Pastor Jim’s sermon for this coming Sunday (10/25/15) is entitled: “God: Our Rock Star!” It is based on Zephaniah 3:14-18. He submitted this devotional on 10/23/15 in advance of the 10/25/15 sermon…
PLEASE READ: Hebrews 2:12
“I will tell them your name and sing your praises when they come together to worship” (CEV).
Singing in worship has always been an appropriate way to offer praise to God. The pages of Scripture record this. Especially in the tradition of United Methodism, singing is a vital way of worshiping God and is very important in expressing praise to God. John Wesley encouraged the early Methodists to “sing all” of the verses, and participate in congregational singing “as frequently as you can.” Wesley also said, “sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself.” Charles Wesley, the brother of John, wrote more than 6,000 hymns and poems during his lifetime. Many are still used in worship services all over the world. To assist, Methodists have provided hymnals with appropriate hymns used in the praise of God.
Looking at the Christian history it was on this day, October 23, 1821, that a committee was appointed to develop a new hymnbook for the Methodist Episcopal Church (the name of the Methodist Church prior to becoming the United Methodist Church) which was to be used in worship and other gatherings for the praise of God. This committee published a letter explaining the principles that motivated them and the difficulties that faced them in producing such a work. Here are a few excerpts from that letter.
Dear Brethren:
Your Committee, whose task it has been, by your request, to compile a book of tunes for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, report: That they have been fully aware of the
extreme difficulty of making such a collection of tunes as should in all respects be accommodated either to the fancy or taste of every section of our widely extended connection.
It may be proper to suggest that the primary object of your committee has been, not to prepare a collection of tunes for social circles or singing associations, (though they hope the work will not be unacceptable even in this light,) but, according to your own directions, for the use of worshiping congregations. . . .
Finally, praying that the blessing of Heaven may accompany their efforts, they would subjoin the language of our bishops as a just expression of their own sentiments: ‘We exhort all to sing with the Spirit and with the understanding also; and thus may the high praises of God be set up from east to west, from north to south; and we shall be happily instrumental in leading the devotion of thousands, and shall rejoice to join them in time and eternity.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us…
“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (NASB).
I am looking forward to singing praises to God with you as we gather this Sunday at 9:30am and 11:00am.
Shalom,
Pastor Jim
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