Principles for Music at Sovereign King Church
The elders of Sovereign King Church have established these principles to guide our worship team in selecting and leading music. We believe worship is not performance but the joyful offering of God’s people before His throne. Music has a powerful role in shaping hearts and training voices to proclaim Christ’s reign. These guidelines are meant to guard us from drifting, to encourage unity, and to help us faithfully lead the congregation in song.
Principles
1. Sing the Psalms Every Lord’s Day
Scripture commands the church to sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Therefore, we sing not merely out of our own love for song but in obedience to Christ’s commands. We gladly sing hymns and spiritual songs, yet we believe it is easy for the psalms to be neglected if we are not diligent. The psalms are God’s own inspired songs, sung by Christ Himself, and they provide the foundation for shaping our hearts, theology, and expressions of worship. For this reason, we require that at least one psalm be sung every Lord’s Day. Our conviction is that the psalter is not the whole of Christian song, but it is the essential part, and our worship is not complete without it.
2. Theologically Sound
Songs must be consistent with broad reformed orthodoxy and not contradict the Westminster Confession of Faith. They should be biblical in content, teaching godly truths, and fitting for public worship. Not every song must be a dense theological treatise. The Psalms themselves range from profound doctrine to simple, repeated affirmations of God’s love. But every song must be faithful. Our worship should be saturated with the Word of God, always pointing the congregation to King Jesus in His person, work, and reign.
3. Singable by the Congregation
Our worship is corporate. Songs should be chosen with the whole body in mind, not as solo pieces. This means being mindful of vocal range (avoiding songs too high or too low), avoiding overly complex or artistic arrangements, and favoring melodies that are easily followed. Hymns and folk-like tunes often work well. Pop songs designed for radio performance rarely do. Worship should invite every voice to join.
4. Masculine in Tone and Leadership
Our worship should avoid effeminate or overly sentimental tones. The lyrical content and musical style should be strong, resolute, and fitting for men and women alike to sing boldly. We want songs that stir the hearts of warriors, that proclaim the victory of Christ and call men to stand firm in the faith. Music ought to reflect the full breadth of the Christian life, including our dependence on Christ, our sorrows, our laments, and our confessions. Not every song must be a battle cry, yet even in moments of grief or repentance the overall tone should call us to faith and point us to Christ our King with strength and resolve. Leadership in singing should be by men, with women welcome in supporting roles such as instruments or background vocals. This helps the whole congregation, especially the men, to follow in strength and reflects the biblical principle of male headship (1 Cor. 14:33–35; 1 Tim. 2:11–12).
5. Corporate Orientation
Since worship is gathered and corporate, our songs should lean toward “we/us/our” rather than “I/me/my.” This helps emphasize that we are one body in Christ, lifting one voice together before the Lord. At times, personal songs (“I/me”) are fitting. The Psalms themselves sometimes take this form. But the general pattern should strengthen our sense of corporate identity in worship. In addition, our music should serve the edification of the whole congregation, building up the body of Christ and encouraging one another in the faith.
6. Rooted in Tradition, Yet Accessible
We want to honor both Sovereign King Church’s own history and the broader reformed and evangelical tradition. Some songs have become especially dear to us (such as works from My Soul Among Lions or classic hymns), and they help form our identity. At the same time, we value the catholicity of the church by singing songs known more broadly across the body of Christ. Our worship should be accessible to visiting Christians without requiring a niche familiarity, yet also cultivate our own growing tradition.
7. Maintain a Core Vocabulary of Songs While Introducing New Ones Strategically
Healthy worship balances stability and freshness. We want our people to know a standard list of songs well, songs that can be sung with confidence in times of suffering, battle, persecution, and joy. These songs should come readily to mind in the hospital room when welcoming a new baby, at the side of a dying loved one, in the nursing home, or in moments of hardship and celebration. This growing vocabulary will be a blessing to both our children and our older saints, giving them words of faith and comfort at every stage of life.
At the same time, we affirm the place for new songs, for Scripture commands us to “sing a new song to the Lord.” Throughout redemptive history, God’s people have composed new songs in response to His mighty acts. From the songs of Moses and Deborah to the psalmists and the church, writing fresh music has always been a God-ordained and normal way for believers to respond to His providence, mercy, grace, and even judgment.
Because of this, we welcome new songs, but they should normally be introduced with care. The following is a suggested method, yet worship leaders have freedom to exercise wisdom. In some cases a song may already be well known among Christians more broadly or be so naturally singable that it can be brought into the congregation more quickly.
Suggested process:
First, play the song instrumentally or during the offering.
Then, use it again in a noncongregational setting, such as a prelude.
Finally, introduce it for the whole congregation, teaching the melody if needed.
Don’t be afraid to repeat the same song over multiple weeks.
By balancing a well-known core with the faithful introduction of new songs, we help the church sing with both strength and freshness, honoring both the inheritance of the past and the living work of God in the present.
8. Strive for Excellence in Music and Leadership
God is worthy of our very best. Worship is not performance, yet we are called to “play skillfully with a shout of joy” (Ps. 33:3). This means practicing faithfully, preparing well, and offering our music with clarity and strength. Excellence honors Christ, serves the congregation by making it easier to join in, and shows love to our neighbor by removing distractions. While perfection is not possible, carelessness should not be acceptable. Our aim is to glorify God by leading His people with skill, reverence, and joy.
Supporting Practices
The following practices will help the worship team carry out these principles faithfully:
Spiritual Preparation
· Prayer Together: Gather at the pulpit to pray at 10:15 AM each Lord’s Day. We need God’s Spirit to lead His people rightly.
· Prayerful Spirit Throughout: Worship leaders should seek God’s help not only on Sunday morning but also during the week as they prepare. Song choices and leadership should be made with prayer, asking the Spirit to guide and bless the work.
· Personal Devotion: Those leading in worship should be men and women of the Word and prayer in their daily lives. Public leadership in song flows out of private communion with God.
Service Preparation
· Song List: Share the list of Sunday’s songs on the church app’s announcement chat by Friday or Saturday. This allows members to prepare and sing throughout the week.
· Rehearsal and Readiness: Team members should practice in advance and come prepared, knowing their parts. Be punctual for rehearsals, sound checks, and the service itself, showing respect for one another and for the congregation we serve.
· Prelude: Provide an instrumental or simple song 5 minutes before worship, or at the start of the service, to help the congregation prepare their hearts.
· Coordination with Preaching Theme: Worship leaders should strive, when possible, to choose songs that complement the sermon text or the overall focus of the liturgy. This strengthens the unity of the service and helps the congregation connect the Word with their singing.
Leadership in Worship
· Clear Leadership in Readings: During the call to worship or any congregational readings, someone on the microphone should lead clearly so that the congregation is not left waiting.
· Scriptural Framing of Songs: Worship leaders may briefly introduce a song with a verse of Scripture or a word that ties it to the theme of the service. This helps the congregation understand why we sing and deepens their engagement.
· Joyful and Confident Leading: The team sets the tone for the service. Leaders should show holy confidence, smiling, loving the people, and leading with gravity and joy.
· Dress and Appearance: Those leading should dress modestly, neatly, and appropriately for leading worship. Avoid sloppiness or immodesty.
· Volume and Sound Balance: Our worship should be marked by strong and joyful singing. Therefore, music should be loud enough to encourage and embolden the congregation, not timid or too soft. At the same time, it must not cross into the opposite ditch of drowning out the people. Instruments and microphones should support and carry the voices of the gathered church, helping them sing with confidence rather than replacing them.
· Flexibility in Number of Songs: While the liturgy includes three slots for congregational singing (plus the doxology), the worship leader may add an extra song in one slot if fitting. During the Lord’s Supper, ensure enough music to cover the entire time of communion.
Growth and Stewardship of Gifts
· Raising Up Musicians: Worship leaders should be on the lookout for musical gifts within the congregation and seek to develop them. This may include inviting members, including children and youth, to contribute in appropriate ways, encouraging those who are learning instruments, and mentoring future leaders. Our goal is not only to lead music today but also to pass on the ability to make music so that future generations are equipped to praise the Lord with skill.
· Congregational Participation in Special Music: During the offering, the worship team may invite individuals from the congregation to provide special music, such as a solo, or allow children from Sunday School or Sovereign King Academy to share a piece they have prepared. This encourages the use of diverse gifts within the body and trains the next generation to serve the Lord with their talents.
· Evaluation and Feedback: Elders and worship leaders should regularly reflect together on the music ministry, asking what is working well, what could be improved, and whether the principles are being followed. Honest feedback fosters growth and helps maintain faithfulness.
· Guard Against Performance: Excellence does not mean showmanship. Leaders must remember they are not entertainers but servants of the congregation. Their goal is to make much of Christ, not themselves.
Conclusion
These principles are not meant to weigh down the worship team but to give clarity, unity, and purpose in our service to the Lord. They remind us that worship is first for God’s glory and also for the good of His people. By following them, we aim to exalt Christ, strengthen the congregation, and train future generations to lift their voices in joyful praise. May the Lord, by His Spirit, cause our music to be faithful to His Word, centered on His Son, and fruitful in the lives of His people as we worship Him in spirit and in truth.