What Are John Calvin’s Views on Music?
John Calvin’s views on music can be found in his 1543 “Letter to the Reader,” his Institutes 3.20.31–32, and his commentaries on Colossians 3 and 1 Corinthians 14. In a recent article published in the Calvin Theological Journal, I argue that Calvin’s reliance on early Christian writers in the promotion of singing reveals that early Christian writers […]
10 Newly Written Hymns for Congregational Singing
I often talk with pastors and church volunteers who would like to improve their church music but don’t know where to start. I always tell them that reforming church music begins with congregational music. Incorporating a healthy balance of old and new psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is vital for the life of the church. […]
Translations & Tunes for the Oldest Early Christian Hymns
Here are English translations and tunes for the oldest early Christian hymns. This is meant to be a worship resource if you are attempting to incorporate the oldest Christian hymns in your gathered worship. If you’re interested in learning what Early Christian music might have sounded like, then check out my article on the Oxyrhynchus […]
Tune Up Your Teaching: Christian Song as Discipleship
Thanks for attending my session! As promised, here is a link to download a PDF of the PPT notes. Also, here are the notes from the seminar. **** BIG IDEA: Singing is not just for the worship ministry; singing should be used for discipleship in the church, home, and personal worship. Is there biblical warrant for using singing […]
What Did Early Christian Music Sound Like?
Unfortunately, there are no extant Christian musical compositions from the first century, but we do have a surviving Christian hymn from the 3rd century. This hymn is called the Oxyrhynchus hymn (pronounced Oxi-REEN-kus). The reason why this fragment is so important is that both the music and the text are preserved. And, thanks to the […]
Sin Is the Reason for the Season
It struck me recently how many Christmas hymns develop the doctrine of sin. It’s not just a passing reference; it’s a major theme. We don’t usually associate Christmas time with sin, but it’s a necessary association. After all, the gospel is not all that good of news unless there is bad news—that we’re hopelessly lost […]
Printable Lyric Sheet for Christmas Caroling
The Christmas caroling event is in an hour; a group of singers will be showing up soon and you forgot to plan the music for them—if you’ve led songs for a community of any sort, you’ve probably experienced this same daunting feeling—Don’t fret! I have compiled a printable chorus sheet for Christmas caroling for your […]
“In the Shadow of the Temple” by Oskar Skarsaune.
Students of Scripture have long recognized the Jewish influence on the Christian church during the time of Christ and the Apostles. Even after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70, one might expect some residual effects to linger on into the second century. But Oskar Skarsaune, professor of church history at Norwegian Lutheran […]
The Importance of Community in Worship
The Earliest Glimpse at Community in Worship In Acts 2:41-47, we get the first glimpse of community life among the earliest believers. At the heart of their community was worship. Since our concept of worship encompases both the daily life of the believer and the formal gatherings of the church, in Acts 2, we must […]
Clement of Alexandria’s Use of Music for Cultural Engagement
The early church fathers are often seen as hard-nosed killjoys when it comes to music. While it is true that the earliest Christians held a stringent view of music resulting in a restricted form of church music, some of the fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria (c.150–215), saw music as a worthy pursuit for the […]