Lesson 9 - Emory church of Christ

“SINGING”
LESSON 9
INTRODUCTION:
	A.	No where does the Bible teach that we must have a special voice quality or a voice that is pleasing to the ears of other men. This is not one of the qualifications to sing and please God.
	B.	Any Christian singing off key but singing from the heart, with proper spirit and understanding, is more beautiful in the sight of God than all who sing with the wrong attitude or with the wrong words. The off key voice is beautiful to God as long as it is singing in the manner in which He commands.
	C.	Sometimes people say, “I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.” Even if you could, that would not please God because the song must be carried in the heart.
	D.	Music can be defined as “an act of expressing ideas or truth by music or sound.”
	E.	There are three kinds of music:
		1.	Vocal. From the mouth. It could be whistling, humming, singing, etc.
		2.	Instrumental. Using some man made device for music making.
		3.	A combination of vocal and instrumental.
	F.	When we carefully examine the New Testament we can see which kind of music is authorized by God.

DISCUSSION:

I.	WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACH CONCERNING MUSIC?
	A.	Matthew 26:30
	B.	Acts 16:25
	C.	Romans 15:9
	D.	I Corinthians 14:15
	E.	Ephesians 5:19
	F.	Colossians 3:16
	G.	Hebrews 2:12
	H.	Hebrews 13:15
	I.	James 5:13
	J.	Each shows that it is SINGING that God has authorized, not whistling, humming, or other vocal ability.

II.	WHAT ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT TO ACCOMPANY SINGING?
	A.	Romans 10:17
		1.	The Christian must “walk by faith.” That means he does WHAT THE BIBLE teaches.
		2.	Where does one get faith?
		3.	The New Testament does not teach instrumental music; therefore, we cannot be walking by faith if we use instrumental music in worship and instrumental music is not found in the New Testament.
	B.	If instrumental music is not found in the New Testament, from where does it come?

III.	THE PURPOSE OF SINGING
	A.	Colossians 3:16
	B.	James 5:13
	C.	Ephesians 5:19

IV.	BY SINGING THE CHRISTIAN:
	A.	Ephesians 5:19
	B.	Colossians 3:16
	C.	I Corinthians 14:15

V.	POSITIVE COMMANDS CONCERNING WHAT WE SING
	A.	Ephesians 4:15 — speaking the truth in love.
	B.	Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 show that we are to teach truth as we sing.
	C.	What kinds of songs?
		1.	Psalms
		2.	Hymns
		3.	Spiritual Songs

VI.	THE MANNER IN WHICH WE ARE TO SING
	A.	Revelation 22:18-19 — we are not to add or take away from the word of God.
	B.	Galatians 1:6-9 — we are not to substitute something else for what God gives.
	C.	It violates these principles:
		1.	Walking by faith. One is not walking by faith if he adds his own plan (Romans 10:17, II Corinthians 5:7).
		2.	Adding makes void God’s word (Matthew 15:6-9).
		3.	It violates God’s specific command to sing.
		4.	It violates the law of exclusion.

VII.	CONCLUSION
	A.	God’s people have been authorized to sign praises to Him.
	B.	God selected singing as the music to be used. This selection was not man’s doing, therefore man cannot “add to or take from,” SO LET US FOLLOW THE PLAN FROM GOD AND LEAVE MAN’S WAY ALONE!


QUESTIONS FROM LESSON NINE

		1.	What are the ways we can make music?
		2.	The New Testament teaches that we are to use a specific kind of vocal. Which?
		3.	Is just any kind of music acceptable? Why?
		4.	What does the Bible authorize in the area of music for worship?
		5.	Why is the instrument not authorized?
		6.	What is to be accomplished by singing?
		7.	Does it matter what kinds of songs we use in worship? What kinds are to be used?
		8.	Why is the instrument used in so called “worship?”

Emory church of Christ

Growing in the Grace of the Lord

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