PASTOR’S CORNER, Phillip Dow, New Beginnings Church, Liberal

One of my favorite moments every Sunday happens before the sermon ever begins. It’s that moment when the congregation lifts its voice together. Some people sing beautifully; others … enthusiastically. A few of us couldn’t carry a tune if it came with handles. But together, something remarkable happens. We aren’t just making music, we’re shaping our hearts.

I sometimes hear people ask, “Why do we sing so much in church?” That’s a fair question. The answer is that singing has always been one of God’s primary ways of teaching His people.

I grew up with a hymnal in my hands. Before projectors and lyric screens, you learned to follow the notes and the words printed on the page. In fact, I learned to read music simply by watching the melody climb and fall while listening to those around me sing. Looking back, I realize I was learning much more than musical notation. Week after week, hymn after hymn, I was learning the language of faith.

Music has a unique way of engaging the brain. We may struggle to remember a conversation from last Tuesday, but many of us can still sing songs we learned as children. God designed us that way. When truth is joined with melody, it settles deep into our hearts. That’s one reason the Bible repeatedly calls God’s people to sing.

Paul writes, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly… through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16). Notice that singing isn’t simply an emotional response. It’s a way the message of Christ comes to dwell within us. Every song is an opportunity to teach sound doctrine, encourage weary believers, and remind us of God’s character.

Our songs also train our eyes. Throughout the week, our attention is pulled toward deadlines, doctor’s appointments, bills, and breaking news. Then Sunday comes, and together we sing about the faithfulness of God, the victory of Christ, and the hope of the resurrection. The chorus becomes more than a catchy refrain; it becomes a declaration that our circumstances are not our Savior. We learn, together, to lift our eyes to Jesus.

Many of us have also memorized more Scripture through music than we realize. David wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). For generations, believers have done exactly that by singing God’s Word. Long after a sermon outline is forgotten, a verse set to music often comes rushing back at exactly the moment it’s needed. God uses those melodies to remind us of His promises in hospital rooms, at gravesides, during long drives, and in quiet moments of prayer.

When we sing together, we are also telling our story. We remind one another who God has been, what Christ has accomplished, and where our hope ultimately rests. A visitor may not know every song, but they can quickly discover what a church believes by listening to what it sings.

So this Sunday, don’t let the worship be background music. Open your heart and lift your voice. If you know the words, sing them with conviction. If you’re learning a new song, let its truth shape your thinking. And if someone invites you to church, say yes. You may leave with more than a melody in your head—you may leave with God’s Word planted more deeply in your heart and a renewed vision of the Savior who is worthy of every song. If you find yourself in spiritual need and without a home church, I would love for you to come with me to New Beginnings Church.