Episode 69 | Caroling Christmas and Christian Formation with Keith Getty

Christmas Caroling and Christian Formation with Keith Getty

During Advent and Christmastide–and at all times–how can we understand and fully experience the formative power of music? And amid distraction and anxiety, how can we keep Christ at the center of our hearts as we sing? Can caroling at Christmas be an aid in this endeavor?

The Liturgical Power of Christmas Caroling

Keith Getty is an extraordinary hymn writer, musician, and catalyst for the modern hymn movement. He joined us for a special Trinity Forum Online Conversation to explore music, formation, and beauty which we’re pleased to bring you now as a special podcast during this season of Advent:

“We’re fearfully and wonderfully made. We remember tunes and we forget sermons, not because we’re bad people, but it’s because of how God made us. The carols are special because repetition is a form of liturgy. And each Christmas, the liturgy of singing provides such an opportunity for us.” – Keith Getty

This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded earlier this month. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about Keith Getty here.

Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:
Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church, by Keith and Kristyn Getty
John Lennox
Winston Churchill
Charles Wesley
Felix Mendelssohn
Jeremy Begbie
Alistair Begg
Isaac Watts
John Calvin

Related Trinity Forum Readings:
Bright Evening Starby Madeleine L’Engle
Why God Became Manby Anselm of Canterbury
Pilgrim at Tinker Creekby Annie Dillard
The Strangest Story in the Worldby G.K. Chesterton
Handel’s Messiah

Related Conversations:
Rebuilding our Common Life with Yuval Levin
The Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote
The Decadent Society with Ross Douthat
Science, Faith, Trust and Truth with Francis Collins
Beyond Ideology with Peter Kreeft and Eugene Rivers
Justice, Mercy, and Overcoming Racial Division with Claude Alexander and Mac Pier
Healing a Divided Culture with Arthur Brooks
After Babel with Andy Crouch and Johnathan Haidt
Trust, Truth, and The Knowledge Crisis with Bonnie Kristian
Hope in an Age of Anxiety with Curtis Chang & Curt Thompson

To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to join the Trinity Forum Society and help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society.

Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.