Music Mission, Philosophy and Pattern

• Exodus 13-15: Red Sea
• Judges 7: Gideon 300 warriors
• Luke 2:13, 20: Jesus birth

Music that is Inspired by Great Spiritual Events:

• Psalms 30: Dedication of the Temple
• Ezra 3: restoring the Temple
• Luke 19: Jesus triumphal entry

Music in the Wake of Personal Spiritual Triumph:

• 1 Chronicles 15:16-28: David dancing for the restoring of the Ark
• Nehemiah 12:27: Dedication of the wall
• Acts 16: Paul and Silas

Music that is based on Revelation

• Psalms 104: praise God as creator
• Psalms 105:2: praise his works
• Revelation 5:9: praise in heaven

We believe that the music program of our church should have three major purposes;

It should PRAISE GOD

• Psalms 40:3
• Acts 16:25

It should GLORIFY GOD:

• 1 Corinthians 1:31
• 2 Corinthians 10:17

It should EDIFY BELIEVERS:

• Ephesians 4:29
• Colossians 3:16

We need to look at some of the specifics of our music program and what we do when we select music for our church:

I. The first thing we look for is a STRONG MELODY:

(the way music moves across the page)

Ephesians 5:18-19

• The most important part of the music is the melody.
• The rhythm supports and enhances the strong melody.
• The harmony flows naturally out of a strong melody and does not clash with it.
• The melody, harmony, and rhythm should support the text.

II. The second thing we look at is the TEXT and the text should do two things.

• It should TEACH: Colossians 3:16

1. Doctrinally sound.
2. Scripturally accurate.
3. Its content and intent should be clear.
4. It should not be ambiguous or have hidden or double meanings.

• It should ADMONISH:

1. This word means to put in mind, reprove gentle, or to caution.
2. The text should cause us to want to do right things.

III. The third thing we look at is the music’s APPROPRIATENESS for the use in church:

• 1 Corinthians 6:12: all lawful but not expedient
• 1 John 2:15-16: love not the world

IV. Some general principles that we apply are:

• We prove all things by the Word of God and hold fast that which is good. We never accept or use something because it is accepted or used by the society in which we live. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• We make every effort to abstain from all appearance of evil. If we have any questions concerning a piece of music, we choose not to use that particular piece of music. 1 Thessalonians 5:22
• We endeavor to maintain our separateness and uniqueness from the world as believers. 1 John 2:15

We believe that there are four basic principles that are the pattern for all Christian Music.

Music of the Working of God: Red Sea and Jesus birth (Exodus 13-15, Luke 2:13)

Music of Great Spiritual Events: restoring the temple (Ezra 3)

Music of Personal Spiritual Triumph: David Paul and Silas (1Chron. 15:16-28, Acts 16)

Music of Revelation: praise in heaven (Revelation 5:9)

Three major purposes: praise God (Psalms 40:3), glorify God (1 Cor. 10:17) and edify believers (Eph. 4:29)

Selected Music: Strong melody (Eph. 5:18-19), text soundness (Col.3:16) and appropriate (1 Cor. 6:12)