*Mia Fields is a songwriter from Hillsong Church in Australia
Hillsong wasn’t just given great songwriters… they are people living in community, challenging one another.
Songs come out of righteous living, but also out of grace
Why songs?
- There has to be more than simply God liking music
- Psalm 40:3
- Songs can help ‘lead people home’ beyond just words…they may not listen to you preach your thoughts, but they’ll listen to a song
- A major problem with Christian music today is solid production, great music, but ‘watered down’ lyrics
- Our goal as ‘truth tellers’ is to help people understand…when they see something narrow, we can broaden their understanding
- Truth is about understanding…understanding is about angles (John 16:12)
- Write from real life…your own personal revelation
- People are the focus
Types of Congregational Songs
- Songs of Expression
- Songs of Theology – songs that explain Scripture, explain who God is, ‘flesh out’ doctrine
- Songs of Prophecy
Write through hard seasons…write about random things – this will make you a good writer
PRACTICE LYRICS!
- we practice our instruments but don’t think to practice lyric writing
- do creative writing
- write down random ideas wherever you are (fortune cookies, quotes from books, etc.)
- Write about anything and everything
- We need to speak TRUTH despite hard things
- People don’t notice musical mistakes…they are looking at the screen reading lyrics. Focus on your lyric writing.
- Bring Truth in new ways (Eugene Peterson and “The Message”)
- Buy Frederick Buechner books, Jon Foreman EPs, listen to good lyricists
- Help people get ahold of truth
- Just as you need to get better at communication, we need to get better with lyrics
Very encouraging to hear how Hillsong sees the importance and power of doctrine in music lyrics. As a pastor my aim is to bring people into a closer relationship with the Saviour, but this must be based on truth not just feelings. Feelings pass and are often unreliable, but truth remains. It’s very powerful to have emotions stirred by truth. When this happens hearts are changed and lives are transformed Lord bless you guys. Keep it up. Much love in Jesus. Jay
Hillsongs has always been a great inspiration to me, and the lyrics are Word-based, infused with God’s power to effect change, positive change in the lives all those who listen, i pray for more grace to be released on Hillsongs and also pray for that great grace, be released on our ministry and church, Amen.