Finding time to read the entire Bible, which can take around 98 hours on the average, is challenging for many working Christians due to job, family, and other responsibilities. It is challenging for me, yet we know that, being shaped by God's Word is essential. One solution is Public Reading of Scripture (PRS), inspired by 1 Timothy 4:13, which encourages devotion to communal Scripture reading. We called it the Bible Reading Initiative in CLC. Bible reading can be practiced through small bible reading groups, online meetings, family readings, ministry readings, or Scripture reading at the offices and schools. This will make the reading of the word more accessible and helping believers stay connected to God's Word amidst their busy lives in their everyday chores.
I have seen great benefits from the public reading of scripture - beside the word of God that is able to transform being highlighted, we find the benefit of under appreciated power of communal gathering and support. This is the most beautiful part of the reading because this coming together and reading the word transformed the group and deepens our frienship.
I started doing the reading once a week with a group of brothers and sisters every Monday, 2 of them were youth, and we are very encouraged. We have benefited much from this community that we have established and I believed those who have come have grown into making this discipline part of their Monday night routine.
When I am reflecting on the powerful experience of engaging Scripture through listening and reading. Hearing the Word allows me to "see" things in the text that I may have missed before, as it enters the brain in a different way. This auditory experience can bring out new insights and truths, offering a fresh and enriching perspective on God's Word especially the reading is done by people I know and love. This is an added advantage to our reading with our eyes, the listening of the Scripture adds a unique dimension to our engagement with biblical truth, making it both fascinating and encouraging.
The most profound aspects of Scripture reading is the living and active word of God, and each time we encounter a verse, it can reveal new insights based on our current life circumstances through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The same passage can speak to me in fresh ways, offering guidance, comfort, or conviction that aligns with where I am spiritually or emotionally at that moment. It's as if God uses the text to meet me exactly where I am, opening my eyes and heart to truths that may not have stood out before, making the Word ever-relevant and personal and that is how I feel in the Monday reading of the word.
The Greek text in 1 Timothy 4:13. The phrase simply says, "Devote yourself to the reading," without specifying that it's "public." In context, Paul's instructions to Timothy are focused on his role within the church, where reading Scripture aloud to the congregation/small group of people was a significant part of worship and teaching. Modern translations often add "public" to clarify that Paul is referring to a communal, not personal, activity. Without this clarification, readers might assume it refers to private devotional reading, but in this context, it's clearly about the shared experience of hearing God's Word in the communal setting. This practice of public reading was essential in early Christian worship and remains important today as it fosters collective engagement with Scripture. Scripturally, we are called to public reading of the text!
Reading the scripture allows me to cover one whole bloc of materials in just a short time frame of 1/2 hours. In my own capacity I scarcely read big chunks of materials or re-read the passages I have read before, but this discipline allow me to do so and I found it valuable. It also covers to whole counsel of God, I began to read scripture that I have never read before in my entire life, or text that is not so popular that I gloss over, in the bible reading we do not skip the text, we read word by word and chapters by chapters and this has been helpful to fill in what I have been missing all these years.
I pray that you join us begin your journey in the Bible reading initiatives of the church in your ministry, at home and in your office or school. If you need help to start, please do let me know and we can assist you to start.
Comments