This past Sunday I made a point about how singing stirs closeness with God. Our corporate worship services are designed to create an environment not for human performance but divine praise. It is our desire to see the greatness of God and the beauty of His grace displayed each week. Therefore, each week we try to organize how the message in both song and word are relate to one another. There is something powerful in a worship service when each element (singing, music, prayer, announcements, testimony, videos, drama, Scripture readings, preaching, etc.) is synchronized under a united theme and focus.

Furthermore, the personal participation one has in corporate worship is prepatory toward the orientation of their heart.  When a person chooses to enter worship sleepy from a late night before, or with a sense of casualness and without any sort of anticipation or expectation to hear from God – then they miss out. Time has been wasted. God was missed. His glory was diminished in that person’s life. However, when a person enters corporate worship with a prepared heart through prayer, singing and faith expectation – there is no telling what God may do in that person’s life. NOW, this is not meant to become a formula to systematize the things of God. God can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants

The simple point is that worship takes spiritual preparation. And singing is a wonderful way to prepare your mind and attitude. So, even if you sound like Urkel… go ahead and sing like Aretha.

Psalm 100
1 Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are His   — His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the Lord is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

Just for fun…

Top 10 Ways a Church Music Director Tells You that You Can’t Sing

10. The music team voted to move weekly practice to 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. It’s OK if you don’t like to get up that early.

9. When we ordered the sheet music for our upcoming special, they left out the page with your part.

8. All the chairs in the rehearsal room are full.

7. We’re short an usher today. Could you help?

6. We need strong singers such as you in the congregation to help the members sing.

5. Did you know singing can aggravate sinus problems?

4. We still need good people for the puppets drama.

3. It’s a shame composers don’t write more songs in your style.

2. You have a unique range; you hit that one note really well.

1. Did you know there is a new Bible study starting the same night as music practice? I think you could really get a lot from it.