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Music Appreciation
CGG WeeklyMusic serves as a powerful means through which God expresses His relationship with humanity and transforms human experience. In ancient Israel songs formed a central element of worship and daily life, employed both to praise God and to mark ordinary occasions such as greetings or farewells. God Himself supplied an inspired collection of songs that reveal His nature and His dealings with people, and He is described as the composer who imparts songs by inspiration. Two scriptural accounts illustrate the distinct spiritual effects of vocal music performed before God. When David played and sang before King Saul, the music dispelled torment and replaced agitation with peace, demonstrating how song can alter the inner state from distress to rest. Later, at the dedication of Solomon's temple, the Levitical singers joined with trumpet-playing priests to offer unified praise. Their performance required absolute oneness of sound and purpose; only then did God manifest His presence in the temple, confirming that corporate singing creates harmony among participants and invites divine approval. Because song both shapes individual disposition and binds participants together in shared sentiment, it functions as a practical instrument for worship and for building unity within the community of believers. When hymns are sung together, minds and voices align in praise, fostering oneness before God. This same principle extends beyond formal worship: the joy and reverence expressed in song must continue to govern daily conduct so that lives themselves become a consistent offering of beauty and edification to others. Ultimately, faithful participation in song prepares believers to join in the new song sung in perfect unity with the Father and the Son in the Kingdom of God.
Shouting Gleanings and Singing Olives (Part Two)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles WhitakerIsaiah's apocalypse resembles Exodus, as both begin with a narration of God's judgment on sinners and then move to a description of God's continuing work.
Shouting Gleanings and Singing Olives (Part One)
Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)Isaiah 24 prophesies that God will preserve a remnant made up of grape gleanings (the His Church) and of olives (national Israelites) who will sing together.
Our Participation in Services
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughWe should not trivialize the importance of music in helping our meditation and remembering spiritual lessons, especially regarding congregational singing.
Count It ALL Joy
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamNot all of God's instructions are easy to follow. Maintaining a joyful attitude during difficult circumstances is among the most challenging commands we are given.
A Memorial of Our Joyful Future
Sermonette by Bill OnisickTo the reprobate world, the sound of teruw'ah represents terror and war, but to God's called-out ones it is a time to render praises of happiness and great joy.
Exalt With Music
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMusic has an intense power to stimulate the emotions, trigger the imagination, set the mood of services, and serves as a teaching vehicle for instruction.
Proper Sabbath-Service Behavior
'Ready Answer' by StaffOur and our children's behavior at Sabbath services must conform to the serious and godly nature of this special worship time with God.
Jesus in the Feasts (Part Three): Divine King
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe trumpet blast is both a memorial and a proclamation that Almighty God is present, powerful, and personal, reminding us how we must respond.
The Godly Purpose for Music
'Ready Answer' by David F. MaasEven music in religion can be a contentious subject! The Bible shows that music is a blessing from God and an appropriate vehicle for praise and worship.
Lift Up Your Voice Like a Trumpet
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughHardly anything is more dramatic than the blast of a trumpet. Alarm or warning is a primary function, and its other uses likewise culminate in the Feast of Trumpets.
Worship and Culture (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe apostles, to properly honor God, reinforce existing traditions to create unity, order, and decorum, avoiding the common, crude, or profane.
Worship and Culture (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhat kind of worship will God accept? To answer this, it is necessary to know the scriptural principles that apply because God does not accept all offerings.