Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Rivers.

I'm glad you've chosen this lesson and I'm looking forward to working with you today.

This lesson is from the unit "Spirituality: How do music and silence express beliefs?" The lesson is called Christian Words and Music.

I wonder if you know any Christian music? You might have heard some Christian words and music in school.

By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to explain how Christians might use music in their worship.

The key words for today's lesson are Psalm, that's a sacred song or poem used in worship.

Lament, that means to express grief or sorrow.

Praise, that means to express admiration and gratitude.

Some of these words might be new to you, so take a moment to have a look at them and try to remember what they mean.

Pause the video while you look at the key words.

In the lesson, we'll be thinking about different music that Christians use and how it helps them to express what they believe.

Why do Christians use music to express beliefs? This lesson is a theology lesson.

Izzy explains what we mean by theology in religious education.

She says, "Theologians are interested in how traditions are shaped by texts and stories.

We can better understand people's worldviews by examining their traditions to see how they reflect the deeper meaning of their texts and stories.

We can also look at how people follow religious traditions today.

In this lesson, we'll be exploring Christian texts and musical traditions, and that will help us to understand Christian worldviews.

Izzy and Andeep are having a conversation about music.

Izzy says, "I love pop music.

It makes me feel happy.

I usually start dancing around when I hear it." Andeep says, "Music affects how I feel.

I like to have quiet, peaceful music playing in the morning so that I feel calm while I get ready for the school day." Izzy and Andeep have different ideas about how they play music and how they enjoy it.

I wonder how music makes you feel? Are you like Izzy or are you more like Andeep? Pause the video while you think about your ideas about music.

If there's someone near you, you might want to talk to them about your ideas.

The Bible is an important book for Christians.

It's not just one book, it's a whole collection of books.

This picture of a bookshelf shows the names of all the books in the Bible.

The Book of Psalms is on the top shelf.

You can see the line pointing to it.

The Book of Psalms is a collection of sacred poems and songs, and it's found in the Old Testament part of the Bible.

That means it's important for Jews as well as Christians.

Christians sometimes sing words from the Psalms in their worship.

One of the most famous Psalms in the Book of Psalms is Psalm 23.

Here are the first four lines from the Psalm.

"The Lord is my shepherd, He gives me everything I need.

He makes me lie down and rest in green pastures.

He leads me to quiet, fresh water.

He gives me strength and guides me in the right paths.

What important words do you notice in the psalm? What beliefs about God are suggested by the words? Pause the video while you think about the answers to those two questions.

If there's someone near you, you might want to share your ideas with them.

I wonder what words you noticed when you looked at the psalm.

Here's a reminder of some of the words.

Did you notice the word shepherd and pasture? Pasture is like a field.

The writer of the psalm is suggesting that God is like a shepherd caring for his sheep.

He gives them everything they need, including rest and food in the green pastures.

The next bit of the psalm is about how the shepherd gives the sheep fresh water and looks after them and helps them to go in the right way.

These lines suggest that God guides people and helps them to make good choices, just like the shepherd helps the sheep to go on the right paths.

Here's a quick check.

What is a psalm? Is it A, a pop song.

B, a happy mood.

Or C, a sacred song or poem.

Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is C, a psalm is a sacred song or poem.

Well done if you spotted that one.

Here's Louise.

Louise has a Christian worldview and she goes to a Methodist church.

She's explaining how psalms are used in her church and she's especially talking about Psalm 23, that's the psalm about the shepherd that we've just looked at.

She says, "Psalm 23 has been set to music in many ways.

My church has several versions of this psalm in our hymnbook.

When I'm feeling worried, this psalm reminds me that God is with me, whatever happens in my life.

He cares for me like a shepherd caring for his sheep.

So Louise explains that Psalm 23 reminds her that God is looking after her.

Listen to the audio recording to hear Psalm 23 sung as a traditional hymn as it would be in Louise's church.

("Psalm 23") ♪ The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want ♪ ♪ He makes me down to lie ♪ ♪ In pastures green: he leadeth me ♪ ♪ The quiet waters by ♪ ♪ Goodness and mercy all my life ♪ ♪ Shall surely follow me ♪ ♪ And in God's house forever more ♪ ♪ My dwelling place shall be ♪ Louise says, "I know the tune well, so I can sing the words and think about their meaning." Asher also has a Christian worldview.

He attends a free church, and he's explaining how psalms are used in his church.

He says, "In my church, we sing a modern version of Psalm 23.

It's arranged so that the tune is catchy and we can clap along as the church band plays it.

The words about God caring for people are still meaningful today.

Listen to the audio recording to hear a modern version of Psalm 23, played by the worship band from Asher's Church.

("Psalm 23") ♪ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ♪ ♪ He makes me lie down in green pastures ♪ ♪ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ♪ ♪ He leads me beside the still waters ♪ ♪ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ♪ ♪ He makes me lie down in green pastures ♪ ♪ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ♪ ♪ He leads me beside the still waters ♪ ♪ He restores my soul ♪ ♪ He restores my soul ♪ ♪ Surely your goodness, surely your mercy ♪ ♪ Surely your grace has covered me ♪ ♪ Surely your kindness, surely your faithfulness ♪ ♪ Surely your graces cover me ♪ ♪ Surely your goodness, surely your mercy ♪ ♪ Surely your grace has covered me ♪ ♪ Surely your kindness, surely your faithfulness ♪ ♪ Surely your graces cover me ♪ ♪ Surely your goodness, surely your mercy ♪ ♪ Surely your grace has covered me ♪ ♪ Surely your kindness, surely your faithfulness ♪ ♪ Surely your graces cover me ♪ Asher says, "I love singing this ancient poem in a modern, lively way." Now that you've listened to Psalm 23 from Louise's church and Asher's church, Think about how is the version from Asher's church different from the traditional version at Louise's church? Pause the video while you think about your ideas.

And if there's someone near you, you might want to share your ideas with them.

Here's a quick check.

True or false? Christians only sing ancient hymns in their services.

Is that true or false? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is false.

Some Christians, like Asher, might sing modern songs with contemporary up-to-date music.

Well done if you got the answer right! In a moment we're going to listen again to the two different versions of Psalm 23.

And your task is to choose some words from the list below to describe each version.

And think about how it might make Christians feel.

Here are the words to choose from.

Peaceful, lively, beat, calm, modern, traditional, rhythmic, tuneful.

Think about those words as you listen to the versions of Psalm 23.

Here's the first one.

("Psalm 23") ♪ The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want ♪ ♪ He makes me down to lie ♪ ♪ In pastures green: he leadeth me ♪ ♪ The quiet waters by ♪ And now, here's the second one.

♪ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ♪ ♪ He makes me lie down in green pastures ♪ ♪ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ♪ ♪ He leads me beside the still waters ♪ ♪ He restores my soul ♪ ♪ He restores my soul ♪ ♪ Surely your goodness, surely your mercy ♪ ♪ Surely your grace has covered me ♪ ♪ Surely your kindness, surely your faithfulness ♪ ♪ Surely your graces cover me ♪ So your task is to use the words to describe the music.

Pause the video while you do your work.

I wonder how you got on in describing the music and thinking about how it might make Christians feel.

You might have said something like this.

The traditional version of Psalm 23 is peaceful and calm.

Christians, like Louise, find that the tuneful music helps them to concentrate on the words as they sing.

The modern version of Psalm 23 is lively and rhythmic.

Christians like Asher might clap along to the beat as they sing the ancient words in a modern way.

I wonder what ideas you thought of.

Well done for working hard on the task.

In the second part of the lesson, we're going to think about the different emotions that Christians might feel when they sing or play music.

How do Christians use music to express emotions? Fiona has a Christian worldview.

She likes to read the psalms in her Bible.

Many different moods and emotions are reflected in the psalms. Some psalms are happy songs of praise, while psalms of lament are about sadness or grief.

Did you spot some more key words on this slide? We have the word 'praise' that means to express admiration or gratitude.

And the word 'lament' and that word is about sadness or grief.

And Fiona is saying that the psalms can be happy and full of praise or maybe some psalms are sad and full of lament.

Well done if you spotted those key words and remembered what they meant.

Here are some words from another psalm.

This one is Psalm 43.

"God, you are my strength.

Why have you turned away? Why am I so sad and troubled by my enemies? Send your light and truth to be my guide.

Lead me to your holy mountain.

Lead me to where you live.

Look again at the psalm.

What important words do you notice? What emotions do you think the writer is feeling? What is the writer of the psalm asking for? Pause the video while you look at the carefully.

If there's someone near you, you might want to share your ideas with them.

Here is a reminder of the words of this psalm.

I wonder if you thought it was a psalm of praise or a psalm of lament.

I think this is a psalm of lament.

The writer of the psalm feels so sad that it's as though God has left them alone with all their problems. The writer says to God, "Why have you turned away? Why am I so sad and troubled?" In the second part of the psalm, the writer is asking God for help out of this dark place, so that they can feel near to God again.

The writer says, "Send your light and send your truth." Now listen to this audio recording.

Remember that this was a psalm of lament, asking God for help in difficult times.

As you listen, think about how the mood of the music fits the meaning and emotion of the words.

♪ Send out your light ♪ ♪ Lord, send your truth to be my guide ♪ ♪ Then let them lead me to the place where you reside ♪ ♪ Send out your light ♪ ♪ Lord, send your truth to be my guide.

♪ ♪ Then let them lead me to the place where you reside ♪ Fergus has a Christian worldview.

He explains more about the Book of Psalms and the emotions that are expressed by them.

He says, "The Bible has psalms of lament as well as psalms of praise.

When life is difficult, I like to read or sing a psalm to express my sadness or anger.

I believe God wants us to be honest and it's important to find songs and music to express all our emotions." Here's a quick check.

True or False? The Book of Psalms reflects different emotions and moods.

Is that true or false? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is true.

Psalms might contain words of praise, but psalms of lament might express sadness or anger.

Well done if you got that answer right.

Here's Fiona again.

She's explaining how the music in her church helps her to express her emotions.

She says, "When the choir sings a joyful psalm of praise on a Sunday morning, it lifts my spirits and makes me want to worship God.

The music sounds so beautiful as it echoes around the church building." Listen to this audio recording to hear a choir singing a joyful psalm of praise, a bit like the one in Fiona's church.

Think about how this psalm of praise sounds similar or different to the psalm of lament we heard earlier.

(choir solemnly singing) Fiona says, "I sometimes wonder if heaven will sound like this, with many voices singing praises." Here's Asher again.

He's explaining how he uses music to express his emotions when he's worshipping in his church.

He says, "Music and singing is the most important part of worship for me.

Music helps me to connect with God whatever mood I'm in.

Sometimes I make up my own words as I sing and praise God.

Sometimes I don't even use words.

The music helps me to feel close to God." So for Asher, the music and the emotion of the music helps him to connect with God as he sings and worships.

Asher says that in his church sometimes they make up their own words as they are singing.

The music helps them to worship when they think of the words they want to say as they are worshipping.

Here's another audio recording to listen to.

This is a recording of people singing in a free church.

They're singing to the music and some people are making up their own words as they sing.

(congregation faintly singing) Asher says, "I wonder if heaven will be a bit like this, with everyone singing and praising God together." Here's another quick check.

True or False? Christians only sing words from the Bible.

Pause the video while you decide whether that is true or false.

That's right, the answer is false.

Christians might sing words from the Bible, like the words from the Psalms that we've heard in this lesson.

Or they might sing other words, based on their beliefs and experiences, like the Christians in Asher's church who sometimes make the words up and choose their own words to sing.

Well done if you got that answer right.

Here's another musical task for you.

This task has two parts.

The first part is to listen to these two audio recordings that show how music can be used to express different emotions.

The first recording is a psalm of praise.

(choir solemnly singing) The second recording is a psalm of lament.

♪ Send out your light ♪ ♪ Lord send your truth to be my guide ♪ ♪ Then let them lead me to the place where you reside ♪ The second part of the task is to use the sentence starters below to explain how music can be used to express two different emotions.

Here are the sentence starters.

In the Bible, Psalms of Praise express.

Psalms of Lament express.

Some Christians may listen to Psalms of Praise when.

They do this because.

Some Christians may listen to psalms of lament when.

They do this because.

Pause the video while you use these sentence starters to explain how Christians use music to express emotions.

I wonder how you got on with the second part of the task? You might have said something like this.

In the Bible, Psalms of praise express joy and happiness to God.

Psalms of lament express sadness or anger.

Some Christians may listen to Psalms of praise when they feel joy or want to connect to God.

They do this because music helps Christians like Asher and Fiona connect with God and it might sound like heaven.

Some Christians may listen to psalms of lament when life is difficult.

They do this because they want to express sadness and be honest with God.

Fergus said he sung psalms like this.

I wonder if your ideas were a bit like mine? Or maybe you used some different words to express your ideas? Well done for working hard on that task.

So we've learned a lot in this lesson today.

We've learned that for many Christians, music is a way of connecting with God.

We've learned that Christians might use words from the Bible, such as words from the Book of Psalms. They might use their own words to create songs for worship.

We've learned that songs of praise and lament help Christians to express their beliefs and emotions.

And we've learned that different Christians will use and interpret words and music differently, depending on their worldview.

Well done for working hard in today's lesson.

I've enjoyed working with you.