How can we implement public reading of Scripture in our church community? Setting the Scene: Joshua 8:34 “Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.” Why Public Reading Matters • Scripture was meant to be heard together. • God commands it: Deuteronomy 31:11; 1 Timothy 4:13. • Blessing promised to hearers: Revelation 1:3. • It unites the whole congregation around God’s voice rather than our own opinions. Practical Steps for Our Church 1. Schedule it • Dedicate a set time in every service (e.g., five minutes before the sermon). • Mark one Sunday each quarter for an extended reading service like Nehemiah 8. 2. Train readers • Select men and women who read clearly and reverently. • Offer brief coaching on pace, pronunciation, and expressive—but not theatrical—delivery. 3. Provide context • A two-sentence introduction that names the book, chapter, and theme helps listeners lock in. 4. Stand and listen • Encourage the congregation to stand (cf. Nehemiah 8:5) or at least sit attentively, Bibles open. 5. Keep it sizeable • Think whole chapters or cohesive sections, not isolated verses—Paul instructed the churches to read entire letters (Colossians 4:16). 6. Use multiple voices • Alternate readers for lengthy passages to maintain energy and model body-life participation. 7. Integrate with worship • Let a psalm open the service (Acts 13:15), or insert readings between songs that echo the text’s themes. 8. Memorize together • Close a reading time by reciting a key verse in unison; repetition lodges the Word in hearts. 9. Involve kids and teens • Assign shorter passages so younger believers learn confidence and love for Scripture early. 10. Guard accuracy • Provide printed copies or slides from the so everyone hears and sees the exact words. Choosing What to Read • Sequential plan: work through a Gospel, a New Testament letter, and a portion of the Pentateuch in rotation. • Seasonal focus: Advent—prophecies in Isaiah; Easter—resurrection narratives in the Gospels and 1 Corinthians 15. • Thematic sets: God’s promises, attributes, or covenant; read passages back-to-back for a panoramic view. Making It Engaging • Encourage note-taking and underline phrases while listening. • After the reading, allow thirty silent seconds for reflection; then sing a hymn that echoes the main truth. • Occasionally dramatize a narrative passage with multiple readers taking character parts (e.g., Exodus 14, Acts 27), still adhering closely to the text. Ensuring Faithful Hearing • Preach the passage or its themes immediately afterward, as Jesus did in Luke 4:16-21—reading followed by exposition. • Offer midweek small-group follow-ups where members reread and discuss how the text applies. • Keep a reading log posted in the foyer so the church can see progress through God’s Word. Moving Forward Together • Start small this Sunday with Joshua 8:30-35: gather, open the Book, and simply read. • Trust that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). • Watch how consistent public reading shapes hearts, families, and our entire congregation into people of the Book. |
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