• Arrive by 9:15 am.
• The Bible passage can be obtained from the Teaching Calendar. Check with the FelloWorship Coordinator if unsure.
• Confirm which version of the Bible the speaker prefers. If no version is provided, use ESV.

Tips from Tim Challies on the Public Reading of Scripture:

| Understand In order to read a passage well, you first need to understand it. You need to understand the genre, the tone, the purpose for which it was written, and at least have a general comprehension of what the passage means. Is this a triumphant passage proclaiming the glories of God? Is this a poetic, meditative passage reflecting on pain and persecution? Is this God speaking to man or man speaking to God? Is this a story or a letter? What is God seeking to communicate to us in it? Once you have been assigned a passage, spend at least a few minutes ensuring that you understand it. If this is an unfamiliar passage to you, and you have difficulty understanding it, it may be useful to read the passage in a couple of other translations or to do a little bit of research. If in doubt, ask someone! | Practice Once you have a basic understanding of the passage, you will need to practice reading it. As you read you will be trying to understand its flow, to understand any natural divisions and to ensure that you know how to pronounce every word. Because you will be reading out loud, will need to practice out loud. Read the passage from beginning to end until you are confident that you will be able to capture its flow—at least 5 or 6 times. As you practice, learn which words or phrases you will need to emphasize, find natural places to pause and look for places where you will need to increase or decrease volume. Practice varying your tone and pace, but be careful that you do not become an actor delivering a dramatic presentation—this is not Shakespeare! Your task is to read the Scripture in a way that aids understanding but without drawing attention to yourself. You have succeeded well if people are drawn to the Word of God and take no notice of you! If you encounter any difficult names, places or other words, you can visit ESV.org and listen to any passage in order to find a specific pronunciation. Make sure you practice those difficult words enough times that you will not hesitate on them during the service. Know in advance what you will say by way of introduction and conclusion. Generally the task of the Scripture reader is simply to read the Bible and not to editorialize (“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”). | | --- | --- | | Before the Service Make sure the passage you will be reading has been bookmarked in your Bible so you can turn to it without flipping through page after page. Do NOT under any circumstances read from your smartphone. Read it through at least a couple of times on Sunday morning to ensure that your memory of it is fresh. | Reading At the appropriate time in the service, walk to the front without hurrying, turn to face the church and open your Bible to the passage. Announce the readings as follows: “Today’s Scripture reading is taken from [Book] [Chapter] [Verses]... starting from verse ...” Stand tall without slouching. Hold your Bible in your hand instead of resting it on the pulpit. Hold it high enough that you can look over it to make eye contact with the people you are reading to. Use your other hand to guide your reading, if necessary. As often as possible, raise your eyes from the Bible to look at the people. Read ahead a little bit so you can make eye contact in those moments that your mouth catches up with your brain. Try to keep a good, natural pace. Your tendency will probably be to read a little bit too quickly. Through it all, remember that you are reading for the benefit of the church, so serve your brothers and sisters by reading God’s Word to them. At the end of the passage pause for a moment before saying your words of conclusion: “This is the Word of the Lord. Amen.” Head back to your seat, but do not rush. |

Common Mistakes

• Too Fast: Do not be surprised if you find yourself a little bit nervous at least the first few times you read. This nervousness typically causes people to go too quickly—to run to the front, to speed read, and to run back to the safety of the chairs. When in doubt, slow down.
• Not Enough Preparation: Do all you can to prepare properly. God’s Word deserves our best efforts. If you are halting and stumbling and mispronouncing words, you are not serving your brothers and sisters as well as you could.
• Preacher Voice: Be careful not to fall prey to that strange habit of sing-songing the passage. Use a projected, but natural voice. Be you. Read to people like you want them to understand, not like you are revving an engine.
• Too Quiet: The key to good vocal projection is to take a good breath (not gasp!) before your first word and then to use the diaphragm to push the sound forward out of your mouth. Read like you are trying to help the man sitting at the back wall hear you without amplification. As for amplification, it may sound loud to you, but you will need to learn to trust the volume to the sound operators. Speak fully and loudly and confidently.
• Without Feeling: Do all you can to “feel” the text as you read it. Having prepared so well, you will already understand much of what it says. Let the Truth impact and interact with you as you read it.
• Too Much Feeling: While you want to “feel” the text as you read it, be careful that you do not become an actor performing a dramatic recital.
• SoX Balloon: One funny habit some people develop is getting the first third of the sentence well-projected, but trailing off to a near-whisper by the last third. Pace your expiration so that your vocal chords are still moving by the end of the phrase and sentence. You are a reader, not a mime.
• Lack of Herald: The reading of God’s Word is to call people to action, so read as a town- crier. You have something to say and you can expect those within earshot to give it attention. This is primarily a frame of mind in the reader, but anything less subtly communicates disinterest.