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 Church1. 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 likeNehemiah 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 and1 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 inLuke 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 withJoshua 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.
