The Importance of Reading Scripture Aloud – Techniques and Benefits

In this Men's study, Reagan discusses the significance of reading the Bible aloud, drawing from the practices of the early church and synagogues. He emphasizes how reading scripture—whether in a congregational setting, Bible class, or with family—matters for attention, comprehension, and understanding. The session includes practical tips for reading confidently and effectively, such as announcing passages clearly, observing punctuation, and pacing oneself. Reagan also facilitates a class activity where participants read various Bible passages, offering insights and receiving constructive feedback. This episode provides valuable pointers for anyone looking to improve their public and private scripture reading.

00:00 Introduction to Reading Scripture Aloud
01:42 Preparation and Confidence in Public Reading
03:15 Techniques for Effective Scripture Reading
06:33 Practical Demonstrations and Tips
07:46 Interactive Reading Session
11:55 Discussion on Interpretation and Pronunciation
13:30 More Reading Examples and Insights
18:47 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
28:43 Contextualizing the Sermon
29:14 Scripture Reading: John 17
31:05 Discussion on Glorification
33:31 Choosing Bible Translations
34:22 Reading from Galatians 5
36:48 The Importance of Translation
43:54 Reading from John 1
46:23 Reading from Psalm 93
51:11 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Transcript

So last month we talked about reading the Bible aloud and we talked about how that's very common, old New Testament how that was something that was done every Sabbath in the synagogues, how that was something that was done in the early church.

And we have numerous examples of that as well. And we talked about how. There are a number of environments where that might be helpful to us and a number of benefits for reading scripture aloud. And, and I'm not gonna go through all of that again. No need to rehash, especially since Sean plugged the recording.

We sent that out today for anybody who wants to listen that to that, that wasn't here last time, but our premise last month our. Our key concept, if you wanna put it in those terms, was how we read Scripture matters. It matters when we are reading ourselves and it matters when we're reading publicly for other people to hear.

Now, whether that's publicly in a congregational setting, whether that's in a Bible class setting, whether that's as fathers or husbands with our families. How we read scripture matters. It matters to attention, it matters to comprehension. It matters in how we're gonna understand the text because our inflection, the way we read in some ways should be a reflection of how we understand the text.

So the homework that I assigned is for everyone to pick out a passage of scripture, at least five verses probably less than 15 would be good just for sake of time. And we're gonna go through and we're gonna read those together. We might have a little bit of critique but nothing too too dangerous or too negative, certainly.

But I want you to read and read with understanding. Before we do that, I want to just give a couple of pointers in terms of what that looks like when we get up into the pulpit, and we're gonna read with. Everybody else. So, Jeremy, if you, if you wouldn't mind, I'm just gonna turn off this lapel mic and I'm gonna use this mic and then we'll use this other mic for all of our readers.

Okay. So you come up to read. Come up with confidence because you're prepared. You've read over the scripture, you know what it says. In some cases, maybe even you have it memorized. But now when you get up here, you're prepared to read because you have practiced at ahead of time. Announce the passage where everybody can hear.

So in my case, please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter one, Ephesians chapter one in verse three. Everybody in here has grown up or has at the very least been fateful attendees in church services for a long time, and so you're familiar with kind of the cadence of that. Ephesians chapter one and verse three, you repeat it.

Ephesians chapter one and verse three. At Timberland, we have a pretty good turning group. Lots of people are turning in their Bibles, and so something that you can do before you read is I just listen. If I'm hearing lots of page turning, I, I wait and I don't start reading until I hear that quiet down.

And so that's just kind of a tip when you're reading a couple of things. Number one, you think you are going slower than you actually are. You think you're going slower than you actually are. So we tend to speed up when we're up in front of everybody. And so we need to read just slightly slower than what we think we are reading.

Does that make sense? Read slightly slower than what you think you are reading. For me personally John and Fifth both did a pretty good job with this. I think it's beneficial instead of having your Bible down like this the, our mic's pretty good. It can still pick that up. If we really lean into the mic while we're reading.

So if you keep your Bible down, you might even put it up a little bit like this and then lean into the mic. These mics are designed to amplify our voice. So even if you have a quiet voice, a good mic is gonna be beneficial in that way. But what I prefer personally, I step back just a little bit and then I hold my Bible up.

If I've got a lapel, I step to the side to, but for our practice, we're gonna be coming to the pulpit. I am gonna give you a microphone if somebody prefers just to read from their seat. But my request is that you come to the pulpit if you can and then hold up. Hold up your Bible like this so that your, your face, your mouth is slightly up again.

John and Seth did a good job with that yesterday when they were reading. So Ephesians chapter one, begin reading with me in verse three. I think a good pause before you do. That's effective. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him.

In love having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace. By which he made us accepted in the beloved. In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself.

In the dispensation of the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth. In Him. In Him also, we have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory.

In him, you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession to the praise of his glory. Okay, so you notice a couple of things.

I tried very carefully to observe the punctuation. I had a page turn in my particular reading. You want to practice that ahead of time. You want to know what the next line is. So even if it takes you a second to turn your page you know what you're going to say next. Nobody's offended if it takes a little while for you to turn the page and keep reading, but it just makes it a little smoother.

So, observing the punctuation of practice, my turn my page turn. Also for this particular reading, I have a number of highlights when it comes to the various phrases and ideas. Now, this is from my personal study, but it also helps with my reading because again, I'm reading with comprehension, I'm reading as I understand this passage so that others might understand it as well.

This is also one thought versus three through 14 are, are one thought. It's okay to break up some thoughts as long as the, the section that you read is one idea. We might say one sentence, that would be fine. One paragraph. That would be fine. But as much as you can avoid jumping into something right in the middle where you don't, don't understand what's going on, what's happening with the passage.

Okay. Does anybody have any questions about reading or about what we're doing before we have everyone have the opportunity to read? Okay. If not, what I'll have you do is come to the microphone everybody else listen carefully. If you have a comment for something that somebody has said, if you have a suggestion for something that someone has read feel free to raise your hand and do that as well.

I guess we'll start over here. Jerry did you come prepared to read tonight? Okay. So we'll start with Jerry and then we'll kind of just work our way around the room and Ty will be our last one to read.

I am going to be reading from Two Kings, the 21st chapter, I'm sorry,

22nd chapter, 22nd, chapter of Second Kings.

We're going begin to read in verse three of that chapter

in the 18th year of King Josiah King since Chapin, the son of Isaiah. Son of Ms. Hula. Secretary to the house of the Lord saying, go up to the high priest, that he may reckon the amount of money which has been brought into the treasury and to the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people and let it be given into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.

Let them get it to the workman who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house that is to the carpenters, to the builders, and to the masons, as well as for buying timber and qua quar quarries stone to repair the house, but no accounting shall be asked from them for the money which is delivered into the hands.

For this deal, for they deal honestly.

Verse eight And the high priest said to Chapin secretary, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord, and gave the book to Chapin and he read it and shaping The secretary came to the king and reported to the king. Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workman who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.

Then shaping the secretary told the king, the priest has given me a book and shaping. Read it before the king, verse 11. And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes and the king commanded the priest. And a ahy the son of shaping and aor the son of Maiah and shaping the secretary and Asiah the king's servant, saying, go inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and all of Judah concerning the words of the book that has been found.

For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us because our fathers have not obeyed the word of this book to do according to all that was written concerning us. I'd like to read more about that

now. That was excellent. Very, very good. A couple of things that Jerry did, he gave us a couple of updates, you know, verse eight, verse 11. That's something helpful, especially in a long reading. People get lost. They're reading from a different version. I think that was good. And then also something I saw him do, and I do this from time to time also, especially if it's something I'm unfamiliar with.

Sometimes I do use my finger to try and keep my place, especially if I'm looking up and making comments. That's, that's especially helpful. There's some hard names in that. That's another thing with our reading to practice. Practice pronouncing those names. There are actually, if you Google search, you can find a pro a pronunciation for just about any of these names.

I have an old book that was given to me when I was just starting preaching that has correct pronunciations in, but I still mess 'em up. For some of 'em we don't even know exactly how they would've sounded. So, so don't beat yourself up about that. Just be confident and say something and keep going.

Okay, Harold? Oh, yes, Jerry. My version is revised. Standard version. Yes, sir. And it's a part for study Bible and a lot of times names are divided. The names, the different parts of the name and where the emphasis goes. Yeah, that is very helpful. Very helpful. I've got an old King James same way. And sometimes I'll consult that just for pronunciation purposes and it has the accent marks to know how it's pronounced.

That's very good, Harold.

Mine is much shorter and there's a New Testament passage, had no hard names in it. Turn if you would to Ephesians the second chapter, and I'm gonna begin in verse 19. Ephesians two and 19.

Now, therefore, you're no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself, being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building being fitly framed or fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of the God of God in spirit.

There is a reason I chose that passage. I'll see if y'all get it later. Okay. There's a reason or now. All right. Why did you choose that passage? It is. The passage I think, is misunderstood a lot of times. Well, here, lemme give you a microphone so that we can all understand it. The people who might listen to the recording can't.

Also, I don't, I don't know that my reading is brought it out, but there is a, a, a misunderstanding that's oftentimes in there and I was trying to read it so that what I considered to be the truth would come out. Okay. You wanna read that line to us again or say it so that we can hear it clearly? I think that's one very helpful thing when we read, is we can read and emphasize what we think is the meaning of the passage.

Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself, being the chief cornerstone.

All right, and give us the interpretation thereof. What now? Give us the interpretation thereof. Well, the foundation and with the mic, if you don't mind. Yeah. The foundation is Jesus Christ. The foundation was laid by the apostles and prophets, but particularly Mormons will take this to be the foundation is the is is the the apostles, and then Jesus is the cornerstone.

And if you go back and look at the prophets, in particularly, Isaiah uses the word foundation and cornerstone interchangeably. And so I wanted to get across that Jesus is the foundation and you're I wasn't here last week, but went back and, and heard it and you're talking about Hamlet and what it meant is what brought this passage to me.

And I thought, well, I'll see if I can read it. Yeah. So that, that becomes evident. I dunno that it did because it's, it's a very I mean, you. May just have to study it and learn it. I want y'all to turn just for a second to Acts chapter two. Harold pointed this out to me, and I think this is another good example of what he's saying that we can read in a way that impacts proper understanding.

Verse 42, acts chapter two and verse 42. So Harold pointed this out to me and changed my understanding of this verse. And, and having studied it, I think he's absolutely right. Read with me verse 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

So instead of four things there, it's really three things. It's doctrine fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers. And so a lot of times we read that and if they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine. And fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers. But the proper meaning is steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

So, so again, I think that's an example of the way we read impacts our understanding. I have the common ask fellowship that breaks. It does there's no punctuation in the original Greek, so that's the translator's trying to, to help us out with what Paul says there. But that's, that's another study for another time, but I think Harold's right on on it.

Yeah. If you're looking at the Greek, you just have fellowship, kind of would be comma well, let's see. In the apostles doctrine and then comma in fellowship, in breaking bread, there's no comma in that Greek, well, there's no common in the Greek end period, but that's all. The same there. Yeah. You got fellowship also, when you look elsewhere almost.

I, I read almost to my, my understanding of what I've seen. Every time you, you find fellowship in the context, there's always an object of fellowship. I think most times for sure. And maybe all times in the New Testament. Okay. Brother B, have you come prepared to read

Brother B's? Always ready to read, I think.

I will say this before I start. Bonnie and I have talked a lot of time. I like, I like to see people use their Bible when they're reading, but as you get older, it's easy to read.

Don't wanna turn the light on. Yeah. If you will turn to the book of Romans, the eighth chapter, and we'll start with verse 31. Here. The apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit says these, this, these makes these statements. What shall we then say to these things? If God before us who can be against us? He that spirit, not his own son.

Deliver them up for us all. How shall he not with him? Also freely give us all things. Who shall lay anything to a charge of God's elect? It is God that justified. Who is He that condemned? It is Christ that died ye rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword as it is written for thy sake, we're all, we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nate, in all things we more than conquerors through him that loved us, for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers.

Nor three things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Okay, very good. Sean, would you like to read? I like with Brother B, you could hear those questions. You wouldn't have to read a question mark to know that that was a question that he was reading right there. And of course, B has a wonderful voice, which is very helpful to him as well.

This is different. I'll be reading from Luke chapter one starting in verse 26. Luke chapter one, starting in verse 26.

Now in the six month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the descendants of David and the Virgin's name was married. And coming in, he said to her, hail favored one. The Lord is with you. She was greatly troubled at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be, and the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you'll conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his Father. David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will have no end. And Mary said to the angel, how can this be since I'm a virgin?

And the, and the angel answered and said to her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you. And for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the son of God. And behold, even your relative, Elizabeth. Who has also conceived a son in her old age, and she who is called Baron, is now in her sixth month.

For nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said, behold the bond slave of the Lord, be it done to me, according to your word, in the angel departed from her. Very good. Mike, would you like to read? So Sean did a good job differentiating his voice between Luke's narration. You can go ahead, Mike Luke's narration and the characters who were speaking the angel and Mary.

And it wasn't like a big, he wasn't, he wasn't trying to sound like a woman when he was reading, but he just was a little softer with her and a little stronger with the angel. And that's enough for our ears to pick up on. So good job. Mike. You asked me if I wanted to. No. But I will

Colossians three verse one through seven. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is. He's sitting on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above and not on things of the earth. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Therefore, put to death your members, which are on the earth, fornication and cleanliness, passion, evil, desires, and cover Justness, which is a Dollar Tree. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience in which you yourselves once walked, when you lived in them.

I've always enjoyed Mike's pace of reading. He, he just has a good cadence, a good pace to him. I've heard him read many, many times through the years, and I'm appreciative of it. Okay. Bryce, do you have something you'd like to read? No. Okay. Jerry, would you like to read?

Are you willing to read? Mike called me out about the way I said it. Are you willing, you know, he's always confrontational. So

I'm gonna be reading from the New American standard version. If you would turn to Matthew chapter five, Matthew chapter six, I'm sorry, chapter six, starting in verse 24. Matthew chapter six, starting in verse 24 to set the scene. Jesus is on the Mount and all the people have followed him. They've heard about him for years now, and Messiah has finally come and he's delivering the message to them, and they're all around the great crowds around.

In the middle of his sermon after talking about God and, and his father and how to pray and that we can't serve God and the devil. He talks about anxiety for us. We'll start in verse 24. No one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason, I say to you, do not be worried about your life as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or your body as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food and body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow nor reap nor gathering to barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not worth much more than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow. They do not toll. They do not spin yet I say to you that even not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these, but if God sow the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not much more clothe you?

You have little faith. Do not worry then saying, what will we eat or what will we drink, or what will we wear for clothing? The Gentiles eagerly seek all these things where your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

So do not worry about tomorrow, or tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough for its troubles of its own.

Excellent. Mon, are you willing to read? So Jerry did a couple of things there. B kind of did this a little bit too. He told who is speaking and he gave a little bit of background on, 'cause we're jumping into this context, right? We're in the middle of the sermon. So he gave a little bit of background on that.

That's not something you have to do, but it is helpful especially for somebody who's unfamiliar with the Bible or perhaps with that particular text. To do that and to give that context. Also, Mike and Jerry both did this when you have those transition words, but, or therefore having a pause there is, is a way of communicating to people.

Okay. He's contrasting, he's making an application. Both, both gentlemen did well with that. Monte, I'll be reading from the new King James, John 17. This is probably one of my favorite scriptures. It's a prayer that Jesus offers up to his father before, right before he goes into the garden, and we don't see this prayer anywhere else.

I'll read the first five verses. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven instead. Father, the hour has come Glorify your son, that your son also may glorify you as you have given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him, and this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sinned.

I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do, and now Father glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was okay. Very good. Mon had a good long pause there between, lifted up to his, his eyes to heaven and said, father, the hour has come.

So there's lots of ways of distinguishing when someone else is speaking. Yes. Mike, yesterday, yesterday when he said, glorify me as I was when I was,

does that mean he wasn't?

Okay, so, we are doing scripture reading and a Bible study broke out. So in the context of John we see that this idea of how is Jesus gonna be glorified in the gospel of John by going to the cross. And in the cross he's gonna be glorified eventually that I say in the cross, his death, burial, resurrection, and ultimately his ascension.

But, but glory is found right there in the cross as well. And I think what Jesus. His communicating is, is very similar to what he communicated earlier in chapter 13, that this is what glory looks like. He had glory when he was in heaven. He gave up something in order to come and live as a man.

He pour poured out himself in order to do that. And now through the cross, he's gonna be glorified again. Does that mean that he's, you know, no longer deity or any of that nonsense? Of course not. But there is a sense in which, yes, he gave up his glorified position in heaven and now he's gonna be returning back to heaven through the cross.

I didn't answer your question based on your faith, but mm-hmm.

What does it mean to glorify to be exalted, to be favored, to be put in a position of glory?

Harold has the mic there, he can take over at this point and fix all this.

Ronnie, would you like me to bring you a mic? I can't read the, y'all can all read that book. Think you're, you're great. I can't read anymore. Fair enough. I can get on the computer and take 30 or something like that. Well, that's like those other guys were saying with the phone as well. I, I, I think it is much preferable to have a, a hard copy bible, but.

I can still see very well, and so if a phone works better for you, you can certainly use that. Brent,

I'm somewhat torn, torn, torn between the versions. I have Always read the King James version. Which is somewhat difficult to understand concepts at time. You have to reread 'em for me anyway, several times. So I've experimented with a number of translations, if you will, and so some people do not like this, some people do.

I always tend to compare this version to what I know to be true from the King James, if you will. I'll say that tongue in sheep with sarcasm. If you studied those versions, however, I do like the NET and the NLT for, for reading purposes and for comprehension of, of topics and principles. That said, I will be reading from Galatians chapter five from the NLT version, if you would, I'll give you a chance to turn over there to Galatians chapter five.

How should we live? So then in verse 16, so I say, Paul says, let the Holy Spirit guide your life. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the spirit wants. The spirit gives us desires that are opposite of what the sinful nature desires.

These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions, but when you're directed by the spirit, you're under no obligation to the law of Moses. Verse 19. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear. Sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery and hostility, quarreling, jealousy and outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness while parties and other sins like these.

Let me tell you again as I have before that no one. That anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God in verse 22. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature. And crucified them there. And since we are living by the spirit, let us follow the spirits leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited or provoke one another or be jealous of one another.

Brent always does an excellent job reading, and that's no exception. I'm glad that he brought up translations. And even particularly reading this particular passage there in Galatians chapter five, a couple of things about translations. So what is our purpose in reading? Well, we have lots of purposes, and the purpose we're trying to emphasize is gonna impact which translation we use.

If our purpose is, for example, in the Book of Psalms, to get the feeling and emotion and beauty of the poetry. I think the old King James is hard to beat in the Psalms, if that's our purpose. Trying to get the beauty and the emotion of that poetry as opposed to something very literal, like the New American standard or American standard version.

It's just kind of clunky, even in the Psalms. It's more literal, it's closer to the original language, but it doesn't capture that beauty like the, like the King James does. Now on another end of the spectrum is, is like what Brent said, the new living translation, the NLT the NET which Leon Manning used a bunch.

The net translation that has a ton of footnotes. Both of those are closer to especially the, the NLT or closer to a paraphrase. In other words, what they do is they take the original languages and they try and translate it in such a way. This is what it means, not what it says, not what it says in the original words, but this is what it means.

And sometimes that can be really, really helpful in, in understanding. As long as we know going in that this is what the translators think it means. Not merely what it says. Now, a great example of that is in Galatians chapter five where he read several times the phrase sinful nature instead of flesh, right?

So the word in Greek is flesh. That's what it means in English for many people. What what that means is sinful nature. But that's a really loaded theological term for for many Calvinists, for example, that that phrase sinful nature. Applies to an inherited sin that we got from Adam that we can't choose to do good because we're totally depraved now.

Is that what Brent meant when he read that? No, but for many Calvinists, that phrase, that's what that means. And for the New Living translation, they had a lot of Calvinists on that translation, translation committee. So being aware of that as we're reading and choosing our translation with all of these things in mind, I think.

Can be really helpful. I, I consult the new Living translation a lot. I've read from it a number of times when it says things in a way that I say this is really helpful for our understanding. But again, going in, you gotta know this is some, there is some man interpretation that's gonna take place with some of those translations that are dynamic equivalent or paraphrases.

And you know, some are even further down the line, like the message or something along those lines. Brent, it says a footnote on that. Where's that letter? You know, you're the preacher, whether brother, preacher, or.

There you go. It seems as most, every sermon that I've ever heard and and from I'll, I'll use you versus an Oliver Murray. Mm-hmm. Quite the stark contrast, if you will. Yeah. He's really good. And I'm married. Well, let's, we won't go into, into, into ratings, but, but he's quote word for word for word for word.

Trying to flip the Bible to make you think he's reading, but he is really quoting it Right. But he would quote something as you do as Brother Harold does, and then there's some clarification after that. Mm-hmm. So that's, I think, somewhat similar to the NLT whenever you're trying to clarify what this original Greek text means, that we do that quite a bit is exactly what it is.

No, you're, you're exactly right. I giving in. In Nehemiah when they're reading the book of the law to the people and everybody's standing up and listening, remember they read the text and what did they do next? They gave the sense of the text that that would be us saying they're paraphrasing, they're putting it in their own words, not just what does the law say?

What does the law mean? What, what does that passage mean? And so yeah, that's something that we do. And that's something that the NLT does. Not to the same extreme I would say to what you know, Harold and I do in a sermon or anybody does in a sermon, but that's exactly what it is. It's paraphrasing.

This is what Paul was saying when he wrote what he wrote, which is neither good nor bad in and of itself, but it is taking that Bible text and, and looking at it from a certain perspective at Galatians chapter five, again, another. It said, holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. Several times. Does the Greek say Holy Spirit in any of those spirits in Galatians five?

No. And there's a minority position, which I just so happen to hold, but it's a minority position that this isn't even talking about the Holy Spirit, talking about our spirit versus our flesh as directed by the Holy Spirit. No doubt, but our spirit versus our flesh. So the NLT just goes ahead and takes some positions on those things and that comes out.

What is written? And again, this isn't saying don't read from the NLT or any paraphrase. Just know going in that that's what it is when you're reading it. Any comments on that? Okay. We got a few minutes left. I think we're gonna be able to get all the way around the room. David, would you, are you willing to read, Jeremy, do you wanna read?

Are you willing to read? I'll take the mic back there to you if you want. Okay. All right, David.

Since I'm only gonna read five verses my 2 cents on the, on the versions. The app I use, I love the ESP, but the app I use, it lets me put side by side even on a small screen. NLT and the new King James. And I like that. It's, it is been real helpful to me to be able to see both of those side by side.

In order to pick a scripture tonight, I kept thinking, what's my favorite scripture? That's, that's really hard. I love the Old Testament. Especially the stories that I grew up with, we all did.

I love the New Testament for what it gives us. I love the gospels, so I said I'm gonna read something from the gospels. And the reason I chose these five verses is because in Matthew, Matthew begins his gospel with the lineage of Christ all the way back to Abraham. Mark and Luke Mark talks about John the Baptist and him introducing Jesus is coming.

Luke talks about the birth of John and his parents and that story, but John, John chapter one, verse five verses.

I don't know if there's more said in any shorter verses than this. John Chapter one. In the beginning was the word, and the word was God.

The word was with God. The word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him and without him, nothing was made. That was made. And Him was life. And the life was the light of men. The light shines and the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Those are powerful and important verses, and David did a good job reading those. Obviously in a situation like this where we're in a Bible class and given our 2 cents and all those sorts of things. Having some comments ahead of time are appropriate and helpful in a worship service. It's probably better if we keep those comments shorter before we read.

So as obviously if we're doing a lesson or Lord supper talk or those sorts of things that's, that's different. But to keep that focus on the text itself, give a little context and then then read right after Preston.

Evening, if you would, turn your Bibles to Psalms Chapter 93. Psalm 93, Psalm. Versus traditionally from Jewish history. What we find is that Psalm Night three was actually read on the sixth day in the temple along with seven other Psalms each day of the week with Psalm night two actually read on the seventh day of the week.

If you look at it at the beginning of Psalm night two, it says A Psalm was for the Sabbath. And so Psalm I two is a Psalm for seventh day and Temple. A Sabbath day Psalm Psalm nine three is celebrating God's victory and kingship as expressed in his creation of the world. And so Psalm 93 verse ones begin saying, the Lord reigns.

He has robed in majesty. The Lord is robed. He is put on strength to his as his belt. Yes, the world is established. It shall never be moved. Your throne is established from a old, you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up. Oh Lord. The floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their roaring mightier than the thunders of many waters mightier than the waves of the sea.

The Lord on high is mighty. Your decrees are very trustworthy, holiness, befits your house oh Lord, forevermore.

I've always enjoyed Preston's reading since he first came, as one of the things that first stuck out to me is how well he reads. And also the passion with which he reads. I think, I think that's important. I tell the kids in the junior high class read it like you mean it read it with enthusiasm.

And I think Preston does a great job that with that.

I to really work at so well. Some good teachers. Well, working at it makes you better just like anything else. And so you're, you're really good at it now and, and appreciate that. Gman, would you like to read,

if you're following along, I'll be reading from Matthew chapter five, verse three through 10.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart. For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Obviously this is something that Jesus said said aloud. But passages like this where there's that kind of clear pattern are really good for reading.

They're easy to follow along. Easy to remember. And G-Man did a great job reading that for us. Okay, so ti is the last one. I think we're gonna get it in.

I'll be reading from the eighth Psalm, Psalm eight, and I'm reading from the English standard version. Oh Lord, our Lord. How majestic is your name In all the earth, you have set your glory above the heavens, outta the mouths of babies and infants. You have established strength because of your foes to still the enemy in the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you've set in place. What is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you care for him, yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You've given him dominion over the works of your hands.

You've put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea. Oh Lord, our Lord. How majestic is your name in all the earth? That was good, wasn't it? I think, I think Ty might be my favorite leader when it comes to Bible reading.

Just, just very, very good. It makes a difference how we read, how we read matters. And everyone did such a good job tonight. You took this seriously, and I appreciate that. I want you to think about ways that you can incorporate oral reading into your Bible study into your family time, into your personal study, all of the things that we talked about last week.

And it's interesting that we just had this class because I went to Fort Worth and I was preaching there with a congregation and I had supper one evening with. A mom and a dad and their two adult, two of their adult daughters. And one of the adult daughters lives with her sister. They're, they're not married yet, but they took it upon themselves to host a bunch of the younger people.

But I think there was some diversity of people they, they hosted. I think, I think they've done it four times. An an evening of Bible reading. What they did was they picked the book they assigned ahead of time chapters and then they read through that book together for the evening. So they did the Gospel of John, they did the book of Ecclesiastes and a couple of others longer readings with John.

They had an intermission and I think, you know, had some dessert or something and then read the second half. And so there's lots of things that we can do. That's not something that I had thought of, but I thought, hey. I mean, that would be pretty good, wouldn't it? I, I enjoyed this I enjoyed this more than I expected.

Hearing what people chose, hearing how well people read. I feel like I'm closer to God now than when we got here because of what we've shared in reading the word of God aloud. So any final thoughts or comments on this topic? Gary got a question. I got a question. Okay. What does it mean to be glorified?

No. Okay. Some places like Paul use the word Christ, sometimes Jesus Christ, and then other times, Lord Jesus Christ. Well, sometimes there's significance to that. Sometimes it's just referring to Jesus. It's interesting that Paul will use. Christ Jesus and Jesus Christ, and Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Sometimes in the same epistle, he'll use all of those. Some of that is just what's, what's the right term? Well, semantics. That's variation. Just variation. That's good writing, good speaking. You're gonna have some variation in the way you express things. Maybe sometimes. I think there is some.

Emphasis that he's trying to have on one aspect or another. Sometimes he says our Lord Jesus Christ, or something like that. He's trying to emphasize that he is for us and that he's ours, and we have that relationship. When we talk about textual variance, that the, the most common textual variance in that that appears in tons and tons of manuscripts is.

Christ Jesus or Jesus Christ. And those are flipped a lot of times. And we're not sure even which was in the original, but when it gets down to it, it doesn't really matter. We still know who Jesus is with those things. Jesus Savior, it's the, it is the Hebrew name, Joshua

Jesus in Spanish. Yeah. Christ is, Christ is anointed one Hebrew word, Messiah. Yeah. So King, you know, that's, that's emphasizing it, kingship and that he's the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament promises of that Messiah, that Christ,

anything else?

All right. Thank y'all so much for this I think the plan at the moment is we're gonna take a little break from the men's class through the summer and then pick back up in August. Unless somebody is just roaring to teach and say, well, I'll take, I'll take June and July in which case, you know, have at it.

But the plan at the moment is we're gonna wait and, and do another men's class in August. All right. Thank you for being here tonight.