Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Music

Degree

Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS)

Chair

Jerry Newman

Keywords

Worship themes, Alignment, Worship set, Contemporary worship, Modern worship, Free church, Praise and Worship, Baptist Faith and Message, Doctrine

Disciplines

Liturgy and Worship | Music

Abstract

There is a notable gap in scholarly research on whether a denomination’s beliefs are clearly and accurately represented in the songs used in corporate worship. This study examines the themes of Contemporary Praise and Worship songs and hymns used by a sample of Southern Baptist congregations and compares them with core beliefs in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. The study seeks to identify the intersection of the songs commonly sung, the importance of contributing to the formation and reinforcement of SBC beliefs, and the factors that influence song selection. This mixed-methods research study examined a sample of Southern Baptist church worship leaders in the Southern United States over a three-month period regarding their song selection. Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) and Planning Center were used to examine reported song lyrics for emphasized and least-emphasized themes, and leaders were surveyed about their selection process. CCLI was not used to collect data, as the worship leaders self-reported the songs sung during the survey. These themes were then compared to the denominational beliefs noted in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. This study adds to the literature on the theological importance of developed worship themes through the repetition of corporate song. It could aid church musicians and worship leaders interested in maintaining a balanced repertoire of biblical truth in their worship music selections, and aid church staff members working together to teach and reinforce the solid foundations of their respective denominations through song.

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