Restoring Biblical Congregational Singing

It was about 5 months ago, that an opportunity arose for someone to fill in for the adult Sunday School class as Lanny was finishing up the study of the book of Philippians and was in need a few weeks break while he was away. A though intrigued me for quiet some time about the why and the what of our singing. Since I’ve lead singing now for over 8 years here at this church, I wanted to take a deeper look into this topic. I had begun reading books and thinking through the thoughts of congregational singing before the class began, Wanting to do excellence in this category, wanting to improve upon our time of gathered singing, especially since I had never received any formal training in music or in understanding its role. But i didn’t just want excellence in performance and sound but excellence in actual worship, was God pleased with what I am leading. There were lots of voices sharing their opinion about what I should do, but what did God want.

As I began to pour over scripture and take in the teaching of others on this subject, I began to see also that this is no small thing we do each week. It’s a vital part of our church’s ministry, worthy of the large portion of our morning service. But it’s also a vital part of our own individual christian lives. It’s a non-negotiable of scripture. So as we worked through the subject of congregation singing in our sunday school class for those 4-5 months, it became apparent to all of us that much of what we thought was biblical forms of worship in song, was not. That we had missed alot of what scripture shares when it comes to the topic of singing in church. We had seriously undervalued, misplaced, marred, and mangled corporate singing, and that as a church we needed to restore a Biblical understanding and practice of it. So why preach it here if it was already covered in Sunday School class? Why repeat? First repetition brings remembrance, and we want these things to stick. Second, we didn’t cover the topic completely, we just opened us to a larger world of thought on it. Studying, preparing, and thinking this through together as a group, revealed to all of us this doctrines vast depth. So a repeat, though similiar, will also add more content and more understanding to this doctrine. Lastly, we are repeating because this teaching shouldn’t be for just the sum of people that attended Sunday School but because it is a non-negotiable, it should also be for our entire church family as well. For the whole congregation, since the whole congregation is asked to participate each week in it’s singing ministry.

So where do we start? How do we restore biblical congregational singing. If we jump right into talking about the act of congregational singing, then we’ve already missed it. Why because singing is part of something much larger. Singing is.... what.... worship.

But worship isn’t just singing. Just as we might say worship isn’t just teaching or praying or anything else we might come up with. Yet, when we are asked what worship is, many of us would point to something we do, when in total reality, the Bible shows us that worship is not just an action we do, it’s much more than that. I’m gonna get to that in a minute but it’s certain that many people have thought they were worshipping God when in fact they have not.

Here’s something that I want you to think about.

When we gather at the 11 o clock hour on a Sunday, what do we call this gathering? Our worship service....

Why do we call it a worship service. Because we gather, because we sing, because we hear from God’s word, and we pray, and we give.

But it that all there is to worship…

Are we certain that we are actually accomplishing “worship” when we corporately do these things. Are we individually confident that we are contributing to worshipping on that Sunday morning? And most importantly, are we confident that we are worshipping the right god when we offer up our worship. If we are to answer any of these questions with certainty, we must fully comprehend what God has said of worship in His Holy Scripture so that we might offer to Him acceptable gifts of worship and praise even in our song.

In order for us to understand what is acceptable worship is we must first understand where it comes from.

I. Worship’s Origination

Can we manufacture worship? Ie.... does whether or not a congregation is able to worship depend on me or Pastor Josh or any of our leaders? In other words, if I were to masterfully craft a smooth, elegant, thoughtful, beautiful service with excellent and vibrant music and well-timed remarks, will that create worship? Asking again, is meaningful worship on Sunday solely dependent on the “worship” leader? Let’s take that question even deeper. Do we create worship? Are we where worship originates? Hopefully, all of you will affirm that this is entirely false. Worship does not start with us, it starts with God.

A. In the Godhead

God

I asked this question to the Sunday school class. I’ll ask it here again. According to the Westminister shorter catechism- What is the chief duty of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

What is the chief duty of God? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Let me ask another question...

What brings the greatest joy, fulfillment, and delight to God?

BEING GOD

God says throughout scripture, what He is most intimating and passionately about is His own glory.

Isaiah 42:8 ESV

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

We see that in creation, we see that in making man image bearers, we see that in him wanting to exalt Christ, we see that in his redemption of souls, and we see that his ultimate victory. and we see that in the future heaven. In fact, we have discussed in Sunday School and even some in sermons a few weeks back, this is his ultimate purpose in choosing us as well. Look with me again in Ephesians 1:3-6

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Why did God chose us. It is true that he did it because of his great love. But he also did it, not so that we might endlessly reflect on our-selves, but for the “praise of his glorious grace.” He chose, saved, and ransomed us for his own praise of his glorious grace. Even saving us in love is an expression of sharing in his own glory.

Btw, when did it say God chose, before the foundation of the world. Why is that important? Because long before anything in this world or universe was created, what was God’s will primarily bent on. “Praise of his glorious grace.” It was bent on His own glory. Long before mankind existed, God was perfectly content with the other members of the God-headed to dwell in the perfect joy and admiration of his own perfection and glory. He did not need man. That would imply a need or an imperfection. No long before creation, God was quite content in worshipping Himself.

So when we worship God, we join an activity that began in eternity past and will continue forever into eternity future- the triune God valuing his beauty and worth above everything else.

John Piper has a great quote on this.

“From all eternity, the ever-existing, never-becoming, always-perfect God has known himself and loved what he knows. He has eternally seen his beauty and savored what he sees. His understanding of his own reality is flawless and his exuberance in enjoying it is infinite. He has no needs, for he has no imperfections. He has no inclinations to evil because he has no deficiencies that could tempt him to do wrong. He is therefore the holiest and happiest being that is or that can be conceived… to share this experience- the experience of knowing and enjoying his glory- is the reason God created this world.”

So worship originated within the Godhead long before we came to dwell on this earth. But even after we arrived, worship is still not possible apart from Christ.

Christ

Created in Us because of Christ

Think about our life prior to Christ, the Bible again affirms that we were dead in sin and we were alienated from God. No work we could do could ever be acceptable in God’s sight. No sacrifice, no offering, no act of “worship” could be acceptable in God’s sight. Apart from Christ’s finished work, we would have no access to God. Access denied. But through Christ’s substitutionary atonement, we have been granted access through his shed blood.

But furthermore, worship...

Continues in Us through Christ

1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Our spiritual sacrifices are “acceptable to God” not based upon our merit’s but through Jesus Christ they have become acceptable. When we think about the number of times that God worship of people in the old testament.... idolatry, unbelief, disobedience, wrong motives. Do we really believe that our worship isn’t in someway shape or fashion tainted by sin? But Christ’s work perfects our poor offerings. Because nothing we really have to offer is all that great. Our best work of excellence could never come close to measuring up to the standard that is God’s, but Christ’s work perfects it.

It’s not the excellence of our offerings that makes our worship acceptable but the excellence of Christ. It’s not accepted on the basis of what we have done, but on the basis of what Christ has done.

That doesn’t mean that what we do is completely of no consequence. It just means that worship doesn’t originate in us.

To summarize this point, and to draw it to a conclusion Bob Kauflin has a good point.

“Why do we need to be reminded that worship begins and ends with God, is about God, and is for God. Isn’t it obvious? Apparently not. Most of the time when we think about worship, we start with what we do. Our intentions are noble; we come with our songs, our prayers, our offerings, and our lives to tell God how great he is. But we assume that acceptable worship ultimately depends on our efforts, sincerity, or gifts. It doesn’t and it never will.” (Worship Matters- Bob Kauflin)

Holy Spirit

Psalm 40:3 ESV

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

Ephesians 5:18–19 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

B. In the Heart

If you aren’t fully convinced yet that worship isn’t fully of actions, then this point should really drive this home. Turn with me to Matthew 15:8-9

Matthew 15:8–9 ESV

“ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Jesus is responding in this passage directly to the questions and tasteless remarks of the scribes and pharisees. In Jesus’ quote from Isaiah, He goes on to say that outwardly they are doing what seems appropriate and right. “Honor me with their lips.” They spoke what seemed right, they sacrificed what seemed right, but did God accept their worship?

Their worship was in vain… another word for vain could be zero. There was zero worship of God going on even though all the outward actions were present.

And why did Jesus not accept their worship? Because of the heart.

The heart is essential to God.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

We can certainly be guilty of this. We may come to church, dressed up, Bible in hand, singing loudly, and still not be worshipping.

How many of you are singing but your mind is elsewhere. Not thinking an ounce of what you are saying? Not directing a single thought to God. What would God say of your worship?

We could actually go farther with this. Were the pharisees worshipping? The answer is actually yes. They were worshipping. Just not worshipping God. What they did was worship something else instead.

So when our minds drift to something else, during music or prayer or scripture reading, what is it that we are worshipping? That thing. And why are we worshipping it and thinking about it, because we value it.

So here’s a good time to include some definitions of worship.

“True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things.” - John Piper

To love God...

How do I know what I love the most? By looking at my life outside of Sunday morning. What do I enjoy the most? What do I spend the most time doing? Where does my mind drift to when I don’t have anything to do? What am I passionate about? What do I spend my money on? What makes me angry when I don’t get it? What do I feel depressed without? What do I fear losing the most?

Our answers to those questions will lead us straight to the God or gods we love and worship. (Worship matters Ch.2)

Side Note: some people have misunderstood worship as a means to an end. If we just had better “worship”, then we’d have a more vibrant church, more disciple-makers, more-unified body, more people getting saved. They look at worship as a way to get what we want in our churches. But that is completely incorrect thinking. Worshiping God isn’t the means to the end. It is thee end. It is what we value most. Is it true that God blesses those that worship Him acceptably. Yes. Look at the nation of Israel. But when we desire the blessing more than the object, it’s like we not the gift but not the giver and that misplaces worship and ultimate destroys true worship. Valuing and treasuring is what matters most. Those other things come when this is prioritized correctly.

C. In the Mind

Can our hearts deceive us. Absolutely, can we fully believe in our hearts that what we are doing is right and be absolutely wrong. Definitely.

So worship can’t just be emotion driven either. Just because you love something intensely doesn’t mean you’re worshipping the right way or even the right God.

When we worship, our minds must be involved.

1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

And what is it that our minds should focus on. Not on they way we think God should be, but on the way His Word perfectly reveals.

John 4:22–24 ESV

You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus made it abundantly clear here. Spirited worship is good but must always be paired with truth.

“Right worship, good worship, pleasing worship depends on a right mental grasp of the way God really is.”

“True worship is based on a right understanding of God’s nature, and it is a right valuing of God’s worth.”

If our worship is in any way disconnected from our source of truth (the Word of God) we might be engaging in a worship that is idolatrous. Fashioning God into our own image…

Transcendence vs Immanence- imbalanced

That’s why when we pick songs, and scriptures, and ask that when people pray publically they take time to look over what they are praying about, because if our thoughts are not governed by the truth, our human faulty minds can make God into something he is not.

We do this with our song lists. We don’t flippantly chose songs anymore, we carefully and meticulously chose songs that we know match word for word with Biblical truth.

Worship is not a mindless activity. God calls for active minds in worship. He’s not looking for some emotional out of body experience. He’s looking for people whose minds are fixated on the whole truth of who He is.

God sets the standards for how we worship in His word. To bring anything different to Him other than what he has described in His word is no different than the worship offering’s that Cain and Able brought. God was only pleased by one of them. So no we cannot worship in any way we want, we must only worship God in the way He wants.

“The better (i.e. the more accurately) we know God through his Word, the more genuine our worship will be.

Magnifying God’s greatness begins with the proclamation of objective, biblical truths about God, but it ends with the expression of deep and holy affections toward God. We aren’t simply reciting facts about God, like students reviewing their multiplication tables. God wants us to delight in him. “the engagement of the heart in worship is the coming alive of the feelings and emotions of the heart. Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead.” - John Piper

So is worship only an internal matter. No, it’s where it begins but it doesn’t end their.

“The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things. And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ.” - John Piper

II. Worship’s Manifestation

A. Our Lips

If we are truly knowing God, which in turn causes us to fully love and value Him, to see His intrinsic beauty and majesty, that value of God will pour out of us through our lips.

Matthew 12:34 ESV

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

In fact, God calls this our acceptable sacrifice our acceptable worship. Truly valuing something can’t stay bottled up inside. It must gush forth and it gushes forth in praise of God.

Hebrews 13:15 ESV

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

If our lips fail to utter it’s praises of God, then it is most likely due to our valuing of God.

Let’s just think of reasons in even our services that would keep us from opening our lips about God.

Before we spend anytime in organized activity, opportunity abounds for you to speak on God’s worth with other people. Why don’t we speak about it. Why do we speak of other things instead. We talk about what we value most.

Prayer… some of us may never pray out loud. Why? Could the source of that thought be a valuing something else instead. Pride perhaps. Not wanting to look foolish. Not wanting to be uncomfortable. Not wanting to exert energy or only coming to get.

Singing… what would keep us from singing God’s praise together. I don’t like this song. What are we valuing? God’s worth or what our tastes and opinions are (which are those even grounded in what God says)?

In the end what are we worshipping that is keeping our lips from worshipping God, because genuine valuing of God will produce lips that praise and speak of God continually.

But it doesn’t just end with our lips, our worship includes our lives as well.

B. Our Lives

Hebrews 13:15–16 ESV

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Romans further goes on to say that offering your entire body as living sacrifice is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

What makes this passage vital to the reader is that it was built upon what was already stated of God’s greatness seen in Jesus Christ in chapter 1-11. It’s again not mindless sacrifice but built upon the knowledge and value of who God is and what He has done that causes us to gladly offer our entire being to Him.

Then to display that worth of God to others. Why do you sacrifice your time to being a christian, to follow rules, to do this or that. It’s easy to sacrifice those things when we consider the worth of knowing God and seeing Him for all He is and has done. When our lives our fully committed to Him in service and sacrifice, it broadcasts to everyone the greatness of God and the value of knowing Him.

Our adoring response of all that we are to all that God is. Warren Wiesbe.

Here’s his full definition...

“Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are- mind, emotions, will, body, - to what God is and says and does.” - Warren Wiersbe

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

What precious words that capture the very heart of what worship is. Absolute treasuring of all that Christ is. Even if I owned all of nature, it would be enough of a gift compared to the knowledge of God’s love and God’s gift of mercy, grace, redemption, adoption, an inheritance. It demands far more than all the material things I could ever conjure up. It demands my soul, my life, my all.

Let that be what creates, inspires, motivates, prompts all our acts of worship of lips and of service. Without that, our worship will never be worth anything. Disciple-making won’t be worth anything, singing won’t be worth anything, giving won’t be worth anything. What matters is what we value and God’s beauty, majesty, power, sovereignty, love, goodness is what we need to value most if any of our acts of worship our to be right and it’s the first thing we need to consider before all other aspects of worship, before we can ever begin to think about addressing our congregational singing. Restoring Biblical Congregational Singing begins when we restore proper worship and value of God.