The Lord’s song sings faith into people’s hearts.
Music is central to the life of the church. In Church Music: For the Care of Souls, Phillip Magness helps the church to recover the primary instrument in worship: congregational voices. With voices raised, we sing praises to our God and King for his Son, Jesus Christ. Singing calls for a special kind of leadership—not only on the part of musicians but also among pastors and lay leaders. Together, leaders can help congregations find their voice and reclaim the power of music for the care of souls.
Many churches today lack a theological vision of corporate worship, and in particular, of congregational singing. This book helps cast such a vision as a biblical, theological, and pastoral aid for us to sing with greater understanding—and gospel joy!
—Matt Boswell, pastor, The Trails Church
This book wonderfully blends a principled approach to the church’s song (valuing its heritage) with flexible creativity (expressing the heritage) in ways that will help any congregation to be faithful, authentic, and impactful in its worship life.
—Bryan Gerlach, director, WELS Commission on Worship
This needed and necessary book will benefit all Christians making music in the church—those in the choir loft, pulpit, and pew.
—Katie Schuermann, author and musician
The church is desperately in need of rearticulating the wonder, the role, the purpose, and the power of music in her worship beyond pragmatism, and Magness helps his readers expand their vocabulary in expressing God’s gift of music to his people.
—Joseph R. Crider, dean and professor of church music and worship, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Lexham Ministry Guides, edited by Harold L. Senkbeil, offer practical, proven wisdom for the church. But wisdom takes time. The authors in this series developed their wisdom through years of ministry experience and conversations with colleagues. These books invite you to enter into these conversations to better serve the Savior’s sheep and lambs with confidence. You will find hands-on tools, lessons from years of ministry experience, and an array of resources to apply to your own ministry context.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.