Music In The Church — Why It Must Be Vocal
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on SingingDate written: February 14th, 2004
Scripture ref: Ephesians 5:18, 19
SUBJECT: Worship
TITLE: Music in the Church — Why It Must Be Vocal
PROPOSITION: In this lesson, we will look at the arguments for the exclusive use of a cappella singing within the worship of the church.
OBJECTIVES: Each member should be able to comprehend and teach others the reasons why we sing in worship to God and why we do not use instruments in worship.
AIM: To conclusively show that a cappella singing is the exclusive type of music that Jesus wants within the church.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Ephesians 5:18, 19
2. About the Text:
1) The kind of music the church has is certainly a big deal in today’s religious environment.
2) It is the first and the last thing many hear when visiting some church.
3) There are many for whom it is the primary reason for “going to church.”
4) And there is a place for music in worship.
5) What is the music of the church?
6) What ought our attitude to be toward music in the church?
3. The situation today.
1) Within churches of Christ that music has been a cappella in nature.
2) We have also taught that it is sinful to use instruments in God’s worship.
3) There are some churches of Christ today that teach that instruments are optional.
4) Other churches have adopted the instrument for some of their worship services.
5) Is this merely a “tradition” that we have within churches of Christ?
6) Is this something that is optional?
7) Is the instrument an issue of fellowship?
4. The series.
1) In the coming weeks, we will have a series of lessons on “Music in the church.”
2) In this series, we will discuss, in depth, the various different facets of this issue.
3) I hope that you will be present for each of these lessons.
5. Last week
1) We looked at music in the church from a historical perspective.
2) We saw that as far as sacred history was concerned, the church sang songs and praises.
3) Not one word did we find within sacred history regarding the use of instruments.
4) We saw that in secular history, instruments were condemned by the church up to the sixth century A.D. when Pope Vitalian the I introduced them into the worship. Things were already gone in other ways in that day.
5) Even so, we saw that even up until the 1200s AD, there were still some opposing its use in the churches.
6) The reformation came and we saw the great leaders there in opposition to the use of the instrument in worship.
7) We concluded that it has only been in popular use within the religious world for a period of about 200 years.
6. Today
1) Today we will be discussing arguments for the exclusive use of a cappella music within the church.
2) We want to look at .
7. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A
DISCUSSION: To have the right attitude in prayer we must ask in . . .
I. The Argument from Faith
1. The argument for a cappella music.
1) All actions of faith are actions that only come from hearing God’s word (Rom.10:17).
2) The action of worshiping with a cappella music is an action that comes from hearing God’s word.
3) Therefore the action of worshiping with a cappella music is an action of faith.
2. The argument as stated against instrumental accompaniment.
1) We must establish that the instrument is not an action of faith.
a. All actions of faith are actions that only come from hearing God’s word (Rom.10:17).
b. The action of worshiping with the instrument is an action that does not come from hearing God’s word.
c. Therefore, the action of worshiping with the instrument is not an action of faith.
2) Now we must establish that the instrument cannot please God.
a. All actions that are not actions of faith are actions that cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
b. The action of worshiping with the instrument is not an action of faith.
c. Therefore, the action of worshiping with the instrument cannot please God.
II. The Argument from Authority
1. Colossians 3:17 – Jesus must authorized our deeds; this includes worship in the church.
2. Eph. 1:22; Col.1:18; Eph. 5:23 – Jesus is the Head of the church.
3. The argument for a cappella music.
1) All divinely approved actions of worship within the church are actions that are authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.
2) The action of worshiping with a cappella music in the church is a divinely approved action of worship within the church (Eph.5:19; Col.3:16).
3) Therefore, the action of worshiping with a cappella music in the church is an action that is authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.
4. The argument against instrumental music.
1) All divinely approved actions of worship within the church are actions that are authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.
2) The action of worshiping with instrumental music is not an action that has been authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.
3) Therefore, the action of worshiping with instrumental music is not a divinely approved action of worship within the church.
III. The Argument from Restoration of the Pattern
1. Luke 8:11 – The seed is the word of God.
1) A seed is a blueprint, a pattern, a code for the restoration of offspring.
2) Addition to that pattern will destroy the ability to restore offspring.
3) Subtraction from that pattern will destroy the ability to create offspring.
2. 2 Timothy 1:13 Paul told Timothy, “Hold the form (pattern, ASV) of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
1) As Christians we must “hold” to that pattern;
2) Stick with it;
3) Never modify or abandon it.
3. The argument for a cappella music in the church.
1) All items of worship that are included within the New Testament pattern for worship, are items that we may restore in worship to God.
2) A cappella music in the church is an item of worship that is included within the New Testament pattern for worship.
3) A cappella music in the church is an item that we may restore in worship to God.
4. The argument against instrumental music in the church.
1) All items of worship that are not included within the New Testament pattern for worship, are items that we may not restore in worship to God.
2) Instrumental music in the church is an item of worship that is not included within the New Testament pattern for worship.
3) Instrumental music is an item that we may not restore in worship to God.
IV. The New Covenant Argument
1. Hebrews 9:15
2. The argument for a cappella music in the worship of the church.
1) All actions for which Jesus mediates are actions that are part of the New Covenant.
2) The action of a cappella music in the worship of the church is an action for which Jesus mediates (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
3) The action of a cappella music in the worship of the church is an action that is part of the New Covenant.
3. The argument against instrumental music in the church.
1) All actions for which Jesus mediates are actions that are part of the New Covenant.
2) The action of instrumental music in the worship is an action that is not part of the New Covenant.
3) Therefore, the action of instrumental music in the worship is not an action for which Jesus mediates.
V. The Argument from Silence
1. Many state that the argument against instrumental music is just an argument from silence and they claim that is not a very strong argument.
1) However, we see that argument used in Hebrews by the Holy Spirit 1:5-7; 1:13; 2:5; 4:7; 7:14.
2) As the old spiritual says, “If it was good enough for the Holy Spirit, then it is good enough for me!”
2. This one doesn’t apply to a cappella music, because the scriptures are not silent on that kind of music. We noted the several passages in which singing was found last week.
3. The argument against instrumental music in the church.
1) All actions about which the Bible is silent, are action about which we have no scriptural right to employ in worship.
2) The Bible is silent regarding the action of using instrumental music to worship God.
3) Therefore, we have no scriptural right to use instrumental music in worship to God.
VI. The Specification of the Instrument Argument
1. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
1) Both verses specify the instrument that we are to use in worshiping God – the heart.
2) To use any other instrument is to supplant the instrument which God has told us to use.
3) The argument from specific authority. Noah, the Lord’s supper, etc.
2. The argument for a cappella music in the worship of the church.
1) All accompaniment which God specifies we use with our singing in worship is the only accompaniment that we may use in our singing in worship.
2) The heart is the accompaniment that God has specified we use with our singing.
3) Therefore, the heart is the only accompaniment that we may use in our singing in worship.
3. The argument against instrumental music in the church.
1) All accompaniment which God has not specified for us to use with our singing in worship is accompaniment that we may not use in our singing in worship.
2) The accompaniment of instrumental music is not specified for us to use with our singing in worship.
3) Therefore, the accompaniment of instrumental music is accompaniment that we may not use in our singing in worship.
VII. The Righteousness of One’s Own Argument
1. Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:9.
1) These passage teach that when we substitute our own righteousness for God’s righteousness, then we do not please God.
2) God’s righteousness is revealed within the gospel (Romans 1:17).
3) If it is not within the gospel, then it is not according to God’s righteousness, and we make a righteousness of our own.
2. The argument for a cappella music in the worship of the Church.
1) All worship which is from a righteousness of our own is worship that is not revealed within the gospel.
2) A cappella singing is worship that has been revealed within the gospel.
3) Therefore, a cappella singing is not worship which is from a righteousness of our own.
3. The argument against instrumental music in the worship of the Church.
1) All worship which is according to the righteousness of God is worship that has been revealed to us in the gospel.
2) Worship with instrumental music has not been revealed to us within the gospel.
3) Therefore, worship with instrumental music is not according to the righteousness of God..
CONCLUSION:
1. We have conclusively demonstrated this morning two things.
1) God is pleased with a cappella singing in the worship of the church.
a. It is according to faith.
b. It is authorized.
c. It is part of the pattern preserved for restoration.
d. It is part of the new covenant.
e. God is not silent on the use of this type of music.
f. God has specified the instrument of the heart to accompany singing.
g. A cappella singing is according to the righteousness of God.
2) God is not pleased with singing accompanied by the instrument because
a. It is not according to faith.
b. It is not authorized.
c. It is not part of the pattern that was preserved for restoration.
d. It is not part of the New Covenant.
e. God is silent on the use of the instrument.
f. God has not specified the mechanical instrument to accompany singing.
g. Instrumental music is not according to the righteousness of God.
2. Invitation