I had a wonderful time today on Mother’s Day worshiping with my parents at their church. After the opening song by the band, a man stepped up on stage and said he wanted to share with us Colossians 3. Which he proceeded to do – from memory! My mom remarked to me that this gentleman has the rather admirable practice of memorizing large portions of scripture, which he shares with the congregation every month or so.

As a side note, I want to note that the way the man presented himself and the literal Word that he was bringing was not in the attitude of a superior, “Look what I’ve done” attitude. You could tell that he was sharing the Word of God with the Body to bless it.

The more I learn about the New Testament, specifically the many epistles, the more I appreciate the oratorical element to how many of them were written. The authors were aware that their letters were going to be read out loud, at least to a specific congregation, if not to many. So the way this gentleman was bringing the Word to the congregation was very much in line with how it was brought to the local bodies nearly 2,000 years ago.

It seems to me that our people all too often are fed bits and pieces of the Word. Yet the Bible was never meant to be digested one sentence at a time, each separated from all the others. I think it is essential for our people to be regularly presented with (i.e. read aloud) larger portions of scripture. Multiple paragraphs and even entire chapter(s).

If you have people (specifically those talented in the dramatic arts) who can memorize, or at least dramatically read, these larger portions of scriptures it can be a wonderful way of helping bring these words which date back nearly two thousand years alive once more. Your people need to be continually brought face to face with the Word itself, and utilizing the talents and/or abilities which lay in your people is a way in which you can do this and at the same time encourage and empower the members of your congregation to serve and minister to the Body.