Singing to the Lord in the congregation can be one of the most exciting and meaningful activities of the local church. No other activity equally engages the mind, will, and emotions. No other activity requires the precedent of unity around the truth of God’s Word. It is a wonderful experience when God’s people are fully engaged and unified in worship.…
Yes, I am dedicating this entire post to review this book. I’ve read many books on worship and music, and there are many good ones. I can’t say I’ve ever read one so encouraging as this one. I think it is an important book for reviving passionate, joyful, and celebratory congregational singing. Keith and Kristyn Getty have written some great…
Three of my absolute favorite courses to teach at West Coast Baptist College are Hymnology, the study of Christian song, Philosophy of Church Music, and Theology of Worship. I believe all three are necessary for a biblical and balanced worship program. Our biblical theology of worship builds framework for all matters of corporate worship, including music. Philosophy of Church Music then…
Because my primary role at West Coast Baptist College is to oversee the music department, I am constantly asking whether or not we are effectively preparing our students for the work of music ministry. As you can imagine, the skills and knowledge required for this position vary from church to church. In some cases, a music pastor is responsible for other…
You’ve probably heard someone say, “Leaders are readers and readers are leaders.” I cannot pinpoint exactly when I first heard that statement, but I know that many great books have influenced my thinking on a variety of topics. Sometimes I ask people I meet in ministry to tell me which books have influenced them. I’m amazed how often I’ve never…
In part 1, I discussed some considerations when choosing songs that communicate truth in a powerful way. In part 2, I stressed the importance of congregational participation. There is a third, more practical way to develop the praise of new believers in your church. Create a development plan for your music program. Most churches do not have a systematic program…
In part 1, I developed the importance of choosing songs that communicate truth powerfully. Now I’d like to develop the second practice I believe can help to develop the praise of new believers. As a theological backdrop, I’d encourage you to read my post “A Call for Worship Leaders – Part 3.” Prioritize congregational involvement. Many congregations follow a pattern…
Ministering in an increasingly secular culture simply means that the people we reach will often be biblically and religiously illiterate. It is a thrill to disciple such new Christians and to watch God transform their lives. However, unraveling years of wrong thinking can present a unique challenge.
In this series, I have done my best to lay out a biblical deduction of the purpose of the church, the role or worship, and the problems I see in our worship. Now I’d like to offer a couple suggestions. Time and space could not allow me to develop each point thoroughly, but if you’d like me to develop any…
Let’s take a moment to review… If we are to develop mature disciples for Christ, we must focus on developing the whole of man. Worship is a means by which Christians mature by replacing temporal affections with eternal affections. Worship is an obedient response to the truth of God. We can demonstrate eternal affections through giving, obeying, praying, and praising. The…
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:23-24 In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the following points:…
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:23-24 DISCLAIMER: This is not another article about methodology or standards. I’m…