BOOK SUMMARY: THE PEACEMAKER - PART 3 - GENTLY RESTORE - CHAPTER 9 - TAKE ONE OR TWO OTHERS ALONG

But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”  -- Matthew 18:16

In the event that we cannot resolve our personal conflicts, we may seek help. Godly, unbiased individuals can be of great help (See Matthew 18:15-20). 

THE MATTHEW 18 PROCESS

We should try to keep the circle of people involved in a conflict as small as possible for as long as possible.  The goal is to bring about repentance and reconciliation not maximum exposure. 

(1).  Step One: Overlook Minor Offenses (see chapters 1-3). 

(2).  Step Two: Talk In Private (see chapters 5 & 6).  If you cannot overlook the offense because it is too serious, then you should talk to the other person to show them their fault. Negotiation might also be appropriate depending upon the issue (see Chapter 11).  If this step fails, proceed to the next step.

(3).  Step Three: Take One Or Two Others Along  - The basis for this comes from Deuteronomy 19:15-20. Sometimes these witnesses act as intermediaries, promoting understanding and reconciliation. Sometimes they act as mediators, offering biblical counsel. Sometimes they may serve as arbitrators and provided a binding decision about how to resolve the matter (see 1 Corinthians 6:1-8).  These reconcilers may be mutual friends, church leaders or trained Christian mediators/arbitrators. If it's a technical issue those with legal knowledge or professional help might be warranted. Reconcilers should be unbiased. You may seek the help of reconcilers even if the other person doesn't want it but it's always wise to inform the person that you are seeking such help.  In seeking help from reconcilers, do not give them unnecessary details about the conflict.  Simply explain that you have a conflict that requires their help for reconciliation. You don't want the reconcilers to form opinions ahead of time, nor do you want the other person to think you're giving yourself a biased advantage. With both parties and reconcilers present, you may each share your side of the conflict.  Reconcilers should help apply the listening and communication skills we discussed previously; listening, asking questions to determine facts, etc. Reconcilers may give advice (see Matthew 18:17). They should encourage confession and repentance when necessary. They might propose solutions. You and the person involved in a conflict might determine ahead of time to abide by the reconciler's counsel should you not come to an agreement on your own. Finally, the reconcilers may serve at witnesses to report to the church the problem should the conflict not be resolved. 

(4).  Step Four - Tell It To The Church (Church Accountability) - If steps 1 & 2 fail, Jesus commands us to tell it to the church.  Church leadership should be informed so that they can talk with the reconcilers. Matthew 18:18-20 tells us that the church speaks with the authority of Christ when it is acting in accordance with the Biblical mandate in dealing with sin. Christians may properly disobey their church in these matters only when its instructions are contrary to God's Word. During this step, the church members should remind the sinning believers that they cannot properly worship God until the matter is taken care of (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

(5).  Step Five - Treat Him As A Nonbeliever - God calls us to act justly, to seek peace and to be reconciled to others. A person who does not do this after steps 1-4 and continues to act against God's will must be treated as a pagan. The word AS is important. We can't know if a person is truly saved or not; only God can. But if they are acting like an unbeliever and unwilling to repent, we must treat them as if they are unsaved.  It is a functional decision. Treating them as an unbeliever is the last resort to show them how serious their sin is. This is accomplished by removing them from membership and its privileges and referring to them as sir or ma'am instead of brother or sister. But we must also share the gospel with them. The whole point of this process is restoration, not condemnation. If they proceed to disrupt the peace of the church, it might be appropriate to remove them from the church property. We should pray for them and when we see them, instead of engaging in superficial banter, we should encourage them to repent. Repentance and restoration took place through church discipline in the Corinthian church (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-3 & 2 Corinthians 2:5-11).  Revoking membership prevents the Lord's name from being slandered. It protects believers from being led astray. It can help the unrepentant person come back to the Lord and His people. Some churches disobey our Lord and do not practice the Lord's instructions from Matthew 18.  This is a church that does not take sin seriously. Neither does it love correctly. 

IS IT TIME TO GO TO COURT?

If a conflict cannot be resolved through church discipline, then your options are limited. You can give up any claim you have against the other person. You can pursue an alternate form of dispute resolution. A third option would be to file a lawsuit, but Scripture generally prohibits this solution. 

THE WORLD NEEDS RECONCILERS

Thinking back over the past few months you likely experienced or saw someone else engaged in conflict. Even armed with the knowledge of a few of this book's principles, you could have been of some help. Continue to grow as a peacemaker. 

DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF PEACE IN YOUR CHURCH

(1).  Vision - this church sees peacemaking as essential to the Christian life.

(2).  Training - this church deliberately trains leaders and members in how to handle conflict

(3).  Assistance - this church provides reconcilers to help in all sorts of conflict including financial and legal issues

(4).  Perseverance - this church works hard and consistently to restore broken friendships and marriages

(5).  Accountability - this church holds its wayward members to the principles laid down by our Lord

(6).  Restoration - this church gladly forgives and restores members who repentant so that they are no longer under church discipline

(7).  Stability - this church has both leaders and members that are long-term and are pursuing unity in the body

(8).  Witness - this church seeks to live in a way that gives credibility to the gospel

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

(1).       Have you ever had to seek help in order to bring about peace with another?  How did it work out? 

(2).       If you’ve been at our church for a while, then you know we practice church discipline for the purposes of restoration.  What thoughts or questions have you encountered when we are in the process of church discipline?  When it comes to treating an unrepentant person as an unbeliever, why must practical steps be taken?  Who is to be involved in this part of the restoration process? Can we effectively do this is we are minimally known and minimally know others?

(3).       For what good purposes is a member excommunicated? What good purposes does an excommunication of an unrepentant person serve for the rest of the church? 

(4).       Which of the 8 traits of “developing a culture of peace in your church” do you think our church has?  Which ones can we improve on?  Which of the 8 traits can we help our church improve as we study this book and its biblical principles?

BOOK SUMMARY: THE PEACEMAKER - PART 3 - GENTLY RESTORE - CHAPTER 8 - SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

Ephesians 4:15 Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Words play a key role in almost every conflict. Words should promote understanding and agreement but sometimes they drive people apart.

BRING HOPE THROUGH THE GOSPEL

Our natural tendency is to come at people with law and not gospel. Consider Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-26). Consider Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:2-9, Philippians 1:3-11,Colossians 1:3-23. Gospel precedes law for Christian living. Pray that God will open our eyes more fully to the wonders of the gospel.

BE QUICK TO LISTEN

See James 1:19. It creates an atmosphere of mutual respect. Being quick to listen requires:

(1). Waiting – Don’t jump to conclusion or interrupt. Be comfortable with silence. Don’t be quick to offer solutions.

(2). Attending – Don’t let your mind wander or rehearse your responses. Use eye contact and negative body language. Nod your head to show understanding.

(3). Clarifying – “Are you saying…” “I’m confuse about…” “Let me see if I understand…”

(4).  Reflecting – Summarize the other person’s point; their content and feelings. Reflecting is not agreeing but seeking to comprehend and show the other person that you do. It can help the other person listen to your side as well.

(5).  Agreeing – You should acknowledge what is true before expressing points of disagreement. Agreeing is especially important when you have done wrong.  Resist temptations to defend yourself. Ask, “Is there any truth behind what they are saying?”  If yes, then agree. See Psalm 141:5 & Proverbs 15:31.  Agreeing specific points doesn’t mean agreeing with everything.

THE TONGUE OF THE WISE BRINGS HEALING – Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

(1). Breathe Grace – We can’t dispense grace if we are reading God’s Word of grace and reflecting on the gospel, praying, taking the Lord’s Supper and being around other believers.

(2).  Make Charitable Judgments – Adjust your attitude to show love. Belief the best until you have facts to prove otherwise. Don’t default to the guilty position. James 4:11-12.

(3). Speak The Truth In Love – Both are needed; truth and love. See 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15.

(4). Talk From Beside, not Above – Do not address others as if they are inferior. You are both sinners at the foot of the cross.

(5). Help Others Examine The Desires Of Their Hearts – Address idols of the heart as discussed in chapter 5. Reconciliation might not take place until these are addressed. Sinful behaviors are easier to address than what’s really going on in our hearts. Share how God is helping you to fight your own idols of the heart. Share the self-examining questions of chapter 5.

(6). Choose The Right Time And Place – Don’t discuss important matters when people are tired or there is not sufficient time to address the matter. Be mindful of the place; privacy, distractions, etc.

(7). Talk In Person Whenever Possible – Chapter 7. It’s important to see facial expressions and body language.

(8). Engage Rather Than Declare – Being candid might work with a close friend, but not others. Others might need analogies or metaphors to illustrate the way they’re behaving (2 Samuel 12:1-13). Your approach is meant to capture their attention.

(9). Communicate So Clearly That You Cannot Be Misunderstood – Choose word careful so as not to aggravate or be misunderstood. Consider words that might be vague or that could be misinterpreted. This will lessen conflict.

(10). Plan Your Words – Take time to plan your words ahead of time. Write out some of what you want to say. Asking for a face-to-face meeting is different that telling someone there will be a meeting. Preparation will generally help you to respond when things don’t go as planned.

(11).  Use “I” Statements – “I feel hurt when you make fun of me…” “I feel frustrated when…” They express how their actions have affected you. It expressed concern about their behavior that needs discussing.

(12). Be Objective – While expressing how you feel is important, you must not overemphasize subjective opinions. Uses objective facts when possible. Don’t exaggerate by saying, “You always…You never.” Instead uses phrases like, “You were late five times in the past two weeks.” Etc.

(13). Use The Bible Carefully – Don’t quote Scripture to tear people down (Ephesians 4:29). Don’t use Scripture out of context. Encourage them to read a particular Scripture and ask, “What does this mean?” Know when to stop.

(14). Ask For Feedback – Match impact with intent. Has your message gotten across completely and accurately. Are they responding to your message? You might need to ask, “What have I said that you agree with? Disagree with?” Promote dialogue.

(15). Offer Solutions And Preferences – Don’t just shine the light on the problems. Show others a way out of their sin. Promote repentance. Do not give the impression that you have all the answers.

(16). Recognize Your Limits – You cannot force people to change (2 Timothy 2:24-26). All you can do is prayerfully speak the truth in love with clear communication. God will take it from there.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

(1).  When others wrong you, do you tend to bring out law or gospel?

(2).  Which listening skill do you have a hard time with? How will you work on this area?

(3).  Do you tend to believe the best about others or do you just to guilty conclusions right away?

(4).  How are you when it comes to picking the best time and place to have important discussions?

(5).  How can you improve so that your message is not misunderstood?

(6).  Do you tend to be more subjective or objective when it comes to reconciliation?

(7).  Have you ever tried asking for feedback?

(8).  How can you use Scripture to help your conversations?

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - BONUS TRACK FOUR - SONGWRITERS AND CREATIVES

"It is my plan, following the example of the prophets and ancient fathers of the church, to compose vernacular psalms for the masses; that is spiritual songs, so that the Word of God might also remain in song among the people. To this end we are searching everywhere for poets." -- Martin Luther

(1).  When writing for the church write for YOUR church. - Try not to give effort to other musical ambitions or agendas.  The non-negotiables in anything you write is that is has biblical integrity, and is inspiring and memorable to sing musically.  Ask: What lyrics does my church need to sing? What is a melody they will be able to sing? Forget popular artists or classical musical training. Consider your church. The more you copy the popular thing at the moment, the less original you'll be.

(2).  Find an appropriate outlet for your work to explore its potential. - Try out your songs on trust close friends. Try them out in a small group. If it "works" there then it may be fit for larger congregational singing.

(3).  Be realistic in your expectations. - The majority or your songs may not be that good. Consider that 95% of the songs you write will not be fit for public singing. So write a lot and use only the very best for congregational singing. The rest might be for personal use, family use, small groups, etc. 

(4).  Be a student of the art form. - Songwriting is an art form, not theological propaganda. Study art and study beauty.  Study melodies that work well for a congregation.  Ask why the work.  Dissect them and consider the techniques and forms.  Remember that you can't pull water out of a dry well. Be drinking continually from the Word of God.  Remember that a good lyric will be lost if the melody is unsingable. 

(5).  Crave fresh language and sound. - There is always more to write. There are always fresh way to say old truths.  Consider than 90% of worship songs only cover about 10% of the themes in the Psalms.  We need to push current boundaries in songwriting. If you pursue the current sound and content of culture, you'll be certain to write songs that don't last.

Begin with the seed of an idea for a song.  Expand that seed to grow into a trunk which will grow into branches.  What's the big idea (seed)? Communion? Creation? Redemption? 

What is the flow of thought in the song (trunk & branches)?  How does each verse expand upon the big idea?

Then composes the leaves (language/poetry/first lines)? 

We are trying to inspire response through revelation.  That is to say, God's Word should drive us to respond to God properly..

(7).  Work collaboratively. 

(8).  Editing if your friend. - Go over each line again and again. Cut things out. Add things. Change structural things around. Try different timings.  

(9).  Lean into your unique creative DNA and background.  - God made you to be you, not someone else. While you might learn from others and have different experiences that have helped to shape you, you are unique. You have natural tastes and creative abilities. Be yourself as you write.

(10). Four questions to ask for arranging songs for congregations to sing:

(a).  What sets up the song for congregation to sing best?

(b).  What is the essence of the song and how can I make this arrangement allow the music to express that? 

(c).  How can I write to the strengths of my players? 

(d).  Is there a context linked to the song, service or musicians that would allow something fresh?

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - BONUS TRACK THREE - MUSICIANS, CHOIRS, AND PRODUCTION

See Psalm 33:2-3

Some people are not taught the difference between being a performer and being a worshipper. 

A NOTE TO CHOIRS

It is your calling to help the congregation sing better. If you sing in a choir, you are musician that serves the congregation with your gifts.

A MUSICIAN'S CHECKLIST

(1).  How can I best accompany the congregations singing? - You are there to help God's people sing. Only fools think their artistry is more important than serving the congregation.

(2).  Am I a team player? - Your purpose is to draw the church together not to divide between the state and the rest of the room.  Don't play in a way that makes it hard for people to jump in and sing. You might need to simplify the lines you play, straighten our a line you're singing, turn the volume down on your amp, take an in-ear monitor out so you can hear the congregation.  When you can, you should sing with joy and passion while you play.  Aim to make the entries into verses and choruses clear so that the congregation knows where you are in a song.  Accept the role you play in any given song.

(3).  Am I practicing and preparing properly? - We must prepare thoroughly to play well for God's people. It should never be done to anything less than our best. If you commit to playing, commit to loving people in your church enough to prepare well.  Though we work and have other responsibilities, there is a cost to serving if you're a musician. Get a good nights rest on Saturday night. Be punctual and organized. Be prayerful before you arrive.

"The goal of practice ins't doing something until you get it right. It's doing it until you can't get it wrong." -- Bob Kaufliln

(4).  Do I love my leadership and my church family? - Not all, but generally musicians are notorious for being socially sensitive and emotionally inconsistent. Make sure your aim is promote unity even at the expense of your personal preferences. Prayerfully honor your church leaders and music leader without grumbling or complaining.  

(5).  Am I growing my gifting? - Try to grow in your music abilities. Take voice/music lessons. Record your playing and listen to it and analyze it. Ask for advice from better musicians. Constantly be listening to great music and surround yourself with creative people. Most of all, grow in your love for Christ. 

"Grow in your musical gifting but make sure your faith grows even faster." -- John Lennox

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR PRODUCTION TEAMS

These folks serve behind the scenes and tend to be criticized when technical issues are but they are not applauded when things go well.  If you are reading this and you are not a member of your church's tech/production team, please find them this Sunday and thank them.  

(1).  Am I favoring the congregations singing in my balancing of the sound? -  People have different opinions on the sound loudness in the room. It's a subjective thing. Most meeting places aren't designed for group singing. This means sometimes the sound might need to be turned down. Sometimes it means the sounds needs to be turned up. 

(2).    Are the words clear to the congregation? - The job of the person running the screen is very important. Anticipate the breath of a congregation to make sure lyric transition happen before they are ready to sing the next phrase. Don't come in at the beginning of a phrase or mid-word. The words to be sung must be visible to the eye before they are sung.  If you come it late or exactly on time, the singing will stop.   Make sure any videos displayed are not a distraction to what is being sung.

(3).  Have I remembered I am not working in a stadium or large theater? - Don't be discourage when our sound or lighting isn't like that of a conference or concern. Do the best with the space and resources we have. For thousands of years the church had none of this.

(4).  Am I paying attention to detail? - Administrative gifts are a Godsend. 

(5).  Is my heart in the right place? - Pray about your role beforehand. Remember who you are serving. Success is measured in knowing that you did your best to help the congregation sing. 

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - BONUS TRACK TWO - WORSHIP AND SONG LEADERS

See Hebrews 2:11-12

CHRIST OUR WORSHIP LEADER

Christ is the Choirmaster of heaven and earth. The outworking of our service should be informed by the knowledge that Christ is our mediator and leads us to praise God.  We must lead in a way that points people to Christ, not us.

DEFINING THE ROLE

In most churches, the singing is usually lead in one of there ways:

(1).  A "worship leader," who has an active role and is usually a lead singer.

(2).  The service is all lead by a pastor, which a lead singer and musicians in assisting roles.

(3).  As above, but with instrumental or choral-based leadership.

In every context, it is assumed that the pastoral leadership is working with the music/production team.

QUESTIONS FOR WORSHIP AND SONG LEADERS

(1).  Am I walking with the Lord? - Your primary relationship is your own relationship with the Lord.  You don't step into "worshipper clothes" when you walk in front of others. You are to be a worshipper all week long.  Lead with joy and thankfulness. This doesn't mean you should fake happiness. Joy in God should be your steady heartbeat. 

(2).  Am I in good relationship with my church leaders? - You are to be following their leadership and vision, not your own. If you can't get along and serve in that capacity, consider moving somewhere else so that your frustration doesn't breed division. Good communication should exist between the worship leaders and church leaders.

(3).  Am I investing in relationships with my music team? - There should be an environment of mutual encouragement, friendship and enthusiasm for each other's gifts.  

(4).  Am I choosing good songs? - Aim for songs that are like the Psalm which provide a vast vision of God's character. Find songs that show how we fit into the redemption story and give us a broad grasp of the human experience. Ask: Is this true of Christ and what He has done for us and will do for us?  Does this song provide language for sincere praise and renewed faith and loyal obedience? What image of Christ is being preached in song to the unbeliever? After the service, ask: Did the congregation sing well? Was the Word proclaimed? Was it honoring to the Lord? 

(5).  Am I committed to serving my congregation? - You are with your family. They are looking to you for guidance and not a performance. Part of your worship is to serve their good.  Be prayerful. Every word you speak should thoughtfully serve the purpose of the singing within a particular service. It's been observed that most congregations would prefer a wider range of musical style and expressions than the worship leaders are willing to give.

(6).  Am I encouraging the congregational voice? - Help people find their voice. A song may suit the congregation in a different key. Singing to lead in a church is not the same as singing to be a soloist or singing for a recording.  When leader other in singing make sure the first words you sing in a verse or chorus are very audible so the congregation can follow you. A visible deep breath is also helpful, too.  

(7).  Am I being myself rather than trying to be someone else? - Don't feel the need to copy someone else. God has given you the gifts and life experience you need to lead the particular flock at that particular time.

(8).  Am I mindful of the work of the Holy Spirit? - Are we testifying to Christ as the Spirit does? See John 15:26.  There are moments when a person in leadership may change course a little and do something different than what was practiced. Don't confuse spontaneity with the same thing as following the Spirit. The Spirit works through preparation as well.  The Holy Spirit is not necessarily at work more when peoples senses are heightened due to well-played music or good lighting.  Exercise caution in this area because how people "felt" is not a good indicator of whether God was exalted or not. 

(9).  Am I growing old gracefully? - You gotta know when your time is up and it's time to let the next generation leader.  Equally, don't allow youth to be an idol in church. A music team should be multigenerational. 

(10).  Am I walking with the Lord? - It's the first question to ask. And it's the last question to ask. 

 

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - BONUS TRACK ONE - FOR PASTORS AND ELDERS

Good congregational singing begins with pastoral leadership. The leaders of the church, not the musicians are ultimately responsible for how the congregation is singing. Here's a 10-point checklist to help pastors assess the congregational singing.

(1).  Does my congregation know why they sing? - It is the pastors responsibility to see that this aspect of worship is explained, nourished and celebrated.  It is not a warm-up (preparing our hearts) to the main event of the sermon. 

(2).  Is our church singing strong songs? - We need to hunt for good songs. These songs should be infectious with emotional melodies, combined with artistry. They should declare the wonders of the Lord. Teach new good songs and repeat familiar good songs.

(3).  Am I part of the weekly song selection process?

(4).  Am I overseeing the overall selection or "canon" of songs? - The pool of songs for congregational singing is larger than ever.  There is less accountability of how these songs are written. We need to be discerning and selective. We need to cover a lot of doctrines that cover all seasons of life.

(5).  Am I passionately involved in the singing? - Pastors should be visible during the church singing, modeling for others what passionate worship looks like.  

(6).  Am I leading, encouraging, teaching, and building strong relationships with all the musicians? - The church music team should not be an entity unto themselves. The pastors should be pouring into them so that they understand the vision and mission of the church. Encouragement is needed for this minsitry.

(7).  Do I regularly encourage the congregation in their singing? - Encourage the flock to sing to each other. Give short reflections on what has been or what is about to be sung.  

(8).  Am I encouraging the congregation to prepare for Sunday? - Email songs and setlists. Encouraging singing at home and in the car and everywhere else.  Do we ask them to pray about how they'll serve each other on Sunday through singing.

(9).  Am I planning the service order in a sensitive and creative way? - Order and timing can enhance a service or cause a big distraction. It is recommended that you select songs to enhance the message of the sermon especially in response to the sermon at the end of the service. 

(10).  Am I overseeing the development of singing in congregational life? - In leadership meetings, make the first questions you ask (for one year), how did the congregation sing?  

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - CHAPTER 7 - THE RADICAL WITNESS WHEN CONGREGATIONS...SING!

Psalm 66:2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.

"Glorious worship is exuberant, never half-hearted. It is attractive, not off-putting. It is awesome, never sentimental. It is brilliant, not careless. It points to God, not to the speakers.  There is nothing more evangelistic, nothing that will win the world more than glorious worship." -- Tim Keller

We all sing of a hope that is for all people; a hope we must share.  

SINGING TOGETHER IS ALWAYS A WITNESS

Our churches aren't just places that we are equipped to witness. They are places that bear witness to Christ. 

"It is not only the individual Christian believer who is to let their light shine...each church is to be a lighthouse."  -- Rico Tice

To visitors, the radical sight and sound of a congregation singing praises to God together is a radical witness in a culture that rejects God and embraces individualism.  Your singing is always a witness.  Is it a good witness or a bad witness?

POWERFUL WITNESS

Many Psalms show Israel's awareness of other nations listening into their singing, and called them to praise God, too.  See Psalm 117.  

The congregational worship in their prayer, their praise and their actions was a dynamic witness in the early church. See Acts 2:46-47. 

Luther and the Reformers inspired and enabled their congregations to sing together in their own language.  It was revolutionary.  British and American revivalist movements (Wesley brothers, Moody, etc.) had the hallmark of congregational singing which was a powerful testimony to unbelievers. The same is true of the Billy Graham crusades.  

SINGING THE GOSPEL

In Christ Alone was Keith Getty's first hymn, co-written with Stuart Townend. It was sort of a protest song, written out of frustration with the lack of depth in songs that were being sung in many churches in 2001.  It is a song that tells the whole gospel story. 

A DAMAGING WITNESS

We must actually believe and live the truths we sing, otherwise what we sing can make us hypocritical. This wont' attract non-believers.  It turns them off. Some of Jesus' harshest words were for people who honored Him with their lips while their hearts were far from Him (Mark 7:6-7). Hypocritical living damages our witness and so does half-hearted singing. 

FACING A TASK UNFINISHED

Spiritual songs we sing can also move us to go a foreign country for missions and sustain us on the mission field, not just help us in our local evangelism.  

Frank Houghton wrote a missional hymn in the 1930's called Facing A Task Unfinished. It was first sung at a mission prayer meeting. It inspired over two hundred missionaries to go to China. It is estimated that these efforts grew the China population of believers from less than one million to well over one hundred million. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1).  If I were a visitor to your church and knew nothing of the gospel, what would your church music selections convey to me?

(2).  How does your church's music connect to the youth and children in your midst?

(3).  Are you willing to give up your personal preferences so that the singing in your church is a witness to unbelievers?

(4).  Do we fill our lives with songs that encourage world-wide mission efforts?