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Why Do We Sing the Songs We Sing?

The Pastoral Ministry of Song Selection

Song selection for worship is a pastoral ministry of the Word. It is a big deal which words are placed in the mouth of our congregation through which we sing praise to God and edify one another. Musical worship serves the greater purpose of our liturgy as we walk through the Gospel arc and anticipate and respond to the preached Word (see last month's article The Gospel Flow of Biblical Worship). Songs have a way of continuing to minister to us throughout the week and throughout our lives. Good lyrics matched with good melodies stick with us. They guide us, teach us, and comfort us. Of course, God is the real Guide, Teacher, and Comforter. But he has long been pleased to provide his people with songs as a vehicle of his ministry. Music is one of the best tools for delighting in and storing up God's word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11, 16) that we might be transformed into all-of-life worshippers (Rom. 12:1-2). So, we should be intentional and discerning of the songs we sing while guarding against the temptation to become overly critical, recognizing the artfulness of the medium of music.

Characteristics of a good congregational song

Biblically Robust - The song is filled with biblical terms, phrases, and imagery, and the overall message is consistent with the truths of Scripture.

Theologically Clear - The song poetically expresses Christian theology in a way that is clear, understandable, and accurate.

Lyrically Rich - The lyrics are artfully vivid, soulfully expressive, and have depth, whether the words are many or few.

Musically Moving - The musical tone matches the lyrical tone, and responsibly engages the emotions (joy, adoration, lament, repentance, Gospel embrace).

Singable - Most of the notes are in a comfortable range for most of the congregation (low A-high D), so that men, women, and children can participate.

Expansive - High points in the song may stretch vocal ability, but this is intentional and not wearisome.

Simple - The lyrics, rhythm, and melody are well crafted and simple enough to catch on to after one or two exposures.

Memorable - And yet the song is interesting, unique, and cohesive that it may be memorable, serving the transformative impact of a biblically rich song.

The Gospel Flow of Biblical Worship

Planning Worship Services

Have you ever wondered how we go about planning our weekly worship services? Consistent with a Reformed theology of worship, we focus on a steady diet of the ordinary means of grace: Word, Sacrament, and Prayer. This is the call of God to worship him in the way he has prescribed and graciously invited us to do so. In our liturgy, we seek to infuse every element of worship with the Word of God. We read the Word, sing the Word, pray the Word, preach the Word, and “see” the Word (in the visible Sacraments). In this Bible-centered dialogue between God and his people, we receive his Word and give it back to him and one another. As God’s Word directs our worship, each week we structure the service to reflect the flow of the Gospel, the grand narrative of Redemption. As we walk through this framework, the sermon passage gives us the particular verbiage and themes to highlight. I like to think of weekly worship planning at this intersection of the Gospel framework and the sermon passage. This keeps our liturgical flow anchored in the Gospel while we explore a diversity of themes directed by the exposition of Scripture.

Mapping it out

The horizontal axis reflects the Gospel Arc in both the content and our proper response. In this way our service order walks through the Gospel Narrative of Creation > Fall > Redemption > Consummation. This calls for our responses of praise, adoration, confession, lament, faith, repentance, assurance, thanksgiving, and commitment. The elements of worship reflecting this flow will help us keep this trajectory in view and tell the story of Gospel. We see this general pattern in the broad Scriptural message, as well as passages like Isaiah 6, Deuteronomy 5, Romans 11-15, and Revelation 4-21. Generally, we start with a praise-oriented call to worship and first song. In light of God's holiness, we recognize our sin, so we sing songs, read Scripture, and pray to confess our sin and cry out for God's mercy. Focusing on the grace of salvation, we sing of the work of Christ on the cross and his glorious resurrection. Then we receive God's Word preached, respond through feasting on and with Christ in the Lord's Supper, which prepares us for a final song of sending and commitment, followed by God's blessing in the benediction.

The vertical axis seeks to locate the Gospel message using the specific focus of the sermon passage. Because of the richness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the sermon passage may lead us to focus on a variety of different aspects from week-to-week, such as God's law, our sin, the life, cross, and resurrection of Christ, walking by faith, living as God's witnesses to the world, and the hope of glory. So, our elements of worship will reflect the particular theme God is pointing us to in his Word. It is our prayer that this intentionality in worship planning will help us feast on God's Word, that it may take root and bear fruit in our lives.

12/25/22 - Advent Devotional - Week 5

*This is Week 5 of a 5-part Advent Devotional Series. View our Advent page here.
Week 4

Maker of Mary, Mary’s Son - Luke 2:39-52

“And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not Hknow that I must be in my Father’s house?’”

Home Alone is for many of us a favorite Christmas movie. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, is understandably beloved but it is not the OG. The end of Luke chapter 2 is “Passover 12: Lost in Jerusalem” for Jesus and his family.

In Luke 2:41 Jesus and his family celebrated the Feast of the Passover. Every Year. Was it routine? Was it lacking pizazz? Well this year would be one passover to never forget... or one to treasure in your heart. Jesus’s parents took him on the long journey (multiple days) from Nazareth to Jerusalem to observe the great feast of God’s gracious passing over the Israelites in Egypt. God had been gracious in the past. He promised to be gracious in the present and future as well. Jesus took the liberty of this great family trip to stay behind and provide an opportunity for several sleepless nights and days of anxious searching for him
by his parents. Have you ever lost a favorite toy or shirt? How about jewelry? Ever left your child behind (or teddy bear)? Heart- pounding anxiety takes over upon the gut wrenching instant of knowing, “He is not here. I think we left him behind.” In the biggest city in the country.

Here is the big idea about Joseph and Mary searching for Jesus when they realized he was way back in the big city: He was never lost. At 12 years old, he plainly tells them when they find him (after 3 days plus a day of travel), “you should have known right where to find me.” In this story in the Bible, Jesus was never lost; his parents were.

That is how it is with the gospel. God is not lost and wandering around. He seeks but he is not confused. He pursues but he is himself easily found. He is in his word. If you want to find Jesus, look no further than your Bible. He is on every page. Do you believe he has found you?

-Tom Buiter

 
 

Sing We The Song of Emmanuel

Sing we the song of Emmanuel, This the Christ who was long foretold
Lo in the shadows of Bethlehem, Promise of dawn now our eyes behold
God Most High in a manger laid, Lift your voices and now proclaim
Great and glorious Love has come to us, Join now with the hosts of heaven

Come we to welcome Emmanuel, King who came with no crown or throne
Helpless He lay the Invincible, Maker of Mary now Mary’s son
O what wisdom to save us all, Shepherds sages before Him fall
Grace and majesty what humility, Come on bended knee adore Him

Go spread the news of Emmanuel, Joy and peace for the weary heart
Lift up your heads for your King has come, Sing for the Light overwhelms the dark
Glory shining for all to see, Hope alive let the gospel ring
God has made a way He will have the praise, Tell the world His name is Jesus

Gloria, Gloria!
Gloria, Gloria!

Written by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Stuart Townend
© 2015 Getty Music Hymns and Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) | Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) | Love Your Enemies Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) | Messenger Hymns (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) | Townend Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
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