A Variety of Hymn Styles in Corporate Worship

I sometimes hear of the apparent conflict between “the hymns” and contemporary Christian worship songs. Some of this goes back to the “worship wars” of the last few decades, which has since cooled in many churches, according to Lifeway Research. No matter what style of music your church implements, there’s another style to consider in music ministry: the style of hymns.

Contrary to some misconceptions, hymns aren’t just “the hymns.” There are a variety of hymn styles that can be chosen for congregational singing. Perhaps one of the biggest misunderstandings with hymns is the assumption that all hymns are from a particular era in history. Hymns encompass all of church history, including the present day. Though a bit overly-simplified, let me share the different hymn styles I try to include in congregational singing.

• Classical Hymns – Many of these hymns can be found in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley are two of the most prolific. These tend to include rich poetry, intricate theology, and objective (third-person) God-centered perspectives in themes. For new believers and younger congregants, the archaic language can be challenging. Yet, a steady diet of classical hymns can be quite healthy for a church’s theology.
• Gospel Hymns – Whereas classical hymns were representative of the First Great Awakening, gospel hymns tend be rooted in the Second Great Awakening. They helpfully emphasize the saving work of Jesus on the cross. They also tend to be lyrically simpler than classical hymns and are more subjective (first-person or second-person) in perspective, often drawing the singer to a decision. Revivalism incorporated these songs first as an evangelistic tool, but soon churches (especially in the American South) adopted these hymns into their repertoire for corporate worship. Southern Gospel music was an offshoot of the gospel hymn, which utilized 20th century instruments and musical styles, while sticking with many of the themes of the gospel hymn.
• Contemporary Worship Songs – In the wake of Southern Gospel music incorporating newer and culturally-appealing music styles, contemporary Christian music (CCM) was birthed from similar evangelistic intentions as Southern Gospel. But CCM too found its way into the orders of service among most evangelical churches, first with praise and worship choruses and then with contemporary worship songs. Musically, these songs appeal to younger believers especially, and their lyrical content is typically quite simple. Though the downside is that they have had less time for critique and can range from very shallow and to very theologically rich.
• Modern Hymns – Although hymns can be found from every era of church history, hymn writing had become less commonplace while contemporary worship music ascended in popularity. However, we’ve experienced a resurgence in hymnody in the last 25 years or so. Writers like Keith and Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Matt Merker, among others have helped revive the prominence of hymn writing and hymn singing from all generations. Drawing from the influence of classical hymn writers, I like to call this era the “neo-classical” era of hymnody.

With such a variety of hymns and worship songs to choose from, pastors and worship leaders have an abundance of options for designing orders of service. How do churches typically pick songs? I’ve regularly seen the following extremes:

Contemporary-Exclusive – If it’s on Christian radio, you will probably hear it at this church. You may also hear selections from high-production churches that write music such as Bethel, Elevation, Hillsong, and Passion, which Worship Leader Research has labeled the “Big 4.”

Traditional Hymns-Only – These churches are usually more staunchly Fundamentalist. These hymns often center on gospel hymns, with a few classical hymns, while avoiding both contemporary worship music and modern hymns. Thus, they’re not really “hymns-only,” but “certain hymns-only.”

In contemporary-exclusive churches, older generations are often overlooked, while the richness of the hymns from history get completely missed.

At the same time, traditional hymns-only churches forsake the opportunity to minister to younger generations while also overlooking some truly excellent songs and hymns that have been written in recent years.

I would suggest that the most ideal approach to choosing hymns and worship songs would be to include all four types, seeking to minister to a broad range of ages, preferences, and cultural backgrounds.

For my church context, we are in the American South and at a local church nearly 200 years old. When I sift through songs for corporate worship, I try to identify songs and hymns from all four categories. Based on the Sunday, we may not end up choosing a song from one of the hymn/song categories, but I certainly aim for this variety.

Here’s the song list of a recent worship service to practically see what I mean by choosing hymns and songs from all four categories:

• In Christ Alone (modern hymn)
• At Calvary (gospel hymn)
• Amazing Grace (classic hymn)
• Creation Sings (modern hymn)
• Is He Worthy? (contemporary worship song)

Why go through all this sifting? Is it just to make some people happy for their song or two of preference? No, it’s not about people-pleasing. It’s about what Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (ESV). Instead of asking what our hymns can do for us, we should be asking what our hymns can do for one another. If we all take this mindset to heart, then we will all benefit. There are enough doctrinally sound, theologically rich, and musically singable songs and hymns from all four categories. We should always choose the best of the best for corporate worship, but we should also not be confined to one hymn style.

Sing a New Song (Just Not Too Many at Once)

Bob Kauflin has written about what he calls the “Twenty Year Rule.” In his excellent book, Worship Matters, Kauflin asks, “If someone was born in our church and grew up singing our songs over the course of twenty years, how well would they know God?” (pg. 119) Perhaps we can ask a follow up question as well: if you were to take a snapshot of your church’s songs from twenty years ago and compare them to today, would there be any resemblance? Many song sets of churches today are filled with Christian radio hits from the last twelve months, but this turnover rate of worship songs can have some negative effects as well.

A constantly changing canon of songs can lead to timidity and tiredness. People tend to sing better when they are familiar with the songs. This also allows them to focus on the meaning of the song rather than focus on “getting it right.” Having a revolving door of worship songs makes this extra effort of learning new songs too frequently can wear out even the most Spirit-filled person.

Another challenge from learning too many songs for congregational singing is that it takes away from a sense of theological heritage and unity. This is different from tradition for tradition’s sake. If none of our songs today match what we sang just two decades ago, then we lose a sense of connection to the rest of church history. Since much of a church’s theology is found in the songs it sings, then discontinuity with its songs implies a lack of steadiness with our theological forebears. We shouldn’t necessarily keep up with historic hymns for nostalgia or personal preference. Rather, we should retain the very best of them for their rich theological teaching and the perceptive eloquence of their poetry to serve as a ministry of the Word (Colossians 3:16).

At the same time, there are both biblical precedents and practical benefits to introducing new songs to your church. I typically introduce about 8-10 new songs per year, which is done gradually (first as a special music and then as a congregational) and weekly for about 4-5 weeks in a row. New songs help teach biblical truth and theology in a fresh way. They also give a healthy incentive for Christian songwriters to use their gifts to help instruct the church in learning the Word through singing. This way, each generation (including generations long gone) has a literal voice in the local church, speaking truth to one another through song. So, yes, sing a new song!

Much of my music ministry philosophy and love for hymns of all generations is indebted to Keith and Kristyn Getty. At the Sing! Conference a couple years ago, they hosted a round table discussion on the concept of a “canon” of hymns. Keith’s admonition was to have 50 hymns that your church can grow old and die with (with another 50 or so that would play an important role for the time being). Every congregation is different, but for my church, these indispensable 50 would include “Come Thou Fount,” “Amazing Grace,” and “In Christ Alone.”

Like a lot of church music choices, there is a need for wise balance with how we sing newer songs. Church plants, for example, would probably need to be more careful with a broad canon of songs compared to a congregation that is decades (or even centuries) old. On the one hand, a church whose songs have the lifespan of a housefly could benefit from greater stability of recurring gold standard songs and hymns. And on the other hand, the church that sounds and sings the same way as it did during the Cuban Missile Crisis might be in for a crisis itself of neglecting the voices of younger generations.

My encouragement for pastors and worship leaders is two-fold:

1) Sing older hymns and worship songs (just not only the older ones)!

2) Sing newer hymns and worship songs (just not too many at once)!

The 10 Best Modern Hymns

Last year, I wrote, “The 10 Best Modern Hymn-writers,” which received a lot of encouraging feedback. Although every era of church history has had solid hymns, the “golden age” of modern hymnody goes back to the eighteenth century with writers like Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, John Newton, William Cowper, and others. In the many decades since then, the church has been blessed with a plethora of other excellent hymns. But I would argue that the twenty-first century has seen a renaissance of exceptional hymn writing.

Matt Boswell has noted, “The hymnal of the church has no back cover.” Of course, a hymnal has a back cover, with dozens of hymns. You will also notice that is has a copyright page towards the beginning as well, putting a timestamp on its publication and limiting more recent hymns from admittance. Yet, the collective hymnody of the Church (capital-C) increases as the years go on. Not all hymns are created equal in terms of biblical content, recognizable melodies, and endurability. But there are enough that have stood the test of time. And I think that many of these will likewise be sung in churches for years to come.

The criteria for selecting these hymns focus on the biblical nature of the hymns, the singability, and the prospective outlook for enduring into the coming years. And the time limitations I’m using for them being “modern” roughly puts them within the last 25 years.

10) “He Will Hold Me Fast” by Ada Habershon and Matt Merker

This has quickly become such a meaningful hymn to many people in my church (including me). I’m grateful for Merker’s addition of a third verse that focuses on the power of the resurrection as well.

9) “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin

This is a wonderful doxological hymn of praise. Like many classic hymns, “10,000 Reasons” works logically through the themes of adoration, assurance of pardon, and a future hope in eternity.

8) “Living Hope” by Phil Wickham and Brian Johnson

Our church loves to sing this modern hymn that might blend somewhat into being a contemporary “praise and worship” song. Whatever the case, it does a good job of describing the “living hope” we have in Christ (2 Peter 1:3).

7) “Behold Our God” by Sovereign Grace Music

Slightly more modern in style with the inclusion of a bridge (in addition to 3 verses and a chorus), this is an incredible song to sing. You will find that it is built on numerous Scriptural texts. A couple of years ago, we had our children’s choir sing the second line of the bridge antiphonally with the congregation.

6) “The Power of the Cross” by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty

This is another gem by Townend and Getty that brilliantly explains the meaning of Jesus’ death, but it also directs the Christian to the power of the resurrection as well. The Townend and Getty songs are so good at telling of the gospel story in a poetically-skilled way.

5) “Is He Worthy?” by Andrew Peterson

This is one of the most majestic hymns I’ve ever sung. The only drawback is that it is slightly trickier in rhythm than most of the others on this list. But I still must insist that this is a song to sing for years to come. It’s so richly drenched in biblical teaching. I can’t wait to sing this with my church when it’s on the Order of Service.

4) “Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me” by CityAlight

This is one of my favorite hymns to select for concluding a service. It reminds believers of the power of the gospel for the Christian life. Jesus’ death and resurrection isn’t just good news for unbelievers; it’s good news for Christians too!

3) “His Mercy is More” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

This is one of the faster-tempo songs the revels and rejoices in God’s rich mercy. Though based in Scripture, the now-famous line from the chorus, “Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more,” is actually derived from a John Newton sermon.

2) “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Stuart Townend

This is what propelled Townend to go into modern hymn writing. It’s a beautiful, reflective hymn on the love of God, but it also helpfully internalizes the message to apply to the Christian’s heart.

1) “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty

This final modern hymn is already considered a “classic.” It’s simply written and easy to sing. The lyrics cover the gospel story in such a clear and compelling fashion. This is a song churches will be singing for generations. I had the opportunity to attend the “Sing! Conference” a couple of times in recent years. The recordings from some wonderful arrangements at one of those conferences can be found here [Amazon affiliate link].

There are so many honorable mentions I could list here. I’ll refrain from doing so, but would love to hear your thoughts as well. What would you add to the list of the “10 Best Modern Hymns”?

The Faith of the Presidents (NEW Book Available!)

Not everyone gets remembered in history books. Those who do, however, have typically lived a life of great influence, whether for good or for ill. In American history, few people have outpaced the presidents in terms of notoriety. And thus, it is crucial to know the details behind these consequential politicians.

Published in 2021, The Faith of the Presidents is an up to date compilation of biographical essays devoted to each president of the United States, from George Washington to Joe Biden. Utilizing primary and secondary sources, John M. Wiley delves into the lives of these presidents on the deepest of levels–unveiling their faith. Not all presidents were religious, and while some laid everything out to be known, some were more reserved in their ponderings about God, the Bible, and the place of religion in the United States. But there is arguably no greater driving force behind America’s presidents than their faith (or lack thereof).

While there are other works that have been composed regarding the religious perspectives of most of America’s presidents, there are no other known books to date that have surveyed all the presidents with the goal of helping Christian readers specifically to spiritually engage with the faith of these presidents. In a way, this book is a cross between a history book and a Christian theology/Christian living genre. The Faith of the Presidents offers thoughtful Christians an opportunity to refine their faith and discerningly learn about the religious views of America’s most powerful statesmen.

Click here to purchase the paperback.

Click here to purchase the Kindle version.

Book Review: “A History of Evangelism in North America” by Thomas P. Johnston, ed.

Click here to purchase this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3heZLzC

Throughout several years of Bible college, seminary work, pastoral ministry, and Bible teaching I’ve gone through many different books on evangelism–usually, they are “how to” kinds of books. Likewise, I’ve tried to read just about any church history book I’ve been able to touch. But I was a bit struck not too long ago when I first heard of this book, “A History of Evangelism in North America,” edited by Thomas P. Johnston. I had never even heard of a book that deals with the history of evangelism (in any continent), unless one counts books on the history of missions. Thus, there is a great deal of uniqueness to this recent volume by Kregel Academic. For those less familiar with church history, there are some chapters on the big names like Jonathan Edwards, Francis Asbury, and Billy Graham. But there are also quite a few lesser studied figures, such as J. Wilbur Chapman, John Mason Peck, Henrietta Mears, and Dawson Trotman. For Christian leaders interested in getting some inspiration from the past (or even the very recent past, as the last few chapters deal with the twenty-first century), as well as for the historically-minded Christian (whether as a lay learner or teacher/professor), “A History of Evangelism in North America” is a nice contribution to the evangelical-reading world.

The one noteworthy critique I would highlight is that this book reads more like a collection of chapter-length mini-biographies (with a few exceptions). As editor, Thomas P. Johnston had a rather difficult task of trying to cohesively weave multiple chapters into a text that surveys evangelism in North America. Although there is some continuity, such as a multiple-chapter analysis of figures from the First Great Awakening, at times this book reads a little choppier than I had anticipated. I definitely believe I received a good overview of the different figures presented, but the book isn’t titled, “A History of Evangelists in North America,” but is rather about “evangelism” as a phenomenon. Thus, I think one of the drawbacks, in my opinion, is the discontinuity at times that results from highlighting individuals more prominently over movements (although granted, some of the chapters do try to divert some attention to broader movements). Personally, I was hoping to learn a little more about the personal evangelism that (I assume?) existed in times of a more Christianized North America from the 19th and 20th centuries.

That critique aside, I do think this is a valuable text for Christian leaders to obtain. These stories are captivating, inspiring, and motivating to the 21st century believer, even though many of them precede the present generation by decades. This is another type of “great cloud of witnesses” for us to consider. The authors all tended to likewise show why their spiritual impact is significant–in other words, it wasn’t a dry, academic textbook. This is definitely marketed for evangelical Christians. And having delved into it, I would recommend others to consider its contents for their historical and spiritual enrichment.

Note: A review copy of this book was provided to me for free by Kregel Academic. All opinions were my own.

FREE Power Point Lessons for the Book of Acts

Photo by Diego Muñoz Suárez on Pexels.com

I recently just finished teaching through the entire book of Acts with my Sunday school class. What a big accomplishment that was, and quite a large amount of great lessons in truth found along the way. Here are my Power Points, divided in four units, that I used while teaching. I highly recommend John Polhill’s commentary on Acts. Otherwise, I used a variety of language sources and a couple of technical commentaries to arrive at conclusions. Please download and use freely!

Acts 1-7 Power Point

Acts 8-14 Power Point

Acts 15-21 Power Point

Acts 22-28 Power Point

Book Review: “Reformation Women” by Rebecca VanDoodewaard

A large majority of the most famous Protestant reformers are, indeed, men. There are many reasons for this, but it would likewise be a mistake to think that the Protestant Reformation was a movement instigated and propagated solely by men. Rebecca VanDoodewaard’s Reformation Women: Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity’s Rebirth takes on the task of better understanding the role of women in the Reformation. While numerous women could possibly be selected, VanDoodewaard narrows down her research to twelve in particular. Some were fairly well-known, but others were virtually unheard of (to me, at least). At about 115 pages, this was a remarkably quick read. I finished more than half of it during down time on a weeklong missions trip, so it’s certainly not an intimidating size. For those interested in learning about women of the Reformation, who likewise want to be exhorted to Christian godliness, will find this concise book to be delightful.

By far, my favorite chapter was number one, which covered the life of Anna Reinhard. It is refreshing to hear of the personal details of what life was like for Anna and family in sixteenth century Switzerland, as the entire family pressed on to win people over to the Reformation. Many of VanDoodewaard’s citations are drawn from primary sources, though occasional secondary texts are referred to or quoted. VanDoodewaard makes it manifestly clear in her introductory remarks that she is not trying to follow the patterns of modern feminist historians, though she argues there is some good to be found in this recent historiographical movement. One thing that is probably most necessary to know from a historiographical perspective is the underlying motivation that VanDoodewaard seems to have in Reformation Women, namely, that this book is not merely to revise historiographical viewpoints of how women lived during the Reformation (in fact, that generally was not the case). And for that, professional historians might be a little disappointed. More so, this book could be lumped together in the “Christian Living” genre, since a great deal of emphasis is placed on finding these women  to be inspiring role models for Christian women today, and men as well. Furthermore, it is especially geared towards women in the “Reformed” theological camp. That is not to say that non-Reformed readers will find this book valueless, but there are noticeable criticisms of Catholics and Anabaptists that just did not seem to be as equally represented among those in the Reformed traditions. Overall, though, there is much to gain from reading Reformation Women, both for historical enrichment and spiritual encouragement.

***Disclaimer: Special thanks to Cross Focused Reviews for providing a free review copy. All opinions were my own.***

History of Colonial Baptist Church (PowerPoint Presentation)

Click Here to Download PowerPoint

Recently, I had the privilege of teaching a small Sunday school class at my church in Blue Ridge, Virginia. As the picture above denotes, I’m a member of Colonial Baptist Church, an independent Baptist congregation that has existed autonomously for several decades, though its origins lead back to the early 1800s. The topic I spoke on for a few months was “Church History,” beginning with the Early Church and concluding with an overview of North American church history, and even Colonial Baptist itself. To see the PowerPoint slides I used, click on the link above. Unfortunately, this PowerPoint only captures part of what I spoke on in class, but hopefully this will peak the interest of those familiar with this church.

 

Book Review: “The Baptist Story:From English Sect to Global Movement” by Chute, Finn, & Haykin

I first came to love church history while in college, and a major reason why had to do with my Baptist History textbook, Leon McBeth’s The Baptist Heritage. This thick, old-looking, well-researched book triggered within my not only a love for church history, however, but of Baptist history in particular. So when I heard about the recently published book, The Baptist Story, written by Anthony Chute, Nathan Finn, and Michael A.G. Haykin, I was intrigued to say the least. I still have a sentimental attachment to McBeth’s wonderful textbook, but several years have passed since then, and as historians know, there is always more to learn about ever topic. Overall, I believe that well-studied Baptist historians and people completely new to Baptist history alike will find The Baptist Story to be well worth the read.

One thing is quickly noticeable about The Baptist Story: it is much thinner than The Baptist Heritage. At just under 350 pages of text it will still take some time to get through, but it is not as intimidating as McBeth’s text. The style of the writing in The Baptist Story is very readable, but also thoughtfully examined. Throughout the pages, the book is filled with pictures, helping readers put faces to names. One somewhat disappointing aspect about the book is the lack of precision in citations. There are not any footnotes/endnotes, and while the endings of each chapter has a “For Further Study” suggested bibliography, I prefer having clearer documentation. One thing I do really like, however, is the fact that the authors (or perhaps editor) chose to insert primary source quotations/documents within text-boxes on many pages. This really helps the authors buttress their interpretations.

The Baptist Story is especially informative on matters that are more recent–things that occurred within the last five decades or so. While I think McBeth may have been a little stronger on the earlier stages of Baptist history–from English origins to Baptists in America–the authors clearly took a lot of time and attention to Baptist history since World War II. For college and seminaries professors looking to update their textbooks or bibliographies, I would highly recommend The Baptist Story. And for those who are looking for a solid Baptist history text for personal enrichment, this is a must-have book.

 

***Special thanks to B&H Academic for providing a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions were my own.***

Valentine or Valentinus? (Trivia Game)

February 14th is indeed a holiday, and one that is named after a famous figure in church history, Saint Valentine. There was another figure in church history with a similar sounding name who has been less revered–due to his unorthodox teachings–and that was Valentinus. Do you know the differences between the two? Try out my trivia game! It’s free to download, just click on the link below.

Valentine or Valentinus Trivia Game