“The What of Worship, Part 5” (Ready to Worship S11E9)

March 20, 2020

Ready to Worship Season 11, Episode 9 for Friday, March 20, 2020

This season on Ready to Worship, we are investigating worship. To investigate worship, we are asking the questions of an investigative reporter: who, what, when, where, why, and how. In this study, we will continue to investigate the WHAT of worship. In the past two installments of this study, we examined two of the five acts of worship – the Lord’s Supper and the offering. We examined these two acts first because they are both specifically tied to the first day of the week. In this study, we are going to examine the act of singing. To the Colossian Christians, Paul wrote, “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. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:16-17). In these verses, we see seven aspects of acceptable singing. First, it must be Biblical. Paul begins by saying, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” He ends by saying, “Do all in the name of the Lord.” Second, it must be logical. Paul’s says, “In all wisdom.” In the parallel passage in Ephesians, Paul tells his readers not to be unwise, but to understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:17). We must understand what we are singing (1 Cor. 14:15). Third, it must educational and motivational. Paul speaks of “teaching and admonishing.” Fourth, in public worship, it must be congregational or reciprocal. We must teach and admonish “one another.” Fifth, it must be spiritual. We are to sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” Secular and national songs have their place, but that place is not worship. Sixth, it must be emotional. We are to “sing with grace in our hearts.” As you know, grace is the unmerited favor of God. To sing with grace is to sing with great feeling and emotion. It is to pull on the strings of the heart (psallo – Eph. 5:19). Seventh, it must be vertical. It must be “to the Lord.” For sure, there is a horizontal aspect to our worship – teaching and admonishing one another. However, to be acceptable, singing must also have a vertical aspect involving praise and thanksgiving. As we get ready to worship this week, let’s keep in mind the WHAT of worship. Let’s pay special attention to the act of singing.