A CREATIO ARTS NEW ENGLAND INITIATIVE
Put The Sermon on the Mount to Music
$3,500 in prizes for original songs that help people memorize any portions of Matthew 5–7.
ENTRIES CLOSE FEBRUARY 10, 2027
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS
The Word Abiding in You
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). The call and goal of the Christian life has always been to be transformed into Christlikeness by the love of Jesus.
One of Jesus' most profound, and often missed, points in the Sermon on the Mount is that God uses spiritual practices, the practice of righteousness, to conform us to his image.
There are a variety of practices God uses to do this, and having His word abide in us is among the most foundational. Jesus said that if we abide in His word we are truly His disciples (John
8:31), and so He calls us to let his words abide in us (John 15:7).
Colossians 3:16 tells us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” At least part of Paul’s
point is that music helps us memorize Scripture enabling it to abide in us … for God to use to transform us.
Vision New England is offering this competition to create songs that help the people of God memorize the word of God, that they might enable His word to abide in us, and transform us.
W
e chose the Sermon on the Mount because it is the most profound message ever delivered. It clearly defines what it means to be blessed, how we are to live, and how God will transform us to
be like Him.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16
THE PRIZES
$3,500 IN PRIZES
Two prizes, and no entry fee. Where a song has more than one writer, the prize is divided equally among the writers who sign the Entry and License Agreement.
$2,500
First Prize
To the entry the panel judges strongest across all four criteria.
$2,500
$1,000
Second Prize
To the runner-up.
Entries are judged on the song, not the production quality. A clear voice-and-guitar or voice-and-piano recording made on a phone is entirely acceptable.
WHAT WE ARE LISTENING FOR
Four Criteria, No Formula
01
FAITHFUL
Does the song carry what the passage actually says? Word for word is not required. Changing the meaning is not allowed.
02
MEMORABLE
Does the melody stick? Can someone sing it back after two hearings and recall the words a week later?
03
COVERAGE
How much of the Sermon does it carry? A song may set some of it or all of it. More is better, but is in tension with memorability.
04
CRAFT
Is it good music, well made? We are judging the song, not the production.
These operate in tension. A song covering all 111 verses will struggle to stay memorable. A song that is unforgettable may carry only a short section of Scripture. We are not resolving that tension with a formula, because resolving it is the work we are asking you to do.
HOW TO ENTER
Four Things, One Form
-
A recording of your song
A phone recording is completely acceptable.
-
A lyric sheet
Name the Bible translation you followed and tell us which verses you cover.
-
A chord chart or lead sheet
If you have one. Not required.
-
Your signed Entry and License Agreement
Printed and signed by hand by every writer, and by anyone else with a claim to the song.
FILE SPECIFICATIONS
Audio
M4A, MP3 or WAV only. One file, 100 MB maximum. 44.1 kHz or higher, and an MP3 at 320 kbps or better. Other formats cannot be accepted.
Documents
PDF.
Entries per writer
As many as you like. Each is judged on its own.
KEY DATES
120 DAYS TO WRITE
Oct 13
Feb 10
Feb–Mar
March
Contest opens. Submission form goes live.
Entries close at 11:59 PM ET. The form closes automatically.
The panel scores every entry against our criteria.
**Winners announced.
** DEPENDING ON THE VOLUME OF ENTRIES, JUDGING MAY RUN LONGER.
THE PANEL
The Judges
ADAM DEPASQUALE
Walnut Hill Community Church
CRYSTAL ELLINGTON
Walnut Hill Community Church
BARRY KANG
Symphony Church
TIKAE MABELANE
Aletheia Church
YOUR RIGHTS
YOU KEEP YOUR SONG
WHAT YOU KEEP
Full copyright and every commercial right. Record it, release it, license it to a publisher, register it with CCLI and a performing rights organization, and keep every dollar it earns. Our license is non-exclusive and takes nothing away from you.
WHAT WE GET
Permission to use, record, arrange, adapt and share your song, in whole or in part. We use it only for ministry. We will never sell it as a commercial product, and we name you wherever we use it.
The full terms are in the Official Rules and the
Entry and License Agreement, both linked from the entry form.
