If you are curious about what you see or hear while at a worship service, you can ask for an explanation from one of the pastors. But some of your questions may be answered here. We take our queues from the Bible.
•Why do we stand to sing?
"Then some Levites from the Korathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice." (2 Chr 20:19)
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were hold palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" (Rev 7:9-10)
•Why do we clap our hands?
"Clap your hands all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy." (Psalm 47:1)
•Why do we lift our hands?
"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name l will lift up my hands." (Psalm 63:4)
"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord." (Psalm 134:2)
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." (1 Tim 2:8)
•Why do we have audible praise unto God?
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name." (Psalm 103:1)
"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: 'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God'... Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.'" (Rev 19:1,6)
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind." (1 Cor 14:15)
•Why do we sing choruses as well as hymns?
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord..." (Eph 5:18-19)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (Col 3:16)
•Why are musical instruments a part of the worship service?
"Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals." (Psa 150:3-5)
"And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps." (Rev 14:2)
•Why does the whole church pray at once for specific needs?
"When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God." (Acts 4:24)