--- title: Make It Count description: I have a friend who says that the very first rule of public speaking is … have something to say. That's advice worth taking to heart, but it's a concept that, I fear, we don't really consider strongly image: https://blog.discoverworship.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/3160-1.jpg --- - [Home](http://www.discoverworship.com/home) - About - [About Us](http://www.discoverworship.com/about) - [Staff](http://www.discoverworship.com/about/staff) - [Pricing](http://www.discoverworship.com/pricing) - [FAQ](http://www.discoverworship.com/faq) - [Reviews](http://www.discoverworship.com/reviews) - [We Recommend](http://www.discoverworship.com/we-recommend) - Music - [Choral Music](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2) - [Praise & Worship](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2) - [Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2) - [Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2) - [Instrumental](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/instrumental-2) - [Children’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/childrens-2/childrens-choir-13) - [Solo/Ensemble](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/solo-ensemble-2) - [Blog](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles) - Videos - [Performances](http://www.discoverworship.com/videos) - [Tutorials](http://www.discoverworship.com/tutorials) - [Lyric Videos](http://www.discoverworship.com/lyric-videos) - [Featured](http://www.discoverworship.com/featured-videos) - [Interviews](http://www.discoverworship.com/interview-videos) - [Christmas Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/christmas-videos) - [Easter Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/easter-videos) - Help - [FAQs](http://www.discoverworship.com/faq) - [Contact](http://www.discoverworship.com/contact) - [Pricing](http://www.discoverworship.com/pricing) - 1-866-859-7622 - [Cart](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/cart) - [Subscribe](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/subscription-products) - [Join Now](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/login#join) - [Log In](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/login) [![Discover Worship](https://blog.discoverworship.com/hubfs/Discover%20Worship%20June%202017/Images/logo-main.png)](http://www.discoverworship.com/) - [Choral Music](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2) - [4-part SATB](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/4-part-satb-6) - Seasonal - [- Christmas](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=14) - [- Easter](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=13) - [- Thanksgiving](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=12) - [- Patriotic](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=9) - [- More](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2%26season_filter=991) - [Traditional](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/traditional-6) - [Worship Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/with-choir-3) - [Hymns](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/hymns-6) - [Choral Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/choral-collections) - More - [- 2-part](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/2-part-6) - [- 3-part](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/3-part-6) - [- with Children](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/with-children-6) - [- with Soloist](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/with-soloist-6) - [- Women’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/women-s-choir-6) - [- Men’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/mens-choir-6) - [Praise & Worship](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2) - [Contemporary](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/contemporary-3) - [With Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/with-choir-3) - [Small Band / Acoustic](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/acoustic-3) - [Gospel Worship](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/gospel-urban-3) - [Worship Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/worship-collections) - [Musicals & Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2) - [Christmas Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2/christmas-musicals-51) - [Easter Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2/easter-musicals-51) - [Other Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2/patriotic-51) - [Choral Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/choral-collections) - [Worship Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/worship-collections) - [More…](http://www.discoverworship.com/music) - [Instrumental](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/instrumental-2) - [Children’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/childrens-2) - [Solo / Ensemble](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/solo-ensemble-2) - [Drama](http://www.dramaministry.com/) - [Home](http://www.discoverworship.com/home) - About - [About Us](http://www.discoverworship.com/about) - [Staff](http://www.discoverworship.com/about/staff) - [Pricing](http://www.discoverworship.com/pricing) - [FAQ](http://www.discoverworship.com/faq) - [Reviews](http://www.discoverworship.com/reviews) - [We Recommend](http://www.discoverworship.com/we-recommend) - Music - [Choral Music](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2) - [Praise & Worship](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2) - [Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2) - [Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2) - [Instrumental](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/instrumental-2) - [Children’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/childrens-2/childrens-choir-13) - [Solo/Ensemble](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/solo-ensemble-2) - [Blog](http://www.discoverworship.com/blog) - Videos - [Performances](http://www.discoverworship.com/videos) - [Tutorials](http://www.discoverworship.com/tutorials) - [Lyric Videos](http://www.discoverworship.com/lyric-videos) - Help - [FAQs](http://www.discoverworship.com/faq) - [Contact](http://www.discoverworship.com/contact) - 1-866-859-7622 - [Choral Music](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2) - [4-part SATB](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/4-part-satb-6) - Seasonal - [- Christmas](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=14) - [- Easter](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=13) - [- Thanksgiving](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=12) - [- Patriotic](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/?&season_filter=9) - [- More](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2%26season_filter=991) - [Traditional](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/traditional-6) - [Worship Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/with-choir-3) - [Hymns](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/hymns-6) - [Choral Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/choral-collections) - More - [- 2-part](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/2-part-6) - [- 3-part](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/3-part-6) - [- with Children](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/with-children-6) - [- with Soloist](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/with-soloist-6) - [- Women’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/women-s-choir-6) - [- Men’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/choral-anthems-2/mens-choir-6) - [Praise & Worship](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2) - [Contemporary](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/contemporary-3) - [With Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/with-choir-3) - [Small Band / Acoustic](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/acoustic-3) - [Gospel Worship](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/praise-worship-2/gospel-urban-3) - [Worship Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/worship-collections) - [Musicals & Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2) - [Christmas Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2/christmas-musicals-51) - [Easter Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2/easter-musicals-51) - [Other Musicals](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/musicals-2/patriotic-51) - [Choral Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/choral-collections) - [Worship Collections](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/collections-2/worship-collections) - [More…](http://www.discoverworship.com/music) - [Instrumental](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/instrumental-2) - [Children’s Choir](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/childrens-2) - [Solo / Ensemble](http://www.discoverworship.com/store/download-products/solo-ensemble-2) - [Drama](http://www.dramaministry.com/) Search [Blog Home](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles) # Make It Count October 03, 2013 by [Marty Parks](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles/author/marty-parks) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![](https://blog.discoverworship.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/3160-1.jpg?width=700&height=394&name=3160-1.jpg) I have a friend who says that the very first rule of public speaking is… *have something to say*. That's advice worth taking to heart, but it's a concept that, I fear, we don't really consider strongly enough. For instance, the opening words for worship have power – the power to engage the congregation; the power to focus attention on God; or the power to be disengaging, lacking focus and trivial. And those opening words, in many cases, fall to us as worship leaders. This Sunday, how will you invite people to worship? How will you help usher them into an encounter with God? Maybe there's a scripture passage that ties together the theme of the opening songs. Maybe your comments could connect today's music with a particular season. Take the Psalms as your cue. Most scholars believe that many of these were used in Israel's ancient liturgy as a call to worship. They're vivid, gritty and passionate. But mostly, they give us a vision of God we don't see every day. The point is this – before the day is done, your congregation will hear plenty of “Good to see ya!” and “How ya doin'?”  You've got one chance to set the tone and direct the focus of worship. Make it count.  [![Get 5 FREE Songs!  (with all the demos, tracks, charts, and more)](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2934518/ddadb60b-487e-41c1-9590-36ec1e88be7c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2934518/ddadb60b-487e-41c1-9590-36ec1e88be7c) Posted in: [Encouragement](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles/topic/encouragement), [Leadership](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles/topic/leadership), [Music Ministry](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles/topic/music-ministry), [Working With The Pastor](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles/topic/working-with-the-pastor) ![Marty Parks](https://blog.discoverworship.com/hubfs/MartyParks.jpg) ### Marty Parks Marty Parks is a composer, arranger, orchestrator and producer with over 900 songs and arrangements in print. His work is represented by major choral print publishers around the country. He is a frequent conference leader and workshop speaker whose first devotional book, Quiet Moments for Worship Leaders, came out of his own experience in reflecting on the word of God, and out of his passion to see the same developed in others. His work, as well as current projects, activities and appearances, can be found at martyparks.com. [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/marty.parks.3) [Back to top](https://blog.discoverworship.com/articles/blog/view/78/make-it-count#top) [![Sign up for our  newsletter now!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2934518/9e3b7e21-c10d-44cd-baf6-1a4544aaeb38.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2934518/9e3b7e21-c10d-44cd-baf6-1a4544aaeb38) [![Search Blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2934518/a91fffad-06ca-46d9-9cbe-30c1a5ce82f7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2934518/a91fffad-06ca-46d9-9cbe-30c1a5ce82f7) - [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/DiscoverWorship) - [Twitter](http://twitter.com/#!/DiscoverWorship) - [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/user/DiscoverWorship) - [Contact Us](http://www.discoverworship.com/contact) - [Privacy Policy](http://www.discoverworship.com/privacy) In Partnership With: [Drama Ministry](http://www.dramaministry.com) © 2017 DiscoverWorship.com. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks used on this site are the properties of their respective owners. Site powered by [The A Group](http://www.agroup.com)