The Purpose of Music

Last weekend I was invited to give a reflection on music at a teen and youth retreat from church.  I thought I would share the text with you in the hopes it benefits you and your music ministry.


I was recently asked to speak about my views on music.  I immediately thought, "Wow!  What an easy topic! There is so much to say!"  But then I thought, "Wow!  There is so much to say!"  How do I keep this to a reasonable time?  So I'll keep this focused to just the main point.  What is the main point?  

Of course, music is universal.  Each culture has a unique and distinct flavor.  It is an amazing array extending across the globe.  Within this vast spectrum is yet another spectrum of occasions and emotions each yielding to the variety.  It is an amazingly diverse and beautiful myriad of melodies continually streaming from humanity.  And yet within all of these varied tunes and multiple motivations for music,  


There is no higher purpose for music than for prayer.

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Not to Us, O Lord

Today I thought I would throw out some food for thought as well as a bible verse pertaining to prayer before the first song is sung. Given all the effort that is instilled in music ministry such as song selection, setup in church, practice, and the inevitable last-minute-adjustments, the focus can easy become blurred. We may feel that the attention is on us.

Certainly, there is some attention that will be given to us. During live music, the congregation will naturally be curious about the music source. Without seeing the music group, it would feel eerily disembodied, wouldn’t it? In addition to this proverbial spotlight, in some churches there may be physical spotlights as well on the music group.

What are we to do with this attention? Redirect it.

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May God Bless the Leaders of Song!

We fall under many labels.  We can be called Worship Leaders, Music Ministers, Youth Band Leader, Contemporary Band Leader, etc.  We lead the music in church.  We lead music ministry.  We lead the congregation in song and praise.

We have many jobs within our job.  Yes, we lead the music, but we also recruit musicians (always recruiting!), search songs, find songs, select songs, locate sheet music, learn and follow copyright law, arrange songs, organize very generous and dear volunteers, lead practice, foster musical teamwork, but above all we strive to motivate souls.

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Prayerful Song: The Gift of Confidence

I am continuing a theme developed in some earlier posts about the importance of prayer before the first song is sung.  Gather the music group together in a circle and pray.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, it is an anxious time before that first song.  "What is that first song again?"  "Where is the music for it?"  "I’m not sure I practiced this tricky part enough."  It is important to refocus our attentions back onto what should be our main task: leading souls in prayerful song.  It is amazing what a simple prayer will do to help refocus the music ministry. 

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Prayerful Song: Refocus

I wrote in an earlier post about the importance of prayer before the first song is sung.  It is an anxious time before that first song.  Sometimes we think “Will people be impressed with my singing?”;  “Will they ask me for autographs afterward?”;   “Oh no! How do I look?!”  It is important to refocus our attentions back onto what should be our main task: leading souls in prayerful song.  It is amazing what a simple music ministry prayer will do to help refocus.


Within this prayer this also is a great time where I remind myself that this time is not about me, but it is about Him.  Admit it.  Sometimes we as musicians might get caught up in the American Idol or Rock Band culture and images, and feel that the spotlight is on us.  We have worked hard honing our talents, and practicing the melodies.  It is time to impress the judges and show how talented we are. 

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Music Ministry Tips: Part I of Seventy times Seven

Welcome to Music Ministry Tips! As fellow church musicians, we hope you discover many simple tips and tricks for Prayerful Song!  

I thought I would start this site off with a subject dear to my heart: worship through Prayerful Song.


How beautiful is the gift of music? How much more beautiful is it then to return the gift as an offering of  worship? One of the Fathers of Christianity taught Qui cantat, bis orat, “to sing is to pray twice”. How honored are we, the music leaders and church musicians, to lead the assembly in song-full and soulful prayer?

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