Text: Colossians 3:16-17<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. In many congregations, singing is not consider a very important aspect of worship.<\/p>\n A. Think about it; when the Lord’s Supper is being served or a prayer is being given,\nfew people would think about leaving the assembly to visit the restrooms, but it\ncommonly happens during the singing.\n B. If a prayer is being said when someone comes in late, they will respectfully wait in\nthe foyer until the prayer is done, but they will walk right in during a song.\n
C. In part I can understand it. <\/p>\n
1. A prayer is said by one person, so any sound disturbs those listening.<\/p>\n 2. Songs are loud enough that we feel we can enter and leave without anyone\nnoticing.\n
II. Worship is a solemn occasion<\/p>\n
A. We mentioned in past lessons that worship is<\/p>\n
1. The bowing down before the Almighty God<\/p>\n 2. It is the sense of reverence, fear, and awe when we realize we are in the\npresence of God.\n
3. It is the service we give as servants to our Great Master.<\/p>\n
B. Singing is not an option<\/p>\n
1. It is commanded of all Christians – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16<\/p>\n
2. There are people who decline to sing for one excuse or another.<\/p>\n
a. How then is that worship?<\/p>\n
b. “Oh, I know God commanded it, but my voice isn’t that good.”<\/p>\n
c. Reminds me of Moses – Exodus 4:10-11<\/p>\n d. What reverence and awe is being displayed by one who willfully\ndisobeys a direct command?\n
3. Read and sing Come, We That Love the Lord<\/i> (111)<\/p>\n C. If we are going to approach worshiping God properly, it requires that we spend\ntime think about that worship.\n
1. Those who lead the worship need to spend time planning it. <\/p>\n a. Yes, I know there are times you are asked at the last minute to fill\nin, but most of the time we have the opportunity to plan.\n b. Yet, how often do we see song leaders planning the message they\nare presenting to the congregation?\n 2. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 – We often quote this verse in reference to making\npromises to God, but consider the broader meaning\n
a. Far too many come to worship focused on “me” instead of God<\/p>\n
b. They don’t put forethought into what they are doing<\/p>\n
c. They forget about who they are worshiping<\/p>\n
3. Read and sing Take Time to be Holy<\/i> (619, verses 1, 3, 4)<\/p>\n
III. The essence of songs is communication<\/p>\n
A. I Peter 2:9 – We were chosen to proclaim God’s excellencies.<\/p>\n
B. Ephesians 5:19 – Speaking to one another in song<\/p>\n C. Hebrews 2:11-12 – The importance of singing praise in the assembly – to show we\nare not ashamed..\n
1. This is a quote of Psalm 22:22-31<\/p>\n a. Notice how the terms of worship, reverence, awe, fear, and serving\nGod are intermixed in this passage.\n b. Notice that the Hebrew writer speaks of singing where the psalmist\nspeaks of praise. \n (1) The word used in the Greek is one we get the word “hymn”\nfrom. It means to celebrate God in song.\n (2) The Hebrew, while literally meaning “to shine” and\ngenerally translated “praise”, does contain the idea of\nsinging in its root word. \n 2. Singing was an important part of Hebrew worship. We just don’t often\nnotice because “singing” is a buried meaning in the idea of praising God. It\nis how praises were given.\n
3. It is important in our worship – Hebrews 13:15<\/p>\n
D. It is not merely saying words, but meaning them.<\/p>\n
1. God requires worship from the heart – Mark 12:30<\/p>\n 2. When the Israelites failed to do this, they were justly condemned by God –\nMalachi 1:6-14\n
a. They offered second best<\/p>\n
b. They approached worship as a burden<\/p>\n
c. In reality their worship was a burden to God – Isaiah 1:13-14<\/p>\n
3. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for the same – Matthew 15:9<\/p>\n
4. Proper worship is expressed in Psalm 69:30-31<\/p>\n
E. Our time together is to be encouraging – Hebrews 10:23-25<\/p>\n
1. Singing is an important part of this encouragement. <\/p>\n
2. The words are important. The melody helps us remember.<\/p>\n a. How many recall the books of the Bible by singing to yourself\n“Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; Acts and the letter to the\nRomans”?\n
b. Think about the impact of Angry Words<\/i> (37)<\/p>\n
IV. Our goal is to worship, not to …<\/p>\n
A. Entertain ourselves and others<\/p>\n
B. Become a professional choir<\/p>\n
C. Showcase our talents<\/p>\n
V. Our goal in singing is …<\/p>\n
A. To obey God’s command to sing<\/p>\n
B. To serve God by actively participating in worship<\/p>\n
1. Remember we are all priests, and priests offer up worship before God.<\/p>\n
C. To worship God from the heart<\/p>\n
1. Psalm 103:1<\/p>\n
2. Psalm 9:1-2<\/p>\n
D. To offer a sacrifice of praise from our lips<\/p>\n
E. To encourage each other<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Text: Colossians 3:16-17 I. In many congregations, singing is not consider a very important aspect of worship. A. Think about it; when the Lord’s Supper is being served or a prayer is being given, few people would think about leaving the assembly to visit the restrooms, but it commonly happens during the singing. B. If a prayer…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[32],"tags":[981,1059,520,1079,84],"class_list":["post-15107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-communication","tag-edification","tag-music","tag-reverence","tag-worship"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":66630,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-head-covering-be-worn-while-singing\/","url_meta":{"origin":15107,"position":0},"title":"Should a head covering be worn while singing?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question regarding the head covering. My current practice is to cover my head whenever praying, in or out of the worship. And I generally wear it throughout the worship period. But I do not normally cover it for singing outside of the worship. However, the question\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90257,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-uncomfortable-with-changes-made-to-the-order-of-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":15107,"position":1},"title":"I’m uncomfortable with changes made to the order of worship","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello! I attend a church where some changes have occurred recently. Although several in the congregation are unhappy about it, I still am not sure whether these are scriptural matters or personal preferences. Our order of worship since I have been there is two songs, prayer, scripture reading, song,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31176,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-are-singing-praying-communion-and-giving-called-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":15107,"position":2},"title":"Why are singing, praying, communion, and giving called worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been doing a study on worship in the New Testament and although there are about 75 references with the word, none of them are tied in with singing, praying, communion, or giving.\u00a0 So, I was wondering if you knew of a historical notation where, for the first\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18203,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-christians-sing-during-the-lords-supper\/","url_meta":{"origin":15107,"position":3},"title":"Should Christians sing during the Lord’s supper?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 20, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Should Christians sing during the Lord's supper? Answer: I wonder what is next -- singing during prayer or singing during the sermon!? I really don't understand why people think that the Lord's Supper needs some kind of \"crutch\" or \"support\" to make it meaningful and relevant to Christians. When\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15104,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-should-be-done-when-everyone-doesnt-follow-the-song-leader\/","url_meta":{"origin":15107,"position":4},"title":"What should be done when everyone doesn’t follow the song leader?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 17, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've been reading several of your comments with interest and ran across one that I myself have seen. I am a member of the church of Christ and have been baptized for 22 years. I have been leading songs for around that same time. I have a background in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24215,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-woman-sign-for-the-deaf-during-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":15107,"position":5},"title":"Can a woman sign for the deaf during worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 9, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I understand why women are not to lead singing in worship services. My question is:\u00a0 Can a woman stand before the congregation and sign for the deaf during singing?\u00a0 If she could do this, could she also sign for the preacher or for anyone else? Thank you. 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