How to End the Worship Wars (Exodus 15)

We’ve all heard of the worship wars; battles over what songs to sing?

• Some songs focus primarily on positives
• Some songs focus primarily on our feelings
• Some songs focus primarily on the Christian life

How do we decide what to sing?

The end of Moses’s war with the Egyptians can help us to end the worship wars among us.

Moses’s song in Exodus 15 teaches us some criteria for worship songs

SING SONGS THAT PRAISE GOD'S JUDGMENTS (3-10)

• Just judgments (3-5)
• Awesome judgments (6-8)
• Easy Judgments (9-10a)
• Irreversible Judgments (10b)

God’s judgments are our joy

Is that not too negative?

SING SONGS THAT PRAISE GOD'S CHARACTER (11-12)

• God is incomparable (11a)
• God is glorious in holiness (11b)
• God is fearful in praises (11c)
• God is a wonder-worker (11d-12)

God’s character is our chorus

Is that not too theological?

SING SONGS THAT PRAISE GOD'S SALVATION (13-21)

• God redeems his people (13a)
• God guides his people (13b)
• God protects his people (14-16)
• God communes with his people (17-18)

God’s salvation is our celebration.

Does that not sound like a good balance?

LIVING THE BIBLE

Sing songs that praise God’s judgment, God’s character, and God’s salvation!

Sing God-centered God-exalting songs to please God and do good to our souls.

The end of Moses’s war with the Egyptians can end the worship wars among us.