Worship Together

Introduction

Jane loved worship. She was on the worship team. Singing was a passion—and she enjoyed being in front of people. She was happiest by having the ability to express her emotions and demonstrating her talent for people to experience. But Jane had an issue, a serious issue. Her relationship with God was non-existent when she was NOT on the platform at her church. She saw worship as a form of drama and entertainment rather than as an expression of genuine love for God.

With the development of Worship Teams and an attention to aesthetics, such as lighting, and atmosphere, it is easy to transform worship into an entertainment exercise.

Because of this, we expect our worship experience to rival that of a Hollywood production.

But what I have described is not worship. Or, if it is worship, it is worship of ourselves rather than worship of God.

This morning, I want to share with a biblical approach to worship.

There is worship that happens with an individual—and there is worship that involves coming together with fellow believers.

Worship can be expressed in many ways (obedience, giving, prayer, witnessing, etc...

But this morning, I want to focus our attention to worship that involves singing.

Text

Ephesians 5:18–19 NIV84

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Psalm 95:1–2 NIV84

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 95:6–7 NIV84

6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice,

Transition

Point 1 - The Spirit’s Presence and Empowerment

The Spirit’s Presence and Empowerment

Worship is a longing that God created in each person.

Helping us worship God is an activity of the Holy Spirit.

Being filled (a continual experience) with the Spirit impacts our worship WITH one another—where we “speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”

Worship is an integral experience within spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:15 NLT

15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

The Point: We need to recognize and accept the Holy Spirit’s work IN our worship.

Transition: Verse 19 “Speak to on another...”

Point 2 - Shared Experience

Shared Experience

There are many forms, settings, and experiences with worship. Often worship is an intensely personal expression.

But worship is also a shared experience—where believers come TOGETHER to worship God TOGETHER.

Question: Why is worship ALSO a shared experience?

Singing together demonstrates that we are not along in our faith.

Singing together provides opportunities to encourage and edify the Body of Christ. (England, Bill Graham crusade)

Singing together validates emotions.

Singing together opens the door the powerful principles of unity and agreement.

So many people feel alone and misunderstood. Having friends who share companionship with Christ serves as a healing balm to brokenness and pain.

The Point: We need to embrace our responsibility to engage our life as Christians with fellow believers.

Point 3 - Spiritual Singing

Spiritual Singing

This past week I googled a question: “What are the scientific and psychological values in singing?”

Even the secular world sees the value in singing together. According to www.healthline.com, there are 10 values of singing, backed up by scientific studies:

1. Relieve stress.

2. Stimulates the immune response.

3. Increases pain threshold.

4. May improve snoring.

5. Improves lung function.

6. Develops a sense of belonging and connection.

7. Enhances memory in people with dementia.

8. Helps with grief.

9. Improves mental health and mood.

10. Helps improve speaking abilities.

But obviously we don’t sing in the worship service because science and psychology tells us to. We sing because God’s Word instructs us!

Colossians 3:16 NIV84

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Do a simple Scriptural search and you will find an abundance of instructions to sing unto the Lord.

The Psalms is a book of the Bible dedicated for worship in song.

We sing because God says so!

It is not about a professionally sounding worship team.

It is not about the ambiance and decor of the platform—or the lighting—or how well the congregation sounds. We sing because God tells us to—and it gives Him the glory.

You may not be able to carry a tune in a bucket—but in this church, you sing because it honors God!!!

The Point: Singing together as a form of worship is an essential element of our relationship with God.

Point 4 - Sincere Heart

Sincere Heart

Worshipping God together does not neglect the truth that it still comes down to what happens to us as individuals.

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”

The “together” coupled with the work of the Holy Spirit in the context of worship opens the door to going deep with God.

The “heart” is our spiritual center. It is the place where our emotions, our thoughts, our intellect, our choices, our priorities are developed and lead to our actions.

Authentic worship develops our heart—and leads our heart toward sincerity with God.

The Point: The work of the Holy Spirit that leads us to corporate worship ultimately nurtures our heart toward a sincere relationship with God.

Conclusion

I believe the Bible instructs us to engage in Spirit-filled worship.

That worship includes worshipping WITH fellow believers.

Worshipping with fellow believers includes singing.

Spirit-filled, corporate singing provides opportunities for our heart to grow in love for God (and for others).

Revelation 5:9–10 NIV84

9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”