Hymns: A 5-Day Devotional With Tasha Cobbs LeonardSample

Building The Church

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV)

Hymns have always played a role in community. I think it’s because the timeless truth found in hymns brings us together. Truth has a powerful way of restoring unity.

Today’s Scripture verse lists hymns alongside words of instruction and revelations from God as things that work together to build up the church. Hymns have the power to build the Kingdom of God.

Have you ever wondered why we sing at the beginning of a church service? I believe it’s because worship sets the tone and prepares people’s hearts for what God wants to say to them. God chooses to speak through the words of a sermon, but He also chooses to speak through the words of a song. One is not more sacred than the other; instead, they both work together to communicate the message God desires to deliver to His people. Worship is an essential part of the edification and sanctification processes, and hymns play a vital role in both.

When we worship God in spirit and in truth, we bring joy to the heart of the Father, but I also think we edify one another. We remind each other of what’s most true. We encourage one another in the faith.

The Bible says each of us has been given a unique gift to be used for the edification of the church. As a worship leader, that should be my goal. As a recording artist, that should be my mission.

It is our responsibility to steward the gifts God has given us so that we can build up the church, promote unity and encourage fellow believers. Hymns help us do this.

Hymns form the foundation for what we know as “modern worship.” But many of those timeless hymns remain in our worship sets today. We’re still singing the songs of our forefathers. And there’s something so moving about singing the same melodies prior generations have committed to memory.

May we never forget those who have gone before us, and may we never forget the reason we sing.