O Brother Bible-Life Study on Music

MUSIC

What role did music play in the movie? How did music influence the characters? Did the music help with the ‘setting’ of the movie, being in the 1930s, Depression Era Mississippi?

Some stats: The soundtrack had only a few ‘old’ songs, like “Big Rock Candy Mountain” from 1928 at the beginning, and This Little Light of Mine from 1920. The soundtrack also has sold over 8 million copies, and won 3 Grammy’s Including Album of the Year, beating Bob Dylan, OutKast, and U2.

A recent survey showed that 14- to 17-year-olds, who are obviously critical because they're the listeners and consumers of tomorrow, found 78% listened to radio every day, 84% listened to music on a computer, iPod or MP3 every day. That's the first time "alternative" sources have topped radio.
Also, a study of teenagers found 41% said their iPods or MP3 players are the first place they go to hear music. About 27% said computers and 22% said FM radio.
So teenagers who all used to listen to the radio now increasingly find new music through Facebook or MySpace or P2P file-swapping.

Would these stats apply to y’all?

Start off with the Music Questionnaire then go into the discussions…
Questionnaire
What Words most clearly describe your taste in music? (Circle all that apply)
Punk Contemporary Christian Hard of Hearing Modern Country Traditional Hymns
Hard Rock Classical Heavy Metal disco Classic Rock (late 60s-70s)
Oldies (50s-mid 60s) soft rock comedy jazz R&B
Hip Hop emo pop Classic Country (before 1990) show tunes

What three bands or musicians would you most pay to go hear?
What bands do you think should be paid to keep quiet?
If someone stole your entire CD collection/iPod/mp3 player and the insurance company would give you the money for a whole new collection, what five albums would be at the top of your list to buy/replace? Why?
What band or musician have you listened to and liked the longest?
What song title best describes your life?
What song title best describes your school?

Share some of their answers then move on…
• Why does music have such a powerful effect on us?
Read 2 Chronicles 5:11-14. 11-13 The priests then left the Holy Place. All the priests there were consecrated, regardless of rank or assignment; and all the Levites who were musicians were there—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their families, dressed in their worship robes; the choir and orchestra assembled on the east side of the Altar and were joined by 120 priests blowing trumpets. The choir and trumpets made one voice of praise and thanks to GOD—orchestra and choir in perfect harmony singing and playing praise to GOD:
Yes! God is good! His loyal love goes on forever!
13-14 Then a billowing cloud filled The Temple of GOD. The priests couldn't even carry out their duties because of the cloud—the glory of GOD!—that filled The Temple of God.
• How does coming together to worship God through music differ from other types of music experiences? other types of worship?
• Is it necessary to prepare ourselves in any way before we worship God through music? Why or why not?
• How can we make our music worship experiences more meaningful?

*The Music in Me
Ask:
• What do you think about the words of the popular music these days? Do you listen to the words? Can you sing along with most songs?
• How do you think these words affect you? Do they change your ideas? Raise or lower your moral standards?
• What would other people think of you from your tastes in music? From your values, thoughts, personality, habits? Does that bother you? Why or why not?

• Have someone read aloud Philippians 4:8 ("Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable"—God’s Word). Emphasize the importance of filling our minds with what is "true," "honorable," "fair," "pure," "acceptable," and "commendable." Explain that not all secular, contemporary music is bad or gross, but that many of the popular songs focus on what is "untrue," "dishonorable," "unfair," "impure," "unacceptable," and "uncommendable." How does this verse relate to music—what we listen to, the words, etc.?
• In computer terms, GIGO, or Garbage In, Garbage Out means that what is fed into the computer is directly related to what comes out. How do you think this relates to the verse we just read?
• What can we do to develop Christian listening habits?

*Verses Versus
Distribute sheets with the following Scripture references printed on them to groups of 3 or 4. After reading each passage, have the students write how it should affect their music listening and buying habits. Have them share when finished.

Galatians 5:16-23 16If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires. 17The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should. 18But if you obey the Spirit, the Law of Moses has no control over you.
19People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. 20They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are 21envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom.
22God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

Corinthians 10:31 When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.

Psalm 19:14 14Let my words and my thoughts be pleasing to you, LORD, because you are my mighty rock [a] and my protector.


After everyone has finished, briefly discuss their answers, emphasizing the responsibility of Christians to be discerning in their listening habits.
How can you or do you listen to music that may not have the most positive, uplifting message, and not let it affect you? Or to listen to a band/singer who is not the most positive influence/role model? Does that make any difference to you how the singer/band acts in real life?
Adults, share music you’ve listened to and how it made a difference to you. What were ‘good songs’ and what were ‘bad songs’. As a teenager did your parents know what you were listening to? What did they say? How did the music affect you? Ever negative? Giving these personal examples may help the YOUth realize how they should be listening to music.

Closing thought- We’re not asking or expecting you to go throw out all of your cds or delete all of your itunes, although if someone were to do that, it would be impressive and commendable. We are just asking you all to be aware of what you are listening to and how that may interfere with your relationship with God. If your attitude is changing, your personality, your thoughts, especially if they are going against God, then maybe it comes from what is going into your ears. Be able to separate the ‘words of the world’ from the ‘Word of God’. If you aren’t listening to God’s Words at all, then take some time to do so or listen to music that is honoring God.