As we follow the guidelines being set forward by officials to practice social distancing, it may leave more time than you typically have either alone or with your family. Consider filling some of that time with songs about Christ. Bob Kauflin shared this blog post on his church’s website about Songs to Sing in a Pandemic. Bob writes, “So if we want to experience the security of God’s faithfulness in the midst of uncertainty and impending trials, we won’t find it by endlessly checking Facebook, cable TV, the Internet, and blogs. We will fix our minds and hearts on what is true about God. Singing is one of the ways God has given us to remember these realities. It enables the word of Christ to dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16).”
Sovereign Grace Music has been producing albums for over 30 years and has a catalog of over 550 songs. Did you ever wonder where all those songs come from? A primary source is the annual Sovereign Grace songwriters retreat, an invitation-only event that usually takes place at the start of each year. The attendees are primarily members of Sovereign Grace churches, but we also invite some writers who share a similar vision for writing theologically informed, gospel-centered, emotionally engaging songs for local churches.
This year, we held the retreat on January 8-11, in Louisville, KY. About 15 people came from Canada and the U.S. for our 20th songwriting retreat. Our focus was writing songs for an Advent/Christmas album to be released later this year. Our first Christmas album, Savior, came out in 2006, and our most recent, Prepare Him Room, was released in 2014. We’ve been encouraged by the way Prepare Him Room has been received but thought it was time to try our hand again at writing songs that help us appreciate the beauty, wonder, power, and relevance of the Incarnation.
As you might imagine, writing songs for a Christmas album is a significant undertaking. It’s not like no one is putting out Christmas albums anymore! But it became evident early in the retreat that the Spirit was helping us. One group worked on a version of “Away in the Manger” with a new melody and lyrics that help us see what the baby in a manger grew up to do. Another song, “O Come, All You Unfaithful,” reminds those who struggle at Christmas that Jesus was born for the lost, broken, alone, and rebellious. Other songs included a revision of “The First Noel” and different takes on “Emmanuel.” Overall we had 60 songs by the time the retreat was over.
This turned out to be one of our best retreats, not only due to the songs that written but because of the camaraderie, fellowship, and encouragement that was pervasive. We began with dinner on Wednesday night, taking time to reconnect, share the vision, and pray for our time together. We spent the next 2½ days writing, eating, praying, laughing, evaluating, discussing, drinking coffee, and worshiping the Lord in song.
Each morning began with a 15-minute devotional that helped us remember God was working through us for his glory. Then we spent about an hour listening to songs people were working on. The rest of the day was spent writing. Most of the time, people wrote in groups of 2, 3, or even 4, challenging and encouraging each other. That kind of interaction could never happen apart from writers who were eager to give credit and slow to take it. And that was due to an awareness that there’s nothing we have that we don’t receive – including lyrics and melodies (1 Cor. 4:7).
God was so kind to give us this time together, and we’re eager to hear the church singing and listening to these songs. Please pray for us as we continue the process of writing, editing, and recording. Lord willing, we’ll release the album sometime in October.
Bob oversees the music of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville and helps provide pastoral care. His full-time job is serving as the Director of Sovereign Grace Music. Bob and his wife, Julie, have four daughters, two sons, and an ever-growing number of grandchildren.
Bob Kauflin recently wrote an article entitled “Good Music Can Become Your God: Five Reasons Jesus Is Better” that was published by Desiring God on November 16, 2019. Bob’s article is filled with much wisdom and help especially as it relates to music. Here is an excerpt that we hope will stir your interest to read the entire article.
But as much as I love music, I’ve realized it’s possible to confuse feelings produced by music with feelings produced by truth. Some sixteen hundred years ago, Augustine was brutally honest about that struggle in his Confessions. He acknowledged the benefits of singing and listening to others sing, and said it might even inspire feelings of devotion in weaker spirits. But then he admitted, “When I find the singing itself more moving than the truth which it conveys, I confess that this is a grievous sin, and at those times I would prefer not to hear the singer.”
If a spiritual giant like Augustine struggled with valuing musically-induced feelings over spiritual ones, we probably will too. But I don’t think many of us would see that as a “grievous sin.” Maybe we should.
In addressing how to sing, Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). We aren’t to let musical experiences dwell in us richly. Not technological creativity, volume, skill, excellence, or an “atmosphere.” We’re to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.
The “word of Christ” is the message about him we often call “the gospel.” It’s the good news that Jesus Christ took on flesh so he could bear our sins and punishment to justify us before God and bring us into his family. Those truths are meant to dwell in us richly as we sing.
I’m thrilled to let you know that on July 26, Sovereign Grace Music will release, “Behold Our God,” an album of 11 songs featuring the Shiloh Church Choir.
In one sense, every album we produce is a “gospel” album. We’re serious about enabling the word of Christ to dwell in people richly through our songs (Col. 3:16). So we make sure that every project contains the glorious truths and implications of the perfect life, substitutionary sacrifice, and triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But “gospel” can also describe a musical style, and that’s what makes this recording unique.
As I’ve talked to African-American brothers and sisters about the need for songs more reflective of their roots, I’ve wondered if one day we might partner with a church or ministry to produce an album.
Allan Bynoe, from East Point Church near Atlanta, has been a good friend over the years and was an early adopter of Sovereign Grace songs for his church. Aaron and Tiffany Johnson, leaders of the Epiphany Fellowship music team, Doxa, also helped flesh out some new sounds for songs from Sovereign Grace and others.
But a few years ago, my son, Devon, happened to meet H.B. Charles, Jr. at a conference they were both participating in. They clicked immediately and he learned that H.B. was taking songs he heard at conferences and introducing them to his church Shiloh Baptist in Jacksonville.
A little later, Devon suggested we ask H.B. if his church might want to record a project with us. That seemed like a good partnership for a number of reasons.
H.B. is devoted to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, preaches the gospel consistently and passionately, and is building a local church around those priorities. He was already wanting to see his church sing more doctrinally-rich songs and he was doing something about it. Furthermore, Joe Pace, who now pastors Shiloh’s Orange Park campus, shares H.B.’s heart. Joe has also been in gospel music for decades. On top of all of that, we’ve had a growing affection for these men and what God is doing through them.
So, we emailed Joe and H.B. to ask if they wanted to do a joint project. Their response was an enthusiastic “Yes!” They saw the value in a gospel album that was more congregational than artist-driven. We saw the value in putting a little “seasoning salt” on our music.
The actual recording took place on Thursday night, February 28, 2019. Eight Sovereign Grace folks were at Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, FL, recording a live project with their 120 voice choir, ably directed by Joe Pace. The album includes 5 previously recorded Sovereign Grace Music songs (Behold Our God, O Great God, He is Our God, The Gospel Song, All I Have is Christ), 2 songs from Shiloh writers, and 4 songs written or co-written for this album.
We don’t know exactly how God is going to use this project and the videos we’ll be posting on YouTube. But we pray those listening to and singing these songs will experience the same joy we did in making it. We pray churches will be able to envision a more diverse congregation, united in the gospel. We pray the music and lyrics will cause us to see Jesus as more glorious, gracious, and satisfying than we had before.
Most of all, we pray this album reminds us that God’s praise extends far beyond our little corner of the field. And that when God sent his Son to redeem a people for his glory, he didn’t specify what kind of music we should use. Only that we should sing loud, to the Lamb, and together (Ps. 33:3; Ps. 47:1; Rev. 5:9-13).
Bob oversees the music of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville and helps provide pastoral care. His full-time job is serving as the Director of Sovereign Grace Music. Bob and his wife, Julie, have four daughters, two sons, and an ever-growing number of grandchildren.
Marty Machowski has written another gem for children and their families. He is already an author of numerous resources on the Bible’s big story, systematic theology, and a devotional on Proverbs.
Now his latest book is available, Listen Up: 10-Minute Family Devotions on the Parables. Here are 10 reasons you should prayerfully consider leading your own family through Marty’s book:
1. It Is Paired with High-Quality Music
Don’t just get the devotional—get the music album too! For years, our family has loved learning rich, biblical truths through both the writing of great literature and great music from Sovereign Grace. And it makes for a particularly powerful punch when the two come together—this time, focusing on Jesus’s parables.
2. It Helps Make Clear the Parables of Jesus
Throughout the years, there are certain teachings from Jesus that I have read over and over again, and I still feel as if I hardly understand them—even with a seminary degree! But Marty’s experience both as a seasoned pastor and a skilled teacher enables him to explain what Jesus taught and why He used parables.
3. It Equips Parents to Disciple Their Children
We parents can be tempted to leave our kids’ discipleship in the hands of the pastors and leaders at our local churches. Marty longs to come alongside us and give us the tools we need not just to impart knowledge to our children, but to commend Christ and His powerful ministry to them.
4. It Comes in Manageable Portions
Some devotionals are too long and can wear our children out. Others are too simplistic and don’t sufficiently challenge our children. Listen Up is a great length at approximately 10 minutes each, enabling kids to chew on solid food throughout the day without choking on it.
5. It Teaches — Through Stories
Faithful to Jesus’s style, Marty doesn’t simply teach propositions; he tells stories. Jesus, the Master Teacher, knows how to make a point and how to make it stick. Stories, like music, help us remember—and feel—the truth we’ve received.
6. It Celebrates Sound Doctrine and Sound Living
Marty wants the next generation to think rightly, to know God truly, and to worship Him in truth. But he also longs for our children and grandchildren to love this God passionately, to proclaim His kingdom boldly, and to worship Him in spirit. Which means he aims not just for changed thinking, but changed lives.
7. It Anticipates Each Coming Week of Lessons
Every chapter, Marty provides a preview of what’s to come, helping both parents and children orient each day’s devotional around a particular parable and theme. Then, for the five lessons throughout the week, families are better able to dive deep into Jesus’s teaching.
8. It Facilitates Meaningful Conversation
Marty is a master question-asker, and his discussion questions should prove fruitful to the family that patiently works through them. He especially recommends that parents review the lessons and questions ahead of time so that they can share thoughtful reflections with their children.
9. It Is Suited for a Wide Range of Ages
My 7-year-old, 4-year-old, and even 2-year-old have all benefitted from Marty’s teaching. But even teenagers can learn from his resources, as he provides Going Deeper material for those who can handle it.
10. It Directs Us to Christ’s Second Coming
I end where Marty’s book ends: at the end…of this age! How precious is a devotional that orients us around the next significant event in redemptive history, Christ’s second coming. And, like the Bible, Listen Up helps us prepare and long for Jesus’s appearing by spurring us on to love and good works.
Bryan DeWire graduated from Bethlehem College & Seminary, supports the team at desiringGod.org, and worships at Sovereign Grace Church in Burnsville, MN.