Singing and Making Music: Issues in Church Music Today

In thirty-two thought-provoking essays on church music, Paul S. Jones, Organist and Music Director at historic Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, provides biblical reasoning and practical wisdom concerning the purpose and practice of church music. Topics addressed include corporate worship, hymnody and psalmody, composers, and composition, as well as: -Criteria for good church music -King David's praise team -Instruments in worship -Sacred music as prayer -Luther and bar song -What happened to hymns? -Should church musicians be paid? -J. S. Bach and musical hermeneutics. Astute theologically, adept musically, and helpful practically, Paul Jones' Singing and Making Music is an important entry into the current discussion of public worship and music. For those serious about attaining a robust biblical understanding and practice of music as handmaiden to theology, Jones is a must-read. Constructively provocative, learned and commonsensical, this volume is a treasure trove for pastors, church musicians and Christians who want to build a biblical theology of music and worship, as well as address the most pressing issues of today's 'worship wars' positively and pastorally.--Ligon Duncan, Chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary Pastors, teachers, and musicians will grow in wisdom and worship as they reflect on Jones' scholarly study on the praise of our sovereign God of redeeming grace through church music.--Peter A. Lillback, President, Westminster Theological Seminary The church in every generation needs to be reminded that true praise begins with God and His glory, and not man and his need. Paul Jones sounds this note loud and clear in what is a very helpful book.--Alistair Begg This book calls us back to biblical worship with theological content as the priority in today's church.--Clayton Erb, Minister of Worship and Music, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California We live in an age of worship wars and worship controversies. Beyond all this, many evangelical churches have simply lost any vision of true Christian worship. The authority of our Scriptural foundation and the riches of the Church's heritage are neglected in favor of superficial entertainments and endless innovations. Paul S. Jones offers a much-needed corrective in Singing and Making Music: Issues in Church Music Today. A wonderfully skilled musician, Dr. Jones combines keen theological insights with fascinating historical background. This book arrives just in time, and will help Christians to rethink Christian worship--and to recover its authentic splendor.--R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary