Calls To Worship
A call to worship is an invitation for the full congregation to worship the Triune God. This invitation can be done through Scripture (worship leader or Bible reader) or song (vocal/piano solo or choir)—or through a combination of the two—and, if used, should occur either at or near the beginning of worship.
Calls to worship are important in that they highlight the value of worship, encourage and inspire believers to worship, and provide a foundation for worship.
The following list includes both Scripture and songs that could be used as calls to worship any given Sunday. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but we hope that it will prove useful to you in your efforts to enhance the vital moments of worship within the divine service experience.
SCRIPTURE
1 Chronicles 16:29
Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Exodus 15:1 (portion), 11 *Not really a call to worship, but leads well to one
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…
Hebrews 13:15-16
Therefore by Him, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and share, for with such sacrifices is God well pleased.
1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Philippians 2:9-11 *Not really a call to worship, but leads well to one
Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 95:1-7
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
Psalm 98:4-6
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.
Psalm 67:3-4 (portion)
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
Psalm 66:1-4
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power, Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name.”
Psalm 97:1, 12
The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad! Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
Psalm 103:1-5, 22 (calling ourselves to worship)
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 78:35 *Not really a call to worship, but leads well to one
Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.
Psalm 113:2-4
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.
Revelation 4:11 *Not really a call to worship, but leads well to one
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
Romans 10:9-10 *Not really a call to worship, but leads well to one
…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
SONGS
*All sheet music selections are songs that we’ve found to resonate with congregations
10,000 Reasons (Listen / Purchase)
Adoration (H1)
All Creatures of Our God and King (H2, CH63)
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (H30, H31, CH43, CH16)
All People that On Earth Do Dwell (H33, CH101)
Alleluia! Alleluia! (CH365 / Easter)
Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks (CH359 / Easter)
Alleluia! Alleluia! (Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him) (Listen and purchase)
Alleluia, Sing to Jesus! (CH377)
Angels from the Realms of Glory (H531, CH259 / Christmas)
Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed (Listen / Purchase / Easter)
Christ, Our Hope in Life and Death (Listen / Purchase)
Come, Adore the Humble King (Listen / Purchase / Christmas)
Come, Christians, Join to Sing (H34, CH225)
Come into His Presence (CH171)
Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down (CH227)
Come, People of the Risen King (Listen / Purchase / Easter)
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (H35, CH797)
Creation Sings the Father’s Song (Listen / Purchase)
Crown Him with Many Crowns (H510, CH45 / Easter)
Give Thanks (H38, CH170)
Give to Our God Immortal Praise (CH112)
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice! (H543, CH273 / Christmas)
Let All Things Now Living (H44, CH794)
Let There Be Praise (CH211)
Let’s Just Praise the Lord (CH18)
Let Us Sing with Joyful Voices (H45)
Let’s Worship and Adore Him (CH 247 / Christmas)
Lift High the Name of Jesus (Listen / Purchase)
Majesty (H47, CH10)
May the Peoples Praise You (Listen / Purchase)
Now Thank We All Our God (H52, CH788)
O Come, All Ye Faithful (CH 249 / Christmas)
O Come, Let Us Adore Him (CH196)
O Give Thanks (Listen / Purchase)
O Magnify the Lord (CH124)
O Worship the King (H55, CH104)
O Worship the Lord (Listen and purchase)
Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow (CH166)
Praise Him! Praise Him! (CH12)
Praise Our God with Joyful Singing (H56)
Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above (H57)
Praise Thou the Lord (H58)
Praise Thou the Lord, O My Soul (H59)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (CH210)
Psalm 150 / Praise the Lord (Listen / Purchase)
Rejoice (Listen / Purchase)
Rejoice, the Lord Is King! (H517, CH370)
Shout to the Lord (Listen / Purchase)
Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! (CH13)
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (CH97)
Sing to Jesus (Listen / Purchase / Good Friday)
Sing We the Song of Emmanuel (Listen / Purchase / Advent)
Thank Ye the Lord (H62)
To God Be the Glory (H66, CH56)
Worship Christ, the Risen King (CH361 / Easter)