Music to God’s Glory
1 Corinthians 10:31
Genesis 4:3-5
Does music matter to God?
1) Music matters to God
a) Music is instrumental in worship 1 Chron. 23:2-5; 25:1,6
b) Music proclaims truth Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16
c) Music addresses our passions 1 Sam. 16:23; Jam. 5:13
d) Music expresses the beauty of God Ps. 19:1
2) The Bible is sufficient to guide what matters 2 Tim. 3:15-17
a) Scripture is sufficient for salvation 2 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:8-9
b) Scripture is sufficient for life 2 Tim. 3;16,17
c) Does music style matter?
i) We need discernment Gal. 5:19-21; Heb. 5:14
ii) We need additional training 1 Tim. 4:7
Let’s use music to glorify the Lord!
Message Based Discussion Questions
1) Did you ever take music lessons? What kind and for how long?
Digging deeper:
2) According to John 4:24, how are you to worship God? ___________________ As you look at John 4:21-26, what principles can you apply from this passage to music and worship?
3) Note Leviticus 10:1-3. What happened to Nadab and Abihu? _______________ How or what principle can you apply to music and worship from this?
4) How would you describe the worship in Malachi 1:6-14; 3:7-14? __________________ How should principles from these verses apply to both the instrumentalists as leaders and/or the congregation as participants?
Making application from the passage to life:
5) What are ways that music communicates truth? What are several specific examples?
6) Why is having a list of things to do, in any field, a dangerous thing?
7) Based on the passage, regarding music, what conclusions can you note regarding preferences of music style?
Message Based Discussion Questions
1) Did you ever take music lessons? What kind and for how long?
a) Yes, piano lessons, four years 4th grade to 8thgrade
Digging deeper:
2) According to John 4:24, how are you to worship God? __in spirit and in Truth_ As you look at John 4:21-26, what principles can you apply from this passage to music and worship?
a) Genuine believers will worship God
b) Some people will worship and don’t know why
c) Some worship in the wrong way and don’t know it
d) God is seeking people to worship Him
e) God is Spirit, not an idol that can be seen or touched
f) I am to worship with my entire being
g) I am to worship according to Truth. What Truth bears on worship?
3) Note Leviticus 10:1-3. What happened to Nadab and Abihu? _they were killed___ How or what principle can you apply to music and worship from this?
a) Approaching God must be done in a sober way.
b) I can’t approach God in any way I want
c) I must approach according to how God commands
d) I must not approach in a common way
e) Fire devoured them for being common
f) Worshiping God is serious
4) How would you describe the worship in Malachi 1:6-14; 3:7-14? __indifferent, complacent, disrespectful__ How should principles from these verses apply to both the instrumentalists as leaders and/or the congregation as participants?
a) We should be well-prepared 1:6
b) God cares how we worship 1:7
c) People may not even be aware of how they are worshiping 1:8
d) People want God’s favor, but in their own way 1:9
e) God may not accept my offering or worship 1:10
f) If I make God’s name common, He will still exalt Himself 1:12
g) We get bored with how we are supposed to worship 1:13
h) God wants a holy offering 3:7
i) I “rob” God by not giving to God 3:8
Making application from the passage to life:
5) What are ways that music communicates truth? What are several specific examples?
a) Music carries truth by:
i) Music carries the lyrics of truth
ii) Music is a method of carrying order and beauty
iii) Music has an order by the mathematics of the pitches
iv) Music can restore the soul 1 Sam. 16:23
b) Specific examples:
i) Certain hymns associate with words that are deeply meaningful
ii) Music orients my soul to reverence or exalting God
iii) Certain songs carry meaning in themselves
iv) The types of songs communicate whether they are songs of work, or war, or mourning.
6) Why is having a list of things to do, in any field, a dangerous thing?
a) The list may not be complete
b) Dependence on the list instead of God will become idolatry or legalism
c) The list may steer people away from what is important as led by the Holy Spirit.
7) Based on the passage, regarding music, what conclusions can you note regarding preferences of music style?
a) There may be freedom in the preferences, someone will have to choose
b) My preferences must be for the glory of God, not my preferences
c) I must use Scripture to define what my preferences are
d) I may need discernment to know what my preferences are
e) I may need to work through the process of discerning what is godly
f) My preferences matter to God, so my preferences need to line up with God’s character.
Shepherding Truth 