Singing praise to God is part of how we present our bodies as a live sacrifice to Him (Rom. 12:1; Ps. 100:2). Thus, churches and families should seek to create a vibrant culture of singing. This starts with knowing why we sing. First, we sing because we must, in obedience to God’s specific commands. Second, we sing because God made our bodies, including the voice, as musical instruments. Third, we sing because it helps us respond emotionally with our affections. And, fourth, we sing because it's a critical tool for making disciples. 

 Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/67c545f36f987cfc0eba616e

Okay, why is it that when Christians gather, they sing? I'm going to give you four biblical reasons. Now, before I give you the four reasons, I want to say that singing is a gift. It's a wonderful expression of God's love. We could make a long list of the ways that God expresses his love to us but music and singing is just one of those ways and we do it in church.

You know, you do find people from time to time who wanna skip the singing and just hear the preaching, you know, come and get the meat, you know. But they actually miss a very important part of church life. Maybe they don't sing at all. Maybe they're just mumbling the words. They're singing heartlessly.

Their mouths aren't moving. You know, a good singing teacher will tell you to open up your mouth. That's what people in the church should be doing. If a person doesn't like to sing or doesn't prefer this type of thing. Let's listen to Martin Luther on that.

He said that a person that doesn't see the wisdom of God in music and the gift that it is, he says that person is a clodhopper and indeed does not deserve to be called a human being. He should be permitted to hear nothing but braying of asses and the grunting of Hogs. Okay, I'm gonna give you four reasons why we sing. First of all, we sing because we must sing. God has commanded his people to sing.

There are about 50 direct commands, about 400 references of the blessings of singing that are in the Bible. All the Reformed confessions include singing under the regulative principle of worship. Okay, why sing? First of all, because we must. Second, because God made you like a musical instrument.

Singing engages your whole body, physical, mental, spiritual. In Psalm 100 includes raising your voice. In Zephaniah 314 includes shouting. In Psalm 47.1 includes clapping. In Psalm 63.4 it includes lifting your hands.

The third reason we should sing is because singing helps us to respond with our affections and respond emotionally. Well, just read the whole Psalter and you can see it, but especially Psalm 13, Psalm 22, Psalm 42, Psalm 88. The Psalms address every human emotion. Joy, praise, hope, encouragement, despair, lamentation, all kinds of things. The fourth reason why we sing.

We sing because it is a critical tool for the making of disciples, not just the preaching, but the singing. Colossians 3, 1 through 17 makes this very, very clear. If you've been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above where Christ is. That's Colossians 3, 1. And then the apostle itemizes various discipleship tools and one of them is singing.

So singing is an essential discipleship tool in the church. Okay, here's the bottom line. For you and your family and your church, make singing a priority. And not just at the church, but in the home. Teach your children why they should be singing.

And help your kids memorize the great hymns of the faith and make singing a priority in your life and let it rip when you get into the local church. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.