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Ways to make Scripture the center of worship
By Christine Longhurst MeetinghouseHow much of your worship service is spent reading and hearing Scripture?
Longhurst
Ten percent? More? Less?
A 2004 survey showed that in a wide variety of U.S. churches only 2 percent to 5 percent of the service was spent reading the Word.
In most congregations, significantly more time was taken for announcements than for Scripture reading.
Throughout history, the reading and hearing of God’s Word has been an integral part of Christian worship.
Early worshiping communities seemingly couldn’t get enough of Scripture.
In one of the earliest descriptions of Christian worship (155 A.D.) we read that “the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits.” By the beginning of the seventh century, a listing of suggested Scripture readings for each worship service (known as a lectionary) had been established.
The reform movements of the 16th century sought to keep Scripture at the heart of worship. Lengthy Bible readings were part of every worship service. Some churches even provided a running commentary alongside the readings, so that people could understand what was being read.
Reverence and respect for Scripture was demonstrated in many ways: through the careful selection of gifted readers; in the reverent way in which scriptural texts were handled in worship; in the spoken and sung congregational responses before and after the Word was read; even in the beauty with which Scripture was copied and illustrated.
The reading of Scripture in worship was understood to be much more than just the sharing of information. There was a clear expectation that, when the Word was read, God was again speaking to the gathered community.
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