Public Reading Of Scripture--Stephen Olford

I found the following passage in my reading of Stephen Olford's Anointed Expository Preaching.  I think there are some excellent observations as to how one reads the word of God publically.  I pray you are encouraged.--joe


To practice and perfect the reading of Scripture should constitute a strict discipline in the quiet of our studies. As often as possible, every preacher should stand and read aloud, at pulpit speed, the passage on which he will be preaching, while mentally visualizing an audience before him. It would be good to record the reading and then listen to it for self-criticism. The purpose of this exercise is to read distinctly—especially when it comes to complicated passages and difficult names, words, and punctuation. It is helpful to interpret the word distinctly in terms that have similar meaning but are, at the same time, quite distinct. To be precise, pulpit reading must be performed with composed articulation—the emphasis here is on speech; controlled pronunciation—the emphasis here is on sound; and convinced enunciation—the emphasis here is on sense.

On October 7, 1857, C. H. Spurgeon preached to his largest audience ever: 23,654 assembled in the mammoth Crystal Palace for a national day of fasting and prayer. "A few days previously he went to the hall to test the acoustics. Standing on the platform, he lifted up his voice like a silver trumpet and cried, 'Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.' A workman, busy painting high up in one of the galleries, heard the words which seemed to come to him from heaven. In deep conviction of sin he went home and did not rest until he was able to rejoice that Christ was his Savior." Something about Spurgeon's reverent tone and resonant voice, when quoting that text, arrested the attention of that man. Would to God that were true of all preachers!