Sing Loud, Die Happy: An Exploration of How God's Gift of Song Is Meant to Change Us

by Jim Thompson

Overview

Singing is one of the most repeated commands in Holy Scripture. It's right up there with "believe" and "do not fear." But commands like these can feel vaguely spiritual, intangible, or esoteric. You might not know if you're doing them right. Not so with singing. You just open your mouth and make it happen. And when we do, we often get the sense that God is up to something, that he has designed singing to change us. But how? How does singing do its transformative work? Why has God hard-wired singing with such power? What does Scripture teach us about the gift of song? What did the songs of Scripture feel like and sound like? Why does singing awaken something so visceral and emotional within us? And what are the results of being changed by the power of song? Behind all of these questions lies a creative, songful God. He delights in singing. He extends to us a melodic mission. He invites us into intimacy with himself and with his people, and singing is more essential to the journey than we have yet to believe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666740899
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	08/11/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	154
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Jim Thompson is the teaching and equipping pastor at Fellowship Greenville in Greenville, South Carolina. He lectures widely on biblical theology, is an armchair musician and songwriter, and the author of A King and a Kingdom: A Narrative Theology of Grace and Truth (2011).

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Praise the Lord for this book! With humor, energy, and expertise, Jim holds up the precious diamond of singing, allowing the light of God’s truth to dazzle and inspire with every turn. Having spent years leading worship, this is the book that I wish had been available for my congregation. In the beginning, there was singing. In the end, there will be singing. And here in the middle, Jim helps us turn up the volume!”

—Lee McDerment, pastor, NewSpring Church



“Wow! Jim, son, I didn’t want this to end. This book needed to be written. Your ability to put the truth in real, readable words is such a blessing.”

—Donna Thompson, my totally unbiased mother



“As the saying goes, ‘Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.’ Usually this applies to something you don’t want to see, but this is also true in biblical interpretation. Sometimes someone has to point out a theme in the Bible and then you start seeing it everywhere. Jim does this with singing. I love that he deals with everything down to our emotions and application today. This resource will help you sing to our triune God.”

—Patrick Schreiner, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary



“Jim Thompson has provided us with a faithful and readable ‘one-stop shop’ on the theology of congregational singing. Rooting his exploration in the triune God and skilfully navigating his way through the biblical material, Thompson rounds out his treatment of this important subject with chapters on church history, the emotions, and challenges and opportunities for churches today. Rich with insight and laden with practical examples, this is a book that will change hearts, minds, and habits.”

—Robert S. Smith, Sydney Missionary & Bible College



“There are several books answering the question ‘Why sing?’ for worship. I now think this is the book. Strong attention to the Bible, conversant with history, tuned in to science—and it reads with conversational punch. You can’t walk away from this book without exclaiming, ‘I must sing!’”

—Zac Hicks, author of The Worship Pastor



“It’s only in recent years, after confessing sin and really experiencing God’s grace, that I have grown to love singing in church. Still, no one had ever taught me the hows and whys of singing. And being raised somewhat stoic and Midwestern, standing in a group of people and singing out loud always felt weird. Jim’s book gives a winsome, accessible, and humble argument for thinking about our singing, but also for enjoying it at a deep level.”

—Ted Kluck, Union University



“Jim Thompson reminds us of how integral singing is to our life of faith and prayer. He meticulously explains God’s design for singing in the Bible, and why we’ve chosen to express our joys and sorrows in song from age to age. Add this book to the list of essential texts for theology and the arts.”

—Bob Crawford, bassist for The Avett Brothers



“This book makes me fall more in love with God. Especially when I consider God as the original Singer—singing the world into existence, singing over us with love, and continually calling us to sing his story out into the world—I find myself caught up in an invitation so simple yet so utterly life-giving. Thank you, Jim, for this beautiful book.”

—Hannah Barefoot, actress, writer, and singer



“Music is one of the most mysterious and profound gifts in all creation, and the Creator has built a natural instrument into each one of us. In this book, Jim Thompson winsomely and persuasively points us to the importance, joy, and benefit of singing—for our health, happiness, and spiritual devotion. I heartily sing its praises.”

Constantine R. Campbell, New Testament scholar, author, and musician

Editorial Reviews

Praise the Lord for this book! With humor, energy, and expertise, Jim holds up the precious diamond of singing, allowing the light of God’s truth to dazzle and inspire with every turn. Having spent years leading worship, this is the book that I wish had been available for my congregation. In the beginning, there was singing. In the end, there will be singing. And here in the middle, Jim helps us turn up the volume!”

—Lee McDerment, pastor, NewSpring Church



“Wow! Jim, son, I didn’t want this to end. This book needed to be written. Your ability to put the truth in real, readable words is such a blessing.”

—Donna Thompson, my totally unbiased mother



“As the saying goes, ‘Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.’ Usually this applies to something you don’t want to see, but this is also true in biblical interpretation. Sometimes someone has to point out a theme in the Bible and then you start seeing it everywhere. Jim does this with singing. I love that he deals with everything down to our emotions and application today. This resource will help you sing to our triune God.”

—Patrick Schreiner, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary



“Jim Thompson has provided us with a faithful and readable ‘one-stop shop’ on the theology of congregational singing. Rooting his exploration in the triune God and skilfully navigating his way through the biblical material, Thompson rounds out his treatment of this important subject with chapters on church history, the emotions, and challenges and opportunities for churches today. Rich with insight and laden with practical examples, this is a book that will change hearts, minds, and habits.”

—Robert S. Smith, Sydney Missionary & Bible College



“There are several books answering the question ‘Why sing?’ for worship. I now think this is the book. Strong attention to the Bible, conversant with history, tuned in to science—and it reads with conversational punch. You can’t walk away from this book without exclaiming, ‘I must sing!’”

—Zac Hicks, author of The Worship Pastor



“It’s only in recent years, after confessing sin and really experiencing God’s grace, that I have grown to love singing in church. Still, no one had ever taught me the hows and whys of singing. And being raised somewhat stoic and Midwestern, standing in a group of people and singing out loud always felt weird. Jim’s book gives a winsome, accessible, and humble argument for thinking about our singing, but also for enjoying it at a deep level.”

—Ted Kluck, Union University



“Jim Thompson reminds us of how integral singing is to our life of faith and prayer. He meticulously explains God’s design for singing in the Bible, and why we’ve chosen to express our joys and sorrows in song from age to age. Add this book to the list of essential texts for theology and the arts.”

—Bob Crawford, bassist for The Avett Brothers



“This book makes me fall more in love with God. Especially when I consider God as the original Singer—singing the world into existence, singing over us with love, and continually calling us to sing his story out into the world—I find myself caught up in an invitation so simple yet so utterly life-giving. Thank you, Jim, for this beautiful book.”

—Hannah Barefoot, actress, writer, and singer



“Music is one of the most mysterious and profound gifts in all creation, and the Creator has built a natural instrument into each one of us. In this book, Jim Thompson winsomely and persuasively points us to the importance, joy, and benefit of singing—for our health, happiness, and spiritual devotion. I heartily sing its praises.”

Constantine R. Campbell, New Testament scholar, author, and musician

From the Publisher