WHY WE WORSHIP THE WAY WE DO

The Reading of the Scriptures

The public reading of the Bible has been always been a vital element in the public worship of the church. Paul instructs Timothy that it is his duty as an elder of the church to devote himself to "the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." (1 Tim. 4:13). Throughout the Old Testament we see the Law being read to the people in their assembly and we learn that the reading of the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament) was an integral part of the Synagogue worship of Israel. It is our desire that we would read all the parts of the Bible so that we would be familiar as a congregation with the whole counsel of God.

As we read the word, God speaks to us, and we worship him by hearing with reverence, diligent attention, self–application, and obedience. Our desire as we hear the Scriptures read should be that we would firmly believe them to be what both Christ and the scriptures themselves tell us they are – the infallible and inerrant word of God. As Christians we should have a passionate desire to know, believe, and obey the will of God revealed to us in His Word. As we hear the Scriptures read let us always remember that these are not merely words from a book, but God's inspired word to us, here and now. They were intended for each and every one of us just as much as they were intended for their original audience.