Why is Singing a Discipleship Issue?

Community Humility Singing Worship Ephesians 3: 9-12 Ephesians 5:15-20 Colossians 3:15-17

Why is Singing a Discipleship Issue?

Chris Rivers

Description

In this episode, Chris Rivers, Scott Mozingo, and Brian Darnell discuss singing and how this act of worship plays a role in maturing us as disciples of Christ. Brian shares how worship comes in many different forms but, at its core, is a personal response to God. One of the most practical ways we can respond to God is through singing. It gives us the opportunity to declare his worth and acknowledge his character. Singing is a way to cultivate our relationship with God while simultaneously benefitting us as individuals and collectively as a church. When we sing, we humble ourselves. We recognize the relationship we have with God and remember what he has done for us. As individuals, singing gives us words to say when we don’t know what to say. It allows us to preach truth to ourselves and shapes our ability to be fully devoted to God. As a church, singing has a unifying factor. When we know the struggles others are facing and are able to see them worship through singing, we are encouraged and strengthened as a body.

In this episode, Chris Rivers, Scott Mozingo, and Brian Darnell discuss singing and how this act of worship plays a role in maturing us as disciples of Christ. Brian shares how worship comes in many different forms but, at its core, is a personal response to God. One of the most practical ways we can respond to God is through singing. It gives us the opportunity to declare his worth and acknowledge his character. Singing is a way to cultivate our relationship with God while simultaneously benefitting us as individuals and collectively as a church. When we sing, we humble ourselves. We recognize the relationship we have with God and remember what he has done for us. As individuals, singing gives us words to say when we don’t know what to say. It allows us to preach truth to ourselves and shapes our ability to be fully devoted to God. As a church, singing has a unifying factor. When we know the struggles others are facing and are able to see them worship through singing, we are encouraged and strengthened as a body.

How does Grace Church approach the idea of singing as an act of worship?

Song Selection

  • Understanding that songs affect how we think as well as our emotional response, Grace worship leaders strive to be intentional about the songs we sing. Brian shared several questions leaders ask when selecting songs: Is it theologically and scripturally helpful? Is it in alignment with what we believe? Is it singable? Is it a song that our bands can play? Does it incorporate universal biblical truths written in a unique and creative way? Are there small changes that can be made to lyrics to communicate more clearly?

Teaching Songs to the Church Body

  • Teaching songs to the church body and playing them repetitively gives people the opportunity to learn lyrics and become more familiar with a song. This allows them to worship without distraction and respond. It also allows worship leaders time to receive feedback and make changes if songs are too difficult or hard to learn.

Determining Worship Sets

  • Worship sets are determined with a great degree of intentionality and thought. This includes factors such as: reviewing passages and the themes for the teaching and selecting songs that speak to these truths, determining the progression/order of songs so they move in a way that flows and leads people to worship, and singing more songs after the teaching (rather than before) to allow people to respond to what they have heard.

How can we prepare for singing each week?

Brian offers many tangible steps we can take as we enter a time of worship through singing. This includes:

  • Being in step with the Spirit by spending daily time with God and being in the Word
  • Arriving early to the service and giving ourselves time to connect with others, settle our minds, and prepare our hearts
  • Remaining through the duration of the service and guarding against distractions, interruptions, or anything that might disrupt our time of worship

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