The Power of Word and Song

Last week I heard someone say: “When you speak you ask people to listen, when you sing, you ask people to join.” At first listen, this may sound like a simple observation about communication, but Scripture shows us that it holds rich spiritual depth for the life of the church.

Speaking: The Call to Listen

When we speak - whether through preaching, teaching, or testimony - we invite others to hear. Speaking communicates truth in a direct, clear way. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Words carry weight because they bear meaning, instruction, and correction. Speaking calls for careful attention, discernment, and response.

Throughout the Bible, God often spoke to His people to reveal His character, His commands, and His promises. Prophets declared, “Thus says the LORD.” Jesus Himself often began His parables with, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9).

Speaking is a call to listen and believe.

Singing: The Call to Join

Singing, however, goes beyond listening. When we sing, we invite others to participate. Singing is inherently communal - it gathers us together into one voice. Paul exhorts the church to be “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (Ephesians 5:19).

Whereas speaking often conveys information, singing cultivates unity. It’s not just the words but the shared melody that binds us. Singing shapes our affections, lifts our spirits, and engrains truth deep into our hearts. The Psalms are a perfect example: God’s people did not merely recite them; they sang them.

Music turns truth into something we carry with us, something that unites our voices and our hearts.

The Harmony of Both

The church needs both speaking and singing. Preaching grounds us in God’s truth; singing binds us together in worship. Speaking calls for careful attention; singing calls for joyful participation. Together, they reflect the fullness of God’s design for His people: a community that hears His Word and responds with one voice.

When we speak the gospel, we invite people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. When we sing the gospel, we invite them to join the chorus of redeemed hearts. Speaking builds our faith; singing expresses our faith. Speaking directs our minds; singing ignites our hearts.

The Greatest Example

Jesus Himself modeled both. He spoke with authority, and the crowds marveled (Mark 1:22). But on the night He was betrayed, He and His disciples sang a hymn together (Matthew 26:30). His words commanded their ears; His song united their souls.

As followers of Christ, our lives should echo the same rhythm - proclaiming truth with our words and uniting in praise with our songs. One calls for listening, the other for joining, but both bring glory to God.

Beloved friend, speaking asks for attention; singing asks for participation. Both are essential to the Christian life. So may we be a people who listen well when truth is spoken and join wholeheartedly when praise is sung. For in both speaking and singing, Christ is exalted and His church is strengthened.