Today I was browsing through some contemporary church music resources, looking for new songs that I can introduce and use at my church. This is almost always a very discouraging process, since I usually find lackluster texts with even more lackluster music. The ‘hottest’ ‘worship leaders’ out there (I don’t want to name any names, but we know who they are…) write the same song over and over again, and no one seems to notice. There isn’t anything ‘un-true’ about most of these songs (though I would consider many to have questionable theology at best), but there isn’t anything really good either; and I stand by the argument that an absence of heresy does not equal the presence of quality!
But then I remembered a very reliable website that I’ve checked into before and have always found great stuff. Here it is, folks: www.sovereigngraceministries.com. If you’re looking for new, well-written, theologically sound contemporary music I suggest you visit this site often. To be blunt, the music I’ve found on this website really puts the ‘popular’ and well-known contemporary music to shame. A lot of thought goes into the texts and music for these songs, and they are more than just ‘general praise,’ which is where most of todays songs haphazardly fall into. Plus, this website makes many lead sheets available for FREE! Yep, that’s right, free. It actually seems like the people who run this site actually care about ministry! (I hope you noticed the sarcasm dripping from that last sentence) I have found dozens of songs here that I have used, and will continue to use, for corporate worship as well as special music.
So, if you’re looking for some contemporary music for your church that actually has some ‘meat on the bones,’ I strongly encourage you to visit the good folks at Sovereign Grace Ministries. I’ve never been disappointed with what I find there.
May 24, 2008 at 8:51 pm |
just saw your blog so this reply is a little behind the times.
I agree. I listen to their stuff a lot. The lyrics make one stop and think. And the music doesn’t seem overly-manipulative that rouses one up into a frenzy. I’m (somewhat) surprised that I don’t hear their stuff more, like on college chapel services or “in-the-know” churches who supposedly keep up with the latest and “greatest.”
May 25, 2008 at 1:22 am |
Thanks, Bryan. It’s always nice when smart people agree with me! I am surprised as well about the absence of these songs from colleges and churches. Hopefully this will start to change.