Singing From The Heart

Singing From the Heart

1. *Have you ever left home and wondered if you closed your garage door?
2. WHY DON’T WE REMEMBER?
1. Because we have done it so many times that we don’t even think about it anymore.
3. *Paul Tillich – “We are living in times not our our”
1. We often live in the past or in the future, but rarely in the here and now
2. Not always a BAD thing – some places it is worse than others
3. Multitasking
4. *Have you ever caught yourself singing a song here in worship that is so familiar that you’re thinking of something else entirely?
1. The potluck this afternoon
2. A business deal you’re working on
3. I don’t like this song
4. He is leading this WAY too slow
5. There is no way I can hit the note that is coming up in the chorus
6. Have we done it so many times that we don’t think about it anymore

                                                               i.      *12 yrs = 5000 songs

                                                             ii.      *40 yrs = 14,500 songs

1. It is easy to let it become mindless or mechanical

1. We must learn to live within our own time here in worship
1. We must engage our spirit – NOW at this time in what we are doing                                                                i.      * “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24, NASB95)

                                                             ii.      *We need to use our hearts – how can we do that if we are 10 miles away in our minds?

I.                    *TITLE SLIDE - Let’s examine two passages – Ephesians 5:18-20 & Colossians 3:16

a.       Familiar passages – instrumental music

b.      This is NOT what Paul was trying to teach in these passages

                                                               i.      We can still learn the truth about vocal music from these, but that was not the point he was making

c.       *Command structure – participle construction

                                                               i.      The commands are accomplished by the  - ING words that follow

d.      Ephesians 5:18-20 – READ

                                                               i.      "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" (Ephesians 5:18-20, NASB95)

e.       Colossians 3:16 – READ

                                                               i.      "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, NASB95)

f.         *Common Thread – WITH THE HEART

                                                               i.      *It is not enough to engage our minds – we must engage our hearts

                                                              ii.      NO MULTITASKING

g.        *Jesus warning – MATTHEW 15:8-9

                                                               i.      Our worship can and will be vain if we do not engage our hearts

                                                              ii.      Just because we don’t use instruments, doesn’t make our singing Scriptural

1. *Sing with the heart -  TO ONE ANOTHER
1. *We are SPEAKING to one another in our songs
2. *Teach, instruct – we learn from each other

                                                               i.      About Jesus and what he did for us

                                                             ii.      About the love of God in our lives

1. Admonish, encourage –

                                                               i.      “Come We That Love the Lord” – Let our joys be known

                                                             ii.      About heaven and how great it will be

                                                            iii.      About the strength that we can draw from one another through Christ

1. *SONG# 583 – Sing to Me of Heaven                                                                i.      Vs1 – sing that song of peace

1.      from the toils that bind me it will bring release

2.      Burdens will be lifted that are pressing so

                                                             ii.      Vs3 – Sing to me

1.      until the shadows o’er me rise and swiftly go

2.      When my heart is weary, the day is long

1. *Sing with the Heart -  *TO GOD
1. *With Thankfulness TO THE LORD–                                                                i.      for the gifts He provides

                                                             ii.      for the blessings He showers on us

1. Praise – for being the awesome God that He is
2. *SONG # 732 – We Praise Thee, O God

                                                               i.      Addressed to God specifically – We praise THEE, O God!

1.      For Jesus who dies for us

2.      For Thy Spirit of Light

a.       showed us out Savior and scattered our night

3.      For the Lamb that was slain

a.       Bore all our sins and Cleansed every stain

1. *Sing from the Heart – TO GOD and ONE ANOTHER #. *It’s not about ME!
1. The focus of MY heart should be…

                                                               i.      to encourage and teach YOU and to praise and thank GOD!

                                                             ii.      It is NOT about the mechanics of the song!

                                                            iii.      It is NOT about whether I like it or not!

                                                           iv.      It IS about OTHERS and it IS about GOD!

1. *We need to pay attentions to what we are saying in song
1. *Promises – *Commitments - *Pledges to service
2. *To one another AND to God!
3. SONG #297 – I want to be a worker

                                                               i.      I want to trust His word in my life

                                                             ii.      I want to lead the erring in the Way!

                                                            iii.      I will work and pray and labor EVERYDAY!

1. Brothers and Sisters…Let us never make routine such a beautiful part of our worship to God
2. This is the time that is our own to worship
3. *Let us be filled with the Spirit and Let the word dwell in us by singing from the HEART

INVITATION