Well, this week's series of podcasts has turned out rather differently from what I expected

when we began. I was actually anticipating reflecting with you in some of my favourite

hymns, but we've ended up thinking and talking just about singing itself, not about specific

sams or hymns or spiritual songs that we love to sing. Yesterday I said that secular

songs have a horizontal direction. We sing about ourselves or what's around us or we sing

to each other and there's nothing wrong with that, but there's a whole missing dimension.

And by contrast, even when a Christian sings in a horizontal direction, even sings the

very same songs, there's always a vertical direction. And the reason is, as I said, because

we live before the face of God and in His presence. We know that when we are singing, He's listening.

When we are singing, we're singing to Him and about Him or for Him or in His presence.

So all of the Christians singing is different. And when we sing specifically Christian

praise, sams and hymns and spiritual songs, it's very different. I said yesterday I'd

say a little more about this today. I was actually thinking about Paul's words in Colossians

chapter 3 verse 16. It's one of the most important New Testament verses about singing, isn't

it? Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all

wisdom, singing sams and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your heart to

God. There's a whole theology of singing in this verse. And since it's Friday today, I hope

you'll reflect on it not only today, but also tomorrow and as you go to worship and Sunday.

What is Paul teaching us? First, that our singing needs to be informed and directed by the

word of Christ by the teaching he gives us in Scripture. Scripture is profitable for doctrine,

reproof, correction and training and righteousness to equip us for every good work. And that's

as true when we sing the truth Scripture teaches us as well as when we hear the preaching

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