Give Me a Song to Sing

Worship is the work of the people. It is the expression of our faith community – from the songs we sing, to the ways we share Jesus with those around us; from our prayers in private, to the service we offer to others for the sake of Christ.

Our Sunday gathering is designed to both reflect our worship, and shape our worship. It is a time when we express our devotion and love for God, and when we are changed by God's story, by His Word to us, by the Holy Spirit moving in us...

Which is why selecting songs can be difficult sometimes. New Cov is made up of people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, interests, and careers. We are young and old, new members and longtime members, male, female, hurting, recovering, glorifying God together. How do we find songs that unify us and help us raise our voices together as the one body of Christ?

We typically have time for just 4-5 songs to sing as a congregation on a Sunday. Songs both serve a purpose (praise, prayer, proclamation, exhortation, call-to-action) in our spiritual formation, and must express our voice as a congregation.

Right now, our corporate expression, based on our vision for the next two years, is one of evangelism: sharing Jesus with those around us. I will be looking for songs during this time that help us express the joy, strength and peace of knowing Jesus as our Savior. When we sing those songs together, we are better equipped to share our faith with those we encounter through the week. I'm excited for the song we introduced Sunday, "Glorious Day" by Kristian Stanfill. When we remember the joy and newness of life Lazarus (see John 11) must have felt coming out of his grave, we are reminded that in Jesus we have new life! We are free from the shackles of sin! What incredible news! What a message to share!

Of course, it would make little sense for us to sing only songs like "Glorious Day." Our congregation, and our expression of faith, is more complex and variegated. So what are the songs, or even the words, your heart is singing these days? And what are the songs you need to learn, to more closely walk with Jesus?