Why does music play such an important role in corporate worship?

What is it about music that makes corporate worship so powerful? It's always been something that fascinates me, that's for sure. I remember as a kid singing those good old church songs like "Father Abraham" and "Deep and Wide". Do you remember those too?! The funny thing is that now my three year old daughter is learning some of those - and a few more that I didn't know. But at the same time she is learning some of the songs that us adults sing in church, too... And she loves them!

Music has always attracted me. In second grade I began playing the drums - I've always enjoyed rhythm and beating on whatever was closest to me (even my little sister on occasion). Then in seventh grade I picked up a guitar and began to teach myself how to play. It wasn't long before I left my young poet aspirations to begin writing songs. Then I began singing worship songs in my bedroom, closed away from everyone else - singing until my heart was full.

Music has the ability to reach into every part of our souls.
Words are great - a well spoken sermon has the ability to speak volumes to us. But music can go well beyond what the mere words of the song portray. Music is based on emotion and one of our senses - hearing - and sometimes even feeling. Some songs give us energy - like a good upbeat hand-clapping song with driving guitars and drums. Some songs help us proclaim truths such as a hymn with a driving beat that stands us up just a little taller when we sing it. And some songs take us away from our present circumstance through emotional strings/pads and haunting melodies. All in all - songs can work their way into the deepest parts of our being and attach themselves there to burst out in melody at just the right times.

Music inspires us to make decisions and move into action.
Once our hearts have been touched by both lyric and emotion of the song - we are more prone to make a decision and move into action. I think of songs that call us to mission, or call us to live holy lives. In the moment we are being touched by the Spirit of God - knowing that He is moving us toward Himself. From that moment we've been given the courage and the will to continue moving in that direction. And many times a season can be born. For me, I remember seasons that were captured in a single song. A certain song may have really spoken to my heart and I would listen to that song day in and day out for weeks at a time. They were times of change, times of moving into action.

Music has the power to change.
The ultimate goal of worship music is to lose ourselves and take on more of God's Spirit in our lives. As we draw closer to God through worship, we become more like Him. Music has always been the greatest catalyst of lasting change in my life. In my life change both begins and ends with music. Music puts the emotion of love with the commitment to love. That's a very important connection. Music has the ability to change hearts, then change minds - and even change the world.

How has music changed you?

How does music get into your deepest places?

Do you have a song in your heart right now?

New Blog Series: How to Worship Corporately