Singing in church

In addition to teaching Sunday School, i'm also helping out in church by leading the singing every month. And i've learnt alot from Joy and the other singers, who work very hard.

I've discovered that the singing complements the preaching. In singing before and/or after the faithful preaching of God's Word, it helps to affirm the sound teaching in singing a good song (that perhaps emphasizes or reiterates or drives home the point of the message or complements it). And that leads me to choosing good songs, songs that are faithful to the Bible and pertain to the message that day (although so far, Joy has been choosing most of the songs with me). I really appreciate the works of some faithful musicians who literally take bible verses and put them to song! It's brilliant!

I've discovered that you are not really important. It's not a show. And even if it is, you are not the star. I find that as i decrease, the more people can concentrate on the words of truth in the songs and sing in agreement together as a church. Jesus' Spirit helps us understand God's Word, the hard truths in the message and the songs, and convicts us, moves us to repentance and helps us to be able to change to be conformed to Jesus. If anything, Jesus is the star! Cos when you hear about him from the pulpit, in your Bibles and in the songs, you should remember him and his sacrifice, not me or my voice. And that means i choose songs that are helpful for people to learn about Jesus and songs that are easily sung, so that people don't have to struggle over difficult melodies and therefore focus on the truths in the songs.

I pray that we will forever cherish Christ and all that he has done for us, in our lives, in everything we do, and in the truth about him in song.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.