The public reading of Scripture is a lost art. Too often in our weekly gatherings we treat it as a convenient segue between service elements. A passage of Scripture sets the mood for singing. It serves as a prelude to the sermon. We reserve a space for Scripture reading, perhaps even inviting people to stand in reverence, but God’s inspired Word barely breathes before we moved on. This is tragic.
Reasons we have neglected the public reading of Scripture are numerous. Perhaps we cater to short attention spans, offering bite-sized portions of Scripture. Perhaps we reduce worship to songs and sermons, leaving little space for the Bible to speak in its own words. Perhaps our preferred translation has sacrificed literary aesthetic for literal equivalence. Perhaps our readers lack passion or fail to practice.
Whatever the reasons, we must revisit Paul’s imperative to Timothy: “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13, NIV).
A mentor and former professor of mine has challenged me to rethink how we read Scripture in our worship gatherings. Dr. Brent Sandy has dedicated the latter half of his career to studying the oral nature of Scripture. In Hear Ye the Word of the Lord: What We Miss If We Only Read the Bible, he makes a compelling case for reading Scripture well in worship (1 Timothy 4:13).
Jeffery Arthurs, professor of preaching at Dallas Seminary, makes a similar argument in his book Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture: The Transforming Power of the Well-Spoken Word. He writes, “Surveys of church members rank the public reading of Scripture as one of the dullest portions of the gathering. Yet when the Bible is read well, it can minister as deeply as a Spirit-empowered sermon!”
One practical outcome of Sandy’s scholarship is a heartfelt plea to “perform” Scripture. He explains, “I use the word ‘performing,’ not in the sense of drawing attention to yourselves, but with the goal of helping hearers to be in awe as the Holy Spirit launched the early church.”
Sandy wrote these words to a select group of Scripture readers at our 2026 Charis Fellowship Conference [link]. He wanted them to “feel the force of the powerful words of the Lord” and recognize that the story of Acts continues in our day.
Reading effectively includes speaking slowly, taking pauses, clear articulation, vocal inflection, eye contact, and use of hands. Additionally, readers should rehearse, becoming familiar with the text and its “performance.”
During this year’s conference, one group of readers performed a portion of the Pentecost story (Acts 2) in seven languages (i.e., tongues), and another group performed a reading that summarized the explosive growth of the church. Both groups conveyed the power of God’s inspired Word. We felt His breath. We were awed.
Our Fellowship values biblical truth. It is our foundation. It shapes our common commitments to mission and identity. We preach the Bible. We study the Bible. We encourage people to read and apply the Bible. These are good and essential practices.
However, I am convinced our churches could become better at listening to the Bible together. God’s inspired Word needs more space to breathe in our weekly gatherings. Sandy reminds us: “God’s Word is the most transformative, trustworthy, triumphant words ever spoken, and people need to hear them.”
Let’s take Paul’s command to devote ourselves to the public reading of Scripture seriously. Let’s speak the words of God as though he were speaking through us (1 Peter 4:11). Let’s perform Scripture well.
Written by Tim Sprankle
NOTE: If interested in sample readings, contact bsandy@grace.edu. Brent and his wife Cheryl attend Winona Lake Grace Church, where Brent provides Scripture readings for their worship services. Here is a recording of a class he led at Leesburg Grace Church in performing Scripture: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JzP6JGyeEFEhfgxW5VRk0?si=MQKeNk5dRcaxKcXNd50dBQ