Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

A Testimony

Growing up there was a time when we began to attend church services.

My experience during these times was difficult.

In all honestly, I did not really enjoy church gatherings.

The singing was bearable to some degree.

I knew some songs and others I did not.

I would sing some and some not.

The sermons were generally worse, but at least I could sit down and maybe get a nap.

In short, I was bored.

Now, out side of these gatherings, I was active and happy.

I was excited to play basketball or football or some other sport.

I enjoyed all types of music, knew the songs and sang them.

I knew in some way I should be interested in God, but I really was not.

What was the problem?

I did not have a heart for the things of God.

However, when I was saved on February 14, 1993, everything changed.

I had gathered with the same church congregation the previous week and was bored, but now I was interested.

I could not wait to gather with the people of God, hear God’s Word and especially sing the songs of the faith.

To this day, singing about God, to God and before God is one of the most precious blessings in my life.

This morning we are going to see how singing is right among God’s people, expected among God’s people and a blessing to God’s people.

PRAY

Our resolve to sing is fixed on Christ

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

How important is the content of Christian songs?

There is nothing better than a song that tells me truth about Christ flowing from his word.

Spurgeon - It is a praise-begetting thing.

Out of every Book of Scripture will stream praise unto Jehovah.

Out of every promise will spring a sonnet.

Out of every divine truth, enjoyed and lived upon, will rise a spiritual song.

The whole revelation of God is the condensed essence of praise; you have only to give it a fitting opportunity, by setting it simmering on the fire of a grateful heart, and you shall find a sweet cloud of holy incense rising from it acceptable to the Most High.

Bob Kauflin - It is the Word of Christ, the Word about Christ, the Word of the gospel — not musical experiences or emotional highs — that are to dwell in us richly as we sing.

There’s certainly a place for expressing our subjective responses to God in song, but the greater portion of our lyrical diet should be the objective truths we’re responding to: God’s Word, his character, and his works, especially his work of sending his Son to be our atoning sacrifice.

As we are filled with the Word of Christ, singing results as an overflow of the beauty of his person and work.

Our resolve to sing expresses our hearts

Singing…with thankfulness in your hearts to God

The new man will be a singing man and a singing community.

When God does a work in the heart, it causes the soul to sing.

It may not make a person an accomplished musician or vocalist, but it make them a singer

Listen to the Psalmist talk about the singing of the people of God.

If this was the thinking of the people of God before the establishment of the new covenant in Christ, how much more should this be true of us?

They sang of a shadow, we sing of the substance.

They sang in part, we sing in full.

They sang of the promise, we sing of the fulfillment.

Are you singing the new song of God’s grace in your heart?

Our resolve to sing includes a variety of forms

Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

Though there seems to be some difference or distinction between these three types of songs, it is difficult to determine with exactness what it is that makes each one unique.

The first one in the list, psalms, seems to me the most precise and distinct.

Psalms – literally a striking of musical strings, as used among believers song of praise, sacred song, I believe it does refers specifically to the OT Psalms.

In seeking to follow this command Calvin composed songs that were basically the Psalms to music as the only songs of the church.

Luther composed songs that were based upon the Psalms.

Hymns - sacred song, song of praise to God, especially used to express thanksgiving, It is a direct address of praise and glory to God.

According to Augustine a hymn has three characteristics: It must be sung; it must be praise; it must be to God.

Colossians 1:15-20 (It is believed to be an early Christian hymn)

Spiritual Songs - a new song, a religious song sung by a community gathered for worship, meaning those composed in the Spirit on spiritual and instructive subjects

Paul takes a word that could have a negative or positive meaning depending on the context and places another word to modify it.

Our resolve to sing blesses the gathered ones

Dwell in you - second person plural

teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing...

There are four important things concerning music within the body of Christ.

Christ-centered & God-centered Content (Does this song present the truth as it is revealed in Scripture?

There should not be a focus primarily on the congregation, its needs, experience and issues.

Good tune, good musicians, no truth is a no go)

Congregationally Singable (no room for prideful display of skill & talent - There is a desire to see everyone participate to encourage and be encouraged)

Composed in various forms for various occasions (all hymns, all choruses as a principle is unwarranted biblically - There should be songs which have different aims.

One may be simple to express a sincere desire to please God.

One may have more difficult lyrics to consider in order to teach the congregation something about God or salvation)

Consecrated by the heart’s posture (spirit and truth - a maturing believer will be easily edified and easily lead to worship God - complaints about style, song selection and instrumental perfection in performance will not be the leaning disposition of the growing Christian)

Practical Application

Do you know the new song?

Our singing should lead to us to greater experiences of our triune God.

As we sing, pray for the body of Christ gathered, engage the words, and seek to be moved by the truth about God.

Seek to avoid distractions and being distracting, but interact with the body.

Sing with volume and embrace the appropriate posture and enthusiasm.

Be gracious to others.

What we are singing influences the heart, but also reflects the heart.

Consider what you sing.

The primary and most important instrument employed in our singing is the heart.