355. Public Reading of Scripture (Biblical Worship)

We urge our church to devote itself to the public reading of Scripture, showing how hearing the Word together reveals Christ and stirs true worship. We trace the pattern from Nehemiah to Paul to Jesus and call leaders to set a rich banquet of the Word.

• why public reading of Scripture anchors worship
• Ezra and Nehemiah as a model of hearing and response
• connections to Paul’s charge in 1 Timothy 4:13
• how all Scripture bears witness to Christ
• practical ways to elevate readings in gathered worship
• encouragement to listen attentively and receive the Word with faith

Please feel free to write to me or click the send me a text in your favorite podcast app. And don't forget to put your name down so I know who it is, and I'd love to send you a message back if you write your email or whatever you would prefer. I would love to pray for you.

Transcript

Welcome And Listener Messages

Charge To Publicly Read Scripture

Nehemiah’s Model Of Hearing And Worship

Christ Revealed In All Scripture

A Call To Attentive, Daily Worship

Closing Blessing And Next Episode

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Hi friend, welcome to Moments of Worship on Friday, February the 20th. This podcast seeks to encourage you in the worship of Almighty God each weekday. I'm your host, Pastor Keith McMahon, worship pastor at Bethel Baptist Church. I just want to take a minute and say thank you so much for writing to me. I've so enjoyed your text and your emails. It is so encouraging to hear from you. Please feel free to write to me or click the send me a text in your favorite podcast app. And don't forget to put your name down so I know who it is, and I'd love to send you a message back if you write your email or whatever you would prefer. I would love to pray for you. We continue our biblical worship series. Hear the word of the Lord in first Timothy four thirteen. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Thanks be to God for his holy word. Well, this is the charge for the gathered church. Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture. In Colossians four sixteen, Paul writes, When this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans. And in first Thessalonians five twenty-seven, I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The scriptures, friend, are meant to be read in the assembly of God's people. In Nehemiah 8, we see this. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, and when he opened it, all the people stood. They read from the book, from the law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense so that the people understood the reading. And the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting their hands, bowing their heads, and worshiping the Lord. The reading of the Word led to the worship of God. The reading of the Word led to the worship of God. Dear friend, dear worship leader, dear pastor, if you are listening, I would exhort you to set the banquet of God before the people in corporate worship. Let them come and feast on the word of God as it is read, as it is preached, as it is sung, and as it is prayed. May we see the revealed Christ as we read God's holy word. Romans ten seventeen says, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Our faith is strengthened as the word is heard, and all scripture bears witness to Christ. Jesus said in John 5 39, It is they that bear witness about me, and in Luke 24 27, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. So in the public reading of Scripture, the testimony of Christ is set before his people. This is why Paul says, Devote yourself to it, give yourself to it, for the word of the Lord revives the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes, that we may see the beauty of Jesus Christ. And so we say with Samuel, Speak, Lord, for your servant hears. May we listen when the scriptures are read attentively, may we receive the word meekly, may we receive the word with faith, and may we worship every day of our life, whether today or tomorrow, Jesus Christ. Thank you for listening on this episode of Moments of Worship. I hope to find you right back here on Monday. Well, friend, until then and forever, may we worship Jesus Christ. Thanks for listening.