Sing Like You Are Supposed To

SING LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO

Ephesians 5:19

S: Music

Th: Prayer: A Passion for His Presence

Pr: WE SING TO THE LORD!

?: How?

KW: Expressions

TS: We will find in our study of Scripture, and specifically Ephesians 5:19, three expressions of how we sing to the Lord.

The ____ expression of how we sing to the Lord is with…

I. COMMUNITY

II. CREATIVITY

III. CORE BEING

Version: ESV

RMBC 28 April 02 AM

INTRODUCTION:

I know that you may be surprised by this question, but…

Have you ever noticed music can be controversial?

ILL Notebook: Music (differences between hymns and choruses)

An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church where his nephew attended. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

"Well," said the farmer, "it was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."

"Praise choruses?" said his wife. "What are those?"

"Oh, they’re OK. They are sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer.

"Well, what’s the difference?" asked his wife.

The farmer said, "Well, it’s like this - If I were to say to you: "Martha, the cows are in the corn"’ - well, that would be a hymn. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:

’Martha, Martha, Martha,

Oh Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,

the cows, the big cows, the brown cows,

the black cows, the white cows,

the black and white cows,

the COWS, COWS, COWS

are in the corn, are in the corn,

are in the corn, are in the corn,

the CORN, CORN, CORN.’

Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well, that would be a praise chorus."

The next weekend, his nephew came to visit his uncle and attended the local church of the small town. He went home and his mother asked him how it was.

"Well," said the young man, "it was good. They did something different however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs."

"Hymns?" asked his mother. "What are those?"

"Oh, they’re OK. They are sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.

"Well, what’s the difference?" asked his mother.

The young man said, "Well, it’s like this - If I were to say to you: ’Martha, the cows are in the corn’ - well, that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:

’Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry

Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth

Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by

To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.

For the way of the animals who can explain

There in their heads is no shadow of sense

Hearkenest they in God’s sun or His rain

Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.

Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight

Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed

Then goaded by minions of darkness and night

They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.

So look to the bright shining day by and by

Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn

Where no vicious animals make my soul cry

And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.’

Then if I were to do all the verses and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn.”

Well, many of us realize that music can be a heated topic of discussion in the church.

It has been the subject of debates throughout time, especially when a new style or instrument enters into use, like when the organ was introduced (what a brouhaha that one caused).

Historically, what we are not used to becomes labeled as the devil’s music.

More often than not though, it finds acceptance in time and another form, style, or instrument becomes the focus of ire.

TRANSITION:

Regardless of our opinions, we must realize that…

1. Music is a gift for the church that is not to be neglected (Psalm 33:1-3).

Note what the psalmist has written…

[1] Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. [2] Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! [3] Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

We are clearly instructed to get excited about the Lord.

The realities about God, Jesus, salvation, and heaven are simply too great for speaking alone.

These realities deserve song.

They must be sung.

Music is a powerful force, for…

2. Music has the ability to penetrate the heart and mind.

What makes music unique is its relationship with emotion.

When we feel a depth and intensity of emotion, music seems to spring from that (note Bill H’s “The Melancholy Heart”).