I need to make a confession.  I love to read Scripture.  I love to read, study, and proclaim Scripture as often as I can.  This doesn’t surprise you if you know me at all.  I’ve been a preacher for 27 years now.  You could say it’s who I am.  My confession, however, is not simply that I love Scripture.  My confession is that I love Scripture so much I refuse to see it as a text-book for life.

Many Christians treat Scripture as a text-book, which answers everything anyone would ever want to know about anything.  While I might wish a book like that existed, it doesn’t.  My confession is that I am in love with the book of worship.  Scripture is the book of worship.  Very early on the church found the writings of Scripture to be the only suitable writings to be read and explained in corporate worship.  I love that about Scripture.  For reasons known only to God the Scriptures are THE book of worship.

Whether it’s the story of our origins, or the proclamations of the prophets, the Scriptures are the book of worship.  Whether it’s the story of Jesus in Mark, or the direction of St. Paul to the church in Corinth, the Scriptures are the book of worship.  The Holy Spirit breathes life into these writings when they are offered in worship.  Notice what I am suggesting:  When the Scriptures find their proper place in worship, the Spirit brings them to life.  It is in worship where Scripture is surrounded by liturgy, hymnody, creeds, and sacraments that the Gospel is given fullest expression.  It is in worship where the witness of the saints is wedded to the wisdom of teachers throughout the ages that Scripture finds a home suitable for its content.

Now I am not suggesting Scripture should not be read in private devotions, or studied in other settings.  No, I am strongly encouraging the reading and studying of Scripture as often as possible.  I am saying the reading and studying of Scripture is ultimately rooted in the worship life of the church.  So, our private readings are rooted in our corporate worship.  Our private understandings are always submitted to the wisdom of the Spirit in the heart of the church.

So here’s my big confession:  Scripture really doesn’t function as it should all by itself.  Scripture was never intended to function alone.  The Spirit has given us Scripture as a gift to be immersed in the worship life of the church.  Surrounded by the prayers, the songs, the liturgical actions of the gospel of Jesus Christ Scripture comes alive, and offers us everything necessary for salvation.  That’s my confession.  I’m going public.