BOOK SUMMARY: SING! HOW WORSHIP TRANFORMS YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, AND CHURCH - CHAPTER 3 - COMPELLED TO...SING!

We are a singing people because the gospel of the Lord Jesus compels us to sing.

Saved people are singing people. 

"Worship isn't primarily about music, techniques, songs or methodologies. It's about our hearts. It's about what and who we love more than anything." -- Bob Kauflin

Paul was compelled him to live for Christ and to preach for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

We need people to sing so we can be refreshed in the gospel. We need to be a singing church because sinners need to hear of Christ via people who mean what they sing. 

CRIES OF FREEDOM

Worship comes as a response to revelation. The gospel is the most glorious revelation in all of history. 

The hymn His Eyes Is On The Sparrow says, "I sing because I'm happy. I sing because I'm free."

"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -- John 8:36

The gospel declares we are eternally free. It is a revelation that compels us to sing.

Charitie Bancroft wrote these words in 1863 to the now famous hymn Before The Throne of God Above:

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted FREE

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

"I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation." -- C.S. Lewis

Singing is one of the ways we complete our enjoyment of God. 

SCRIPTURE'S SALVATION SONGS

(1).    The First Song - Exodus 15 - Moses and the Israelites sung it as a celebration of rescue and victory.  We have been saved and so we sing, too.

(2).    The Song of Battle - Judges 4-5 - Deborah and Barak had a stunning victory over a Canaanite warlord in chapter 4. Chapter 5 records the song they sang. Singing completed the joy of victory. Singing is part of our armor for battle in this life. It's how we celebrate Christ's victory for us. 

(3).    The Songs of David - Psalms - The Psalms are songs that call us to sing. Psalm 117:1, Psalm 96:2, Psalm 105:2.  In the Psalms we see the pattern of response to God's revelation. See Psalm 40:2-3, Psalm 31:19-21. Meditating on God and all He has done will trigger authentic praise to God from our hearts in joyful singing.

(4).    The Songs of the Prophets - Ezra 3:10-13 - The Israelites sang during Ezra's day when the temple foundation was completed. They sang when the wall was rebuilt around Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:27-29).

(5).    A Song That Sustains the Prisoners - While in prison Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God (Acts 16:25). Salvation songs are sung in any and every season of life.

I'M CLEAN, I'M CLEAN

Singing is an overflow of a heart captivated by the gospel. He has washed us clean so we can sing wherever we are in life, no matter what we are facing.

See Revelation 15:3-4.  We shall sing forever to the praise of our God. His goodness compels us to sing. We sing because we love to. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1).    If worship is a response to revelation, what devotional practices in your own life might help you connect congregational singing as a response to freedom in Christ?

(2).    What psalm or other Scripture passage resonates with you as your "Song of Salvation?" Why?

(3).    What song would you consider to be your personal "testimony"?