BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - CHAPTER 2 - COMMANDED TO...SING!

We are a singing people because God has commanded us to sing.

Not to sing is to disobey God. God's commands are not arbitrary and for our God (James 1:25). Our spiritual health depends on it. 

Christian singing is far more than doing our duty, but it is never less. Psalm 149:1 commands us to sing a new song to the Lord.   There are more than 400 references of singing in the Bible.  There are at least 50 direct commands. 

We are not to disregard God's command to sing simply because we are not in the mood or don't like the music or the personnel.  The leadership of the church should help facilitate singing. Scripture is concerned that we sing, but also where, what and how we sing.

WHERE WE SING

The command from Scripture is to sing in the assembly of the saints (Psalm 149:1). This is a directive from our Lord. We need to take this seriously and set aside time for it. There will be times we sing songs we wouldn't have chosen for whatever reason. We all have to be willing to lay down our own preferences for the good of the wider assembly. We love and serve each other through singing.

WHAT WE SING

See Colossians 3:16.

We are to sing the truth revealed in Scripture; the story of redemption. Fundamentally, we're to sing about God, revealed in Christ and supremely in His suffering and His glory since that is what the Word is all about (Luke 24:26-27).  Many songs do not fulfill this description.

HOW WE SING

Colossians 3:16 also shows us how we should sing. We are to sing with thankfulness in our hearts to God. We are not singing Christianly if we are only singing with our lips. Deeply felt thankfulness produces a sound from our voices that is robust and enthusiastic. How we sing reveals how we think and feel about something.  If we aren't singing this way, our children or visitors will wonder if what we are singing is truly important to us. 

OUR SINGING SAVIOR

In Matthew 26 we are told that after the Lord instituted communion that they "sung a hymn."  As he walked towards His arrest, Jesus sang and leading His men in singing. Jesus quoted Psalms when He was on the cross (Psalm 22:1-3).

We cannot be passive about singing. Singing helps lead us to the One who saves us. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1).     What response do you have personally to the command to sing praise to God.

(2).    How do you feel about singing not only songs you like but songs you need to sing?

(3).    What is the link between thankfulness and singing?
(4).    What are some things that might help you cultivate singing with intentional thankfulness?