We may not be locked into a cultural style (meter and specific instrumentation), but I do believe that there are biblical cultural attributes to our worship that need to be preserved (reverent awe, singing joyfully with instruments, dasncing before the lord, raising our hands, clapping, etc.)

Chapter 4's "admonishment" for us to practice has got to be at least two-fold. There is our need as a 'corporate' worship team to practice together, but there is also a need for us to independenantly work on the skills God has blessed us with so when we get together we are bringing our best for the Lord, and then out of Love for our brothers and sisters the best we can to make our rehearsals fruitful. What does it say about the value we hold our brothers/sisters in if we arrive late to practice, never learn our music, play sloppily or recklessly, etc. (- ouch that hurt me writing it. :) )

Excellent points Ned. I too thought chap 3 did excllent job expressing our need to "sing praises with understanding". I don't want to known as someone who doesn't know Who he is worshipping. It also helps us meet the requirement to teach and admonish one another in songs, hymns and spiritual songs.

First chapter did a great job about setting the tone for where most people who are involved in leading worship (music) at one point or another have been.

Loved his quote "Worship is about what we love. What we live for. It's about who we are before God."

I think that in times past the Pentecostal church has taken the worship (music) portion of our service and used it like a 'silver-bullet' to fixing problems. Worship is the silver bullet (A life devoted unto Jesus Christ), and the reason for which we were created - To bring Glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I Samuel 15:22 "Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams". We can never substitute a shabach or a rinnah for a life of humility lived unto God.

Also appreciated the idea of thinking about what we are doing, and why are we doing it. Kind of goes along with 1 Thes 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

Looking forward to your responses.

After re-reading this, I still see that I am "in the middle". And I like threaded comments :)

Must have #BACON