Biblical Worship

In the Division of Biblical Worship at Southern Seminary, you will develop the musical skills necessary to navigate the ever-changing landscape of worship styles. From modern rhythm sections to vocal groups, our curriculum will equip you for the musical trends, waves and challenges of the present and the future.

Scholarships Available.  For more information or an audition please contact us at biblicalworship@sbts.edu.

Watch our new video about the Division of Biblical Worship.

http://vimeo.com/southernseminary/biblicalworship

Gospel-Centered/Musically Relevant/Pastorally Focused

A while back my son and I were traveling in the car listening to the ‘oldies’ station on the radio.  When I was growing up this kind of music was music of the fifties and sixties.  Now it is the music that I listened to as a youth.  (A little troublesome to me, but that’s another discussion).  So, when my son is hearing these songs sometimes for the first time, I can actually remember the detailed lyrics of these songs I heard thirty years ago.  Does that remind us of the power of text set to music?  It is amazing how I can remember some rather ridiculous songs from my teenage years.  This reminded me of the responsibility we as parents and worship pastors have to provide songs with great texts for our children and youth today.  

I think it is interesting that even in the days of Martin Luther (1483-1546) there was a problem with the secular music of the day.  Luther sought to give the youth of his day a Christian musical alternative.  Luther encouraged the publishing of hymns and songs for the church. He wanted to get the church singing about their faith.  In the preface of a Christian songbook, Luther wrote:

“These songs were arranged in four parts (some are in three, others in five) to give the young - who should at any rate be trained in music and other fine arts - something to wean them away from the love ballads and carnal songs and to teach them something of value in their place, thus combining the good with the pleasing, as is proper for youth…”(from Geystliches gesang Buchleyn).

Even in Luther’s day there was a concern for the music of the younger generation and what it was teaching them.  What are we doing today to encourage our youth to listen to music that has a redeeming value?  If the music we learn in our childhood days stays with us throughout our lives, we as parents and music ministers should do as much as we can to give our young ones music that will help them in their walk with the Lord.

What are some things we can do to encourage them to listen to music with Christian texts?

1.  Like Luther suggested, let’s encourage the writing and producing of music with great Christian lyrics in a style that is attractive to the younger generation.

2.  We should know what kind of music are children and teens are listening to and understand the messages these songs are sending.  The old adage that “I just like the sound of the music and don’t pay attention to the lyrics” is not true.  The lyrics do find a way into our hearts and minds.

3.  Help our youth find music that is redeeming.  If our children are listening to non-stop music on their Ipods, let’s help them download some redeeming music.

4.  In our churches we should be encouraging the teaching of new worship songs that speak in the language of today so that the younger generation finds a substitute for the tempting ‘carnal’ songs of today.

All of this does not mean that we should abandon the great songs and hymns of generations past.  We should be teaching these songs to our children as well.  However, we need to also offer them an alternative to the secular worldly music that pervades all parts of their lives.  Let’s give them songs that thirty years from now on the ‘oldies’ Christian station will remind them of our great Lord!

Basil Manly, Jr.

In my worship class at Southern Seminary I usually show the students the following quote and ask them to determine when the quote was written:

For some years it has been apparent that the rage for novelties in singing, especially in our Sunday Schools, has been driving out of use the old, precious, standard hymns.  They are not memorized as of old.  They are scarecly sung at all.  They are not even contained in the non-denominational songbooks which in many churches have usurped the place of our hymn books.

We cannot afford to lose these old hymns.  They are full of the Gospel; they breathe the deepest emotions of pious hearts in the noblest strains of poetry; they have been tested and approved by successive generations of those that loved the Lord; they are the surviving fittest ones from thousands of inferior productions; they are hallowed by abundant usefulness and tenderest memories.  But the young people of today are unfamiliar with them, if the present tendency goes unchecked.

My students are usually surprised to discover that this quote was written by Basil Manly, Jr. (1825-1892), one of the founding professors of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky (www.sbts.edu).  These words appeared in the preface of a hymnbook edited by Professor Manly in 1892.  Manly, an Old Testament professor at the seminary was concerned  that the Gospel songs new on the scene were usurping the old hymns.  It seems that the young people were singing these new songs and not learning the standard hymns of the church.  These newer worship songs (perhaps by Fanny Crosby, Ira Sankey or others) majored more on the Christian experience and less on the objective truths of the Bible often found in the hymns.  Since we learn so much of our faith through our songs, Manly was concerned the newer Gospel songs were not carrying strong biblical content.

Although this quote is an isolated incident, I think a brief survey of worship music through the ages would reveal that this controversy of what songs should be used in worship is not a new one.  The church has always had an issue over what songs should be selected for corporate worship.

So how do we make sense of this issue today?

1.  It would be great if more theologically trained pastors were writing or selecting song texts for the church today.  So many of our great hymn texts in use today were actually written by pastors (Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, John Newton - to name a few).  Basil Manly was a good model for pastors as a hymn text writer and an editor of hymnbooks for the church.  We also need worship leaders with a healthy biblical foundation capable of filtering strong theological texts from weak ones.

2.  All songs were new songs at one point.  We should seek to “sing a new song to the Lord,” but make sure our new songs have significant biblical content.  Why spend time singing worship songs that have vague biblical content?

3.  We need to keep singing the great hymns of the church along with newer expressions of faith.  These hymns remind our young people that they are not the first generation of Christians to seek to live a Christ-like life in the world.  Also, our senior adults need to learn songs that speak to a younger generation about the Gospel.

4.  Let the focus be on song content and not secondary issues such as whether we will use an organ,  piano or guitar to accompany songs.  Sure there are a number of discussions we can have on this point, but we need to start with the song text.  Is the text true to the Scriptures?  Does the text teach the great truths fo the faith?

5.  Finally, let’s seek to be pastoral in our worship leadership - caring for the Body of Christ, seeking peace and unity in worship.  Teach deference: “I can sing a favorite song of my brother in Christ rather than my favorite.”

This week I had the opportunity to share with the traveling teams of LifeAction Ministries in Buchanan, MI.  These teams are in training preparing to travel for 9 months sharing the Gospel in churches across the country.   In thinking about these young men and women on these teams, I thought about I Timothy 4: 6-16 and Paul’s instruction to Timothy concering Timothy’s life and ministry.   Here are several principles gleaned from this passage concerning the life and ministry of the minister and more specifically, the worship leader:

1. Private Worship- vs. 6 and 7 discuss the priority of being constantly nourished by the word of faith and doctrine.  Our private worship (time in the Word, prayer and meditation) should be a regular part of our day preferably in the morning as you begin your day.  We minister to others from the overflow of our time alone with the Lord.  We can not lead a person to a place we have not been.  Before we lead others in corporate worship, we must be spending time in private worship.  I like the example set for us by the great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor.  He was so rarely alone during the day, he would often do his prayer and Bible study time from 2-4am in the morning while his team was sleeping.  I am not advocating this necessarily, but I think this does show the importance of finding time in our day to spend with the Lord in His Word and in Prayer.

2. Personal Holiness - vs. 7 tells us to discipline ourselves for Godliness.  Our effectiveness as worship leaders is wrapped up in our character.  The well known Scottish preacher of the 1800’s, Robert Murray M’Cheyne stated: “It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus.  A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”  M’Cheyne says “what his people need most is my personal holiness.”

The English preacher Charles Haden Spurgeon said “true and genuine piety is necessary as the first indispensible requisite; whatever ‘call’ a man may pretend to have, if he has not been called to holiness, he has certainly not been called to ministry.”

Are you guarding your life?  Do you have someone to keep you accountable? Our character speaks louder than our preaching.

3. Perseverence - vs. 10 says that we toil and strive setting our hope our hope on God.  Ministry can be very difficult sometimes for long periods of time.  It is not for the weak of heart.  Hebrews 12 reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and run the race with endurance.  As a ministry leader you will give up your personal preferences and find yourself tired and at times emotionally drained.  Remember that our battle may appear to be against flesh and blood, but in reality it is a spiritual battle needing spiritual weapons to fight.  Put on the spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6. 

4.  Priority of the Word - in your ministry place the Word of God at the forefront.  In vs. 13 Paul exhorts Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of the Scripture.  This includes exhortation and teaching of the Word.  In our corporate gatherings we must allow the Word to have a prominent place.  We should be reading the Word, singing the Word, praying the Word, and preaching the Word.  Hebrews 4:12 tells  us the importance of allowing the Word of God to convict our hearts and minds.  The Holy Spirit uses the Word to change our lives.

5.  People are our ministry - In vs. 12 Paul tells Timothy to set the example of an effective minister in our conduct, love, faith and purity.  Young ministers must demonstrate to their church members how God is working in their lives.  Gain the trust of your elders in the church by setting the example of a Christ like life.  Remember that as ministers what we do is all about reaching and investing in the lives of the Body of Christ.

6.  Passion for the Gospel - Paul instructs Timothy in vs. 16 to work hard to make the Word known because it would result in the salvation of those who hear his instruction.  We bring the good news of the Gospel to those who have not heard of Christ and to those who have been walking with Christ for many years.  The Gospel must be central to our lives and central to our message.  Strive to keep the Gospel in the center of your worship ministry.  Jerry Bridges tell us that we must preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday.  It has been said that we never move on from the Cross, only to a more profound understanding of the Cross.

I recently finished reading The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes.  The book is the latest edition of a series of books on Bible and Theology published by Broadman and Holman (ISBN 978-0-8054-4757-6).  Thomas Schreiner and Matthew Crawford  were the editors (and also contributors) for this book centered on the theology, history and present day practice of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.  The book is a great study for pastors and worship leaders who plan and lead the Lord’s Supper in the church.  The book includes chapters written by Andreas Kostenberger, Jonathan Pennington, James Hamilton, Michael Haykin, Gregg Allison, Bruce Ware, Shawn Wright, Greg Wills, Brian Vickers, Greg Thornbury and Ray Van Neste.  These writers bring a wealth of information on all aspects of the Lord’s Supper including discussions on the Lord’s Supper - a Passover meal, Paul’s view on the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s Supper in the early church, The Lord’s Supper and the reformation, and the Lord’s Supper in Baptist History. 

A number of Christian leaders through the centuries are quoted in the book including this quote from Spurgeon that addresses frequency of the Lord’s Supper in the church:

So with the Lord’s Supper, my witness is, and I think I speak the mind of many of  God’s people now present, that coming as some of us do, weekly, to the Lord’s table, we do not find the breaking of bread to have lost its significance – it is always fresh to us.  I have often remarked on the Lord’s day evening, whatever the subject may have been, whether Sinai has thundered over our heads, or the plaintive notes of Calvary have pierced our hearts, it always seems equally appropriate to come to the breaking of the bread.  Shame on the Christian church that she should put it off to once a month, and mar the first day of the week by depriving it of its glory in the meeting together for fellowship and breaking of bread, and showing forth of the death of Christ till he come.  They who once know the sweetness of each Lord’s day celebrating his Supper, will not be content, I am sure, to put it off to less frequent seasons.  Beloved, when the Holy Ghost is with us, ordinances are wells to the Christian, wells of rich comfort and of near communion.  (373,374).

I found this book very helpful to me in discussing important issues that surround the Lord’ Supper.  Because it covers so much ground  - theology of the Lord’ Supper, historical practice and guidelines for the church today - it should be on the library shelf of pastors and worship leaders.

I recently heard a worship pastor who was bemoaning the fact that he had been asked (and practically forced) to use a Justin Bieber song (Baby, Baby, Baby) in corporate worship with of course a different set of more appropriate words.  The person asking to use the song said that if the lyrics were OK, then it would not matter about the tune.  Really? . . .  Does the tune matter when it is a tune from a very familiar pop song?  One justification often used in this situation points back to the borrowed tunes used by hymn writers of past years.  It was not uncommon in Martin Luther’s day to borrow a folk tune to use for a new hymn text. 

I remember when I was high school (which will date me) a popular way to sing “Amazing Grace” was to set it to the tune of “The House of the Rising Sun.”  My youth group thought it was cool and relevant.  As I remember though the novelty of it was not about the “Amazing Grace” text but about the secular rock tune we were using.  As I look back on this today, I would say that the noteriety of the tune greatly overshadowed the text of God’s amazing grace. 

Why I would not use a Justin Bieber song or any secular pop tune set to new Christian lyrics in corporate worship:

1. When a song like that is popular in secular culture it takes on a life of its own that sends a different message even when the lyrics are changed.  If the song was used in worship it would always have a Justin Bieber association among those who know the tune.  This type song carries with it baggage that is distracting in worship.
2. There are thousands of possible tunes to use for a worship song that would work much better than a familiar pop tune.  Why even go there with the many options worship leaders have today for song tunes? 
3. Martin Luther’s use of folk tunes were mostly only known in his immediate culture.  After a hundred years only hymnologists would know that the tune was a folk tune.  It is a different day than Luther’s.  Today with our global technology there is an instant connection to pop songs across the USA and the world.  If we wait a hundred years, it might also be OK to use this Bieber tune. 
4. Although one could argue that all our tunes are profane before a Holy God, do we really want to use a tune with this pop association in the culture as a worship song presented to the Lord?
5. Lastly, while this may not matter much to some, it  really is illegal to take a copyrighted tune and change the lyrics without the permission of the tune owner.

I think we can do a lot better with our worship music than using song tunes that are so tainted in the pop culture.  We have so much else from which to choose.  Better yet, let’s write a new tune and a sing a new song to the Lord.

I recently finished reading The Life and Diary of David Brainerd which was edited by Jonathan Edwards (Baker Books, ISBN 978-0-8010-0976-1) .   Brainerd (1718-1747) was an early American missionary who devoted his life to sharing the Gospel with the Native Americans of his day.  Edwards (1703-1758) was a well known American Puritan theologian, preacher and author.  The diaries of David Brainerd were fascinating to read as they testify to his selfless pursuits in reaching the Native Americans. 

The book begins with a brief sketch of the life of Jonathan Edwards.  When Edwards was a young man in his twenties he authored a list of resolutions that he determined would guide his life.  I believe these resolutions are helpful for those in the ministry today. 

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is

perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14′ and July ‘3′ 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. 

Aug. 17, 1723

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two prominent worship leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention will be joining the faculty of Southern Seminary this fall. The hiring of professors Joe Crider and Chuck Lewis is part of a major new step forward in the seminary’s School of Church Ministries’ vision of training worship pastors equipped for the challenges of the 21st century.

Crider comes to Southern from Liberty University, where he has served as professor of music and humanities and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Crider also has served as minister of music at the First Baptist Church of Roanoke, Va., since 2008. At Southern he will serve as professor of music and worship leadership.

Bryan Smith, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Roanoke, said of Crider, “Without a doubt, Joe Crider will make a significant contribution in leading SBTS to become one of the premier centers for training the next generation of worship leaders for the SBC. He has developed a greater understanding and commitment to authentic biblical worship among our people in the context of genuine Christian unity and love. With Joe Crider, people aren’t merely commodities for ministry but people are ministry. I believe his move to SBTS will have a wonderful impact on the worship ministries for future generations.”

Crider received the bachelor of music and the master of arts from Bowling Green State University and the doctor of arts from the University of Northern Colorado. 

Lewis has served in the worship ministry of First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Fla., since 1993. Since 2004 he has taught at Palm Beach Atlantic (PBA) University in West Palm Beach, Fla. Lewis has degrees from Florida State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“Chuck is a faithful, godly, theologically grounded worship pastor who is extremely talented and extremely committed to Christ and His church,” said Jimmy Scroggins, lead pastor of First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Fla. “Chuck will be greatly missed at First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, but I cannot think of a better man to train men for worship leadership in the local church.”

Lloyd Mims, dean of the School of Music and Fine Arts at Palm Beach Atlantic University, said of Lewis, “At PBA Chuck helped us develop the practicums for our new popular music track in worship leadership; these courses are “cutting edge” in terms of their ability to give students strong feedback in their ministry intern positions. The students in Chuck’s Creative Worship Design course have benefitted immensely from his personal, positive interaction with them. As a former dean of Southern Seminary’s School of Church Music and Worship, I take great delight in the fact that one of my faculty members is now assuming an important role in Southern Baptist church music education.”

Randy Stinson, dean of the School of Church Ministries, said he was elated to see two nationally renowned scholar-practitioners joining the faculty.   “Joe Crider and Chuck Lewis share our vision,” Stinson said. “They are able to train up those who will be not only accomplished musicians but pastors who lead worship.  “These men are respected in the scholarly guild, but they are also two of the most effective worship leaders in our denomination, who know what it is, week by week, to lead the people of God in worship,” Stinson said. “I could not be more thrilled to see these two men joining us in spending the next decades of their ministry training up the next generation of worship pastors.”

The School of Church Ministries was established in 2009, with a vision for training ministers in such areas as music, worship, discipleship and family ministry.

Professor Carl Stam passed away on Sunday, May 1 after a long battle with cancer.  He was a worship professor here at Southern Seminary and a friend to me.  Chip was one of the strongest advocates I have ever met for Christ-centered worship.  His teachings on worship and related topics made a great impact on me and our students.  His concern for the Gospel and how it is worked out in the corporate worship setting was always at the forefront of his conversations. 

We not only saw how important the Gospel is in corporate worship but we observed the Gospel lived out in Chip’s daily walk with the Lord.  This was strongly evident in his life as he battled cancer.  Chip Stam made a profound impact on our music and worship department and we will endeavor to keep this Gospel focus as we build on his legacy of work here at Southern.  He will be greatly missed.

At the memorial service for Chip this past Saturday we sang hymns, worship songs and anthems that Chip had selected a number of months before his death.  The choir for the service sang this anthem:  “Lord, It Belongs Not to My Care”  - a text by Puritan pastor Richard Baxter (1615-1691) and set to music by Carl Schalk.  This text fully embodies Chip’s testimony of these last months in his life:

Lord, it belongs not to my care, whether I die or live,

To love and serve Thee is my share, and this thy grace must give.

If life be long, I will be glad that I may long obey:

If short, yet why should I be sad to sore to endless day?

Christ leads us through no darker rooms than he went through before,

He that unto God’s kingdom comes must enter by this door.

Come Lord, when grace has made me meet, thy blessed face to see;

For if thy work on earth be sweet, what will thy glory be!

My knowledge of that life is small, the eye of faith is dim;

But ‘tis enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with him.

Alumni Chapel

The School of Church Ministries of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary will begin offering three new doctoral degrees in Christian Worship this fall (2011).  These degrees represent many hours of work on the part of the school faculty.  They will provide worship pastors and church musicians the opportunity to complete a terminal degree in the area of Christian Worship. 

A unique aspect of these degree plans is that they are designed on a modular format.  Students can now keep their current ministry positions and pursue these degrees at the same time.  Under this format students will attend seminars and colloquiums twice a year (two weeks in winter, two weeks in the summer).  There will be online work and other assignments due during the fall and spring between seminars.

There are three new doctoral degrees being offered:  Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Worship, Doctor of Ministry in Christian Worship and Doctor of Educational Ministry in Christian Worship.  

Download these files to read more about these new degrees:

PhD in Christian Worship

DMin and DEdMin in Christian Worship

If you would like to talk with someone about these degrees, please email us to set up a phone appointment:

Dr. Greg Brewton, Associate Dean of Music and Worship Leadership: gbrewton@sbts.edu

Dr. Michael Wilder, Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies: mwilder@sbts.edu