1. Singing and New Testament Worship

2. Eph 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”

3. Col 3:16 “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”

4. Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”

5. “whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” By the authority of Jesus Christ.

6. Matt 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”

7. Matt 21:23-27 “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said…

8. Matt 21:23-27 …By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask…

9. Matt 21:23-27 …you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it?...

10. Matt 21:23-27 …from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did…

11. Matt 21:23-27 …ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and…

12. Matt 21:23-27 …said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things”

13. Heb 5:9 “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”

14. Testimony of Early History

15. Chrysostom (c. 400 A.D.) stated: “It was the ancient custom, as it is still with us, for all to come together and unitedly to join singing. The young and the old, rich and poor, male…

16. Chrysostom (c. 400 A.D.) stated: …and female, bond and free, all in one song…All worldly distinctions here cease, and the whole congregation from one general chorus.”

17. Ignatius Bishop of Antioh around 110 A.D., wrote: “Now all of you together become a choir so that being harmoniously in concord and receiving…

18. Ignatius Bishop of Antioh around 110 A.D., wrote: …the key note from God in unison you may sing with one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father.”

19. M’Clintock and Strong identify departures from first century congregational singing, labeling the “innovations,” which arose from the fourth century onward. They include responsive singing and choirs in this category.”

20. H. Leo Boles: “Usually quartets are used “not so much for worship, but for entertainment. I think it sinful to use an item of worship as a mere entertainment. …A quartet may sing God’s praises, but God does not call upon us to praise Him by proxy.”

21. Testimony of Scripture

22. Eph 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”

23. Col 3:16 “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”

24. Josh 24:14 “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers…

25. Josh 24:14 … served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.”

26. Deut 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk…

27. Deut 10:12-13 …in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul…

28. Deut 10:12-13 …To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”

29. John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth”

30. Are we authorized to sing outside of the worship assembly?

31. Matt 26:30 “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives”

32. Acts 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them”

33. James 5:13 “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms”

34. What kind of singing has God authorized?

35. Dave Miller, Singing and New Testament Worship “…choir groups have no place in the worship assembly of the church”

36. Singing requires speaking: Eph 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”

37. Therefore: Vocal bands are not authorized. “Vocal band” = Sounds made to sound like instruments.

38. Col 3:16 “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”

39. For the same reason clapping, whistling, humming, and dancing is unauthorized.

40. The Bible clearly teaches that worship is designed to praise and worship God, not entertain the worshipper.

41. Col 3:16 “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”

42. “…psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” rules out all other forms of songs. Not authorized

43. God wants Christians to assemble together and to sing together.

44. Why is there such a ground swell of support for musical innovation? It is exciting, enjoyable, pleasurable, and aesthetically appealing = entertainment.

45. Congregational singing is for edification, teaching, admonition, emotional satisfaction and directed to God in the way God has commanded. (spiritual)

46. Singing and New Testament Worship

47. Rom 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

48. Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”

49. Phil 2:11 “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”

50. Gal 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”

51. Acts 10:48 “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days”

52. Hear Believe Repent Confess Baptized Eternal Life Singing