INTRODUCTION: God's people have always used singing to express the innermost feelings of praise for our god and father. God has ordained that we worship him in purity of singing, without accompaniment. We will talk about the reason why we sing, the importance of singing, and ways to improve our singing in the first part of our lesson. 

BODY 

I. WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT SAY CONCERNING SINGING IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD?

A. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THE APOSTLES AND OTHER INSPIRED MEN TAUGHT IS BINDING ON CHRISTIANS TODAY.

1. Jesus speaking to his apostles.

a. John 14:26-"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
b. John 16:13-"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
c. Matthew 28:18-20

2. The words of these inspired men are binding on Christians.

a. I Corinthians 2:13-"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."
b. I Corinthians 14:37-"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."
c. II Timothy 3:16,17-"All scripture is given by inspir- ation of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for re- proof, for correction, for instruction in righteous- ness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

3. The New Testament church looked to these writings for their teaching.

a. Colossians 4:16-"And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea."

B. The apostles and other inspired men taught the value of singing.

1. Ephesians 5:19-"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord."
2. Colossians 3:16-"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."

a. Both Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19 were written to churches and were read as instructions to congregations.

3. James 5:13-"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry let him sing psalms."

C. Christians practiced singing during the New Testament era.

1. Matthew 26:30-"...and when they had sung an hymn, they went out unto the Mount of Olives."
2. Acts 16:25-"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them."
3. Romans 15:9-"I will sing unto thy name."
4. I Corinthians 14:15-"I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also."
5. Hebrews 2:12-"Saying, I will declare thy name unto my bre- thren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."

A. We praise and give thanks to God in our singing.

1. Hebrews 13:15-"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of PRAISE TO GOD continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
2. Romans 15:9-"And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and SING UNTO THY NAME."
3. Acts 16:25-"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang PRAISES UNTO GOD: and the prisoners heard them."

B. Teaching and admonishing one another.

1. Ephesians 5:19-"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord."
2. Colossians 3:16-"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."

A. Directed to God....and not to man.

1. Acts 16:25- "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them."
2. Romans 15:9- "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name."
3. Ephesians 5:19- "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord."
4. Colossians 3:16- "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."
5. While it is good to have singing that is beautiful to the ear, we must remember that we should be concerned about pleasing God and not men.

B. We are to worship according to the dictates of the God. 

1. John 4:24- "God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in TRUTH."
2. II John 9-11 We cannot go beyond what God has commanded.

C. Our singing must come from the heart.

1. I Corinthians 14:15- "I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also."
2. Ephesians 5:19- "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord."
3. There is a proper role for emotions in singing.

D. With the understanding.

1. I Corinthians 14:15- "I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the UNDERSTANDING ALSO."
2. This is one reason why such things as humming, handclapping, and making vocal sounds like instruments of music is wrong.
3. This also means that we need to understand the songs which we are singing.

A. For the Songleader.

1. Choose songs that the assembly knows.
2. Choose songs that are scriptural.

a. Our songs either teach to truth of God's word or false doctrine.
b. 2 John 9-11

3. Speak out clearly when giving instructions.
4. Pick songs that are applicable to the situation.
5. A knowledge of music and notes, although not absolutely essential, will aid greatly in your songleading.
6. Understand that you are the songleader, not the preacher.

a. Leave the preaching up to the speaker.
b. A few comments may sometimes be in order, but keep it very brief.

7. Do the best you can, and rest assured that God will be pleased.

B. For the Assembly.

1. Every person in the assembly should sing.

a. Singing is not meant for the many to listen to the few.
b. God wants each to sing if possible.
c. Colossians 3:16- "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."

2. Hold the songbook up, look up, and speak up.
3. Be understanding of the songleader when he makes mistakes.
4. Ponder and meditate on the thoughts in each song.

a. Don't center your mind on what someone else is doing, what someone is wearing, or what your planning to do later.

5. Be understanding of little mistakes that fellowworshippers or the songleader may make.

Copyright 1999 by Grady Scott may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.