Sound Plus Doctrine

Ben Shive is gifted and widely loved producer, arranger, and songwriter. HIs musical credits are long and include Andrew Peterson, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Melanie Penn, and JJ Heller. We’ve had the opportunity to work with Ben on our Unchanging God, Vol. 1 & 2 albums, as well as 4 singles yet to be released. […]

If you lead the singing in your church, you know the challenges. But some of the biggest challenges are those we create ourselves. In this episode, part 2 of 2, David, Bob, and Devon explore four more common mistakes to avoid, and God-honoring priorites to pursue. Scriptures referenced in this episode: “Keep your heart with […]

In the first episode of Season 5, co-hosts David Zimmer and Bob Kauflin are joined by Bob’s son, Devon, to talk about seven mistakes congregational worship leaders often make. While these aren’t the ONLY mistakes you can make, they certainly rank among the most common. The conversation was so enjoyable that they only got to […]

What do you do when half the people in your town speak another language? What steps can you take to develop a Sunday service that serves your members as well as the non-English speakers in your community? Bob Kauflin and David Zimmer seek to give biblical and practical answers to those questions in this final […]

What can you do when you have violinist, cellist, or trumpet player in your church who wants to play in your band? Is their only option to look for a church that uses an orchestra? Not at all. In this episode of Sound Plus Doctrine, David Zimmer and Bob Kauflin talk about ways orchestral instruments […]

Few things are more deflating for a leader of congregational worship than looking out Sunday after Sunday on people who are distracted, emotionless, or not singing at all. But often the problem lies not in what people are doing, but in what we do as leaders. In this practical episode of Sound Plus Doctrine, David […]

It’s too easy to approach corporate worship with the idea that God needs our skills, talents, and gifts to be glorified. That perspective can result in anxiety over whether or not our worship will be “good enough.” In this episode of Sound Plus Doctrine David and Bob use Psalm 50 as a guide for discovering […]

Father’s Day Edition: In this episode, part 2 of 2 on the Worship Leader and His Family, David talks with Bob (father of 6, grandfather of 21) about the challenges and joys of raising a family. They cover the early years up through parenting teens, and speak to the importance of your kids never feeling […]

A number of people have sent us questions about how to approach the issue of aging on a music team. Some are asking if they’ve aged out of leading. Others have wondered how to approach this topic with members of their band. In this episode of Sound Plus Doctrine, David Zimmer and Bob Kauflin explore […]

For centuries, the church has been conflicted over whether congregations should sing in unison or harmony. Everyone singing melody together is powerful, but harmony can add beauty and interest. In this episode of Sound Plus Doctrine, David Zimmer and Bob Kauflin explore some of the principles that can help vocalists and leaders determine how to […]

Being a vocalist or instrumentalist in the church is a joyful privilege. But it’s easy to forget that. We can slip into laziness, comparison, and other attitudes that disrupt team unity, don’t serve the leader, and ultimately dishonor the Lord. In this episode of Sound Plus Doctrine, David Zimmer and Bob Kauflin talk about ways […]

More than the worship we offer God when we’re in front of people on Sunday mornings, God cares about the worship of our lives. Especially as it’s revealed in our family relationships. In this episode, part 1 of 2, David interviews Bob about his relationship with his wife of 45 years, Julie, and how he […]

We love to get questions from our listeners/viewers! In this episode, Bob, David, and Devon Kauflin answer three questions related to liturgical categories for songs, when to retire a song, and how to maximize rehearsals. Have a question about this episode? Shoot us an email at soundplusdoctrine@sovereigngrace.com Follow us Website: https://sovereigngracemusic.com​​​​​​ Facebook: https://www.faceb...

While singing a song after the Sunday message is a common practice today, the chosen song doesn’t always deepen the impact of the Word. At other times, leaders forego a song due to running out of time. In this episode, Bob and David discuss how to think more clearly about what kinds of songs we […]

Since 2004, Sovereign Grace Music has been seeking to serve churches through the WorshipGod conference, held every other year and hosted by Bob Kauflin. This year, it will take place July 27-30 in Louisville, KY. What makes this worship conference worth attending? Who is it for? What’s the origin of the name? And why should […]

Week after week, month after month, year after year, leaders spend countless hours with their musicians preparing for Sunday. They want to serve their congregations skillfully and well. But how do you know if you’re practicing enough? And is it possible to practice too much? In this episode, Bob, David, and Devon Kauflin seek to […]

In this first episode of Season 4, Bob and David discuss the significance of the name, Sound Plus Doctrine, explain why it’s the name of our podcast and how it communicates the mission of Sovereign Grace Music. Have a question about this episode? Shoot us an email at soundplusdoctrine@sovereigngrace.com Follow us Website: https://sovereigngracemusic.com​​​​​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.c...

In this last episode of Season 3 of Sound + Doctrine, Lacy Hudson joins David and Bob to talk about her role as a vocalist and songwriter on the Christmas album, Heaven Has Come. Have a question about this episode? Shoot us an email at soundplusdoctrine@sovereigngrace.com Follow us Website: https://sovereigngracemusic.com​​​​​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SovereignGraceMusic Instagram: http...

In this episode, part 2 of 2, David and Bob talk with Bob’s wife, Julie, about her creative pursuits in the church that include being a sound engineer, singing, designing sets, and showing hospitality. They also talk candidly about how Bob and Julie are handling Julie’s reoccurrence of breast cancer. Mentioned in this episode O […]

In this episode, part 1 of 2, David and Bob talk with Bob’s wife, Julie, about the joys and challenges of being a worship pastor’s wife for over 35 years and raising six kids in the process. Have a question about this episode? Shoot us an email at soundplusdoctrine@sovereigngrace.com Follow us Website: https://sovereigngracemusic.com​​​​​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SovereignGraceMusic [&#...

In the past few years Lacy Hudson has contributed to Sovereign Grace Music as a vocal arranger, vocalist, and songwriter. In this episode of Sound + Doctrine, Bob and David talk to Lacy about her history, writing practices, and involvement with her local church, Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. Have a question about this episode? […]

In this episode of Sound + Doctrine, David and Bob continue the conversation about the drummer’s role in the band on Sunday mornings. They get practical and suggest numerous resources for improving your skills to serve the congregation and working together with other musicians. Resources referenced: Stick Control – George Lawrence Stone Around the Drums […]

Over the last 50 years the role of the drummer on Sunday mornings has evolved from almost non-existent to ubiquitous. For many churches it’s hard to imagine a Sunday gathering without them. How should drummers think about their role and how can they best work together with the individual leading the band? In this episode […]

In this episode of Sound Plus Doctrine, David and Bob continue the conversation about what to do when you’re doing too much. It’s a common question but one that God has provide clear answers for. This episode focuses on some of the practical steps we can take when we find our lives spinning out of […]

What do you do when you’re doing too much? It’s a common question but one that God has provide clear answers for. In this episode of Sound Plus Doctrine, Bob and David begin a conversation on that topic and focus in on heart questions we need to ask. Have a question about this episode? Shoot […]