Vernacular Discipleship through Music

Overview

Topics Covered at Workshops to Encourage the Creation of Indigenous Christian Song

Biblical Perspective of Worship

  • We know what is involved in worship because the Bible tells us what worship is; study passages about worship
  • Worship involves a dialogue between God and His people; He speaks, we respond
  • Public/corporate worship vs. private/individual worship

Biblical Perspective of Culture

  • Discuss definition of culture; what makes your culture unique from surrounding area?
  • Looking at the Biblical framework of creation, fall and redemption, we discuss how this applies to various areas of culture and how Christians should look at all cultural endeavors through this lens  

Music in the Bible (focus on Old Testament)

  • Occasions for music in Scripture
  • The main reasons Scripture gives for making music
  • Power of music
  • What does it mean to “sing a new song to the Lord”?
  • Musicians in the Bible

Musical Instruments of the Bible

  • Presentation of the instruments that were used, and on what occasions (includes pictures and sound)
  • OT study showing how all instruments are acceptable in worship
  • Video about one African tribe’s process to redeem a culturally valued instrument for Christian worship

Music of the New Testament

  • Study of various song texts found in the NT
  • Study of Col 3:16

Music in Culture

  • Define the heart language and heart music of a people group
  • Explore individual participant’s musical culture: When do people sing and make music in your culture? Who sings? What types of songs are sung? Etc.
  • Discuss song styles from the participants’ culture(s)
  • Discuss song styles from the participants’ churches

Application: (The following section can be included only if it is determined that musicians and composers are in attendance.)

  • Participants break up into groups and choose a scripture verse or teaching and discuss how it could be set to music.

Conclusion: Discuss and present practical ways to encourage local-style music suitable for worship within a community of believers.

(Also included throughout the workshop are various audio samples of local-style Christian song from around the world.)