What are we doing here? (2)

Introduction: How many of you have ever participated in sports? You know the fundamentals are important. For example, baseball is a game of repetition and reminder. Training the mind to respond to a ground ball the same way every time. Professionals make it look easy because they have practiced the fundamentals for years.

Transition: In a similar way, last week and this week we have been reminded of the fundamentals of gathering together as the body of Christ. What are we doing here, is a question about what are the fundamentals that we should be continually training in as we gather together as the church? Last week, we reminded ourselves that we must preach the word when we gather. Today, we are going to see from Colossians 3:15-17 that when we gather we must sing and pray the word. (Read text)

Sing the Word

Read Col. 3:16

Point: One of the ways to get God’s word deep in our hearts and minds is to sing it psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We find the similar imperative to the church in Ephesians 5:19 where it says to address one another, or speak to one another… Sadly, in our current day the singing part of our gathering has often been defined as the worship part of our gathering. Singing is an act of worship but it is not as if we are only singing to God when we sing. No, we are singing to one another as well.

Example: When you have gone through life situations together and then come and sing _______ it is right and good to feel the truth of these words as they impact all of us. To not only think of how these words impact my life by _____, and _____ because I’m aware of the life problems they have faced this week. And so yes, we sing to God and for God’s glory, but it is right and good to look at one another, grab a brother or sister by the shoulder and sing out the truths that we need to hear.

This truth helps us to have a filter for what we sing. Which is why.. first an foremost we must be concern about the words that we sing. Josh and I have talked about this extensively as we pick out songs together. Many songs have direct scripture quotations. Many songs we sing are based off of Biblical truths. Every song we sing is intended to communicate something. These are the words that will sustain us when we are dying… not just a matter of how I feel in the moment.

Beyond the actual words we are singing, it also is very helpful to have those words set to a melody that is singable as a congregation. Why, because the first instrument that God has given us is our voice. This is why we are participating in singing not spectators. Also, playable for instrumentation if it’s available.

Illustration:

Transition:

Pray the Word

Colossians 4:2 give the imperative to “devote yourselves to prayer”.

Point: Prayer has always been a fundamental for those who belong to Christ. Jesus prayed constantly and taught His disciples to pray. The church was born during a prayer gathering. (Acts 1 and 2) We find in Acts 2:42 that the early church … (Read)

Example: Acts 4:23-30 a recorded prayer using Scripture as their guide.

Illustration: This is why when we gather we must pray. Now, sometimes we pray in adoration. Praising God for who He is. Sometimes we prayer in confession. Agreeing with God about our sin and Jesus as the only means to forgive us. Sometimes we pray in thanksgiving, as we see in Colossians 3, thanking God for all things. And we also pray for one another. Bearing each other’s burdens and talking to God about our hurts, hang ups, and pain. He is the one who can actually fulfill what we need. This is why it was such a joy to hear during our prayer breakfast a couple weeks ago all the ways God has been answering prayer. Sometimes we need reminded that He does!

There may be different forms of prayer but when we gather we need to communicate with our sovereign Lord through prayer.

Closing: Preaching, singing, and praying the Word are fundamentals for the church. It is imperative that we gather together, and when we gather, we participate in these activities because the Bible prescribes them. When your medical physician prescribes you medication they are not making a suggestion or giving advice… no it is for your best interest and good health to pick up the prescription and take it accordingly. In the same way, we are not obeying theses Biblical prescriptions just for the sake of keeping traditions or maintaining denominational distinctives. Rather, We are meeting together and keeping these prescribed activities as a means of worshiping our great God. They are a means of enjoying God. They are habits of grace that help us continue to walk in faithfulness to Christ. We preach, sing, and pray the word so that the word might dwell in us richly. Then, as we obey Christ throughout the week while we are not together, the word will be our life blood. The word will sustain us by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

Closing illustration: Once upon a time....