Perhaps I had the wrong expectations for this book, but I am a bit disappointed in the Gettys. Most of what is said in this book is such obvious common sense chatter that anyone who has been involved with church music might find it tedious. I wasn't able to take away much from it, and I'm only a church choir member. There are some thoughtful discussion questions, though. I think the target audience would be congregations who have a lot of members that did not grow up in the church, or a church that has recognized that they need to unite in vision for how they want their music program to move forward. Otherwise, it's a book of , "Yeah, duh..."

Keith and Kristyn Getty are among my favorite contemporary hymn-writers. After reading this book, they've moved straight to the top. It's wonderful to see how worship for this wonderful couple is truly *worship.* It is wonderful to see that they understand their career as more than a job, but truly as ministry. My respect for them has only grown, and I would recommend this book to anyone.

This was probably one of my favorite books of the year. Keith and Kristyn Getty are my favorite hymn writers of the day and their music is a beautifully testimony to God's grace and forgiveness in a sin-cursed and broken world. I wasn't sure what this book was going to be like, and who the audience of the book was. But what I found was excellent theology wrapped up in how churches must spend time singing together. While this book was likely written with the pastor or worship leader in mind, the average person will glean so much from the pages of this book. We don't sing because we have to. We sing because we've been given that gift by God who we should want to thank with joyful praises of thankfulness. Many people think they "can't sing," and therefore don't. One of my favorite quotes from this book is, "The truth is that God designed you to sing and gave you everything you need to sing, as well as He wants you to. He's far less concerned with your tunefulness than your integrity. Christian singing begins with the heart, not the lips." This is a book that I will go back to constantly. I couldn't put it down the first time I read through the book, and I'm so excited to dive back in and really dig into the truths that they shared!

Keith and Kristyn Getty are well-known as musicians, songwriters, and worship leaders. They believe that the Bible commands each of us to sing often and in many settings. In Sing! they remind us that singing together deepens our connection with the family or congregation we sing with, as well as our connection to God.

Some of you may know that I am a part of the music team at our church. I sing with our choir, sing solos sometimes, pick music for our praise team, and lead the congregational singing. I was hopeful that this book would help me to bridge the divide between the people who happily sing every week and the ones who look like they would rather do anything else than sing in public. While Sing does offer a lot of basic information about why singing is important, I was hoping for some more specific stories about reaching non-singers instead of reinforcing the joy and power of song for musicians. I did appreciate reading about the impact songs have on us, though--most of us can tell you the song that represents a certain time for us or still sing the lyrics of our favorite song from a decade ago. This book is a good starting place for people who work in churches or want to add more music to their families and congregations.

Sing: How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church
By Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty
B Books September 2017
176 pages
Read via Netgalley

An exhortation toward greater singing from Christians from Keith and Kristyn Getty, well-known songwriters.

The authors explore the value and power of song as part of the Christian faith: its importance in the home, the family, in good times and bad, and as congregational singing. They do well at expressing the power song has in developing, nurturing, and sustaining faith; they are dismayed by the lack of emphasis on singing among Christians, and for good reason. The book ends with a series of primers for church leaders, singers, and others with practical wisdom in how to encourage and facilitate more and more effective singing within congregations.

I appreciate the emphasis and value on congregational singing; the Lord commanded Christians to sing for good reason, and this move toward professionalism and entertainment over participation and inclusion has not been good.

A worthwhile and encouraging read, although the galley I received included perhaps a bit too many words of advance praise.

The conservative Christian circles in which I grew up spent a lot of time arguing about music. Unfortunately, most discussion centered around “proving” that most styles of music (regardless of lyrics) were inherently sinful, physically and spiritually dangerous, and quite possibly demonic. (For example, I remember reading a book whose title translates to "The Traitorous Dangers of Rock"). This drive to justify/sanctify traditional preferences led to generally absurd question-begging and straw man arguments based on dubious research and Bible verses pulled grotesquely out of context.

In "Sing!" Keith & Kristyn Getty don’t stoop to engage in these “worship wars.” Rather, they offer a comprehensive view of what the Bible as a whole actually says about music and (especially) singing in the Christian life. They say very little about style because *gasp* the Bible says very little about it. The writing style is a quick, easy-to-read combination of beautiful theological insight and encouraging application interwoven with and illustrated by lyrics from the Psalms and newer songs. The “Bonus track” appendices offer some specific applications for pastors, worship leaders, musicians, and songwriters that perfectly round out the book.

Overall: if you want to know what the Bible actually says about God’s beautiful gift of music and song, this is the book to read.

Super discussion and inspirational book aimed at directing praise- should be read and put to use by all worship leaders.

Sing! is an excellent book on congregational music in the church. In an era where many churches seem to be moving away from communal worship and congregational singing and towards entertainment-based services, this book helps focus our attention back to where it should be. The Gettys convincingly make a biblical case for congregational singing. They argue that it should be important to the church, and that every church member should participate in the music at their church. This book lists a number of good results from congregational singing, as well as offering some guidelines for improving the spirit and attitude of singers at your church. I can recommend this book to any Christian and will certainly be reading it again as I am involved in music at my church.

Loved, loved this book but the Getty's. I have always felt like music is worship to God.

Many of Keith and Kristyn Getty's hymns are among my favourites so I was eager to read this book. I was sure that their insights would be worthwhile, and I wasn't disappointed.
The book provides a helpful exploration of the topic of singing showing the different ways it features in the Bible and emphasising singing's importance as part of the Christian life today, on a personal level as well as corporately in a family setting and in the church.
Some particular highlights for me included the sections on engaging millennials with music in church services through focussing on creativity, communication and community, and on engaging seekers in a church service by choosing music that presents the Gospel in a way that touches their hearts and minds.
Each chapter of the book contains questions for reflection or discussion and there is the suggestion that it is used in church small groups to help each member of the congregation engage with discussion around the importance of singing. There are also "bonus tracks" at the end with more specific advice for those with particular responsibility for sung worship: pastors and elders, worship leaders, musicians and choir and production team members, and songwriters.
There is so much useful information that I know it will be a book I refer back to, and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to gain a greater understanding of the value of singing in the Christian life, but especially to those who are involved in leading the musical life of a church.

It's September. The year isn't over yet. But I'm thinking Sing! may be my favorite book of the year. We'll see. What is it about? Why should you read it? Why should you read it with others? I hope to do the book justice and answer your questions.

Intended Audience: Any believer. Also: Pastors. Elders. Worship Leaders. Band Musicians. Fathers and mothers. Sunday school teachers. Song writers. Anyone who has ever suffered at any time. Anyone who has ever struggled with depression at any time. Anyone who wants to be happy.

What is it about? It's about singing. It's about congregational singing in local churches. It's about singing at home with our families. It's about individual and corporate singing. Chances are you haven't thought of singing as a spiritual discipline. Yet IT IS. So just as you'd read a book about how to pray or how to read the Bible, the Gettys have given us a book on how to sing.

Why was it written? The Gettys' five point aim in writing Sing!

1. To discover why we sing and the overwhelming joy and holy privilege that comes with singing.
2. To consider how singing impacts our hearts and minds and all of our lives.
3. To cultivate a culture of family singing in our daily home life.
4. To equip our churches for wholeheartedly singing to the Lord and one another as an expression of unity.
5. To inspire us to see congregational singing as a radical witness to the world.

Why should you read it? God designed us to sing praises. Singing praise to the Lord is one of God's ultimate purposes for our lives. Singing is so intimately connected with joy; we are to delight in the Lord and find our satisfaction, our happiness IN HIM.

What did I love about it? I loved, loved, loved everything about this one. I thought it was packed with truth and insight. I thought it was biblical. I thought the authors were persuasive. I loved the passion and enthusiasm. I loved the organization and layout. I loved how practical it was. Also how concise the book was. And I really LOVED the discussion questions. There's also four additional bonus tracks--chapters.

Some of my favorite discussion questions:

1. How has singing played a role in your spiritual development?
2. Can you recall an example of a memorable occasion where you enjoyed singing in church? What about that event made an impact on you?
3. What is the link between thankfulness and singing?
4. What psalm or other Scripture passage resonates with you as your “Song of Salvation”? Why?
5. What song would you consider to be your personal “testimony” song?
6. Is there a hymn, or hymns, from your past that acts as a “milestone marker” for your walk with Christ? Why is it still significant and how does it speak to your heart today?
7. What modern song (new to you in the past few years) has connected with you in such a way that you believe it may become a “milestone” hymn for you in the future?
8. If you grew up in a Christian home, what songs from your childhood do you most remember? What hymns do you know? What Bible verses and stories do you know because of songs? What hymns do you want to pass down to your children?
9. If I were a visitor to your church and knew nothing of the gospel, what would your church music (selections, presentation, and congregational engagement) convey to me about your faith and understanding of the gospel?
10. Do your favorite songs that you love to sing give a broad and deep picture of the character and nature of God? Can the same be said of how we think about God and how we pray to Him?

The book wasn't just about singing in church--at church. It was about singing seven days a week and really living out what you're singing.