"Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. {2} Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. {3} Sing to him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy."

1. Singing constitutes a vital part of our worship, we need to get it right.

2. Music is selective - music chooses its audience.

3. The church has a mandate to win souls for the Kingdom. If a person becomes a Christian, but along with that also needs to make a cultural change in their style of music, this can be a hindrance. Therefore choose a style of music so that it is easy for that person to become a Christian.

4. The contemporary pop-rock style with piano, drums, keyboard, electric guitar - is the style that will be most acceptable to the typical Australian. (For those that this style doesn't suit, they can have another service for the “older folk who like traditional hymns and slower classical style” - (“older folk like to get up early, so they are happy with that”)

5. We need to have contemporary music in our churches to reach the unchurched

6. We also need contemporary music because 5 times in the Psalms and twice in Revelation we are exhorted to “Sing a NEW SONG” Songs have limited life, people tire of them. There’s something about a new song!

7. God has given us creativity. It’s a reflection of God’s nature to be creative, alive, fresh, like His Grace, “new every morning”

8. Research done on the content of worship songs, comparing the post-war hymnals with the choruses of today. There is a significant trend upwards of songs of intimate worship - directly addressing God, and songs with reference to the Holy Spirit. Downward trend in songs of proclamation, and references to the “Cross”, “Blood”, the Name of Jesus, & Heaven.

9. Choose songs on frequent Biblical themes, - “Praise” - but make sure you actually praise (with an attribute of God and extol that attribute) - “Rejoicing” - “Thanksgiving”

10. Check for doctrinal accuracy. eg. “I come into Your Presence”, “I am weak”, “I want more of You”

11. Make sure the musicians can handle the music. Songs are getting more complex.

12. Commune with God - avoid annoying interruptions to the flow. (Same key)

13. Don’t be over critical or judgemental. Join in anyway. Evaluate later and improve.

by Dennis Prince, Resource Christian Music P/L 1996.

Phil 2:1-11 NIV)

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, {2} then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. {3} Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. {4} Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. {5} Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! {9} Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

“The purpose of worship is to elevate, not to degrade. The quality of the music used should be above rather than below the cultural level of the congregation. If the music seems to be ‘over your head’ the best thing to do is to raise your head.” Joseph Clokey, quoted by Lovelace and Rice. p.204

1. Choose music primarily for its MEANING. What does the song say? Is it worth saying?

2. Choose music that can speak to the entire congregation. If it is divisive, if most of the people do not understand what is happening, if it does not have meaning to most, then it is probably a poor or inappropriate choice.

3. Does it have a sense of personal involvement, of spontaneous involvement, and joyful celebration?

4. Does it fulfil our Lord’s command to “Feed my lambs”? Or is it mere junk food, dressed up to appeal to the masses? To offer non-spiritual food is indefensible.

5. Does it communicate and express a sense of awe and wonder in the presence of Almighty God. Lead thoughts towards God rather than towards ourselves.

6. Does it proclaim God’s power and purpose in our lives and guide us to respond.

7. Is the unity of the congregation being strengthened as we worship together?

8. Good church music should be primarily concerned with the mind of Christ rather than “blowing the mind” Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death... not enough composers are willing to make sacrifice of time, energy, and talent to produce music which shines with clarity and glory.

9. Be open to any new style, for there is nothing sacred about any particular style or period of music-making. There is either good or bad, appropriate or inappropriate music.

10. If the temple is ‘filled with smoke’, who is to say the music is wrong? But if the temple is filled with stagnant, dull, stupefying sounds, how can it be right?

11. All music chosen and performed must be prepared with a zeal for perfection.

12. Educate the congregation. If they know something about the different style and understand what the piece is supposed to do and say in the service, the congregation will tend to be more open and receptive.

13. Be a communicator. If a musician is a prophet and priest, communicating the love of God through love of people, no matter what music is chosen, it will not be a matter of entertainment, but of involvement of the whole community in a total response to God.

My sons, do not be negligent now...