday try to convince people to sing with us? Why are we not being the church and living out a worship culture where we do not need to be spoon fed Sunday School answers but really digging deep and seeking out the Holy Spirit to miraculously transform and bring Heaven down to earth.

There is an identity crisis that is hitting the Evangelical church and if we as leaders do not recognize this we are going to implode on our oversaved and under qualified “Pastoral” techniques.

Los, you said a few months ago, rather than worrying about producing attractional services we need to be leading and producing attractional people to rep Christ. This all plays.

With that said. Tongue in cheek. My favorite up beat songs to lead in the various rooms I do is.

He Is Faithful – Bryan and Katie Torwalt
You are Good – Brian and Jenn Johnson
Praise Him – RoyalRoyal

http://worshipVJ.com stephen proctor

A-freaking-MEN.

Especially on the “identity crisis” part. We are bored and confused as worshipers and we don’t even know it…so we have turned to spiritually-hyped-up entertainment, the anecdote to spiritual boredom.

http://worshipVJ.com stephen proctor

i’d also like to add to my own comment that I am one who struggles with this a lot…especially lately. it’s really hard to me to “connect” to most worship “experiences” as of late, and I’m exploring that tension as one who is exposed to a lot of various styles and one who leads worship (in visual ways).
I don’t know if I’m bored…or if I’m just tired of all the noise and desire to simply be still & quiet for a minute. it’s a very real tension I’m dealing with.
Which is probably why I love to start in silence or with quieter songs. I realize this won’t work for everyone (and it shouldn’t… as there is no “one size fits all.”) it’s just where i’m at lately, and I’m feeling a bit more transparent/honest than usual. =)

Adam Durham

I agree with you Marshall. As Worship Leaders in today’s culture there’s all this pressure to put together this “GREAT worship experience… What if it’s not a great experience?? It’s a very frustrating thing to wrestle with at times.. I don’t think we spend enough time teaching our folks what it means to live a life of Praise.. And that Worship is something we all do. The question in my mind is this. What are we worshipping? The world, or our GOD…. I struggle with it every day….

http://mattlewis.typepad.com/blog/ m@ Lewis

I don’t think it’s that important for our church since most people don’t make it in till the first song is done. ha ha

Here’s a few we’ve introduced over the last couple months:

Let Me Feel You Shine – DC*B
Your Love Never Fails – Jesus Culture
Movement – Rend Collective Experiment
Love Invades – Robbie Seay Band
http://billstauffer.com Bill Stauffer

Now is the Time for Singing Aloud – Gary Rhea
Revelation Song – Jenny Lee Riddle
Praise to the Lord the Almighty – a la Hymns Ancient and Modern
Sing, Sing, Sing – Tomlin
All Creatures of Our God and King – a la Crowder
Raise Up the Crown / All Hail the Power – a la HAAM
Arise, My Soul, Arise – Twit and Wesley (RUF)
Your Great Name – Neale and Nordhoff
Scott

This may sound lame or like a cop out, but I go with whatever our team is worshipping to, or what our church worships to. It may be fast it may be slow, either way I go with songs that always “work”. Last week it was in fact Our God, irony I guess. Try not to make a formula out of the set as a whole (fast, mid tempo, mid tempo, slow). The only no no in my personal book, is don’t start with something new….we’ve all been there and it sucks to be in the middle of an opener that you just want over.
Mike

Come and Let Your Presence – Merchant Band (fantastic starter!)
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – classic hymn

Now to compile a Spotify playlist to check all of these out!

Christy

On my way to Spotify as well

http://www.holycow.org Michael Buc

Shake Heaven – Montell Jordan & Victory World Music, gets em on their feet every time.
http://jasongordon.org Jason Gordon

We like Elevation’s “Exalted One” & Fellowship Church (DFW)’s “Light It Up”

We are trying out Bethel’s “One Thing Remains” this weekend…
http://www.thecityshouldbedifferent.com Paul Pettefer

Hallelujah by The Digital Age. It’s kicking, building from soft to rockin. I’m not the worship leader, but the speaker guy, and theCityBand was starting a concert set at youth event with this song, and the youth minister invited me to come up and start us, so I started praying/speaking and the band built the song behind me and it was rockin!

#GoJesus
http://youtu.be/BTKytXwQRTE
http://www.facebook.com/brettlaslo Brett

We don’t normally play the same songs each week.
We do (after announcements and shaking each others hand)
get the church to “get into it” by starting to play
What a Mighty God We Serve
http://www.christopherrixon.com Christopher

This past Sunday we opened up with “It is Well”, but up-tempo, going into “Counting on God” – Desperation Band.
To keep that “assurance” theme going.
Thanks for everyone’s input as well, this is great.
Robby

You – Hillsong United Live in MIA version.

Not Ashamed – Kristian Stanfill

Holding Nothing Back – Jesus Culture (live in Chicago version)

Praise Him – The Royal Royal / Hillsong
http://worshipVJ.com stephen proctor

The most powerful times of worship I can remember started in silence — and then moved into slower, more reflective songs.

Reflection gives birth to celebration.

Darkness gives way to Light.

It’s the Story of our salvation. #liturgy

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com loswhit

I love silence to start and it works in some churches for sure!
I preach all the time that silence is the loudest thing we can do in our churches.

http://worshipVJ.com stephen proctor

so agreed. silence is the most deafening sound sometimes.

http://www.keithelgin.com Keith Elgin

Recently, I’ve loved starting off with something that just declares who God is to us. It’s counter to the typical uptempo first song, but I think it draws extra attention to what words are coming out of our mouths. The best place to start, in my opinion, is focusing on the purpose of why we’re in that place at that moment.

Examples: You Are My Strength (Hillsong), One Thing Remains, Here for You, No One Higher (Fee/North Point)
http://jasonshafer.tumblr.com/ Jason

Call Me Maybe will make anyone get up and dance. Also Some Nights by Fun. These make great communion songs too, but only if you use real wine.
http://matreames.tk @matreames

Rock of Ages (There is No Rock) OH YEAH!!! Well maybe when I was a kid, but not so much now.

I like:

You Are The Fire – Dustin Smith
In The Sanctuary – Kurt Carr
Strong Love – Jon Thurlow
hypernick

Good to me – Planetshakers
I belong to you – Lincoln Brewster
http://imhopelanika.tumblr.com Hope

I used to worship lead back in High School. I loved opening with Now That You’re Near – Hillsong
http://none jim voigt

Im not kidding about this. Check out the lyrics to Roll With the Changes by REO Speedwagon. Change “woman” to “well then” in the opening line and your good to go. Even an opportunity to bring in a full choir toward the middle. This song will get the blood flowing i assure you that. Alot to learn but i think worth it. YouTube it if you do!!

Nick

Dude…. no.

http://www.northsideweb.org Matt

Bless Your Name – Eddie Kirkland
Revival’s Fire – Andy Cherry
Hallelujah (All I Need) – Stephen Cole
Love is the Answer – Rob Attaway

I know, I know… it’s the Catalyst Music Project
Jordan

Furious – Riddle
Awaken Me – Jesus Culture
http://www.thecommoncup.tumblr.com Micah Hasty

breathe – the prodigy
song2 – blur
rockstar – nickelback
theperfectdrug – nin

: O…

jk.

We Are The Free – Redman
Say Say – Stanfill
Revival’s Fire – Andy Cherry
Nothing Is Impossible – Planetshakers
Kristin

We generally stick with the “basic” upbeat:
Lord You Are Good – Houghton/New Breed
I Give You Glory – Klaus
Happy Day – Tim Hughes
Everlasting God – Brenton Brown
When I Think About the Lord – Shane and Shane arrangement
http://ronoffringa.org Ron Offringa

My favorite opener is still “The Earth is Yours” by Gungor. We start off with the bassist playing the chorus while we get everyone to clap together before jumping into the chorus and everyone jumping in at the end before the first verse.
http://CalebFry.com Caleb

I’d definitely say:
Running- Hillsong
Not ashamed- Passion
Yours forever- Hillsong
Go – Hillsong

Starting with up-tempo songs gets the energy and passion up in the room.
Shawn K

I think I got them all, 7 hours of potential worship openers for your enjoyment, Spotify required. http://open.spotify.com/user/thattalldude/playlist/0EolKdYdT21G6y7jskAkRs

http://www.corykent.com Cory

You rock, Shawn. Thanks for compiling this. Listening to it right now.

Michelle

This is a great list… can you do another post that is for a missions focused event??? More specifically two-hour student ministries (middle school – college) missions event… Thanks!!
Nick

In Tenderness – Citizen (Mars Hill Music)
Amazing Grace – Citizen (Mars Hill Music)
One God – Ghost Ship (Mars Hill Music)
Grace Alone – The Modern Post (Mars Hill Music)

These are my go-to songs to get people singing and clapping.

http://bridgechristian.org Dano

NICK! So glad to see someone speaking up about what Mars Hill Music has to offer… they are killing it over on the West Coast and no one knows about all their bands.

We do One God often, incredible and challenging.

All the ones you mentioned are great, but King’s Kaleidoscope has some of the most amazing arrangements.

Mars Hill Music is what I call, “doing worship right”.

http://www.facebook.com/lakeisha.warren.1 Keisha Warren

My Beloved – Corey Lamb (?)
King of Glory – Victory Fellowship
Yahweh – Mali Music

Jesus the Same – Israel & New Breed
Your Love is Beautiful – Hillsong
http://www.facebook.com/marie.haggarty Marie Haggarty

Our new favorite – “Open Up the Heavens” from Vertical Church…. also
“Rend the Heavens” from Robin Mark
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