Preparing for Sunday: How Joyful is Our Noise? – Part 2

Carefully Think

• Think back on the series we have done on worship and write down how you would answer the question ““ “what defines genuine biblical worship?”
• What did Jesus mean by “Spirit and truth” in John 4:24?  How did you come up with that answer?  How does that answer fit with what Jesus and the woman at the well were discussing in the surrounding context?
• Read through Ephesians 5:18-19.  What is the connection between being filled with the Spirit and singing?
• In addition to edifying one another and adoring God, what other elements about singing do you find addressed in Ephesians 5:19?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Throughout the series on worship, what has been the most impactful truth for you personally?  Why?
• How has your thinking about music changed, been reaffirmed, or been enhanced by thinking through Revelation 4 & 5 and Ephesians 5:19?
• Consider what “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” means and how it should affect your singing when the body of Christ gathers.
• We all have personal preferences when it comes to singing.  List what yours are.  What Scriptures would you associate with those preferences?  Read through Philippians 2.  How would this passage impact the way we view preferential issues in regard to music?

Actively Respond

• Read through Revelation 4 & 5 again and reflect on how these passages should enhance the way you think about our public gatherings on Sunday.
• Read through Ephesians 5:18-19 with your family and discuss how these verses should impact you when you gather with God”™s people and sing this Sunday.
• Pray for those who will be leading the church in our corporate gathering on Sunday.  Pray that they will have a focused attention in leading the entire church in a biblical manner.
• Pray for all who will be involved in the service (instrumentalists, sound technicians, ushers, etc.).  Pray that we will help to enhance people”™s affections for God this week in how we serve the body.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing Sunday.
• Hear a sample of the songs or purchase the songs we will be singing and use them through the weekend to prepare yourself to sing with God”™s people.