1

2 Discussion of Song Selection Process Dr. Barry Liesch Biola University La Mirada, California © 2011 Barry Liesch

3 Col 3:16 NIV 2010

4 Memorize Col 3:16 NIV 2011 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

5 Memorize Col 3:16 NIV 2011 Let the m______ of C_____ dwell a____ you richly as you t____ and ad______ one another with all wisdom t______ psalms, hymns, and songs from the S_____, s_______ to G__ with gratitude in your hearts. Let the m______ of C_____ dwell a____ you richly as you t____ and ad______ one another with all wisdom t______ psalms, hymns, and songs from the S_____, s_______ to G__ with gratitude in your hearts.

6 Memorize Col 3:16 NIV 2011 Let the m______ of C_____ dwell a____ you r______ as you t____ and ad______ one another with all w_____ t______ psalms, hymns, and songs from the S_____, s_______ to G__ with g________ in your hearts. Let the m______ of C_____ dwell a____ you r______ as you t____ and ad______ one another with all w_____ t______ psalms, hymns, and songs from the S_____, s_______ to G__ with g________ in your hearts.

7 Memorize Col 3:16 NIV 2011 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

8 Memorize Col 3:16 NASB Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

9 How do you find/choose songs? Select the song that connects most with you? Latest internet, worship hit? Browse your utube, itunes, CDs? Latest songbooks, hymnbook? Ask for favorites? You (alone) select? Shared selection? Select the song that connects most with you? Latest internet, worship hit? Browse your utube, itunes, CDs? Latest songbooks, hymnbook? Ask for favorites? You (alone) select? Shared selection?

10 What’s important in your process? Thematic connection to sermon Sensitivity to local church culture Familiarity—no more than 1 new song Christocentric Balance “I” with “We” Emotional variety Singable  Right key? Doable range? Thematic connection to sermon Sensitivity to local church culture Familiarity—no more than 1 new song Christocentric Balance “I” with “We” Emotional variety Singable  Right key? Doable range?

11 Your choice is influential Plato Let me write the songs of a nation, and I care not who writes the laws Broad recognition of… Power of songs to implant embedded narrative embedded theology embedded theology Songs repeated  placed in rotation, memorized Long term memory (rhyme, tune, rhythm) Plato Let me write the songs of a nation, and I care not who writes the laws Broad recognition of… Power of songs to implant embedded narrative embedded theology embedded theology Songs repeated  placed in rotation, memorized Long term memory (rhyme, tune, rhythm)

12 Let’s go deeper

13 What’s important in your process? See it as pastoral—as spiritual formation! Support best activities of Church Support best activities of Church Engage all age groups—inclusive Engage all age groups—inclusive Texts that teach, explore, develop… Texts that teach, explore, develop… rich long texts—multiple stanzas rich long texts—multiple stanzas Broad coverage of Doctrine over time Broad coverage of Doctrine over time Christian experience Christian experience Songs that last, have staying power Songs that last, have staying power Partner/friend for a lifetime Partner/friend for a lifetime See it as pastoral—as spiritual formation! Support best activities of Church Support best activities of Church Engage all age groups—inclusive Engage all age groups—inclusive Texts that teach, explore, develop… Texts that teach, explore, develop… rich long texts—multiple stanzas rich long texts—multiple stanzas Broad coverage of Doctrine over time Broad coverage of Doctrine over time Christian experience Christian experience Songs that last, have staying power Songs that last, have staying power Partner/friend for a lifetime Partner/friend for a lifetime

14 What’s important in your process? Songs broadly known (universal) in-common tradition in-common tradition 1. Crafted lyric with poetic power, content 2. Memorable melody Both valuable Sequential lyrics—verses, logical Sequential lyrics—verses, logical Circular lyrics—brief, repetitive Circular lyrics—brief, repetitive Songs broadly known (universal) in-common tradition in-common tradition 1. Crafted lyric with poetic power, content 2. Memorable melody Both valuable Sequential lyrics—verses, logical Sequential lyrics—verses, logical Circular lyrics—brief, repetitive Circular lyrics—brief, repetitive

15