And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:18-21 (emphasis mine)

Corporate worship in a local church is the primary ministry of the local church. Corporate worship has four indispensable components: (1) Reading & Preaching the Word, (2) Prayer, (3) Worship in Song, (4) The Sacraments—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

We have considered the Word, both reading and preaching, and prayer. This time: Worship in Song.

It has been said, “God’s favorite instrument is the human voice,” wait for it, “singing praises to His name.” I believe that is true. We can be sure that God loves to hear His people sing His praises, if for no other reason, because the Psalms (God’s hymnal) is the longest book in the Bible.

How should we understand and engage in worship in song? There is more to it than can be captured in two blog posts. (Yes, tomorrow will also be about worshiping God in song.)

First, worship of God is not entertainment for people. Any time it becomes entertainment it has ceased to be worship. God shares His glory with no one! We must always resist musical worship that even comes close to entertainment for us. But enough about so-called worship concerts.

When we worship God in song, HE, and HE alone is the Audience. We the people sing for His pleasure and for His glory, or else it just isn’t worship.

Second, we are to worship Him for who He is and for the great and marvelous things He does. Our songs should exalt Him as Creator, as Savior, and as King. The “exception to this rule“ is that we have biblical warrant to sing songs of encouragement and exhortation to each other.

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (emphasis mine)

But even here, note that as we teach and admonish one another in song, we do so, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, since whatever we do, we do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him! So true worship in song is always about Him!

Next time a little more about worship in song.