The Public Reading of Scripture
March 14, 2023
Dear CPC Family,
“Oh, he’s really going to read this whole chapter.”
Perhaps that thought has crossed your mind sometime in the past few weeks during our Scripture readings. There are a few chapters of both Ezra and Nehemiah (our current sermon series) that contain genealogies, lists of builders, and precise descriptions of materials. We don’t skip over these in our reading and preaching (though we will largely skip over the genealogy in Nehemiah 7 because it’s mostly a “copy and paste” from Ezra 2 which we did cover). I can tell you, as the reader, that I often feel inadequate for the task—and I often wish I’d spent more time practicing these readings out loud before Sunday morning!
Our Directory for Public Worship helps us understand why we are committed to reading the Bible—even these challenging parts—in worship:
“Because the hearing of God’s Word is a means of grace, the public reading of the Holy Scriptures is an essential element of public worship” … “Through this reading, God speaks directly to the congregation in his own words.” (DPW II.A.2.a)
God speaks to us through His Word and we are called to listen together!
We don’t shy away from the complicated or technical sections either because of what the Bible says about itself (underlined for emphasis):
Deuteronomy 8:3: “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
God’s Word comes with His own promise: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)
When you hear the rain on your roof (of which there has been a lot recently), think of God’s Word, as it is read and proclaimed, like rain that brings life and growth. When you look out at those green hills and snowy mountains (in place of the usual brown), think of the blessing of delighting in God’s Word as a congregation: “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3).
Here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of the public reading of Scripture:
Read the passages ahead of time. This is a great way to prepare for worship!
Consider how the Old Testament and New Testament readings relate to one another. They’re not just random! Sometimes the sermon will address this question, but not always. Yet the two readings are always thematically tied together.
Consider ways to build the habit of regularly hearing Scripture: listen to an audio version of the Bible during your commute or exercise or as you work around the house, read Scripture aloud with family and friends, and, of course, build the habit of attendance at public worship where God’s Word is read and proclaimed.
Let’s join together and prayerfully seek the blessing that comes by hearing God’s Word!
In the Father’s Love,
Pastor Andrew