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? 

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - CHAPTER 6 - SING!...WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH

See 1 Peter 2:4-5. We are being built into a spiritual house. We are one with each other because we are united to our Lord. 

TOGETHER 

The best most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music. We have one faith, one Lord, filled by one Spirit, brought into one Church, to offer our praise to HIM! 

Listening to each other mumbling quietly along as a band performs brilliantly on stage in a church building is not the same as singing together as a congregation.

We are members of a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-everything family. We are not the center of the universe. 

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

Today there is a disturbing amount of believers who are not gathering weekly with the church.  We do not have an individualistic faith, but a corporate one. We can't skip the cost of community. Community means we that we aren't just served, but we serve. 

See Ephesians 5:18-20.  

When it's time to sing, stop drinking your coffee, put your phone down and look around and listen to the people standing and singing around you. This is YOUR family. You are called to serve them, so sing!  

SINGING AND RECLAIMING THE MILLENIAL GENERATION

"The ages eighteen to twenty-nine are the black hole of church attendance." - David Kinnaman

What is needed to help read that generation is not a gig or concert-like atmosphere but a congregational approach.  They can get that outside of the church. They need God's people to act like God's people.  Millennials are searching for creativity, communication and community.

(1).    Creativity - Sometimes the simple thing done well makes a great impression. A great melody with moving lyrics, sung with an authentic gusto speaks more volumes that difficult songs that are hard to sing or play.

(2).    Communication - Are we communicating a deep faith through what we sing and how we sing it? Biblically rich songs, sung by people who look like they mean what they are singing, helps teach the gospel. 

(3).    Community - We live in a fragmented era where people can live totally individualistic lives. Sometimes are churches are no different, having everyone segregated by age or by common needs. We need to put personal preferences aside and come together as one.

SINGING SHAPES OUR LEGACY

Antoni Gaudi, a great Spanish architect, laid the first stone to his Sagrada Familia cathedral. This was in 1882. It's scheduled to be completed in 2026. It will have taken 144 years to complete its construction. 

We bear a responsibility in the singing legacy we leave behind us. We should be singing with the future in mind. 

WHAT KIND OF CHURCH?

Every time you sing, you are expressing something about what kind of a church you want to be, and what kind of church member you are going to be.

Not all churches are healthy churches, but all healthy churches are singing churches.  There are churches that cannot loudly sing due to their dangerous context, yet they will still whisper their songs because it is indespensable to their faith. 

O CHURCH ARISE

Inspired by Ephesians 6:10-20 and Martin Luther, Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote the hymn O Church Arise.

"Music is a gift and grace of God, not an invention of man. Thus it drives out the devil and makes people cheerful."  -- Martin Luther

Singing God's Word helps us put on our spiritual armor.  We are a city on a hill shining in a dark world.  Show up and sing up!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1).  How can we serve one another in church with regards to our preferences in congregational singing?
(2).  How do you prepare for church on Sunday morning? On Saturday night?

(2).  How do you prepare for church on Sunday morning? On Saturday night?

(3).  What are ways you might respond when your church sings a song in a style you don't particularly enjoy or find engaging?

(4).  What are ways your church encourages the music as a communal experience? 

(5).  How much of our church singing today equips us for spiritual battle? 

 

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - CHAPTER 5 - SING!...WITH YOUR FAMILY

See Deuteronomy 6:5-7. Loving God with our entire being means having His Word on our hearts and talking about God all throughout the day with our family.  Songs can help accomplish this.

In the days of the Puritans a man would be excluded from communion if he didn't lead his family in worship at home. Not that we should revive this approach, but this shows how serious they took family worship.  

Here are some ideas to help at home where children are still present.

SINGING AND SKIING

Parents in ancient Israel were charged with helping their kids learn their culture and God's Word. The use of songs was helpful in this (Psalm 78:2-4). As Christian parents we have the same responsibility. 

"Songs are a special kind of speech. Lullabies, songs and rhymes of every culture carry the 'signature' melodies and inflections of a mother tongue, preparing a child's ear, voice and brain for language." -- Sally Goddard Blythe

Learning skiing as an adult can be hard. But some children learn it at such a young age that they can't remember a time when they didn't know how to ski. Parents have the opportunity to use music this way with our children from the moment of birth.  Sooner or later, they'll learn to sing unprompted by you. 

MEMORABLE UNDERSTANDING

Songs help us train children in the language of the Christian faith. We have a duty to pass on the Christian faith. See Exodus 12:26-27.  This Scripture shows us that our faith must be active enough for our children to ask questions. And it shows us we need to be prepared to give answers. Singing the gospel prepares little hearts to ask questions and receive answers. We don't need to sing well to accomplish this.

WHAT SHOULD CHILDREN SING?

Sing what YOU like and enjoy singing!  They should be songs that are good for your spiritual well-being.  We should also give children a little more than they can understand so that they can grow with the songs they sing. Be discerning. Not all catchy tunes and lyrics are helpful. 

BUT MY KIDS ARE TEENAGERS...

What do we do if our kids are older and we didn't start our family life like this?  

(1).    Tell and show your teens why this is important.  Be part of a church that practices great congregational singing. 

(2).    Make it fun and attractive as possible. Find contemporary versions of songs that appeal to a teenager's ear.

(3).    Get started! Start playing songs in your home. Let them see you singing.

(4).    Don't be scared of your kids. You have the right and responsibility to parent them.

It's been observed that when fathers don't sing in church, it often leads to older kids following suit. 

THE SOUND OF HOME IN CHURCH

This "at home" worship should be brought into the church on Sunday. It prepares us for our eternal family and home. Some of the children in our care will be the leaders of congregational singing in the future. We can transform the church in a single generation. 

THE PRACTICAL IDEAS

(1).    Use All The Help And Opportunities You Can Get - Sing to yourself at home. Stream songs from Sunday's worship service. If your kids are learning to play instruments, get sheet music for spiritual songs. Ask your kids what worship songs they enjoy. 

(2).    Teach Your Kids Songs You Want Them To Grow Old With - Make a list then play these songs around the house and in the car. 

(3).    Talk about What You're Doing And What The Songs Mean - Take time to explain why you sing to God and for the benefit of others. 

(4).    Prepare For Sunday Services - Help your kids learn your church's song so that they can be ready on Sundays to sing.  

(5).    Model Passionate Participation In The Services - Get to church on time so you don't miss any singing. Sing! Your kids and others are watching. Kids need to see other kids and parents singing so they know it's not a childish thing to do but a Christian and godly thing to do. 

(6).    Be Aware Of All The Music Your Kids Are Into - All music affects us. There are no neutral lyrics. All songs share a message about how one views the world. It's not that we ban everything not explicitly gospel oriented, but we want to equip our kids to be discerning and thoughtful about what is sung.

(7).    If Your Kids Are Into Music... - Encourage them. If they have a gift help them to use it for the benefit of God's people. 

(8).    If Your Church Has A Children's Choir, Support It If You Can - They will learn to be lifelong singers.

(9).    Cultivate High Opinions Of All Types Of Art - Some of the issue in church music today are not that a certain style isn't quite right, but rather that we are often to narrow and maybe too boring in our expression. Teach your kids to be lifelong students of discovery in this gift of music God has given us. 

(10).    Sing Today - Start now. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1).    If you grew up in a Christian home, what songs do you remember most?  What songs do you want to pass down to your children?

(2).    If you are a parent or grandparent, how do you feel about singing to and with your children or grandchildren? Can you think of ways to make it easy, fun and a natural part of family life?

(3).    What parts of church do children and teenagers currently enjoy? What can we do to make singing in church more engaging and enjoyable for children and teenagers?

(4).    What is holding your family back today from more singing in the home?

BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - CHAPTER 4 - SING!...WITH HEART AND MIND

Songs are food for the soul. What you sing, and don't sing, changes you.

Spiritual songs shape our priorities and behavior. Often times our prayers will contain phrases we learned in a song.  Truth soars on the air of a great melody.  Eat good "food" on Sunday morning.

SINGING TAKES SUNDAY'S TRUTHS INTO MONDAY

The songs we sing on Sunday provide the soundtrack for our week. Christ-filled songs are there to motivate us when we don't feel like getting out of bed to face the day's challenges. They give us faith when we are fearful. They help us share the gospel when we forget what to say. 

Every day we walk to the sound of two voices: Wisdom and folly. Spiritual songs help us listen to wisdom. Singing a song like Rock of Ages will help set your mind straight against the competing worldviews that are out there.  Hope comes from above! We were condemned to die and Christ diverted God's wrath away from us and on to Himself. Be singing the gospel.

See Philippians 2:7-11.

SINGING SUSTAINS YOU IN EVERY SEASON OF LIFE 

We need to cultivate a habit of selecting a variety of songs that can feed us through a variety of situations. We need songs about creation, the incarnation, the crucifixion and the resurrection.  We need to feed on the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). 

The Psalms are songs to God, about God, sung in the community with the people of God. They contain the whole season of life! They teach us how and what to sing about. They are songs for practical living. 

(1).    They give us a vast vision of who God is. - What makes musical worship delightful should not be novelty, beauty or aesthetic, but its OBJECT.  God!  He is Judge, Shepherd, Holy, King, Creator. See Psalm 75, 23, 15, 2, 19.  There are Psalms that describe His voice, His attentiveness to our tears and burdens. Psalms tell of His marvelous deeds and promises to us yet to be fulfilled (Psalm 29, 56, 25, 78, 31).  We need a rich and vast diet of songs to help us mature in Christ. Go to the Psalms. 

(2).    They show us how to deal with real life. - Psalms reach into the fullness of the human experience. See Psalm 13:1, Psalm 16:9-10, Psalm 18:33, Psalm 103:14, Psalm 88:18, Psalm 16:11.  Over a third of the songs are laments. This is where many of us are on Sunday mornings. We don't always have pep in our step. We need songs for both occasions. Abide With Me is a hymn for lamenting. Do our songs present a facade of happiness rather than a robust joy in the midst of pain?

We can sing because we are happy. We can sing because we are sad. We need gospel perspective in both. We need to gaze upon our Savior.

SINGING REMINDS YOU OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN YOUR LIFE

Great Is Thy Faithfulness is a great hymn that calls us to never forget God's unchanging faithfulness and provision. It's often our experience that certain songs mark important moments in our life (conversion, grieving, tragedy, celebrations, etc.). The truths in those songs remind us of what God has brought us through and done for us experientially. 

SINGING KEEPS YOUR MIND ON ETERNITY

We need songs to keep us focused on the very real presence of God in every day life, but also to point us to the new creation of heaven on earth. We also needs songs to remind us of the judgment to come for those who do not know Christ as Savior. Consider getting a hymnal to read through and use as a guide to help your prayers. We need songs that we can grow old with to help us with life's hardships as we near our entrance to glory. 

SCALLOPS AND SINGING

You might not like scallops, but if prepared right, you may come to love them. Your palate might change in regard to food. The same is true with songs and music.

When you're at church, and it's time to sing, focus on what is going on. Think about the words and respond in prayer while singing. Be mindful of those around you and how they need to hear truth through your singing. Enjoy being part of something bigger than yourself. Follow up in the week by singing the songs you sang on Sunday. Do this at home, when you wake, at work, in the gym, with your family, as you drive, as you fall asleep at night. Put playlists together and sing for God, for your soul and for others. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1).    Is there a hymn, or hymns, from your past that acts as a "milestone marker" for your walk with Christ?  Why does it still speak to you today?

(2).    What modern song has connected with you in such a way that you believe it may become a milestone for you in the future?

(3).    Do your favorite songs that you love to sing give a broad and deep picture of the character and nature of God? Can the same be said of how you think about God and how you pray to Him?

(4).    Do the songs we sing connect us to every season of life (suffering, confession of sin, thanksgiving, celebration)?

(5).    How much do we lean on hymns we sing in church throughout the week (in the morning, in the car at work)?

BOOK SUMMARY: ARE YOU READY FOR THE END OF TIME? - CHAPTER 1 - WATCH!

The Parable of the Ten Virgins - Matthew 25:1-13 

This parable is one of Christ's most solemn parables. He teaches it just a few days before the crucifixion. In it Jesus speaks against carelessness, slothfulness and inattentiveness to the Lord's coming. It calls everyone to AWAKE and to WATCH!  There are various thoughts this parable opens up but Ryle's purpose is not to write a commentary but to set before us some practical application.

MARRIAGE CUSTOMS IN ANCIENT TIMES

Marriages generally took place in the evening. The groom and his friends came in procession to the bride's home. The bride and her friends would assemble and wait for the groom. When the bridal party saw the lamps and torches from the groom's party, they would light their lamps and go out to meet the groom and his party. As one unified party they would return together to the bride's home. Upon arrival, the entered the home and shut the doors and the ceremony proceeded. No one else was allowed to enter in.  

RYLE'S VIEW OF THE PARABLE

(1).    It is entirely prophetic.

(2).    It speaks to the time when Christ shall return in person to this world--a time yet to come.

(3).    The ten virgins represent the whole body of confessing Christians.  That is to say, the visible Church of Christ (true believers mixed with unbelievers).

(4).    The groom represents our Lord.

(5).    The ten wise virgins represent true believers--the converted part of the visible church.

(6).    The foolish virgins are nominal Christians--the unconverted who are Christian in name only.

(7).    The lamps, which everyone carries, to be the outward profession of Christ as Savior.

(8).    The oil represents the grace of the Holy Spirit.

(9).    The coming of the groom represents the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(10).    The going in to the wedding banquet by the wise virgins represents every believer's entrance into His full reward on the day of His coming.

(11).    The shutting out of the foolish virgins represents the exclusion of unbelievers from the Christ's Kingdom.

WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS PARABLE?

(1).    The visible church of Christ will always be mixed with unbelievers until Christ comes again.

Wise virgins with oil and foolish virgins without oil are mixed together.  There are no grounds for the common opinion that the visible church will gradually advance to a state of perfection.  There is no warrant for believing sin will gradually dwindle away from earth.  There is no warrant for the idea that holiness will gradually increase.  The gospel sometimes makes rapid progress in some countries but people forget that at the same time is it withering in other countries.  

Are you a wise virgin or a foolish virgin?  The wise virgin receives wisdom from the Holy Spirit. They know their sinfulness. They know Christ as Savior. They know how to act upon the knowledge that pleases God. The foolish are without spiritual knowledge. They don't know Christ, nor their sinfulness or the value of their souls.

We are all described in this parable. We are either wise or foolish. We either have oil or we don't. We are members of Christ or the devil.  

(2).    The visible church is always in danger of neglecting the doctrine of Christ's second advent.

"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."  This means that between Christ's first and second coming the visible church would get in a dull state regarding the doctrine of the Lord's second coming. The church has gone on for too long neglecting both advents of Christ taught in the Old Testament--His humiliation and His glory. There is a habit of taking all the promises spiritually yet all the denunciations and threats literally. Jacob means Jacob. Israel means Israel. Egypt means Egypt and Babylon means Babylon.  That isn't to say that these terms aren't ever allowed to be used in a spiritual sense, but the primary sense of every prophecy and promise in the OT is literal. 

Some believe the coming of the Son of Man means death. Some believe it means the destruction of Jerusalem. Some believe it manes general judgment and the end of all things. These interpretations are entirely beside the point.  The point is that when the number of the elect is accomplished, Christ will come again in great power and glory. He will raise His saints unto Himself and reward them. He will punish the wicked with fearful judgments. He will establish His universal kingdom. He will gather Israel into their homeland.

We shouldn't forget that the differences that people have with prophecy shouldn't push to the side the main point that Christ is coming again. Be gentle with those who differ from you. Avoid dogmatism especially about symbolic prophecy. Over-zealous friends of prophecy have done much harm to this doctrine. 

Christ's second coming should prompt us to holy living. Christ's second coming should prompt us to missionary work. The parable of Christ's second comings explains why there are unbelievers still in this world. 

(3).    Whenever Christ comes again it will be very sudden.

"At midnight was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom comes, go out ot meet him."  Fixing dates has done much harm. Nevertheless, we know that the coming of Christ will break on the world all at once.  It will startle unbelievers like a trumpet blown at their bedside while they are asleep. Any view of prophecy that destroys the sudden appearing of Christ is fatally defective. Elsewhere Scripture says that the coming of Christ is like "a thief in the night" and "as like lightning."  It's compared to the days of Lot in Sodom. People were buying and selling, eating and drinking, planting and building (see Luke 17:28-30). In another passage is likened to the days of Noah (Luke 17:26-27). The world is not prepared for such an event. The vast majority of people are buried in their work or in their families. Their bellies and their pockets are their gods. People will claim that we are crazy for believing that Christ will come again. Scripture tells us this (2 Peter 3:3-4). 

(4).    Christ's second advent will create an immense change in the visible church, both good and bad.

"Give us some of your oil...Lord, Lord, open to us."  There will be an immense change in the ungodly. Both their opinions and position will change.  They will discover that the godly were wise and that they themselves were foolish. They will turn to the people they once mocked and ask for help.  Hope will be taken away on that day. They will seek salvation and not find it. They will knock loudly and get no answer. 

There will also be an immense change to the godly. They will be free from anything and everything that ruins their comfort. The door will be shut against the fiery darts of Satan and against a cruel world of unbelievers. They will have all their doubts and fears vanquished. The second Eden will be far better than the first. They shall enjoy the presence of all that is good. They will forever be in the company of Christ. Faith shall be swallowed up in sight. Every tear will be wiped away. Psalm 16:11 will be our reality. 

POINTS OF APPLICATION

(1).    Are you ready?

Are you born again? Does the Spirit dwell within you? Do you have oil in your lamp? Are you ready to meet Christ? Everyone who is a true believer is to live like one who expects Christ to return.

(2).    Awake and flee to Christ.

Have you no heartfelt sense of sin? Have you no peace with God? Have you no delight in the Bible and prayer?  I set before you Christ who died to make atonement for sinners. 

(3).    Watch!

Watch against everything that might interfere with your readiness for Christ's appearing.  Watch against SIN of every kind.  Watch against doubts or unbelief regarding the safety of your soul. The Lord Jesus paid for all your sin. Don't tell Him that you think He left you to pay any part. Watch against conformity to this world. Watch against sins of the tongue and temper. Watch against false doctrine. Bad money is never marked bad or else it would never pass.  Watch against slothfulness about the Bible and prayer. Watch against bitterness and uncharitableness towards others. Watch against the sins of Galatia, Ephesus and Laodicea. Watch and be not surprised when the Lord appears. Watch for the world's sake. Watch for your own sake. Watch for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Never let us think we can watch too much.