Bible Reading

Reading the Bible out loud is an ancient practice that offers us an example for a different way of engaging the Scriptures. ‘Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.’ 1Timothy 4:13

For Paul, reading Bible verses in public was a highly important practice. In fact, it’s a practice that dates all the way back to Mt. Sinai when the Israelites were first rescued from Egypt. No longer slaves to the Egyptians, the Israelite people needed a new identity, a new story to identify with. To solve this problem, Moses gathered the people together and read the Scriptures aloud to them, reminding them of where they came from, who they are, and the new future they have been called to live for. This is the first example we are given of public reading from Holy Scripture.

Due to the powerful effect of public Scripture reading, reading Scripture aloud became a key practice in the Jewish faith. Even Jesus Himself participated in this practice, and it was during the weekly reading of Scriptures that He first launched His mission. It’s a practice that God’s people have always done to remind themselves of who they are and what they have been called for, and it’s still a powerful practice for us today. Excerpts from The Bible Project

Let’s bring back the heart, the art and the habit of reading the portions of Bible passages OUT LOUD in our churches. Follow some basic rules in The Public Reading of Scripture. Do it this Sunday!