The Difference Is in the Book God’s people are distinguished from other groups by one particular factor. by John Ortberg
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Pretty much all the nations and tribes from Bible times that were around Israel's size are gone. So why did Israel survive?
Israel had a book. Scrolls really, with books like Genesis or Isaiah written over the centuries, that most people, being illiterate, had to hear being read. They had a book like no other. This book so defined them that they were called "people of the book."
Reading Scripture in Public Worship Place the Word of God front and center as you gather together to worship him. by Howard Vanderwell and Norma deWaal Malefyt
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Worship planners will benefit from an assessment of the place of Scripture in worship. In your planning team meeting, examine a number of recent worship services and start by assessing how Scripture was used. Then use these observations to plan future services.
Selecting Scripture to be Read
Since Scripture is God's voice, its location in the service should serve to advance the dialog with God. There ...
We Love to Tell the Story Learning Scripture by heart adds authenticity and helps the message stick with listeners. by Joan Huyser-Honig
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Learning Bible stories by heart, instead of simply reading them, is a spiritual discipline that connects people with the living Word of God. Congregations can find ways to use biblical storytelling in many parts of their worship services.
Oral Tradition
Dennis Dewey, an ordained Presbyterian and professional biblical storyteller, explains that public Scripture reading often sounds like "spoken print." ...
Soaking in Scripture Total immersion in the Bible through memorization can give power to worship. by Joan Huyser-Honig
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Seminary professors Tim Brown and Clay Schmit say that rediscovering the Bible's power is the key to letting it shape our lives and worship. One way to tap into that power is by memorization.
Rediscover the Living Word
During a seminar at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Brown preached the Genesis 1 and 2 Creation narratives from memory, pausing along the way to let participants ...
Using the Psalms in Worship The Bible’s own prayer book can help your church express every emotion in worship. by Joan Huyser-Honig
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These insights from the Calvin College Psalms Festival will help your congregation use more psalms in worship.
Pay attention to context—The Psalter's structure—lament to praise, individual to communal—offers a profound message: "Following God should not be done alone." So look for patterns in adjacent psalms, such as the contrast between a life spent meditating on God's law (Psalm 1) ...
Ready, Set, Read Consider these methods to add more meaning and variety to Scripture reading. by Howard Vanderwell and Norma deWaal Malefyt
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In the interest of making Scripture reading in worship more interesting, noteworthy, and formative, worship planners should consider these ideas:
Include more Scripture passages. Let God's voice come through multiple times in multiple ways in a worship service. When this is done, it's usually best to carefully examine the length of each passage. A larger number of brief passages may be more effective ...
Resonant Reading With technique and practice, Scripture readers can contribute much to worship. by Clay Schmit
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Clay Schmit, a Lutheran minister and Fuller Theological Seminary professor, offers practical tips and exercises for public reading of Scripture.
Acknowledge that public Scripture reading is an important ministry. If you are asked to do so, say no if you don't have the gift or have no time to get ready. If you accept, be sure to prepare. If you are in charge of finding Scripture readers, look for people who are comfortable working a microphone, have an emotional range in their own personality, and are confident in front of a group.
When Memory Serves Use these proven methods to deliver accurate versions of Scripture passage in worship. by Tim Blackmon
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Tim Blackmon, lead pastor at River Rock Church in Folsom, California, presents "Keeping and Talking the Word" seminars on how to memorize Scripture. Here are some highlights.
Get intimately acquainted with God through this particular text by praying it out loud.Â
Engage the passage kinesthetically.
Write the passage out in longhand numerous times.
Draw images in the margins for key words. This will help you remember the passage.Â
Pray the passage around a set of prayer beads.
Engage the passage physically. Find appropriate gestures and postures.
Making the Psalms Stick Dig into this kit bag of ways to incorporate Scripture deep into your worshipers. by Joan Huyser-Honig
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People always pay attention when kids are up front—so ask children or teens to lead your congregation in a psalm, whether spoken or in song.
Use simple visuals.
On your chancel, platform, or pulpit area, use steps to demonstrate the changing relationship between God and the psalmist through readings of Psalm 22.
Use light and darkness to convey a psalm's emotion.
Choose a prop to use during a reading, such as swooping a swath of white fabric at verse 6 ("Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!") of Psalm 55.
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