What We Do When We're Together (part 1): Sing
TO START
Leaders, this week we’re talking singing, and as you might have guessed, we’re suggesting you don’t just talk about singing--do it! This of course will take some preparation. Consider borrowing song books from the church building for your group (either our hymn books or the paper books we use for events like Plus One). You can also just Google songs. If you have the ability to search the Internet on a large monitor (like a tv screen), you can Google your favorite songs and follow along with the lyrics together that way. You can also sing along with worship groups or lyric videos on You Tube.
TO DISCUSS
This week we talked about one thing “we do when we’re together”: singing.
Is singing something you like, love, dislike, hate, or tolerate? Explain your answer. (This is a safe zone. Any answer works so long as you’re honest.)
Did you grow up with singing in your home? How did you “learn” to sing? Who were your early examples or influences?
Singing is described in scripture as an expectation of the children of God. God’s people sing. Does that make sense to you? Is it something you embrace or something you struggle with? Is singing in church hard or awkward for you? If so, explain why you think that is.
What are your favorite kinds of songs to sing? Do you have a favorite song? What is it?
Why do you think might God encourage us to sing (as opposed to, let’s say, all of us giving speeches to one another or all of us reading lyrics out loud together)?
TO READ
Read the following verses and answer the question, “Why do we sing?”
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
James 5:13 “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”
Ephesians 5:18-20 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Samuel 22:1 “David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
Psalm 42:8 “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”
Psalm 98:4 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.”
TO SING
Feel free to sing whatever you’d like. Take requests. Have a list of songs prepared. Whatever you think is best. But definitely, absolutely, no question, SING!
TO PRAY
This week you might pray for bravery to sing more fully/passionately when you’re gathered with the saints or (for those who don’t enjoy singing) a heart to receive what God has for us in singing.
To end group, why don’t you sing a prayer of blessing over one another? You might sing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”