9/14/18

Worship Through Music by Trevor Bowen



Worship Through Music

Characteristics of the Church

Introduction

Music is a powerful form of expression. Not only does it communicate thoughts and ideas, but it also conveys emotions and feelings. Additionally, it has tremendous "persistence". How many times have you been quietly driving in the car, and a tune start bubbling its way to the top of your consciousness? It may take a little while, but eventually the entire score, complete with words and maybe even associated visual imagery, bursts upon the eye and ear of your mind. In general, song is more easily recalled than any sermon, lecture, or class - no matter how powerful or profound the monologue may have been. Therefore, it should be no surprise that music is a vital part of the New Testament pattern for worshiping God. However, this article is not so much concerned with "Why did God choose music as a part of our divinely directed worship toward Him?", but rather it addresses the question, "What form of music did God direct us to use to worship Him?".

Accepted Forms Through the Ages

God's directions have varied through the ages as to the specific form of music that He has accepted. It appears that early musical worship, even worship during the early periods of Old Testament worship was primarily vocal. However, during the reign of king David, specific instructions were given for using instrumental music during worship. This instrumental music became associated with temple worship, which explains its later absence during synagogue worship. Although the directions may have changed in the past, we want to know, "What form of music did God direct us to use in worshiping Him?"

New Testament Direction

If one scans through the pages of the New Testament, he or she will find the following references to accepted forms of musical worship:
Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:24-25)
Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name." (quoted prophesy referring to Jesus, Romans 15:8-9)
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (I Corinthians 14:15)
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:18-20)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)
saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." (quoted prophesy referring to Jesus, Hebrews 2:12)
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:15)
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. (James 5:13)
Two additional passages recorded in the New Testament also reference praising God through music, which also happens to be vocal music (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26); however, these passages refer to Jesus worshiping with His apostles during the Old Testament era, before its close at His crucifixion. Although interesting, these passages must ultimately be dismissed, because the authority of the Old Covenant has faded away (Hebrews 8:7-13; Romans 7:1-7).

Conclusion

What is the New Testament pattern? How did saints worship God in music? They were commanded to be involved in "teaching and admonishing one another ... singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord". This is the form of musical praise to God, as directed by the New Testament Scriptures.
What is the type of song that they used? The first century Christians sang "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs". The content should also serve to "teach and admonish". Popular songs that entertain, but fail to teach and admonish have altered the harmony of God's arrangement.
To whom should the songs be directed? Although we are to "teach and admonish one another", the ultimate object of all worship is God ("singing hymns to God", "sing to Your Name", "singing ... to the Lord", etc.) This is an obvious fact, but it seems to be frequently overlooked in practice. Music is frequently chosen that will be most pleasing to the audience. Regrettably, such choices ultimately fail to consider what will be pleasing God, and they are often decided in direct conflict with God's revealed will.
Who should sing? Everybody. All Christians are commanded to be involved in "teaching and admonishing one another". Please notice the joint responsibility. We are to each help teach one another. The choir is not commanded to teach the audience, neither is the soloist instructed to admonish the listeners. Instead, we are guided to teach and admonish one another. Admittedly, some may sing unacceptably, because they are not making "melody in their heart to the Lord". However, how can one make acceptable melody to the Lord, if he, or she, is not partaking in the joint command to sing ("singing and making melody in your hearts...")?
Is God only concerned with form and content? No. True worship always starts in the heart ("singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" - see also John 4:24). The heart is the instrument that God most earnestly desires to hear producing grateful melodies. Let us make sure that we do not sound like a "sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (I Corinthians 13:1-3).

Objections?

Admittedly, these conclusions are contrary to prevailing thought among those who would worship God today. I understand, and I am personally sympathetic to those who offer objections, since it is rare to find "a capella" music in modern worship. However, it has not always been this way. Actually, instrumental worship was not generally accepted in the Catholic church until the second millennium, and it was rejected by most Protestant denominations up through the early 1800's. Instrumental music is an addition that was arguably interjected within the last 200 years. To accept instrumental music is to accept a historically unpopular view. Although this proves nothing by Scripture, it does prove that the instrumentalist view is held by the minority in light of history, which should weaken the comfort that some feel in supposing they are in the majority.
Although modern, instrumental music is not authorized by the Scriptures, many arguments have been developed and debated, which proponents have leveraged to bolster its use. Some of the more commonly cited arguments are discussed in another article, "Answering Arguments for Instrumental Music".
If you have questions or feedback after considering the above articles, please either post your thoughts on our forums, or email the author with your questions, comments, or feedback.
Trevor Bowen

Things that Sabotage Our Success – Part 4 – Distractions (By Ben Froncek)


http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1047


Things That Sabotage Our Success – Part 4 – Distractions



Things that Sabotage Our Success – Part 4 – Distractions 
(By Ben Froncek)
Opening Reading: Luke 10:38-42  “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (NIV)
This past week I read a story someplace on the internet (I can’t remember where) about a young woman who dreamed of becoming a great violinist. She knew how important it was to be dedicated to the art and practice every day but for some reason at first she did not seem to have enough time to practice like she wanted to. You see, after she got up in the morning she had a routine where she would eat her breakfast, exercise, shower, do some light housework like make her bed, put away her dishes, start a load of laundry, sweep or vacuum the floor, pay any bills that may have come, put out the mail, check her email and face book accounts, call her mother, run to the store for groceries and so on. By that time she was ready to eat lunch, then  fold the laundry, go out and get the mail and go through it… And before she knew it either the day was almost over or she had no energy to practice her violin the way she needed to.
So she became frustrated because she thought that she would have more time to practice living on her own than she did living at college or in her parent’s home. She realized that she was even more distracted and was continually being sidetracked from doing what she needed to do to reach her goal.
After thinking about it, she realized that her everyday routine and these distractions were sabotaging her future and she knew that she had to make some changes. From that point on she decided to dedicate the first two hours of each morning to her music and violin; and so those other chores had to wait until after her practice time was complete. And because of that change she went on to become a great musician.
As you have seen in this series of lessons, there are all kind of things that can sabotage or even short circuit our success. It may be because of our own ‘Stinkin Thinkin,’ when we start doubting our own ability or whether we even deserve anything better that what we already have, or even our own unwillingness to change our particular routine and get out of those unproductive ruts. Last week we talked about the danger of thinking we have to wait on or for others to accomplish our goals. I also talked about the danger of listening to those naysayers in our life and letting them discourage us.
Today we are dealing with a very familiar problem; the distractions in life.
You may really, really want to do something, or accomplish something just like this young lady who had a dream of becoming a great violinist. You may have the ability, the talent, the drive, the support from family and friends, but somehow we allow all these other things in life to consume our time and trip us up.
In our opening reading today we read a story about two women, Mary and Martha. And what did the text say about Martha who was all agitated because her sister Mary wasn’t running around like a chicken with her head cut off like she was? The text says that Martha was distracted. Distracted from what, to do what? She was more consumed with the housework and preparation of food for her guests than with spending quality time with the Lord Himself.
We can get sidetracked or distracted by all kinds of things; some good and also by things that are not so good and which may be sinful.
We wonder where our time goes and why we can’t seem to make time for doing and learning new things, or achieving new goals. There is all kinds of busy work and chores we can get caught up doing like our violinist and Martha. But there are also other things that absorb some of our limited time. For example listen to these updated statistics:
The average American over the age of 2 spends more than 34 hours a week watching live television, says a new Nielsen report — plus another three to six hours watching taped programs. In fact, adults are exposed to various screens — TVs, cellphones, even G.P.S. devices — for about 8.5 hours on any given day, according to a study released by the Council for Research Excellence. It’s been estimated that American people spend about 1/3 of the time awake plugged into some kind of screen.
Couple that with the time you spend at work, and then doing household  chores we all have to do, time we spend checking in or on family members (whether paying them a visit or calling them on the phone), time we take to eat and take care of our bodies, and time we take to rest and sleep, no wonder we don’t have time to accomplish anything new, exciting or great.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Lost time is never found again.”
The Bible is literally full of examples of people who allowed themselves to get distracted or be sidetracked by things causing them to get off track or sink.
Peter wanted to walk on water, but after he took his first few steps on water after leaving the boat heading toward Jesus, we read that he was distracted by the wind and the waves. He took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink.
In my younger days I hung around a friend who raised champion hunting dogs. When they wanted to train a young Beagle to become a Field Champion, they would run it with a mature seasoned beagle. Why? Because the older beagle would stay on course and follow only one rabbit trail. You may have heard stories where a young hunting dog would start off following one animal’s trail to be sidetracked by another animal’s trail that crossed their path. It would continue to jump from one scent and one animal to another. But a seasoned dog will stay true to that one course.
 I think many of us are like that young dog that hops from on animal to another. It’s like we have A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) or something. We start out doing one thing and we get sidetracked and start doing something else, and before you know it we wind up doing ten things and never finish the one thing we started out to do. We allow our self to get sidetracked too easily and many of us don’t manage our time very efficiently. We wind up being late for appointments, late for work, late for church, late for everything because we get distracted or sidetracked and then we wonder why we can’t learn something new or achieve our any of our goals.
Concerning getting sidetracked by things that can distract us, Solomon wrote some very wise words in Proverbs 4:23-27   Listen to what he wrote:
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. 25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.  27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” (NLT)
So what is Solomon’s advise?                                                                                    
• #1  Determine what you want to do. Focus in on what you what to do or achieve. There is a purpose for your life and it is important to discover that purpose and not let a thousand little distractions rob you of it.
• #2  Mark out a straight, safe path, or the quickest way to get there. Drop unimportant things, even if is disappoints some people
• #3  Stick to that path and keep your eyes on the goal. Move from living life aimlessly to living you life with a purpose. Remember you are capable of doing great things with God’s help.
• #4  Don’t let petty things in life distract or sidetrack you from achieving what you really want to do.
• #5  Guard your heart and keep you heart from following any kind of evil. Why? because there are plenty of things out there to lure you away from your goal. That’s why these things are called temptations.  People spend hours and hours and sometimes a lifetime pursuing corrupt, ungodly, destructive, evil behavior or things. And that is such a waste. Many of us know people who are consumed with alcohol, drugs, or maybe even TV.
• #6  Focus on keeping the main thing the main thing.
The problem is that the main thing gets crowded out by a lot of things that are not even related to the main thing.
I can’t help but think of Paul’s words as he talked about achieving the goal of his life, and that was to become like Christ and sharing in His resurrection. Concerning this Paul writes in Philippians 3:12-14“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Notice the urgency and drive in Paul’s words. ‘Press on’, ‘Straining’
So try not to allow too many things to sidetrack or distract you from doing what you really want to do.
I pray that this series of lesson will help you in years to come.
In closing I want to encourage you to dream and pursue some of those ideas and goal that you have. You never know, some of them may have been given to you by God Himself.
Don’t under-estimate you ability, value, or worth. Don’t be satisfied with the status que, and don’t simply settle for the rut you are in. Be flexible, and willing to try something new.
Don’t let the naysayer lead you to believe something is impossible if you know you can do it.
Trust in the Lord and His desire to bless you and help you. And remember as you pursue life, always put Him first.
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

Greater Love Has No Man Than This by Alfred Shannon Jr.

https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/2011/05/page/3/


Greater Love Has No Man Than This



True love, perfect love, unfeigned love, agape love produces great sacrifice_sacrifice of the greatest value, and completely immeasurable. God gave up His only begotten Son. Jesus gave up His own life. If we truly love God, we will sacrifice our life by obeying the gospel of Christ, helping all (especially the saints) who are in need, and taking up our cross daily, and follow Him.  Greater love has no man than this.
John 3:16; Heb 1:3; Jn 15:13,14; Jn 14:15; Mk 16:16; 1 Pet 3:21; 1 Jn 3:17,18; Mt 10:38

SECOND TIMOTHY by Paul Southern

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Southern/Paul/1901/tim2.html

SECOND TIMOTHY

  1. THE TITLE
    2. This is the second of two letters by the same writer to Timothy.
  2. THE WRITER
    3. From the first verse we learn that Paul was the writer.
  3. THE ADDRESSEE
    4. The letter is addressed "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son" (1:2), who was at Ephesus at this time.
  4. TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING
    5. This epistle was written from Rome during Paul's second imprisonment, and just before his martyrdom, A.D. 67 (1:4, 16, 17; 4:6-9, 11,21).
  5. PURPOSE AND CONTENTS OF THE LETTER
    6. One object of the letter was to request Timothy to come to him speedily (4:9,11,21). It was also written to further instruct Timothy in church matters, and to explain to him Paul's personal affairs. Internal evidence indicates that this letter was the last which the apostle wrote before his death. Being the last will and testament of one who was not "behind the chiefest of the apostles," it is important for the dying counsels which it contains. More personal than I Timothy, this last letter depicts Paul's pitiable plight in his closing days. Warnings against disputes and false doctrines, exhortations to purity of life, strong expressions of affectionate regard, and consolation for suffering Christians are important subjects discussed. "Hasten," "Come," "Greatly desiring to see thee," "Do diligence to come shortly," and "Come before winter" are some of the key-expressions. Personal allusions are conspicuous, more than twenty names being mentioned. The letter is full of fatherly instructions and exhortations. It carries home to every heart Paul's earnest and impassioned eloquence.

  6. EXERCISES FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY

    1. Completion
      1. Paul became an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of ____________.
      2. _______________was the name of Timothy's grandmother.
      3. Paul told Timothy to preach the ____________.
      4. Because he was sick, ______________ had been left in Miletus.
      5. ____________ was the only traveling companion with Paul at this time.

    2. True - False
      1. Lois and Eunice were ungodly women. T or F
      2. Timothy had been taught the Holy Scriptures from youth. T or F
      3. Persecution is inseparable from a devoted Christian life. T or F
      4. The resurrection is part of the gospel. T or F
      5. Demas was always loyal to Christ. T or F

    3. Multiple Choice
      1. II Timothy was written about A.D. (67, 60, 55).
      2. II Timothy was written from (Ephesus, Rome, Macedonia).
      3. Timothy, addressee of II Timothy, was in (Philippi, Athens, Ephesus).
      4. Paul had left a cloak at (Antioch, Troas, Miletus).
      5. (Eunice, Lois, Prisca) was the name of Timothy's mother.

    4. Identification
      1. "Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season." Ch.___v.___.
      2. "In the last days grievous times shall come." Ch.___v.___.
      3. "From a babe thou has known the sacred writings." Ch.___v.___.
      4. "Study to show thyself approved unto God. Ch.___v.___.
      5. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." Ch.___v.___.
      6. "But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Ch.___v.___.

    5. Topics for further study
      1. What was "the gift of God" which Paul asked Timothy to keep aglow?
      2. Summarize the teaching of II Timothy on immortality.
      3. Study the grievous times described in chapter 3.
      4. Make a list of all the persons mentioned in II Timothy.
      5. What symptoms of asceticism are discussed in the epistle?
      6. What persons were largely responsible for Timothy's early religious training?
      7. Does the expression, "Come before winter," have any special significance?
      8. List everything in the epistle concerning the life and work of a gospel preacher.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

A bolt out of the blue by Gary Rose


This picture was entitled “A bolt of light” and it sure looks like it! At first glance, I thought it was a gigantic pillar, or a huge version of the metal supports for the telephone wires.
But it glows!!! The area looked familiar as well, like something from the Sarasota area in Florida, but I suppose it could be any one of a thousand places.


But, my eyes kept going back to that light, that amazing light! It just held my attention and kept my focus on it. Amazing!!!


More than all these things, I couldn’t help but think of something else- it reminded me of the Apostle Paul and how Jesus turned his life around...


Acts 9 (World English Bible)
  1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,  2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.  4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 

  5  He said, “Who are you, Lord?” 

The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  6  But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 

  7  The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8 Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.  9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. 

  10  Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” 

He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.” 
  11  The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,   12  and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.” 

  13  But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.  14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 

  15  But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.   16  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 

  17  Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.  19 He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.  21 All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!” 


God has a plan for all of us, it may be a big plan (like Paul) or something small, but God has not forgotten each and every one of us.

In Paul’s case, Jesus got his attention by a bolt of light, but what he does in ours is unique to our situation. Paul responded, became a Christian and did as he was instructed.


I wonder, will we do the same???
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