Background: In 1995, Crowder was frustrated that so many students at his Christian university weren't attending church. So he started his own and provided the worship music. The six-piece David Crowder Band now produces award-winning, top-selling worship songs.
Albums: Church Music (2009), Remedy (2007), Can You Hear Us? (2002)
What Parents Should Know: Crowder has also written two books—one about the church and one about worship. He has a strong heart for teenagers and college students. Crowder's latest album is an effort to redefine "church music."
What David Crowder Says: "I hope this album serves as a reminder of [church music's] richness and its broadness, and the tension that exists in using elements of cultural language to express our collective experience."
Discussion Questions: What comes to mind when you think of "church music"? Should worship songs be updated to include cultural language? Why or why not? Read Mark 2:23–3:6. Why was Jesus going against tradition here? How can we discern when change is really necessary? What are some church traditions that seem outdated or irrelevant to you?
|
|
 |
musicspotlight
 |
Albums:
The Blueprint 3 (2009), Reasonable Doubt (1996), The Black Album (2003)
|
Background: This Grammy-winning musician, producer, and entrepreneur (born Shawn Carter) grew up in the Brooklyn projects. His father abandoned the family, and Jay-Z sold drugs for a while. After Jay-Z became interested in hip-hop, he worked his way up to become one of the industry's most powerful and influential figures.
What Parents Should Know: Jay-Z, who's married to Beyoncé Knowles, is a philanthropist. But his lyrics are filled with anger and profanity, and he seems to revel in feuds with other rappers.
What Jay-Z Says: "At my age [39], I can't relate to a 15-year-old. I deal with mature and relevant topics for my age group; it has to all be based on true emotions. The more…mature we make hip-hop, the bigger the net you cast."
Discussion Questions: Are maturity and spiritual maturity tied to age? Why or why not? Does using "adult" language make someone more mature? Read 1 Samuel 17:17-51. How did David show maturity? How are you a leader in your family and among your peers? Read Matthew 4:18-20. What kind of "net" do you cast to reach people for Jesus?
|
|
 |
filmwatch
9 (releases Sept. 9, 2009, or 9/9/09)
PG-13 (for violence and scary images)
Genre: Science-fiction action-adventure
Synopsis: A homunculus (miniature, fully formed adult theorized to inhabit a cell) known as 9 is implanted with the life essence of its creator. He wakens to a post-apocalyptic world in which all humans are gone. Nine discovers eight others like him, hiding from the machines that seem to have caused the humans' demise. Nine argues that they must fight to survive.
Discussion Questions: If you woke up to find that you were alone on the planet, how would you feel? What would you say are the biggest threats to the human race? Read aloud Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. When, if ever, is fighting justified? How can we know whether it's time for war or time for peace? Explain.
|
|
|
As profanity and gossip run rampant, that kind of language is losing its stigma among young people.
Gossip isn't only a modern-day problem. It was occurring in the early church, too. So many people have been hurt by gossip. But Scripture offers advice and hope for silencing this sin. For example, Proverbs 20:19 tells us how to choose friends, saying the quality of a friendship will be determined by how much a person talks. And Matthew 5:23-26 instructs us about the correct way to handle conflict. Instead of gossiping, we should go directly to the person and work out our problem. Here are three Bible-based tips for learning to keep a secret: