Why We Sing - Part 4 [Notes]

You’re invited to join us for "Why We Sing," a six-week series about worshiping God through music. On any given Sunday, we sing three, four, sometimes five songs together. At home, in the car, or in our earbuds, we turn on worship music or put a favorite song on repeat. But have you ever stopped to ask: why do we sing? Why lift our voices in praise to God? How and why does singing bless God and stir our own souls? What if we don’t feel like singing? Or don’t feel worthy to sing to God? Or maybe we feel like our voice isn’t good enough to really sing out? In this series, we’ll explore six biblical reasons why we sing. Our prayer is that each of us will grow in our theological understanding of musical worship – and as a community, feel more free and empowered to lift our voices in praise to God on Sundays and throughout the week.

Encourage: “en-” (to make, to put in) + “courage”
to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to hearten; to spur on

David appointed some of the Levites to be ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate the Lord God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to Him.
– 1 Chronicles 16:4 (HCSB)

All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Meman were under the king’s authority. They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord.
– 1 Chronicles 25:6-7 (HCSB) 

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to Him with a ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song to Him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.
– Psalm 33:1–3 (HCSB)

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise– 16 making the most of the time,  because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand  what the Lord’s will  is. And don’t get drunk  with wine,  which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,  singing and making music from your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
– Ephesians 5:15–21 (HCSB) 

“First is communication with one another with psalms (psalmois, OT psalms sung with stringed instruments such as harps), hymns (hymnois, praises composed by Christians), and spiritual songs (a general term). Second is communication with the Lord by singing and making melody (psallontes, singing with a stringed instrument) in the heart. Church music, then, should be a means of believers’ ministering to each other, and singing should be a means of worshiping the Lord.”
– Hoehner, H. W., Ephesians, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.
– Acts 16:25–26 (HCSB)

Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
– Hebrews 10:20-25 (HCSB)

“To neglect Christian fellowship would mean giving up the encouragement, motivation, and help of other Christians that we need. We gather together to learn from each other, refresh our faith, and strengthen one another in the Lord. As we get closer to the day of Christ's return, we will face many spiritual struggles, and perhaps times of severe persecution as evil forces grow in strength. Difficulties, disillusionment, or busyness should never be excuses for missing church services. Rather, they should motivate us to make an even greater effort to be faithful in meeting with other believers and participating in mutual encouragement.”
– Life Application Study Bible

Praise You Anywhere // Courage // O Praise the Name // Praise the Lord Forever // No Longer Slaves

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