Worship and hymns in daily life: lyrics, family singing and playlists

Worship and hymns from breakfast to the journey home, learning lyrics and singing as a family.

Many people enjoy worship music but only sing at church. For the rest of the week, between work, studies and household chores, the songs stay packed away. It doesn't have to be like that: you can set aside a few minutes of your day to listen to a song and go over the lyrics.

This guide is practical and doesn't depend on any particular service. You will see how to spread worship throughout the day, how to practise the lyrics of a hymn over the course of a week, how to sing with your family and how to build your own playlist.

A place for worship in every part of the day

• In the morning: try listening to one or two calm songs while you get ready, if that suits your routine.
• On the way: on the bus or on foot, use earphones at a volume that lets you hear the street. If you are driving, play them through the car's speakers or the phone's own speaker, never with earphones; choose the songs before you set off and don't touch your phone while the car is moving.
• During a break: a single song, listened to with attention to the lyrics, followed by a short prayer in your own words about what it says.
• While studying or working: if your surroundings allow it, try instrumental tracks and notice whether they help or hinder your concentration.
• In the evening, at home: the time to sing together with the people you live with.

A one-week plan for practising the lyrics of a hymn

It is common to know the chorus and only “hum” the verses. To practise a whole hymn, split the work over several days:

1. Day one: listen to the whole song twice, paying attention only to the story the lyrics tell.
2. Day two: copy the lyrics out by hand in a notebook or on a sheet of paper. As you copy, try to notice every word of the lyrics.
3. Day three: read the lyrics aloud, without music, as if they were a poem. Look up in the dictionary any words you don't use in everyday life.
4. Days four and five: sing along with the recording, adding one new verse a day and always coming back to the chorus.
5. Day six: try singing without looking at the sheet and mark where you got stuck.
6. Day seven: sing to someone else or together with them. Explaining the lyrics to someone can also serve as a review.

Many lyrics echo Bible passages. When you recognise one, look up the passage in the Bible app and write the reference next to the lyrics. This link can help you review both the lyrics and the Bible passage.

Singing as a family without fuss

Nobody needs to sing in tune to sing at home. Try making this moment a regular part of your routine and adapt it so that everyone taking part feels comfortable.

• Choose a fixed, short moment, such as the ten minutes before the Sunday evening meal.
• Start with songs that have a simple chorus and let each person join in at their own pace.
• Take turns: each week, a different person in the household chooses the song.
• With children, make up actions for the chorus as a way of practising the lyrics together with the movements.
• If someone plays the guitar, keyboard or another instrument, let that person lead the singing. If no one plays, the recording can serve as accompaniment.

Build your playlist

A playlist designed for each moment can make choosing songs easier when it's time to listen. Group the songs like this:

• Morning: calm songs of gratitude.
• On the way: the ones you are learning, to repeat until they stick.
• Focus: instrumentals only.
• Family: the ones with an easy chorus that everyone already sings.

Try playlists of ten to fifteen songs and adjust the length to the repertoire you want to practise. Mix traditional hymns with recent songs, and once a month take out the ones you have grown tired of and add something new. If you use a music app, create a playlist for each moment. If you don't, a sheet with the titles stuck on the fridge is enough for singing from memory.

Before you sing, read the lyrics

A beautiful melody does not guarantee lyrics that are consistent with the Bible. Before adding a song to your playlist, read the lyrics calmly and ask: what does it say about God? Does that match what I read in the Scriptures? The habit applies to new songs and also to old hymns you have been singing for years without paying attention.

Looking after your ears and your data

• Keep the earphone volume at a comfortable level and take breaks when you listen for a long time.
• If your music app lets you download tracks, do it on your home internet connection and save your mobile data for the rest of the day.
• Always choose apps from your phone's official stores. “Modified” versions passed around by message can carry viruses.

Common questions

I can't sing. Is it still worth it?

Yes. Worship at home is not a performance. Singing softly, just following the lyrics or listening in silence are also ways of taking part.

How can I get children involved?

Try short songs, actions and repetition, adapting the activity to the children's interests and age. For more ideas on learning through play, see the guide to Bible games.

In closing

A song in the morning, a hymn practised over the week, ten minutes of family singing and playlists you have put together yourself: these steps are suggestions for bringing worship into ordinary days too, to suit your routine. To combine music, reading and prayer in a single routine, the main guide shows how to spread each of them throughout the day.

Back to the guide to the Bible on your phone