National Religious Music Week: A Religious Music Week Sermon

A Dozen Ideas | Bible Verses | Music | Sermon Outlines | Worship & Praise

Sermon Outline 1:
"The Sour Note"

Prepared by Rev. Gene Leiter, Pastor, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Middletown, OH

The Rev. Gene Leiter

Sermon theme: THE SOUR NOTE

Sinners Sing
Saints Song
Savor Sweet Sounds

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 and 4: "Everything on earth has its own time....there is a time for crying and laughing, weeping and dancing."

Unfortunately, many a people of faith are like me. Church music is good, but when I open my "song pipes" I let out a 'sour note.'

God has not gifted everyone with musical ability; however, he has gifted us all with a sense of musical appreciation. It is good to work through the sour note of sin and raise a beautiful song to the Lord.

1. We are all sinners. And sinners sing when they are feeling the presence, love and comfort of God.

The time for sinners to sing is when they are feeling down.
The time for sinners to sing is when they accept forgiveness.
The time for sinners to sing is when they are in the company of believers.
The time for sinners to sing is when they want to express joy.

2. The Saints Song makes me think about the memories and impressions I have about the people who have had a significant impact on my life. For people of faith, there is a peace that embraces us when we consider the eternity of life beyond the grave. This sense of life eternal is a base line of comfort for those of us continuing our faith journey on earth. Although death is a subject many find to be uncomfortable to discuss, there is a message of hope sung about in many hymns. Saints are sung about in many funeral and/or memorial services.

3. Savor Sweet Sounds - religious music is made with our voices, instruments, and the creative minds of talented people. It is good to sing a good song to the glory of God. It is good to bring the music of strings, pipes and voice into worship. I once heard that "music is 'slowed down speech."' I like this thought, because music can and does slow down the words of the simple messages of faith. Particular hymns are more definitive, and thus more meaningful.

Psalm 150 captures the intent of this sermon outline. Psalm 150:1 (Contemporary English Version) "Shout praises to the Lord! Sing him a new song of praise when his loyal people meet."

End of sermon outline
Additional thoughts regarding the use of this outline.

There are hundreds of good religious hymns, ballads, camp songs and other musical forms. The user is encouraged to took through many of the online or book resources that offer the stories behind the songs. I find these resources good to help develop the story line of each point of the outline.
The thoughts shared in this outline are meant to be a 'spring board' to develop a message which reflects the individual preacher's religious heritage and/or tradition.
I wish you a blessed and creative moment, if you choose to use this outline. Gene Leiter.

Sermon Outline 2:
"Why Sing?"

By the Rev. Gregory Tyus
Pastor, United Missionary Baptist Church, Middletown

TEXT: Psalms 96:1-4

The Rev. Gregory Tyus

INTRODUCTION

1. Many times in the church we do things without really knowing why it is that we do them. When asked why, our reply will hinge around; because that's what everybody else is doing or because that's what we've always done. As a result of this uncertainty many of us in the church, end up out of place or misjointed.

2. The psalmist David, by whom our text is believed to have been written, because this psalm so closely resembles David's hymn of praise as recorded in (I Chronicles 16:23-26), writes:

"O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."

It is here in these words of David, that I know that we can find the reason to sing.

A. TO SHOW FORTH SALVATION (vs. 2)

David says: "Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day." David implies (and he should know), that we are to sing as a result of our salvation experience.

If we have received the salvation of the Lord, then we are to have a NEW song for a NEW master; which ought to be the LORD. The Apostle Paul, even says to the church at Rome in Romans 12:1; that we NOW have a reasonable service to give to the Lord as a result of our salvation experience.

B. TO DECLARE THE GLORY OF THE LORD (vs.3)

Secondly, David says that we ought to sing to "Declare the glory of the Lord among the heathen, his wonders among all people."

We now have an obligation as children of God to become true witnesses to all people about the glory of God.

John 15:16, Jesus says (speaking about the union between Him and His church): "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever
ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

C. BECAUSE THE LORD IS GREAT (vs. 4)

Finally, David says that we ought to sing because the Lord is GREAT. "For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."

We need to take the time to consider just how great the Lord is.

Genesis: 1:1 says "In the beginning God . . . "

The psalmist says in Psalms 24:1-2; "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For they hath founded it upon the
seas, and established it upon the floods."

In Psalms 104:1: ". . . thou art clothed with honour and majesty . . . "

CONCLUSION

Why Sing?

David says because of our Salvation . . .
David says because of His Glory . . .
David says because He is Great . . .

How about you? Why do you sing?

Are you telling anyone of YOUR Salvation?

Are you sharing YOUR glory or God's GLORY?

Have you considered GOD'S greatness or YOURS?

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