ADVENT MUSIC MINISTRY (AMM)Continuing Church Music Education Program

Purpose and Function of

Church Music

Secondary Purposes

1. Music to support tradition.1. Music to support tradition.

2. Music for relaxation.2. Music for relaxation.

Secondary Purposes

3. Music for public relations.3. Music for public relations.

4.Music for organizational 4.Music for organizational strength.strength.

Secondary Purposes

5. Music to attract 5. Music to attract people.people.

Basic Purpose and Function of Church Music

•The basic purpose of The basic purpose of church music is church music is to to

ministerminister..

Who are music ministers?Who are music ministers?

•Any one who renders Any one who renders musical parts in church musical parts in church services: services: song leaders, pianists, song leaders, pianists, organists, choir organists, choir members, members, singers, music coordinators, singers, music coordinators,

etc. etc.

1. Praise and Prayer. To express prayer and praise to God.

Primary Purposes

Psalm 147:1

“Praise the Lord! It is good to sing praise to our God; it is pleasant

and right to praise Him.”

2. Instruction. To teach Scripture, church doctrine, and theological truth.

Primary Purposes

Colossians 3:16

“Teaching and admonishing one

another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual

songs.”

3.Testimony. To serve as an effective tool of communication to man in testimony.

Primary Purposes

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. And with

my mouth will I make known His faithfulness to all

generations.”-

Psalm 89:1

4. Corporate Worship. To serve as a practical vehicle for corporate worship by providing the means by which many can participate together.

Primary Purposes

5. Motivation. To challenge and inspire people, motivating them to action.

Primary Purposes

““Music was made to serve a holy Music was made to serve a holy purpose, to lift the thoughts to that purpose, to lift the thoughts to that which is pure, noble, and elevating, which is pure, noble, and elevating, and to awaken in the soul devotion and to awaken in the soul devotion

and gratitude to God.”- and gratitude to God.”- EGWhite, PP 594EGWhite, PP 594

“When not abused it is a great blessing; but when put to wrong use, it is a terrible curse.” – EGWhite

MUSIC THAT IS ACCEPTABLE,

PLEASING AND GLORIFIES GOD

Question: When is music acceptable to God?

“Music is acceptable to God only when the heart is sanctified and made soft and holy by its facilities. But many

who delight in music know nothing of making melody in their hearts to the Lord. Their hearts is gone “after their

idols ”—Evangelism, p. 512.

Question: When is music more pleasing to God?

“The human voice that sings the music of God from a heart filled with gratitude and thanksgiving is far more pleasing to Him than

the melody of all the musical instruments ever invented by

human hands.” Evangelism, p. 512.

Question:Question: When will music give glory to God?

“I saw that all should sing with the spirit and understanding also. And the nearer the people of God can approach to correct, harmonious singing, the more He is glorified” – Testimonies Vol. 1 p.

146.

MUSIC THAT OFFENDS GOD

Question:Question: When is our singing or playing instrumental music becomes an offense to God?

1. When music making takes the time that is supposed to be spent with God in prayer:

“They have chosen singing before prayer, attending singing schools

in preference to religious meetings, until the truth no longer exerts its sanctifying power upon

their souls. Such singing is an offense to God” –

E.G. White, The Voice in Speech and Song, p. 426.

“It is one of the great temptations of the present age

to carry the practice of music to extremes, to make a great deal more of music than of prayer” – E.G. White, The Voice in Speech and Song, p. 426.

2. When music performance is just for display and the performers hearts are not consecrated to God.

“Display is not religion nor sanctification. There is nothing

more offensive in God’s sight than a display of instrumental music when those taking part are not consecrated, are not making

melody in their hearts to the Lord.

The offering most sweet and acceptable in God’s sight is

a heart made humble by self-denial, by lifting the cross

and following Jesus” – E.G. White, Counsels to Teachers and Parents, p. 510.

“…heart is what God requires; the forms and lip

service are as sounding brass and a tinkling

cymbal…”– E.G. White, Evangelism, p. 507.

The End