How important are songs? I did not do the requisite proofing, however some assert Jesus quoted from the Psalter more than any other source. This gives us an amount of confidence that David, Moses, Asaph, and other psalmists, wrote prophecy as well as pretty prose for praise. Meaning, the songs a good Jewish boy or girl grew up singing were the inspired word of God. We may want to take a moment (not in this article) and be critical of the songs we choose to sing, not offering use to unqualified songs, and emphasizing the use of those that are more able to convey the oracles of God.
This year, every month has a sermon that is derived from a song available for us to sing. Should we trust our doctrine and soul to brother Ellis J. Crum? Absolutely not! So why talk about songs? Songs are usually broadly written about a narrow topic, lending to the creative process of formulating a message. I am also hoping to get congregants thinking about their singing. Plus, I try do things differently every now and again.
Songs are opportunities for us to teach one another. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3.16) My family has a habit of quoting Disney movies in everyday situations. Perhaps we would do well to copy the example of Jesus and quote songs as they fit daily moments. You know, like when someone is speeding, you can just sing a few lines of “Nearer My God To Thee”; or, when someone gets a notification on their phone try, “Zion’s Call”; maybe when the preacher prattles on too long hum a few bars of, “Does Jesus Care?” (that last one was meant to be funny)
Bottom line: Many of us want to find more and better ways to show ourselves as Christians to a lost and dying world. This year we will learn 12 songs a bit deeper. As a result, individuals may look at any number of songs more critically. And hopefully, our worship, singing, study, edification, etc., is increased by the process. "Savior, teach me day by day, love’s sweet lesson to obey; Sweeter lesson cannot be, loving Him who first loved me."