Monday, February 25, 2013

Using Music to Reach the Next Generation - Part One


In the last few posts we have been discussing how churches can reach the next generation. We have covered the issue of technology in two posts (read the first one here, read the second one here). Now we will turn our attention to perhaps one of the most controversial issues in church life today, the issue of music.

Though the style of music a church uses can be a touchstone that many pastors want to avoid, the reality is that churches will eventually have to discuss the delicate issue of what type of music to use in worship. The language of today’s young adults is music. Churches that understand this new language will be able to reach young adults more eectively. Many churches falsely think that if they just add drums or guitars to their worship services, then they will automatically reach young people. While it is true that most young adults prefer music that has more bass and is more upbeat than traditional Sunday-morning fare, just speeding up the tempo and adding a drum will not keep young people coming to church.

The secret to communicating to young adults through music is to understand that young adults use music to express their emotions. For young adults, music is how they communicate with those around them. They sing about their experiences and how those experiences make them feel. They use song lyrics as Facebook posts and in text messages to communicate how they feel about themselves, other people, politics, and their personal experiences, as well as what they think about spiritual issues. Danny Ferguson is a professional youth minister serving with Youth for Christ in Langley, Canada. When discussing the critical issue of music, Ferguson says “Music can be a gateway to understand life and God.” This is true for the next generation. They see music as a gateway to their relationship with God. Sometimes churches use music as a filler between other parts of the service, and that just does not speak to the next generation at all. But when used effectively, music can be a powerful medium to communicate gospel truth to the next generation.

In our next post, we will talk about the difference between hymns and modern worship music.
 
Adapted from Dr. Dorsett’s book, Mission Possible: Reaching the Next Generation through the Small Church, published by CrossBooks, a division of Lifeway Christian Resources.

8 comments:

  1. I think the cart is before the horse. Asking the Wong question. How do we continue to use the gospel to reach the next generation. Most ministries use music for worship, most lost people don't worship Jesus. As an individual if you use music to connect with the lost that is one thing as a church, I think something is backwards and te evidence is those congregations that are an inch deep and 5 miles wide because they have been asking the wrong questions.

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  2. That is posssible. But it is also possible that music is one method of presenting the Gospel. Check out this book: http://www.amazon.com/Worship-Evangelism-Sally-Morgenthaler/dp/031022649X

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  3. I would still say not a normative practice for intentionally reaching the lost in the gospels or acts...

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  4. It is true that lost people are unable to worship, but in my experience, when they gather with Christians who are truely worshipping, it stirs something inside of them. They know there is something real going on. Sadly, when many lost people come to church, they simple observe people going thru the motions, and that does not move them at all.

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  5. And if it's not authentic, nor an accurate reflection of who God is...then we seldom lead them into His presence.

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  6. I haven't read any of the books you've noted, but as a former worship leader, I will say that just as God used David's worship music to calm Saul's heart, He can indeed use worship music to touch a lost heart. I've seen it often in many countries. For example, Roger McMuren went to Kiev, Ukraine in 1991 and taught unbelievers the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah in English. As they sang, hundreds wept openly, even though neither they nor the singers understood English. Nothing is outside of God's ability because it's the Holy Spirit that uses what He chooses to stir the heart of a lost person. Just sayin' . . .

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  7. Powerful story bob, thanks for sharing.

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