OceanSide church of Christ




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WHY WE SING

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    About one fourth of each worship hour involves our song service to God.  Some churches will sing up to thirty minutes during the worship service.

 

B.      Some churches sing better than others, but all churches are involved in singing.

 

C.     As I thought about our song service, I wondered:  “Why Do We Sing?”  Let’s look at some answers to this question in this lesson.

 

I.                   WE SING TO PRAISE GOD

 

A.    Psalm 147:1

 

Praise ye the Lord:  for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

 

1.      Praise is good.

2.      Praise is pleasant.

3.      Praise is comely.

 

B.      The Bible exhorts us to sing “psalms” (Col. 3:16).

 

…admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs…’

 

1.      The word “psalms” means “to praise, to give praise, to celebrate.”

2.      Praise is man’s effort to reach into the heavens and to celebrate the God who dwells and rules therein.

a.      How does it feel to celebrate others?

1)      A 50-Year Wedding Anniversary

2)      A mother or father who turns 90, 95, or 100

3)      A child who graduates from high school or college

b.      Every song we sing, we reach toward heaven seeking to celebrate the God who created us, loved us, and redeemed us.

 

C.     Hebrews 13:15

 

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

 

II.                WE SING TO TEACH OTHERS

 

A.    Colossians 3:16

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

1.      We are to teach and admonish one another.

2.      Our song service is a mutual sharing of truth by means of the words that we sing.

 

B.      The words of the songs in our books teach spiritual lessons.

1.      Kneel at the Cross:  “Kneel at the cross, Christ will meet you there, He intercedes for you” (I Tim. 2:5).

 

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

 

2.      Live for Jesus:  “Live for Jesus, O my brother, His disciple ever be; render not to any other, What alone the Lord’s should be.”

a.      Philippians 1:21

 

For to me to live is Christ…

 

b.      Galatians 5:24

 

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

C.     NOTE:  If we are teaching through songs, we must teach the truth. 

1.      God will hold us just accountable for what we teach in our songs as what we teach in

our Bible classes and sermons.

2.      In our song service, we are speaking (Eph. 5:19).

 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…

 

3.      Listen to what Peter tells us about the things we speak (I Pet. 4:11).

 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…

 

4.      If we cannot turn to the Scriptures and establish Biblical authority for what we are singing, the song should not be sung.

 

III.             WE SING TO REMEMBER EVENTS, PEOPLE, AND PLACES

 

A.    God has given us the blessing of memory.  

1.      Remember in the Bible:

a.      Remember:  148 times.

b.      Remembered 57 times

c.       Remembrance:  53 times.

2.      Sometimes, however, we get caught up in the weight of the world and fail to remember. 

 

B.      Songs cause us to remember very important spiritual things (Ps. 145:7).

 

They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

 

1.      God:  God Is So Good

2.      Jesus:  Jesus, Rose of Sharon

3.      The Word of God:  Give Me the Bible

4.      The Cross:  The Old Rugged Cross

5.      The Day of Our Salvation:  O Happy Day

6.      The Resurrection of Jesus:  Up from the Grave He Arose

7.      The Judgment:  There’s A Great Day Coming

8.      Heaven:  How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

IV.             WE SING TO PREPARE OUR HEARTS

 

A.    The Bible often teaches the need for preparation. 

1.      Our hearts need to be right when we draw nigh unto God (Ps. 19:14).

 

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

 

2.      To be acceptable, we must take time to prepare our hearts (I Chron. 22:19).

 

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God…

 

B.      Songs can prepare our minds for different aspect of worship, work, and service to God.

1.      For the Lord’s Supper:  When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

2.      For the sermon:  Break Thou the Bread of Life

3.      For worship:  Lord, We Come Before Thee Now

4.      For prayer:  Sweet Hour of Prayer

5.      Invitation:  Why Keep Jesus Waiting

6.      For service:  I Want to Be A Worker

7.      For evangelism: Lead Me to Some Soul Today

 

V.                WE SING TO SHOW LOVE

 

A.    God has commanded us to sing

1.      Psalm 30:4

 

Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

 

2.      Ephesians 5:19-20

 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

B.      When we sing we obey God. 

 

C.     When we obey God, we show our love to Him (I John 5:3)

 

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:  and his commandments are not grievous.

 

VI.             WE SING TO EXPRESS JOY

 

A.    The Christian’s heart should be full of joy because of the salvation he has received through Jesus Christ.

 

B.      This joy cannot be contained.  It must express itself.  It does so in song

1.      Psalm 95:2

 

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

 

2.      James 5:13

 

Is any among you afflicted?  let him pray.  Is any merry?  let him sing psalms.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Most of us would not consider ourselves “great” singers.

 

B.      Even so, God has authorized us to sing.

1.      Singing serves wonderful purposes.

a.      We praise God.

b.      We teach others.

c.       We remember events, people, and places

d.      We prepare our hearts

e.       We show our love for God

f.        We express deep joy from within.

2.      Singing should not be looked upon with disdain. 

a.      It is not a secondary element of worship.

b.      It should not be looked up as a “take it or leave it” when our 5th Wednesday Night singings come around.

c.       It is worship.  It should be done in truth and in spirit (John 4:24).

 

C.     Psalm 28:7

 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:  therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.