SERMON TITLE- “Sing a New Song”
SERMON SERIES or OCCASION- Final Words
DATE- July 19, 2015 LOCATION- Shelbyville Christian Church
INTRODUCTION:
Illustration/Story/Quote/Statistic- I love music!
Music is an important part of our lives. You think about all the places and things we do that have music. It is a way of expression. It can be a means of escape. Music reflects our mood and it can also affect our mood.
Few things in life touch the heart as well as music. And music for many represents what you believe, what’s important to you, what you identify with, what resonates with who you are. Think about it. If the majority of the songs you listen to talk about getting drunk and wasted, then I’m going to bet that’s a temptation for you. If the music you listen to is filled with sexual innuendos and bold vulgarity, then I’m probably going to say that inside that’s the kind of person you really are. If what you listen to talks about faith, trusting in God, praising God, and living for God, then I’m gonna guess that you are a ... Believer, a Christian, someone who cares about God.
The kind of music we love says a lot about who we are. Why do we sing on Sundays? Why do we play music? Hopefully the music we sing expresses what we believe and what we feel about God.
She was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer who lived . She was one of the most prolific hymnists in history, writing over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, with over 100 million copies printed, despite being blind from shortly after birth. She is known as the ‘Queen of Gospel Song Writers,’ and as the ‘Mother of modern congregational singing in America,’ with most American hymnals containing her work. Some of her best-known songs include "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour,’ "Blessed Assurance,’ "He hideth my soul,’ "Praise Him, Praise Him,’ ‘I am Thine, O Lord,’"Rescue the Perishing,’ ‘Near the cross,’and "To God Be the Glory.’
Her name was Fanny Crosby.
He is an American contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader, and songwriter who has sold nearly 30 million records. Some of his most well-known songs are "How Great Is Our God", “Holy is the Lord,” "Jesus Messiah", "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", “You grace is enough,” “Indescribable,” “Unfailing Love,” “Everlasting God,” “Made to Worship,” and "Our God.” He has had at least nine number one hits.
For over a decade, he has been providing the soundtrack for many Sunday morning worship services around the world. More people have heard this singer/songwriter’s songs than three of the top selling secular artists combined. He is undoubtedly one of the most successful songwriters of our generation, as well as the most humble.
His name is Chris Tomlin.
Two very different artists from two completely different time periods who have written completely different styles of music, but both having a great impact on their world through God’s gift of music.
Spoken Need- Most if not all of you have heard of Fanny Crosby. But I would dare to say that the greater portion of this audience has never heard the name Chris Tomlin. Why is that?
Is it because Fanny Crosby’s music is somehow more sacred or more important or more meaningful? Do we somehow question the Christianity or faith or sincerity of Chris Tomlin’s writing? Is the God of Fanny Crosby’s songs any different than the God of Chris Tomlin’s songs?
If not, then why? Do we not believe that our God is still able to inspire people to write great Christian songs, that God is still using the talents of men and women to share the gospel?
Then why? There’s only one reason why! It is a rejection... of anything new.
New is deemed evil. New is thought of as less sacred, watered down, and unholy. New is change and change is somehow bad.
If Chris Tomlin were to by chance walk into our service today, you would be nice as all-get-out to his face, but you won’t listen or sing his music because you’ve already formed an opinion about it. That’s not right folks. That’s not right.
Transition- As you many probably know, the last few days we’ve had a garage sale at our house. And I’ve gone through a lot of my stuff trying to get rid of what we don’t need. I came across two plastic tubs full of my cassettes. You guys remember cassettes, right? Kids that’s those small rectangle things that mom and dad used to listen to music on. We also have some records. Kids that’s like a really big CD looks like this. Didn’t own any 8 tracks tho. I also begrudgingly got rid of my VHS tapes (you know those movies that used to play on a VCR before the days of DVD players and Bluerays).
My wife laughs at me for holding onto that stuff. “It’s old,” she says. I still listen to a lot of my classic rock and oldies s, 70s, and 80s. “It’s old,” she says. “But it’s still good,” I say. And then she and the kids just shake their heads at me.
Now I’m not saying that we should just get rid of all our old stuff. We fell in love with those old songs by Fanny Crosby. They mean something to us and our faith. So long as we don’t worship the song and not the God of the song. But to be close-minded to anything new is to basically say that God is not doing anything for us today or for this generation. We are worshiping the God of the past and what He has done, but not the God of the present nor the future. God does not change, but He is still working in the lives of people today inspiring them to share their faith in today’s language with the world who desperately needs Him.
BODY:
Please Turn in your Bibles to... The book of Psalms chapter 40
Context and Background- Psalms is the hymn book of the Bible. Jews would commonly sing these Psalms at their festivals and celebrations. They were the songs of their generation. And this is what they say...
In New International Version (NIV)
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.
Then in New International Version (NIV) it says...
1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
, 4-6 New International Version (NIV) says...
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
And finally in New International Version (NIV) says...
1 Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
Over and over again the Psalmist says for us to sing a NEW song.
Now why does he say this? Why does he say this?
Does he mean that we should just pick a song we don’t know and sing it? We’ll call it, “Mystery Song Sunday.” And we’ll learn something new and we’ll be better for it, right? No. That’s not what he’s saying... And I’m not up for it either just to let you know. That’s not the point at all.
He says, “sing a new song of praise. Sing to the Lord a new song.”
What I’d like to point out to you is that each of these Psalms are talking about praising God for what He has done lately. It’s talking about salvation.
He heard my cry. He lifted me up out of the filth I was in and gave me firm to stand on His rock, so I will praise Him. He has done marvelous things; He saved me, so I will praise Him in the assembly of His faithful people. That’s the church, folks. That’s us.
The music we sing on Sundays and throughout the week ought to be an expression of our joy and thankfulness to God, the God who saved us and is saving us.
That’s what it is for Chris Tomlin. That’s what it was for Fanny Crosby.
That’s what it can be for you.
And you say, “Well, I’m not a singer and those new songs are too hard to sing to.” Well, music has progressed. It’s gotten more complicated. But how many of our children and grandchildren can easily sing to any of the newer stuff but start going to sleep or checkin out mentally when we start singing the old? It’s true. Immediately they know that it doesn’t relate to them. It’s not in their language. You say it’s in English. True, but it is expressed in a way that was better understood several generations ago. The music, the lyrics...
Fanny Crosby wrote songs that have stood the test of time, but I’m willing to bet that Chris Tomlin’s songs will do the same... Among the many other Christian artists that have shared their talent in order to bring God glory and draw others to Jesus. The churches that have embraced this concept are the churches that are growing and reaching their world for Christ.
I want to close by reading the lyrics to one of Chris’ songs Jesus Messiah:
He became sin, who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing, love so amazing
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
CONCLUSION:
I want to ask you this morning: Do those words represent you and what you believe? Does it express what you feel for God? These words were taken right out of God’s Word, the Bible. Don’t reject something just because it is new. God is still doing new things. The Bible says that His mercies are new every morning. Sometimes I think He’s tired of hearing us sing the same old song. It’s like we’re stuck. Anybody remember what an old scratched record sounds like? Stuck like a broken record. God wants to do something new for you and for this generation. Will we let Him? Will we let Him?
Or will we be just like that broken record?
Please stand
