Music Ministry Conference

The Word In Song Together

1. Purpose
2. Preparation
3. Prayer
4. Perceptive to the Present
5. Personality (and Personalisation)
6. Personal Life with God
7. Practical Stuff

Random Thoughts

Pursue God, not ministry. Love the congregation, not the music. Song leading is a ministry, not a roster!

Serving in the King's Palace

Rely on God

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Godliness with Contentment

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

Walk the Talk

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

All the way my Saviour leads me
What have I to ask beside
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my Guide

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know, whatever befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
For I know, whatever befall me
Jesus doeth all things well

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." - Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

Principles of Staff Work

1. Purpose

What do you want to achieve?

2. Plan

How do you plan to achieve it?

3. Packaging

How do you show what you have achieved?

All Scripture

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

If (and it is) so, then we should be seeking to read, understand and be guided by all Scripture - not just our favourite verses.

Christ-Centered Preaching

1. Text

- What is the location and function of the text in the whole of Scripture? What concerns do the text address? What is the big idea?
- What does the text reveal about God which provides redemption? How is the grace of God being displayed?
- What does the text reveal about man which requires redemption? What fallen conditions do we share in common with the text?

2. Type

3. Context

a. Predictive (e.g. Messianic Psalms, Prophets)

b. Preparatory: Bridges (e.g. Old Covenant Sacrifices) and Dead Ends (e.g. Judges)

c. Reflective: Grace of God Displayed

- Redemptive-Historical
- Doctrinal Development
- Literary Motif
- Relational Interaction

Grace is God providing for people who cannot provide for themselves!

d. Resultant: Grace of God Applied

- What (Instructional Specificity)
- Where (Situational Specificity)
- Why (Motivation)
- How (Enablement)

Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

Without extended and consecrated prayer, the ministry of the Word withers up and bears no fruit. The 120 were devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14) when the Spirit fell and gave them utterance with three thousand converts (Acts 2:41). These converts were also devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42) when signs and wonders were done and people were added to the church daily (Acts 2:43, 47). Peter and his friends were engaged in prayer when the place was shaken and they were filled with the Spirit and spoke the Word boldly (Acts 4:31). Paul relied on prayer that he might be given utterance to open his mouth and proclaim the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).

Without extended, concentrated prayer, the ministry of the Word withers. And when the ministry of the Word declines, faith (Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:2, 5) and holiness (John 17:17) decline. Activity may continue, but life and power and fruitfulness fade away. Therefore, whatever opposes prayer opposes the whole work of ministry.

- John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals

Endless Hallelujah

"Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."" - Revelation 19:6-9 (ESV)

10,000 Reasons

"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" - Psalm 105:1-4 (ESV)

Come Praise and Glorify

Come praise and glorify our God
The Father of our Lord
In Christ, He has in heavenly realms
His blessings on us poured
For pure and blameless in His sight
He destined us to be
And now we've been adopted through
His Son eternally

To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God Who saves

Come praise and glorify our God
Who gives His grace in Christ
In Him, our sins are washed away
Redeemed through sacrifice
In Him, God has made known to us
The mystery of His will
That Christ should be the head of all
His purpose to fulfill

Come praise and glorify our God
For we've believed the Word
And through our faith we have a seal
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit guarantees our hope
Until redemption's done
Until we join in endless praise
To God, the Three in One

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:11-12 (NIV)

Who is sufficient for these things?

"If you are sufficient for your task, it's too small." - John Piper on Twitter, 15 Mar 13