On Sunday, July 5, 2026, during my early morning Bible reading and devotional time, the Holy Spirit revealed a truth to me. I was reading my King James Version Bible and noticed the word “church” in the following Scripture:
“For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me (Hebrews 2:11-13 KJV).
Other Bible versions use the words “assembly” or “congregation” instead of “church.” I mention the differences only because “church” caught my attention, probably because it was a Sunday morning and soon I would be leaving for worship team practice and sound check at 9:00 a.m.
I thought, “How could I have missed the significance of this verse in prior readings?” Many times I have wondered if God might have a little Sarah Hammer He pulls out to give me a gentle smack on the head so that I can wake up to His teaching and “get it.” It has happened to me a few times. Suddenly, I realized it had occurred again. I surmised the whisper of a “smack” was in accordance with His perfect timing. He was revealing something for me to know at the exact moment when I would be especially attentive, when I would be able to make a connection in order to receive His message. He knew I would be compelled to do further study in spite of the rush to get ready on Sunday morning.
Quickly, I read through several commentaries regarding the above verses. I learned that believers are to gather together, proclaim God’s name and sing praises to Him. But the most exciting revelation I learned was that we sing with Him (emphasis mine). We have the opportunity to gather together every Sunday morning in corporate worship and sing our joy and praise to God. The word “church” highlights the communal nature of worship and the role of Jesus as the head of His church and leader of worship among His people.
Here at Church On The Rock we have our worship leader, Brandon Killion, who is a Holy Spirit-led believer and hardworking servant of God. As a member of the worship team, it is a joy to follow Brandon’s leading and direction. But during this particular Sunday worship service, after the gentle tap of the Sarah Hammer, I realized that we believers are all under the direction of the best and most perfect worship leader of all, Jesus Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit enabled me to receive this teaching and understanding. The power of the Holy Spirit points the redeemed to Jesus Christ and compels us to sing our praises with Him.
As I guided my bow across the violin strings, I began to picture Jesus in robes (as many artists have rendered His appearance in paintings), and I included an orchestra conductor’s baton in Jesus’ hands. As our wonderful conductor, I realized He leads the starts and stops, the music tempo, the louds and softs and all other directions the musicians and singers need to follow. Next, I expanded my picture to include His leading of all of the members of the church. How marvelous to realize that He is the conductor of us all, and He is singing with us! Jesus sings to the Father and we are singing with Him. He is in our midst:
Zephaniah 3:17 ( ESV) – The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV) – And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God.
I know that sometimes I have a tendency to wander into some wild imaginings, such as the Sarah Hammer and the picture of Jesus as a conductor with baton in hand standing before a magnificent orchestra and choir. But I also recognize the truth in His Word shining clearly through the pictures in my mind: the truth that Christ, our Leader, robed in His righteousness, celebrates the Father’s glory among His redeemed. He sings with us every Sunday! Corporate praise is rooted in Christ’s own voice. When we believers sing praise songs and hymns, we are singing with Jesus as did the disciples at the Lord’s Supper: I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:29-30 ESV).
Every Sunday, we are joining His ongoing song. He stands in our midst and leads us in a chorus of praise. When we gather together, united in worship and praise, we are echoing the very voice of Christ.
Sarah has been attending COTR since 2018. She plays violin on the worship team at COTR and is a co-leader of a ladies life group that meets Wednesday mornings. She and her husband, Rick (who plays bass guitar on the worship team), are retired. In addition to playing violin, cello, piano and ukulele, Sarah loves to bake sourdough bread, knit, draw family and animal portraits and write funny stories.