Wednesday, July 5

On reading scripture

"...my point at the moment is simply this: reading the Bible aloud is always central to Christian worship. Cutting back on this for whatever reason -- trimming readings so that the service doesn't go on too long, chanting scripture passages so that they become a part of a musical performance, or reading only the few verses the preacher intends to preach about -- misses the point. The reason we read scripture in worship isn't primarily to inform or remind the congregation about some biblical passage or theme they might have forgotten. Likewise, it's much more than a peg to hang a sermon on, though preaching from one or more of the readings is often a wise plan. Reading scripture in worship is, first and foremost, the central way of celebrating who God is and what he's done."

N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p. 150

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