The Gospel-Centered Wisdom of Bob Kauflin

When Bob Kauflin speaks about worship, it makes sense to listen. While he's far from infallible, he is incredibly wise and has a gospel-centeredness that permeates both his leading of worship as well as his talking (or writing) about worship.

The brief videos below provide an example of that gospel-centered wisdom. The first reminds us that singing and preaching share the same end. The second is a sobering reminder that the gospel has more power to unite us than musical styles do to divide us. And the third reminds us that the tunes we sing are important because they are mediums through which to communicate the truth of God.

Chapter by Kauflin

This week, I am posting quotes from different chapters in John Piper's and Justin Taylor's The Power of Words and the Wonder of God.

From Bob Kauflin's chapter, "Words of Wonder: What Happens When We Sing?"

...God didn't intend that music supersede the Word or that music undermine the Word. He gave us music to serve the Word. When that relationship is understood and appreciated, music becomes a powerful gift from God that complements, supports, and depeens the impact of the words we sing....

...Words should be the first thing we consider when we think about what songs to sing when we gather as the body of Christ....

...We should make it our aim not only to preach the whole counsel of God but to sing it, as well....

...The question isn't, Do you have a voice? The question is, Do you have a song? If you've turned from your sins and trusted in the finished work of Christ, if you're forgiven and reconciled to God, then you have a song. It's a song of the redeemed, of those who have been rescued from the righteous wrath of God through the cross of Jesus Christ and are now called his friends. Once we were not a people, but now we are the people of God, and our singing together, every voice contributing, is one way we express that truth....

...The sound that unites the church should be the sound of voices, not a particular music style. When people are focused on that sound and the fact that Jesus has made it possible, style becomes secondary....In the book of Revelation, the host of heaven aren't in unity because of the style of music they are using but because of the focus of their song....

A Hymn for Ordinary Christians

Bob Kauflin has a great post about the story behind Thomas Chisolm and his hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Check it out here.