What is the public reading of Scripture?
The public reading of Scripture is a spiritual practice in which a group listens to Scripture being read aloud.
Gatherings generally have three things in common:
CommunalListen with the same 4-20 people each time to develop relationships
RegularMeet at least once a week for 20 minutes or more to establish a rhythm
ExtendedRead whole chapters or books at a time to understand verses in context
All you have to do is meet at your chosen location and listen to Scripture, while reading along in your print copy.
What do you read?
Reading the whole Bible only takes about 80-100 hours. There are 66 books, and you can read 23 of them in less than 20 minutes each.
You can use a reading plan to guide you through different books of the Bible. Each gathering usually starts and ends with a prayer from Psalms. In between, you can hear God speak from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
What the public reading of Scripture is NOT
- Curriculum
- Focused on a teacher or teaching
- A short daily devotional
- Private listening to an audio Bible
What is the Bible?
The Bible is the most influential book in history. It explores the big questions of life, death, and the human struggle. The Bible shows how God speaks and tells the story of what God is doing for all of humanity, with Jesus as the centerpiece.