rickyblaha.com » Music

Preparing Songs for Corporate Worship

ricky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:15:55 +0000

I had an opportunity to attend WorshipGod 2011 in August. During this conference I attended this workshop. To give a little background, I went to this conference, literally, on the way to my new job as Minister of Worship in Baltimore, MD. I had previously been involved in leading worship in another church on a volunteer basis, but this is was going to be my first opportunity being employed full time at a church. I had a big job ahead of me. This conference, and specifically this workshop, was very helpful in preparing me to begin my new responsibility.

I have now been employed here almost five months now, and I have learned a lot along the way. But, recently, I have had a number of conversations with members of my church regarding choosing songs for corporate worship. I was thrilled to find that Bob had posted this video of the workshop on his blog/website, Worship Matters. I think that this video will be helpful for anyone who is involved in choosing songs for corporate worship. Actually, I think that this will be profitable to church member who desires to understand or analyze the value of Christian Music in church and individual worship.

I hope that you find this as helpful as I have.

this is “grace at work”

An Article on Hymnody

ricky — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:22:37 +0000

I came across this article this morning (thanks to Bob Kauflin) and found it very encouraging. I say “encouraging” because my current situation puts me very near the type of setting that Kevin DeYoung shares. I have thought many of the same things that Kevin expresses here, but it appears that he has come to some very helpful conclusions. His conclusions are ones that I have not yet reached, at least in his words.So Ifind it very helpful in that way; but furthermore, it is encouraging to hear from another pastor who has gone through (or is going through) similar situations.

Personally, I find many of the older hymns speaking more clearly about the Gospel of our Christ and the attributes of our God more clearly than much of the music that is being produced in main-stream Christian music today. Often the hymns bring with them a patience and imagery that newer composers neglect. However, not all that is old is good, and not all that is new is bad. Many of the older hymns do not even speak of God or the Gospel directly. Instead, they speak of past remembered or future anticipated experiences. There is nothing necessarily intrinsically wrong with experiences, but our faith is not built on our experiences. It is built on the person and work of Christ our God. This is the reason the main subject of our songs should not be us, but rather God.

Kevin DeYoung talks through this subject and provides some food for thought. In the end, it is not music that should be the issue, but rather it should be the heart and mind of each worshipper. Each person’s thoughts and affections should be saturated with the clear truths of God and the Gospel. Songs can either establish our thoughts toward these truths or direct them unsuspectingly away.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/11/30/remembering-memory-2/

this is “grace at work”

Principles for Church Music

ricky — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:26:26 +0000

I have only recently become familiar with Kevin DeYoung. But, in that short amount of time, I have been impressed with his thoughtful and thorough care for the Church in his preaching and his writing. In this two part article which he wrote for The Gospel Coalition, Kevin lays out 10 very helpful principles of church music that would benefit any worshiper of God. Check them out.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/06/28/ten-principles-for-church-song-part-1/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/06/30/ten-principles-for-church-singing-part-2/

Church Music Styles

ricky — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:01:00 +0000

IX Marks Ministries has faithfully served the body of Christ through their thoughtful and thorough resources regarding Church life. This article posted on the Questions for Pastors tab of their website provides a very clear and concise approach to the subject of church music styles. Often churches can waste time and words trying to develop the perfect formula to determine the style of music in the church. And, although this exercise can be helpful and wise, it can steal much time and attention away from handling more important details of church life. As usual, IX Marks has provided a straight-forward, Biblical response to yet another matter of church life.

http://www.9marks.org/answers/how-important-style-music-church-sings

a Biblical approach to music in the church

ricky — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:01:20 +0000

Last Sunday at my church, Grace Bible Church in Moore, SC, Ben Ebner, who leads our music and corporate worship taught on a biblical approach to music within the church. Although the applications of the talk were specifically to our church body, the goals and principles that he presented were from scripture. This is perhaps the the best presentation of music from a Biblical approach that I have heard. I would encourage anyone who reads this post to take the time to listen to this talk. It will be worth it. Again, this is addressed specifically to our church body. Please keep this in mind. Enjoy and be edified.

Ben’s Talk on Music in the Church

this is “grace at work”