“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
— Colossians 3:16

In an age where worship has been reduced to an emotional experience or a Sunday-only ritual, Paul’s words to the Colossians call us back to the rich, Christ-centered reality of true worship.

This single verse presents a vision of worship that is far more expansive than music, far deeper than liturgy, and far richer than mere outward participation. It is worship rooted in the Word of Christ, flowing into every sphere of life, and centered entirely on the glory of God.

As Reformed believers, we confess that worship is not only what we do when we gather on the Lord’s Day but also how we live every day before His face. Paul’s exhortation here invites us to examine: What does it mean for the Word of Christ to dwell richly in us? How does this shape corporate worship? And how does it transform the whole of life into an offering of praise?

“Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly” – The Foundation of Worship

The phrase “the word of Christ” refers to the gospel—the message of Christ’s person and work as revealed in Scripture. It is His Word because He is both its author and its subject.

To “dwell” means to live, to take up residence. The Word of Christ is not meant to visit occasionally like a guest; it is to abide as a permanent resident in the believer’s heart and in the life of the church.

But Paul adds an important qualifier: “richly.” The Word is not to dwell in us sparsely, haphazardly, or superficially. It is to fill every corner of our lives, overflowing in wisdom and grace.

Here lies the foundation of true worship: it begins with the Word.

• The Word reveals who God is and what He has done in Christ.
• The Word shapes our understanding of God’s holiness, our sinfulness, and His redeeming love.
• The Word directs us in how God desires to be worshiped.

As Reformed Baptists, we hold fast to the regulative principle of worship: only what God has commanded in His Word is acceptable in worship. Why? Because true worship is not about our preferences or creativity but about glorifying God according to His revealed will.

When the Word of Christ dwells richly in us, it guards us from man-centered worship that entertains the flesh and leads us into God-centered worship that exalts Christ.

“In All Wisdom” – The Shape of Worship

Paul adds, “in all wisdom.” Wisdom here is not mere knowledge but skill in living according to God’s truth. It means applying the gospel to every area of life with discernment and reverence.

This wisdom shapes how we worship:

• With reverence (Hebrews 12:28–29): Our God is a consuming fire.
• With joy (Psalm 100:1–2): We enter His courts with singing.
• With order (1 Corinthians 14:40): God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
• With gratitude (Ephesians 5:20): Giving thanks always for all things.

Worship is not about the mere form but about worshiping “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Both the attitude of the heart and the content of our worship must align with God’s Word.

“Teaching and Admonishing One Another” – The Community of Worship

Worship is not a private affair. Paul envisions the body of Christ actively engaged in mutual ministry: “teaching and admonishing one another.”

This mutual edification happens as the Word of Christ dwells richly among us:

• Teaching – instructing one another in sound doctrine, grounding each other in truth.
• Admonishing – lovingly warning and correcting one another in wisdom.

In corporate worship, this happens through the public reading of Scripture, the preaching of the Word, and even in our singing. The voices of God’s people raised together in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs instruct and encourage as much as they praise.

This counters the consumeristic mindset so prevalent in churches today, where worship is viewed as a performance on stage for an audience in the pews. True worship is participatory, communal, and Word-saturated.

“Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs” – The Language of Worship

Paul identifies three expressions of praise: “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”

1. Psalms

These are the inspired songs of Scripture, the very hymnbook God gave His people. The Reformed tradition has long championed psalm singing, recognizing their unique role in shaping a God-centered worship.

2. Hymns

These are songs of praise that exalt God for who He is and what He has done, whether drawn directly from Scripture or written by the saints through history.

3. Spiritual Songs

These likely refer to more spontaneous expressions of praise prompted by the Spirit, singing out of a heart overflowing with gratitude.

All three emphasize that worship in song is not merely about melody but about truth. The content of what we sing matters. Lyrics must be doctrinally sound, Christ-centered, and edifying.

This means we must be discerning in our musical choices. Worship is not entertainment. It is not about emotional manipulation or cultural relevance. It is about offering to God what He has prescribed, with hearts aflame by His grace.

“Singing with Grace in Your Hearts to the Lord” – The Heart of Worship

Paul turns now to the inner posture: “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Worship begins in the heart before it reaches the lips. It is not enough to sing beautifully or with passion if the heart is cold and indifferent. True worship arises from hearts transformed by grace—hearts that know they were dead in sin but have been made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4–5).

This grace-filled singing is directed “to the Lord.” God is the audience of our worship. He cares not for our performance but for the sincerity of our praise.

As the Puritan Stephen Charnock warned: “Without the heart, it is not worship. It is a stage play; it is an acting a part without being that person indeed.”

Worship as a Way of Life

Though this verse speaks of singing and teaching in corporate worship, its implications extend far beyond Sunday.

Worship is not confined to a service. It is the offering of our whole selves to God: “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

This means:

• At work: Do you labor as unto the Lord?
• In the home: Do you lead your family in prayer and Scripture?
• In suffering: Do you praise Him in trials as well as triumphs?
• In leisure: Do your entertainments reflect a heart devoted to God?

Every sphere of life is an altar. Every moment is an opportunity to glorify God.

A Word of Exhortation and Comfort

Dear reader, does the Word of Christ dwell richly in you? Is your life marked by Christ-centered worship, not only on the Lord’s Day but every day?

Perhaps you feel inadequate. You struggle with distraction, with coldness of heart, with a divided life. Take heart: Christ died and rose to redeem worshipers for Himself (John 4:23).

Run to Him afresh. Ask the Spirit to stir your affections. Fill your mind with the Word. Join with the saints in worship that is reverent, joyful, and rich.

And remember: one day our imperfect songs will give way to perfect praise around the throne of the Lamb (Revelation 5:9–13). Until then, let us worship with grace in our hearts to the Lord.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

This is worship as a way of life: Word-saturated, Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered, God-glorifying.

May our churches and homes echo with such worship—not shallow performances for man’s applause but rich, reverent praise from hearts transformed by grace.

For this is what we were made for: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.