How to find and use songs in ministry

Group, Sep/Oct 1999

Mine popular albums. You'll find great discussion-starters on almost every For example,

Lauryn Hill's multipleGrammy-winning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill offers plenty of options, including a song that speaks of God cleansing our sin, a pro-life tune, a cut that promotes modest dress, and even a song based on Psalm 73.

Often the themes in mainstream albums are objectionable. No problem. Use a poorly themed song to discuss how not to live life. Kids rarely think about their favorite song's underlying theme in relation to the gospel. For example, many teenagers assume that "Hands," a popular cut on Jewel's latest album, is a wholesome "help your fellow man" song. The first line of the song, though, advocates a heresy:

"If I could do one thing, it would be to tell the world they're all okay. . ."

Of course much of the Bible, and particularly the book of Romans, pinpoints how we're all light years away from "okay." We're sinners in need of redemption. So why not kick off a Bible study on Romans by analyzing the lyrics to "Hands"?

Capitalize on controversial songs. At least once a year, a song hits the airwaves that sparks wildfire discussion among Christian teenagers. These typically "spiritual" songs spark a tug-of-war over the singer's theology and status as a Christian. Recent examples: Squirrel Nut Zippers"' "Hell," Creed's "My Own Prison," and Joan Osbourne's "One of Us."

If your kids are already discussing a song with their peers, take the initiative to bring that conversation into your group. Not only do you show your knowledge of what's going on in their world, but you'll help your teenagers store up ammo for their conversations at school. Avoid speculating about a performer's faith. Only God knows the heart of man, so it's almost impossible to dissect a person's life from a thousand miles away. Focus your kids' attention on the song itself, since that's the only hard evidence you'll likely have.

Use your kids' music preferences to drive your youth ministry agneda? Your young people are undercover agents within youth culture.

When you study their interests, you'll get a clear view into the broader concerns and passions of all teenagers. That knowledge will help you target programs and events that really hit their hot buttons.

Use the Internet to learn more about a particular artist. The World Wide Web offers more information on artists than even the most rabid fan can ingest. And there's a Web site for almost every artist, usually complete with lyric sheets and sound bites. Simply type in www.[the band's name].com, and you'll probably hit a gold mine. If not, use a search engine to find what you need. Also, cruise into an online music store?-these sites usually include biographical information and sound bites of hit songs.