I. As people come in, have them sit up front in as few pews as possible<\/p>\n
A. Have them divide by parts: Alto, Tenor, Melody, Bass<\/p>\n
B. Start with a prayer<\/p>\n
II. An important aspect of worship is our coming together to offer a united worship<\/p>\n A. Colossians 3:14-17 – We were called in one body, we should worship as one\nshowing a bond of unity. Singing demonstrates this unity.\n B. The Corinthians were scolded about their Lord’s Supper because they were not\ndoing it together – I Corinthians 11:20-21, 33\n
C. United by singing the same thing<\/p>\n
1. It seems obvious, but how is that accomplished?<\/p>\n
2. Someone needs to choose what is sung<\/p>\n a. When we come together, people are selected to pick out songs, to\npresent a teaching, to offer up prayers – I Corinthians 14:26\n
b. The goal is the edification of the members.<\/p>\n
(1) Not random selections, but with a purpose in mind<\/p>\n
c. To be done in an orderly manner – I Corinthians 14:40<\/p>\n
D. United by lifting up one voice<\/p>\n
1. Under Old Testament – II Chronicles 5:11-14<\/p>\n a. Asaph, who wrote many of the Psalms is one of the first song\nleaders – I Chronicles 16:7\n
b. He became the patriarch of a long line of singers – Ezra 2:41<\/p>\n
2. Under the New Testament – Romans 15:5-6, 9-11<\/p>\n
III. Singing together<\/p>\n A. First we need to start together. Too often our songs start as solos and people fit\nthemselves in as they can.\n
1. Holy, Holy, Holy<\/i> (238, verse 1)<\/p>\n
2. It means looking at the song leader for your clues<\/p>\n
a. Get the first word or two in mind<\/p>\n
b. Watch for the start<\/p>\n
B. Second, we to start as one voice.<\/p>\n 1. We don’t all sing the same range. Men and women can’t easily hit the same\nnotes.\n
2. But we can sing in the same key.<\/p>\n
3. Introduce the musical scale <\/p>\n a. It is a relative scale, designed to take different vocal ranges into\naccount.\n
b. We divide into parts to cover our differing ranges<\/p>\n
4. The important notes: do, mi, sol, do<\/i><\/p>\n
a. You know them: “Oh say, can you see!<\/i>”<\/p>\n 5. One of the reason we don’t start together is that we don’t know where to\nstart. \n a. If we don’t know the do<\/i> we cannot be certain of the key until we\nhear a few notes.\n
b. Pitch pipe can give the do.<\/i> <\/p>\n (1) By having a standard, the song is fixed to the range of the\nsingers\n
(2) Ever had troubles because a song was too high or too low.<\/p>\n
(3) Pitch pipes avoid that problem.<\/p>\n
(4) They are not an instrument. <\/p>\n
(a) You can’t play melodies with them. <\/p>\n
(b) They are not used during the song<\/p>\n
6. Song leaders should give the do<\/i><\/p>\n a. Then the various parts can figure out their starting point from there,\nincluding the melody.\n
b. Practice: Holy, Holy, Holy<\/i> (238, verse 1) do<\/i><\/p>\n
c. Practice: Nearer, Still Nearer<\/i> (436, verse 1) me<\/i><\/p>\n
d. Practice: My Jesus, As Thou Wilt!<\/i> (433, verse 1) sol<\/i><\/p>\n e. Practice: More Love to Thee, O Christ<\/i> (435, verse 1) sol <\/i>going\ndown\n
C. Third, we show unity by staying together<\/p>\n
1. Song leaders give the beat to keep everyone together.<\/p>\n 2. If you haven’t learned beating, tap the beat in the air with an down-up\nmotion.\n 3. Use More Love to Thee, O Christ<\/i> (435) to illustrate changing speed to give\nemphasis at end of chorus.\n
D. Fourth, we show unity by using the same volume<\/p>\n 1. Watch the leader. Small movements mean quiet. Large movements mean\nloud\n
2. Practice: Holy, Holy, Holy<\/i> (238) making the third verse quiet<\/p>\n 3. Practice: Lord, I Care Not for Riches<\/i> (418) vary loudness by phrase, also\nslow on last phrase.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I. As people come in, have them sit up front in as few pews as possible A. Have them divide by parts: Alto, Tenor, Melody, Bass B. Start with a prayer II. An important aspect of worship is our coming together to offer a united worship A. Colossians 3:14-17 – We were called in one body, we should worship as…<\/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,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[32],"tags":[520,456,84],"class_list":["post-15110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-music","tag-unity","tag-worship"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":92136,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/theres-more-to-singing-hymns-than-meets-the-eye\/","url_meta":{"origin":15110,"position":0},"title":"There’s More to Singing Hymns Than Meets the Eye","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer via InLight Media Why does congregational singing matter so much in Christian worship? In this video, we explore the beauty, purpose, and biblical design behind God's people singing together-with one voice, one heart, and one faith. For many believers, worship music has become focused on performances, bands,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Video"","block_context":{"text":"Video","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/video\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":66656,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-are-there-multiple-churches-near-each-other\/","url_meta":{"origin":15110,"position":1},"title":"Why are there multiple churches near each other?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I hope you are well. I'm writing to you to ask a question about unity. The Bible speaks about unity and that his people should be united, but why are there so many churches of Christ in one city? I live in a small town with a population of\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":25420,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/notes-on-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":15110,"position":2},"title":"Notes on Worship","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 27, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"What is worship? Worship is something distinctly done. Worship is not accidentally given. - Matthew 2:11; 4:8-9; 9:18; John 4:20; Revelation 9:20 Jesus\u2019s definition of worship - John 4:21-24 It requires a worshiper (the existence of a rock is not worship. Animals do not worship). It requires an object of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Notes","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/notes\/"},"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":15110,"position":3},"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":15957,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/spiritual-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":15110,"position":4},"title":"Spiritual Worship","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 23, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Text: Psalm 95 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A critical danger that happens to most Christians is approaching the worship of God by rote. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We go through the motions of worship, but our minds are not fully engaged. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With their hearts not involved, worship becomes a drudgery \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We understand intellectually that is not right, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/toon_town_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/toon_town_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/toon_town_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41166,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-online-worship-acceptable\/","url_meta":{"origin":15110,"position":5},"title":"Is online worship acceptable?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good morning, I hope this email finds you well. During the national lockdowns in my country, the church moved to online worship and this was beneficial in many ways. Now national lockdowns have ceased and the building is open for members to return. Attendance within some congregations has not\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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15110\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}