Mark Peterson draws a four-part series on planning music for church services with a summary and practical outline of the steps he goes though in working out what sort of songs he selects for different aspects of the service, and what particular considerations he gives to selecting songs during those different aspects.
His post is very similar to the principles used at mgpc.
1. Read the passage that will be preached on
2. Identify the main point of the passage
3. Identify the main application of the passage
4. Identify phrases that a congregation could say in response to this main application
5. Identify a “response song” that says a similar thing to these phrases
6. Identify a “sending song” that helps people to take the gospel out the door
7. Considering the theme of the Bible passage (and appropriate response), choose “Approaching songs” that pick up any core gospel ideas not yet expressed in the songs you’ve chosen.
8. Organise Approaching songs around a “theologic”
9. Provide rationales
mgpcpastor's blog 