CCLI
THE TRUTH ABOUT INTRODUCING NEW WORSHIP SONGS W / RED ROCKS WORSHIP | Matt McCoy
Tyler Roberts and Kendra Benay from Red Rocks Worship sat down with CCLI President Matt McCoy to talk about how to introduce new songs in a worship service.
WHEN NEW SONGS FLOP [ Matt ] There are songs that you play and can tell immediately if they’ re working or not. I know worship leaders are trying to introduce new songs, but I also think a lot are worried that they’ ll flop. Have there been songs that you guys have done that have flopped?
[ Tyler ] Yeah, we’ ve tried some new Red Rocks songs that have flopped.
[ Kendra ] We try new songs on a weekend; it’ s the only way to know how it will go. It’ s so easy to want to please the room or play songs you know are the congregation’ s preference. But as a pastor, you’ re supposed to move with the purpose of what will push and move our church closer to God. and make up what we think is the best thing to say to intro a song, we read Scripture. The Word of God never returns void. Give context to the song with Scripture.
HOW TO KNOW IF A NEW SONG WORKS [ Matt ] What signals tell you if a song is working or not?
[ Tyler ] Great question. A lot of people think that if the congregation’ s hands are in the air, it’ s working and if they’ re not, it isn’ t working. I don’ t think that’ s real. I know if a song is working if they’ re singing the song. Sometimes this becomes too predictable, but I love to get to the end of the song and do a down chorus, and back away from the mic to listen to the congregation sing. I know if I can step back, and they’ re singing the chorus by themselves, we did it. But there are times when they don’ t, and I have to prompt them again. Give people an opportunity to hear if they’ re connecting to it.
[ Kendra ] I find it helpful to think about what your church actually needs.
[ Tyler ] Yes. Just because you like it, doesn’ t mean your church will. What are the tests that you’ re putting that song through before it makes its way to the stage on Sunday morning? Who in your life is holding you accountable with that? We have a whole bunch of people that do that and we never introduce a song before it goes through a whole litmus test to get there.
Click Here to watch the full interview and get more tips on building a setlist and introducing new songs.
Be sure to listen to Red Rocks Worship’ s new album, Promised Land, wherever you stream music. You can get resources to lead the songs at your church on SongSelect and Loop Community.
For introducing new songs at our church, we are a church for a prodigal. We don’ t want anyone to feel like“ everyone knows what is going on, but me”. Instead of trying to muster
SELECTING SONGS FOR YOUR CHURCH [ Matt ] How do you avoid leading songs that you just like? I have had moments where I’ ve led a song that was just for me.
Matt McCoy Matt is the President of CCLI and the Founder of LoopCommunity. com. He’ s also a worship leader and passionate about building simple, powerful, and affordable technology for churches and worship teams. www. ccli. com 80 July 2026 Subscribe for Free...