Life in the Grove

I love to listen to the people of God praise His name. Have you ever just stopped for a second to hear those around you singing to God. The diversity is beautiful.

I can hear the beautiful voice of elderly woman singing praises to God in a lovely virbrato. I hear the voice of the woman with the well trained ear. I hear the man praise God with all his heart with a voice that scratches and is poorly out of tune. Each one of these are lovely and pleasing to God. As I listened in Church this Sunday I too praised God that He has saved us, and somehow in His wisdom has chosen for us to be part of the plan to bring Him praises.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

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Jesus still offers real hope, and that is more than a title of a message. Hope that Jesus brings is based upon truth, the truth that He rose from the dead after giving his life to pay our spiritual debt.

Peter declares boldly in his first letter,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1Peter 1:3-5

Later in the same letter he said,

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… 1Peter 3:15

Maybe these verses tie together with the resurrection of Jesus. After all, Jesus is alive and that is why we can have hope.

C. S. Lewis said:

The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.

Take some time to read the original story again (Luke 24). Feel the confusion and despair, followed by the resurrected hope that comes from meeting the resurrected Savior. Then pray that God will use you to help someone else find that hope.

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The Worshiping Church at some point becomes a singing church. We can’t help it. It just comes out. Just so you are not confused by what I am saying… Worship and music are not synonymous. Worship is the larger word. [All Salmon are fish, but not all fish are Salmon]. Worship expresses itself in prayer, contemplation, as well as singing; and there are countless other expressions of worship in our actions of service to the Lord (Romans 12:1,2).

Music has been an integral part of church gatherings since the beginning. The early church not only wrote some of their own lyrics but also used the hymnbook of the scriptures (Psalms) to give expression to their praise and prayer.

Throughout history, believers of one generation after another were moved to express their worship through new and changing melody, harmony and lyrics.

Sadly, music can create as much heat as light. Music is intensely personal.

Sunday morning I will journey into the realm of music in the church. We will think together about the purpose, the history, and the power of music. Below are some Scriptures to help set the stage.

• Ephesians 5
• Colossians 3

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