Here are some final thoughts and ideas as we strive to help our congregations better express their worship unto God through singing:
Play supportively
Organists/Pianists...think of yourselves less as shepherds herding cattle, and more as accompanists supporting the congregation's sound. Sing internally as you play so that you’re one with the congregation (breathing, tempo, etc.), and make sure the melody is prominent in your playing.
Sing heartily
If you're a worship leader, soloist, or minister leading the congregation in song, do your best to sing with energy! In doing so, you communicate your understanding of the lyrics as you lead the congregation in song. Don't show that it's a duty. Rather, sing with passion and with fullness of spirit.
Witness intentionally
Let’s be bold in the way we think of our congregational singing and worship. Let's explain and sing our songs in a way that witnesses to those around us. It’s important that we be intentional about the way we use these opportunities.
Remove any pride and insecurity
If someone is in a leadership role, and their main concern is over whether everyone is going to like them or how others are going to respond their leading, then their behavior is going to become a stumbling block to worship and singing rather than a help. If we are to serve Christ in the manner in which He is calling us to serve, we must humbly pray that He rid us of our toxic pride and our needy insecurity, which often go hand in hand. Instead, let us walk humbly, and with the knowledge and confidence that God is walking with us and working through us.
Glorify Christ
This is more important than anything else up to this point. Consider the lyrics of an old hymn: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.” On the mount of transfiguration, after the Father said "this is my Son, hear ye Him,” the disciples heard this and immediately fell to the ground, terrified. Jesus then came along, touched them, and told them not to be afraid. The text then says that the disciples looked up and "saw no one except Jesus." Isn't this what we want in our divine services? Isn’t this what we want in our singing? When one takes a moment to look up and around, can they truly see “no one except Jesus?” When Christ is glorified, and our collective gaze is fixed upon Him, our singing can’t help but be inspired.
Finally, if we really want to help our congregations sing, it’s important that we remember, reflect on, and reiterate why it is we sing.
- According to Colossians 3, we sing because the Word of God, the message of Christ, dwells in us richly (verse 16).
- We sing because we are alive in Jesus Christ (verse 3).
- We sing because we are a part of His body, and His love binds us all together in perfect unity (verse 14).
- We sing because, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are God’s children (Galatians 3:26).
- We sing because God’s love has been poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5).
Lastly, as lyricist Civilla D. Martin once expressed, “we sing because we’re happy, we sing because we’re free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”
May our singing and worship always be a response to the overwhelming love of God toward us, shown through Jesus Christ, and may we increasingly find great joy and strength in helping our congregations sing praises to His name.