Witnessing to my classmates through Christian music

[CredendoVides]

Hi everyone! My class has been given an interesting assignment by my AP English teacher. We're all to pick a pong that is poetic/deep/talks about the meaning of life/has substance, etc. Songs are really just poetry when you get right down to it.

So anyway, once we've picked a song, we're to develop a lesson plan for teaching it. I have to teach this song to the class for 20 minutes. By teach, I mean analyze it's deeper meanings, much like you would analyze the meaning of any other poem, i.e. talk about literary techniques like symbolism, allusions, and discuss what the songwriter is really talking about.

I also have to come up with six questions to have the class answer as homework. I will be providing the class with a copy of the lyrics, and the class will listen to the song before I begin to teach it.

Anyway, here's the part where I ask you all for help. I want to choose a Christian song, whether it be Gospel, a hymn, or more contemporary Christian music or Christian rock. What I'm hoping is that the song that I pick will give me an opportunity to use as a witnessing tool. This is a wonderful chance for me to bring God into the public schools, and share His Word with my classmates. So I'm looking for a song that would best enable me to do this. One that provides ample opportunity for me to share the Gospel while teaching it. Maybe one that quotes Scripture? It doesn't have to though.

My problem, though, is that, believe it or not, I don't listen to any music at all. Well, ok, I'm a cellist, so I listen to Classical music, but not anything else. So, I know absolutely nothing about Christian music, and have no idea what to pick. I'd love it if you could give me suggestions, including titles and singers/songwriters, maybe links to lyrics, or where I could download/purchase the music?

Also, I'm going to try witnessing to a friend by using a variety of approaches, one of which is showing him fulfilled Bible prophecies. Can you think of some good ones that a non Christian would find compelling? Particularly recently fulfilled ones, or ones which are about to be fulfilled? The rebirth of Israel in 1948 springs to mind (Ezekiel 37 and Mathew 24) Can you think of some others?

 

[Vulgivagus hagiographus]

I'm probably too late, but here I go anyway. I've got an idea that might sound weird at first. What about the 12 Days of Christmas? I know, it's out of season, and doesn't really seem to have any message at first glance. Acutally, I heard that each of the things represents a different aspect of Christianity and it was sung to hide the meaning from people who would persecute the Christians. Anyway, I don't know what the hidden meanings are, but I bet with a little research you could find out. Besides, it's a song that everybody knows, Christian or not, and everybody hears, Christian or not. Then every time they would hear it later, they would think of your speech.

I think this is great that you want to use your assignment for God! Please tell us how it goes!

 

[AuburnMeg]

that's an awesome opportunity, although i imagine that i'm a little late myself!

nicole c. mullen - come unto me
nichole nordeman - why

both awesome songs...you'll cry if you ever hear "why"...it's amazing..

 

[coolhaircam]

I would reccommend the Christian Rock song by Skillet - Savior

It talks about how nothing matters but God. Read the lyrics it's a great song and it rocks. It is on the heavier side though. Another Christian rock song would be Sea of Faces by Kutless and how he is not just a man lost in a "sea of faces" because he knows God as his personal Savior and that he is important and someone.

 

[caitlincares]

I did something like that in high school over 20 years ago.
I did not have to teach it to the class but wrote an analytical paper.
Found out by doing it my teacher was a Christian as well so he really appreciated it.
I used Keith Green music.
I think that was the paper I somehow compared to poetry of William Blake.
I am surprised I remember that.
But I loved writing those paper in that class.

 

[jono1]

I would reccommend the Christian Rock song by Skillet - Savior

yeah i was gonna recommend skillet too...i really love all the songs on their new(ish) album collide...it all has some really cool meanings underneath it....woudln't have a clue what they are myself, but they're there. anyway, the only one off there that springs to mind for me is "a little more" which describes the amazing power of love, with lines like "oh, let the world crash, love can take it". the lyrics to that are at christianrocklyrics.com

 

[Hobo No More]

Ocean Floor by Audio A.

I have sent this song to a few of my non christian friends as has my brother and they all love the song. It clearly shows God's amazing forgiveness He give us. There are a lot of people I believe in this world who feel deep regret or remorse for things they commit and feel they can't ever escape it but this song is showing that God will wipe away our sins to the ocean floor where they will never be seen again.
But there are definitely many christian songs which can be used for witnessing. Using this method creates conversation as the non christian will ask questions about certain lyrics in the songs and provides a start to explain the hope we live upon.

 

[FrAzEr1803]

I've not heard any of the songs that have been mentioned above (apart from 12 days of christmas), but i do have a suggestion of a different song. What about "DC Talk - Jesus Freaks"? that is a good song if you listen to it and think of its deeper meaning. To me it talks about people who have been martyrd for their christian faith, but this is probably because i have read the book by DC Talk also called Jesus Freaks! lol. Anyway, just a suggestion!