Song worship has always been an important expression of praise and encouragement among God’s people. The Scriptures are filled with divine melodies from the song of Moses on the shores of the Red Sea (Ex 15) to the song of the Lamb among the hosts of heaven (Rev 15). In fact, the largest book in our Bibles is a hymnal. It should be no surprise that “singing and making melody with (the) heart” is a significant part of worship and edification within the New Testament assembly (Eph 5:19). In our songs we both teach and admonish one another as well as express the thankfulness and praise of our hearts to the Lord (Col 3:16).
As in all aspects of our assembly, effective song worship is something that takes serious forethought and diligent preparation. Blending our voices and joining our hearts together in a way that will be uplifting and God-glorifying is not an easy or mindless task. Song leaders must work hard to be purposeful in their song selection and guide each hymn in a way that will best emphasize its message. Each member in the pews must engage their hearts in the words they are singing and participate in a way that will be most encouraging to the brethren around them. In this article, we will examine some practical ways we can join together to make our song worship as effective as possible.
Effective song worship starts with good hymn selection. When a preacher selects scriptures to use in his sermon, he does not randomly pick out a conglomeration of his favorite passages. We expect him to put together scriptures that will build on one another and form a cohesive and purposeful message. The song leader’s role in edification is not vastly different. He should not just pick out songs because they have a catchy tune. He should consider what message would be most edifying for the congregation and select each song with this in mind. This may include selecting hymns that go well with the preacher’s sermon. It may mean selecting songs of comfort and peace at a time of sorrow, or songs of thanksgiving and praise at a time of great rejoicing for the congregation (1 Cor 12:26).
Songs must also be selected based on their scriptural content. Singing is supposed to be an overflow of God’s word in our hearts (Col 3:16). Hymns that just use worn out clichés and meaningless repetition are of little spiritual value. If we would not accept this type of teaching in our sermons and bible classes, why should the teaching and admonition of our songs be any different? We must select hymns that are both scriptural and scripture-full. There is certainly room for poetic license. Song writers may use figurative language and creative imagery to convey a true biblical sentiment. Yet, we must take care that we don’t get so engrossed in poetic language that the scriptural truths are lost. God’s word is what has the power to convict, transform, and equip us (2 Tim 3:16-17).
Once songs have been selected, a song leader must aim to conduct them in a way that best conveys the message of each hymn. A solemn hymn about Jesus’ death should not be sung with an upbeat tempo and cheerful expression. Neither should a song of joyful praise be sung in a dreary and lethargic manner. The tempo, tone, and expression of the song leader should reflect that his heart is truly engaged in the message of each song. If this is the case, it will be easy for the rest of the assembly to follow suit.
Yet, even a passionate leader needs to take time to work on the musical mechanics of song leading. A lot of work goes into conducting a hymn so that the entire congregation will be able to engage their minds and spirits effectively (1 Cor 14:15). A song leader must start on the right pitch so the assembly is not distracted by attempting to sing notes that are clearly too high or too low. He should learn how to direct the tempo and strive to project his voice so the congregation does not drag down into a lifeless murmur. The song leader does not have to be a musical expert, but he should always seek to multiply his talents and give God his very best (Mal 1:6-10).
The song leader is not the only one that must give God his best in song worship, however. We all have a responsibility to engage our minds and spirits. To the best of our ability, we must blend our voice with the rest of the assembly. We must passionately communicate the message of each song to one another. The sincerity of every word should be evident in our voice and expression. Most importantly, we must make melody with our inner man in a way that only God can hear. We must consider the words of each hymn and truly make them the sentiments of our hearts.
In conclusion, effective song worship is something we must all work at diligently. It cannot be a thoughtless exercise. We must approach each hymn with purpose and sincerity. God is only honored in our songs when we give Him the best of our effort and focus. Our brethren are only built up when we communicate meaningful lyrics that teach and admonish. Effective song worship is a vital part of fulfilling our purposes within the assembly.