INTRODUCTION (3/12/2000)
On this list we will pass around during this and the next class please put down contemporary Christian musicians or albums you would like to discuss during this class.
In the Bible the word heart means more that the seat of our emotions as we often use it today. It means the entire inner person, the mind, will, and emotions. A good example is King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 5:20-21:
20 "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken away from him. 21 "He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. (NASB)
A central theme God teaches us in the Old Testament is in 1 Samuel 16:7:
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NIV)
God put this message in an extravagant context. When King Saul became king, he was the tallest man in all Israel. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul disobeyed God, and Samuel told Saul that his heir would not be king. God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king of Israel. 1 Samuel 16:7 is right after Samuel saw Jesse’s oldest son and admired what a good looking king he would make. All of Jesse’s sons passed in front of Samuel except for the youngest out tending sheep. Samuel has to get Jesse to send for David, and Samuel anoints David, a boy, as king.
Ray Boltz's song, " Shepherd Boy," (6) album: Moments For The Heart-Best Of Ray Boltz
Twila Paris' song, "I Never Get Used To What You Do," (10) album: Where I Stand
To understand music, we also need to understand worship. Look at the page:
Psalm 19:1-4; 33:6: Creation is God's Expression
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/PerryWebb/glory.html
or (mirrored at)
http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/blossom/309/glory.html
When we understand that glorifying God (expressing who He is) is our reason for being, then worship has a whole new meaning to us.
"...singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19b, NASB)
context: Ephesians 5:8-21
"...singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16b, NASB)
context: Colossians 3:12-17
Web page: Ephesians 5:19-20: "...make music in your heart to the Lord"
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/PerryWebb/music.html
or (mirrored at)
http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/blossom/309/music.html
Database correlating contemporary Christian songs to the Bible passages by Rick Johnson:
http://www.pgnet.net/songroot/
He is looking for people to help him find the scriptures corresponding to songs.
Listen to Rich Mullins' song, "First Family," (4) album, Never Picture Perfect and ask what does he describe in his song and what is the message it conveys.
Brian Williams ([email protected]) has a Web site on Rich Mullins' music:
http://www.kidbrothers.net/
Rich Mullin's (Ragamuffins) Web site:
http://www.richmullins.com/
For next class read the page:
Why does God, who is both all-powerful and perfectly good, allow suffering?
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/PerryWebb/suffering.html
or (mirrored at)
http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/blossom/309/suffering.html
We will listen to an album and discuss the similarities with this page.
©2000 Perry Vernon Webb. You may quote this page in part or the whole as long as you
1) do not alter the wording and
2) reference this Internet page as the source of the quote.
How to receive a new life in Christ.
Back to "Notes on Contemporary Christian Music".
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