Jump Start # 3434

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

We are in the midst of a special singing workshop this week in our congregation. We have brought in one of the best to help both our song leaders and the whole congregation step it up a few notches in our singing to the Lord.

I’m glad we are doing this because this puts a major reminder before our eyes of how important singing is.  The modern church has given up on congregational singing. They don’t want to hear it. Instead, rock bands are hired to perform before the audience. Rather than singing praises to God, a concert to entertain the crowd is where many are today. And, once again, trying to please the masses rather than the Master, they have failed to see the value and importance of singing.

Outside of worship, just think about how important songs are. Before ballgames begin, the crowd stands, and our country’s national anthem is played. Hand goes on hearts, and hats come off of heads, as respect is shown. Every high school and college has their own fight song. The first few beats of those songs and the crowd shouts in joy. Music plays a major role in movies. Without the music, the movies would not be as exciting. And, for many of us, we learn our ABC’s, the books of the Bible, the names of the apostles all through singing.

And, whenever this topic comes up, some always has to ask, “What’s wrong with using an instrument,” or, “God never said we couldn’t.” And, those that keep pushing that button do not know history or Biblical authority. I have looked through countless books about the history of music and there is a consistent understanding that the early church did not use instrumental music. These are books used in colleges to teach music majors. Running through the N.T., one will find nine verses about music and the church and each time, every time, it’s singing. Then when one understands the parallels to the O.T. it makes even more sense. In the O.T., there was physical temple. Today, the church is the temple. In the O.T. there were physical sacrifices. Today, we are living sacrifices. In the O.T. physical instruments were used to praise God. Today, we are the instruments. We are what praises God.

Now, some other thoughts:

First, singing is something we all can do in worship. Not everyone can preach. Not all can lead a prayer. But all of us can sing. Little ones and big ones can sing. Old ones and new ones can sing. Those hymns remind us, teach us, encourage us and help us.

Second, one doesn’t have to have good quality to sing. One doesn’t have to understand notes or music to sing. And, just about all of us have a favorite hymn or two that we really like. That hymn may remind us of something long ago. That hymn may have been sung at a funeral of a loved one.

Third, hymns is something that one can take with him and one really does not need anything else to help. If you want to listen to a sermon, you need to get to a website, YouTube, have a phone, tablet or a computer. But it’s not that way with singing. You can sing by yourself. You can sing in your car. You can sing quietly. You can have some people over and sing. Anywhere you go, you can sing.

Fourth, singing in worship illustrates unity. We are singing together. We are singing the same song. Together we are praising the Lord. The booming voices and the quiet voices, all blended together. All lifting up the Lord.

And, singing is something that God likes. This is not something that we came up with. We are following His plan and His blueprint and that included singing. Think about the music of nature. The sound of a creek rushing over rocks. The sound of a waterfall. The sound of rain coming down. The different song birds. A rooster in the morning. A cow calling out. The sound of a dog. The purr of a cat. We may call this the sounds of nature, but it’s truly God’s own orchestra. It is His music.

And, think how many times the words of a hymn have helped you.  Safe in the arms of Jesus. Does Jesus care? Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Farther alone we’ll know all about it. Because He lives I can face tomorrow. It is well with my soul. We’re marching to Zion. This world is not my home. Thank you, Lord.

We can sing these hymns in our car on the way to worship. We can silently sing these songs as we have treatments. We can be encouraged by these hymns. They can bolster our faith and keep us going when the storm clouds build on the horizon. These hymns remind us. These hymns ask probing questions. These hymns honor God.

Singing to the Lord. What a wonderful way to express our faith and teach others the beauty of God.

Thanks to Tim Stevens for reminding us of the joy of singing.

Roger

Jump Start # 3111

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

I’ve been preaching for a long time, more than four decades. I have no idea how many sermons I have written, thousands I suppose. A while back someone said to me that with all those years behind me I ought to be able to write a sermon in ten minutes. I guess he was indicating that I could spend the rest of my time doing something else. Write a sermon in ten minutes? I probably could and it probably would seem like I wrote it in ten minutes. The longer I have done this, the writing of sermons hasn’t gotten any easier nor faster. I guess I’m too picky and I want every sermon to be the best that I can do.

All of this leads us to our verse today. You see, on a Sunday morning, there is more than one sermon that is preached. Oh, we recognize the sermon from the pulpit, with the powerpoint and fill in the note blanks that go along with that. But there are other sermons taking place all throughout that auditorium. Most times we don’t recognize them and many of us would not even call them sermons, but they are. Our verse today reminds us that we are all teachers as we sing hymns together. We are reminding, praising, thanking and warning one another through those powerful, powerful songs. When we put faces and names behind the words we sing, there is more passion in our proclamation.

Here are a few other sermons that are preached throughout a worship period:

• You preach a message of cheer when you say, “Good morning” to those you meet. Often people drag in worn out and beat up from the world. Some come carrying troubles and trials in their hearts. Some gather with sorrow on their faces and tears in their eyes. Some are scared. Some are worried. Some need a friend. And the cheerfulness of a greeting can remind someone that this is the place to be. The Gospel is Good News and we need to be reminded of this. The world is full of bad news. Things are not right in this country. Some are new and not sure if they have a friend among us. Some are feeling the burden of guilt and are not sure that they ought to be there. But your smile, the warmth of your joy will send the message that we are glad you are here, and you made the right choice. You preach that every time you smile and welcome someone.

• You preach a sermon of reverence every time you bow your head during a prayer. You are showing to God and to those around you, that God is greater than you are. We don’t stand toe to toe and eye to eye with the Lord. Our heads our bowed, our hearts are humbled before our amazing God. Little ones watch you. I’ve had children tattle “My dad didn’t have his eyes closed during the prayer.” I asked them how they knew that. But they notice. Others hear you say, “Amen,” as the prayer ends. Solemn. Sacred. Special. Our worship points upward to the Lord.

• You preach a message of hope when you open your Bible and follow along with the reading of God’s word. It doesn’t matter whether your Bible is on your phone, tablet or in print version, you are showing that you are interested and want to see for yourself what God says. We only remember so much of what we hear. We remember more when we hear and see. We remember even more when we hear, see and write. Taking notes is a great way to learn more about God’s will. Brining a Bible and using it during worship is a sermon that you preach.

• You preach a message of hope when you leave worship rejoicing. The world is dark. God is not. The world is lost. God is not. The world doesn’t know. God does. We leave with our heads held high. We leave with the reminder that our God is on the throne. Gloom and despair belong to the world, not the people of God. What wonderful expression of faith and hope we see when people in conversations, talking, sharing, hugging and thankful for one another.

• You preach a message of salvation when you encourage others to come back to services. You are saying, “We’ve found something that is good and I want you to be a part of it.” You see the wonderful benefits of fellowship. You realize that no where else will you find the comforting hope, the assurance of faith, the joy of promises, and the trust that is only in Jesus. You will declare, “It is good for us to be here.” And, that optimism and joy spreads to others.

You probably won’t put the hours into writing a sermon like the preacher does, but in many ways your sermons can be more effective and more powerful than what comes from the pulpit. So many sermons on a given Sunday. We only hope that someone is listening.

Roger

Jump Start # 2476

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

This week we are focusing upon thankfulness. Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. There will be turkey, laughter, and lots of conversations. The little ones will show off. The big ones will look for a nap. But all around that day, and every day, for the child of God, is the spirit of thankfulness.

There are four steps to thankfulness. So far we’ve seen: SAY IT (express your thankfulness); PRAY IT (tell the Lord). The next step comes straight out of our verse today. It is to SING IT. The thankful heart is a joyful heart. A thankful heart is upbeat, positive and optimistic. The thankful heart sings. We tend to sing when we are in a good mood. And, here in our verse, we are told to sing with thankfulness to God. Thankfulness in our hearts. Sometimes we try to sing in pitch. We try to sing in tune. But those things are secondary to singing with thankfulness in your heart to the Lord.

We think of the example of Paul, late at night, sitting in a Philippian jail, hurting because he had been beaten. And, there he is singing praises to God. That example from Acts 16 humbles and shames most of us. Singing out loud, so loud that others can hear me, is not on the list of things that I think I would be doing. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that I would be complaining and mad because of what had happened. But the apostle is singing. In the dark he is singing. Hurting he is singing.

Singing with thankfulness has a way of just turning your mood around. If we are not careful, we pick up on the way others act and feel. It’s easy to jump on the complaining bandwagon. It’s easy to see everything that is wrong. But to sing with thankfulness, what a bring ray of sunlight that is. It has a way of changing our perspective and opening our eyes to things that we failed to see.

We have a lot of songs that surround thanking the Lord. We ought to. That’s an important aspect of our relationship with Him and our walk together with one another. It seems that ancient Israel forgot that. We can do the same. For Israel, rather than thanking, they complained. And, that complaining got old very quickly and it irritated God. Their hearts did not show an attitude of gratitude. They were demanding more. They were wanting other things. Unhappy. Not content. Selfish. Put those three things in a pot, and stir them around two times and you get a heart that sees nothing to be thankful about.

Have you noticed how often children like to sing? They learn the alphabet, the books of the Bible and other things through songs. They often sing in their Bible classes. We adults, are much better than that, or, we think we are. So we don’t sing as much as children do. And, it could be that is why we often struggle with being thankful. It’s hard to sing a happy song without smiling.

Just think about some of our hymns that focus upon being thankful:

Thank You, Lord

Sing and be happy

Count your many blessings, name them one by one

Joyful, joyful, we adore You

This is my Father’s world

Great songs. Great reminders. Maybe as you gather with the family tomorrow, you can find a moment for everyone to sing. Sing a song of praise and thankfulness to God. Sing from your heart. Sing, realizing how wonderful God has been to you.

We have hope, life, direction, purpose, salvation and love through the Lord. It is because of Jesus that we stand and fight another day. It is because of Jesus, that we know the worst is really not all that bad. It is because of Jesus, that we know things will only get better. It is because of Jesus that there will never be a “The End” to our story.

Singing with thankfulness in your heart to the Lord. SING IT. SING OUT.

Roger

Jump Start # 736

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

This week is Thanksgiving. It’s an awesome holiday. Families gather. There is a feast. There is football on TV.  Many are off of work. It kicks off the Christmas season. Many remember traveling to grandparents for Thanksgiving. There the aunts and uncles and all the cousins, some of which they have not seen in a year have come to spend a day with each other. It’s a great time.

Our passage today reflects the thankful spirit. That is characteristic of a saved person. There is so much to be thankful for. The spirit of thankfulness comes from a humble heart that is not spoiled or selfish. The thankful heart creates joy and contentment within.

Paul shows us three layers of instructions in this one verse.

First, the word of Christ needs to dwell in us. We must have the Bible in us. Faith comes from the word of God. The more Bible I have, the greater my faith. Paul’s words are not that we know some Bible verses, but that the word dwells richly within us. Dwelling is where something lives. When I travel, I often stay in hotels. Although those places have beds, lamps, TV and bathroom, as my house does, I never feel like the hotel room is home. I may stay there but I don’t dwell there. There is a difference! God’s word doesn’t just pass through us, it stays. It dwells within us richly.

Next, Paul says, we are to teach and admonish each other through songs. Not just any songs, but spiritual songs, and hymns. We often do not see our singing as a teaching process. It is. Remember when Paul and Silas were in jail. At midnight they were singing hymns. An earthquake opened the doors but none of the other prisoners raced to freedom. They stayed. The singing had an impact upon them. This passage isn’t implying a gathering of the church on Sunday. I think Paul is describing the heart of a Christian. I remember my grandmother humming hymns as she worked in the kitchen. Singing hymns affects the singer. It reminds you of God and the big picture of things. It also affects those who hear. Have you ever just sung hymns throughout the day? Doing that puts a person in a good mood.

Finally, Paul said to sing those hymns with thankfulness. I’m not sure how else one could sing hymns, unless it was out of duty. The thankful heart is singing to God. Those songs and thoughts will remind a person that today is a gift from God and what a blessing that is. Those songs will teach us that God is good to us. They have a way of driving out the commercial and  materialistic thoughts that seem to creep in our hearts.

Do you have a favorite hymn? Why that one? Sing today as you drive about town. In doing this you’ll find a new thing to be thankful for—and that is hymns. There are a long of hymns. Some are the old traditional ones that are classics. Some are peppy. Some are deep in thought. Some are very simple. What a variety. If you don’t have a song book at home, that would be a great gift for someone to get you for the holidays.

Singing with thankfulness…that sure lifts the cloud and turns the grumpy guy into a different person. Have you noticed how often children sing? Could it be that’s one reason why they are so happy and adults, who don’t sing much, are so sour? Sing with thankfulness… It doesn’t have to be in the church building…it can talk place Monday morning at work. It doesn’t have to be loud, I can sing to myself. It doesn’t have to be pretty, just honest and thankful.

Thankful singing…what a blessing!

Roger

Jump Start # 390 

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

  Paul’s words to the Colossian church fill a section that defines their relationship with each other as Christians. In this chapter Paul says:

• Do not lie to one another (9)
• Put on a heart of compassi0n, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (12)
• Forgive each other (13)
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (15)
• Teach and admonish one another through singing (16)

  How we treat one another is a reflection of how we feel about one another. Through Jesus we are connect to each other and have a special bond for one another. We are in this together and we need each other.

  Our verse for today is often used to show the type of music that God approves of today. We sing. One of the characteristics of the churches of Christ is vocal music. Friends who do not understand often reply, “You don’t have music in your church.” No, we don’t use instruments. We sing and singing is music. The reason? It’s not our tradition or to be unique, it’s according to the New Testament. Nine times in the N.T. singing is found in relationship to worship of God. It is the only example we find of the music in the church. Brethren sang. There are no examples of the early church using instruments. History supports that fact. Instead of being progressive, my intention is to look backward and to follow the example and pattern we find in the N.T. To be “primitive” and to follow the blueprint established by God. Some say, “There are no verses that say, ‘Thou shall not use a piano.’” Correct. But God said “sing.” If I do that, then I am following God’s pattern. It’s not hard.

  Often, that is the extent of these verses for us—a discussion of music authorized by God. We overlook the opening expression of this passage, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” That’s a rich expression and it defines who we are and the motive of what we do. God’s word fills our heart. From that heart filled life comes our behavior, our character and our attitudes. I wonder if we are too filled with the world sometimes. As a result we become anxious, angry, and selfish. Would being filled with Christ’s word make us different? I tend to think so. Christ’s words will take us back to the Gospels where we find the self-less, loving Savior who had the heart of a servant. How can those words fill my heart and they not affect me and change me? What a pure example. What a powerful statement.

  Fill your hearts with Christ’s words. His words of doctrine…His words of what is right…His words of devotion to God…His prayers…His life…His sacrifice…His love. It seems that the more I am filled with Christ, as Paul told the Galatians, “Christ liveth in me,” then the less of Roger I will in my heart. The trouble I find myself in is not because of Christ’s words in my heart, but too much of me in my heart.

  Now this brings us to a couple of practical thoughts. First, how do I get Christ’s words to fill my heart? That’s up to me. I have to put them in there. It comes from reading the Bible, thinking godly, and wanting God in my heart. It doesn’t just happen. It doesn’t happen just because I sit in a church building and hear some preacher preach. Some are filled with anger because they have saturated themselves with people and things that make them angry. The music they listen to, the people they hang out with, the shows they watch all lead down the road to anger. With others it’s wealth and stuff. With others it’s lust. With others it’s self. Why are we like this? It’s what we have chosen and what we fill our lives with.

  Paul’s words in Phil. 4:8, to let your mind dwell upon the things that are right, pure, honorable, lovely show us exactly how all of this works. The Psalmist in Ps 1 says that the righteous man meditates upon God’s word day and night. Being filled is a matter of what I’m putting in my bucket each day. If I fill my bucket full of junk, then that’s what fills my heart. A dear friend of mine years ago wrote, “Each day, dump the junk!” That’s it!

  The heart filled with Christ words will sing thankfully to God. In the midst of our storms, the heart filled with Christ will continue to praise God. Such a heart will be cheerful and an encouragement to others. It will be a source of refreshment to those it comes in contact. We sometimes say, “Well, that’s just the way that person is.” No. It’s because they are filled with Christ’s words. Instead of gathering rocks to throw, like the Pharisees did when they brought the adulterous woman to Christ, he forgave her and gave her a second chance. Instead of rolling the lip as they did toward Zaccheus, Jesus went to his home.

  God’s word is living and active. Get it inside of you and it will do things to you. It will change you. It will allow you to see the world differently. It’s a wonderful affect. I’ve been under the influence of Christ’s words for a long time and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. It has a way of bringing me back where I need to be when I get out of line and it has a wonderful way of molding and shaping attitudes, outlooks and behavior.

  Under the influence—that’s what Paul is talking about. Under the influence of God’s word.

Roger