Tag Archives: congregational singing
An Embarrassing but Formative Worship-Leading Lesson from 30 Years Ago
I remember the incident as if it occured yesterday, though it’s been over 30 years, because of how profoundly it shaped the rest of my career. I was leading congregational singing for a Sunday night service at the church where … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged congregational singing, contemporary worship, spiritual transformation
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Why I’m Going to Stop Complaining about the Lack of Musical Vitality in So Many CWM Songs, Part I
I’ve had enough. It’s driving me nuts. I’m done. Thirty-five years ago, in the wake of the TV evangelists’ scandals, I wrote a Bob-Dylanish, righteously indignant, finger-pointing song slamming the hypocrisy and hedonism in the Church on display for all … Continue reading
Bidding Farewell to The Practice
“Those smaller fellowships that do survive COVID-19 might very well end up determining that the worship practices heretofore deemed immutably necessary for cultural relevance in 2021 and beyond no longer make sense for them in our current reality. And that might look a lot like The Practice. Here’s hoping.” Continue reading
Posted in contemporary worship music, worship
Tagged congregational singing, contemporary worship
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Reflection #19 on Worship in the Contemporary American Church
“It works during Advent. Why not try it, at least occasionally, during other times of the year?” Continue reading
Help for Harmonically Challenged Contemporary Worship Music Songwriters
In this space two weeks ago, I lamented the ubiquity of the I-IV-vi-V chord progression (and its same-difference variations) in contemporary worship music (cwm). Over the weekend I listened to the new release from a worship leader whom I truly … Continue reading
When Contemporary Worship Music Is Boring: A Worship Educator Wrestles with the End Justifying the Means
I am neither a music snob nor a music purist. As I wrote in my last blog, I am the son of a music educator who revolutionized the world of music appreciation (for all who encountered his philosophies, anyway) by suggesting that Van Halen … Continue reading
When It’s OK Not to Sing in Corporate Worship
Several months ago, a well-known Christian author created a stir in cyberspace by detailing his lack of connectedness with much of what transpires in corporate worship in American churches these days. He confessed that he doesn’t attend church all that often, … Continue reading
Thoughts on the Scriptural Mandate to Sing New Songs, Part 2
Last week, I shared thoughts re: what the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms, has to say about the mandate to sing new songs. This week, I will look briefly at the New Testament’s focus on singing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,” … Continue reading
Thoughts on the Scriptural Mandate to Sing New Songs, Part 1
My doctoral thesis looked at the biblical, historical, and theological ramifications of Scripture’s exhortations to sing new songs. Having worked pretty hard during that time to pull together thoughts that would not only pass muster in the upper echelons of academia … Continue reading
Emmaus Road Worshipers 