Why I Hope You Will Sing This Sunday

HELLO FRIENDS,

One of my favorite things about Sunday mornings is hearing our church sing. Not because everyone sounds perfect, but because there’s something really powerful about a room full of people singing to Jesus together.

Recently, I was listening to some research from Dr. Zac Breckinridge about what actually happens in our bodies when we sing, and I thought it was so cool.

“There is a nerve in your body that connects your brain directly to your heart, your lungs, and your gut. Scientists call it the vagus nerve. What it does when you worship will change how you think about praise.

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the human body. It runs from the brainstem all the way down through the neck, chest, and abdomen. It is the primary pathway of what researchers call the parasympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for rest, recovery, digestion, and immune function. When the vagus nerve is activated, heart rate slows, blood pressure drops, inflammation decreases, and the body shifts from survival mode into restoration mode.

Researchers have identified three primary activators of the vagus nerve. Deep, rhythmic breathing. Cold water exposure. Singing.

Not listening to music. Singing. The act of producing sustained vocal tones activates the vagus nerve directly through the muscles of the throat and the vibration in the chest cavity.

Psalm 100:1-2 says make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. The Hebrew word for joyful noise is rua, meaning to shout, to raise a battle cry, to produce a loud, sustained vocal sound.

God did not design corporate worship as a warm-up for the sermon. He designed it as a full-body, neurologically active, physiologically restorative event that shifts your entire system from survival mode into the mode your body needs to heal, receive, and function at its highest level.

When you lift your voice in genuine worship, you are not just expressing gratitude. You are activating a nerve God designed that tells every organ in your body it is safe to restore.

Your voice was built to heal you.

Use it."

Dr. Zac Breckenridge

God designed us in a way where singing doesn’t just affect our hearts spiritually—it affects us physically too.

And honestly… that doesn’t surprise me.

God created us. Of course He knows what we need.

I think it’s really interesting that throughout the Bible, God doesn’t just tell us to worship—He specifically tells us to sing. Over and over again. I don’t think that’s an accident.

Now, does that mean we only sing because it makes us feel better? Not at all.

We sing because Jesus is worthy. Period.

But I also love that God often commands things that are good for us. He tells us to pray. To rest. To be thankful. To be generous. And apparently… to sing. And as researchers continue to study it, they’re discovering that singing actually does something inside of us.

Maybe you’ve had one of those mornings where you don’t really feel like singing. We’ve all been there. You’re tired, distracted, stressed, or maybe you’re just thinking, “I can’t sing, so I’ll let everyone else handle it.”

Can I encourage you?

Nobody around you is looking for a perfect voice. We’re not putting on a concert. We’re worshiping Jesus together.

Your voice matters.

Not because it’s the best voice in the room, but because it’s your voice.

When we all sing together, we’re reminding each other what’s true. We’re declaring God’s faithfulness, His goodness, and His promises—even on the weeks when we don’t necessarily feel them. Sometimes the person standing next to you needs to hear your voice singing truth just as much as you need to sing it yourself.

So this Sunday, don’t just watch.

Don’t just listen.

Sing.

Sing loudly if you want. Sing quietly if that’s more your style. If you’re off-key… welcome to the club.

Just don’t miss out on something God has invited us into.

I can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday.

Andrew Barry

Worship Pastor