Thank you for being part of America Reads the Bible. We pray that God will use this
event powerfully in our nation, in local churches, and in the lives of individual
believers across the country. We are grateful for you!
The Christians Engaged Team
Reading the Bible: The Power of Hearing
➢ Main verse: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
(Romans 10:17)
❖ God intended His Word to be read aloud in public
➢ Hearing God’s Word builds faith because it is the truth
* It is true (both the Old Testament and the New Testament)
’ Psalm 19, Proverbs 30:5, 2 Timothy 3:16
* It speaks to our hearts (“living and active”)
’ John 6:63, Hebrews 4:12
* It is the only solid foundation for our lives
’ Proverbs 14:12, Matthew 7:24-27
➢ Our goal is Hearing Jesus — Christ is the ultimate “Word” of God
* Jesus is the centerpiece of history and all of Scripture proclaims him
’ Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:22-23, Revelation 22:20
* Jesus is “the word” of God
’ John 1:1-14, Hebrews 1:1-3, Revelation 19:13
* Jesus must be master and Lord over all of our life
’ Luke 9:23
➢ There’s power in Hearing — especially public reading of Scripture
* God instructed public reading of Scripture
’ Joshua (Joshua 8:34-35)
’ Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:6)
’ Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:27)
❖ Conclusion: Hearing Scripture (especially public reading of the Bible) builds our faith and
points us to Jesus.
Reading the Bible: The Power of Leaders
➢ Main verse: “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women
and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.”
(Nehemiah 8:2)
❖ Biblical history of public Bible reading
➢ Moses: after receiving the law and at the end of his life
* Exodus 24:3–8, Deuteronomy 31:9–13
➢ Joshua: after entering the promised land and at the end of his life
* Joshua 8:30–35, Joshua 24:1–27
➢ Josiah: after the book of the law was found
* 2 Kings 23:1–3; 2 Chronicles 34:29–33
➢ Ezra / Nehemiah: after the return from exile
* Nehemiah 8:1–8
➢ Covenant renewal, repentance, and reformation often follow the public reading
of God’s word.
❖ American history of public Bible reading
➢ Election Day Sermons (1630s–1830s, New England)
* Every year on the day the colonial legislature convened, a minister publicly read
and expounded long portions of Scripture (often an entire book or major section)
to the assembled government and citizenry. This was legally required in
Massachusetts and Connecticut until the early 19th century.
➢ First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s) — The spiritual revival that led to the American
Revolution, estimated 25,000-50,000 people saved
* Public reading of Scripture was a standard part of almost every outdoor preaching
event.
’ George Whitefield, the most famous itinerant, almost always opened his
massive open-air meetings (crowds of 5,000–30,000) by slowly and dramatically
reading a lengthy passage of Scripture before preaching. Eyewitness accounts
(e.g., in Boston 1740, Philadelphia 1739–40) repeatedly note him reading entire
Reading the Bible: The Power of Transformation
➢ Main verse: “But he answered, ‘It is written, ”Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” (Matthew 4:4)
❖ We can’t LIVE without God’s Word
➢ Pictures: hunger and thirst (Psalm 42:1–2), sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:7–11)
* Like physical food, we need it regularly, frequently, and substantially or we will get
sick and die
* Spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1-3) vs. life in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9)
’ Bondage to sin (Proverbs 5:22) vs. cleansed and transformed (Titus 2:11-14)
’ God’s opposition (Psalm 1:4-6) vs. God’s blessing (Psalm 1:1-3)
’ Meaningless lives (Ecclesiastes 2:17) vs. meaningful lives (Philippians 3:12-14)
’ Choices that bring death (Proverbs 14:12) vs. “love life and see good days” (1
Peter 3:10-12)
’ Pursue God’s Word every day because we cannot care for our soul apart
from God’s revelation and transformation
❖ We can’t LOVE without God’s Word
➢ Love is doing what God says is best for another person
* Love means to nourish and cherish (provide for and protect) another (Ephesians
5:28-29)
* We only know what love is because of Jesus (1 John 3:16)
* Love doesn’t come from us, it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24)
* We cannot know what is best for others apart from God’s Word (Psalm 119:105,
Proverbs 3:5–6, 2 Timothy 3:16–17)
* Pursue God’s Word every day because we cannot care for others apart from
God’s revelation and transformation
