Stand up, sit down, bend low (and other exercises for reading the Bible)

"This church would not exist if it were not for the Bible." Pastor Phil Kniss made this statement to the children of Park View Mennonite Church this morning, and then he reiterated it at the beginning of his sermon. The Bible forms and shapes the living community of Christ. Nehemiah 8 recounts a ceremonial reading of the law of Moses. As the text was read out loud, a group of 26 teachers helped the people delve into what they heard. In Luke 4:14-21 Jesus read from Isaiah in the temple. He followed this by sitting and expanding on the meaning of the text he had read. Pastor Phil pointed out the communal nature of reaching scripture contained in both the Nehemiah and Luke passages. He also pointed out the physical nature of the reading. People stood, they bowed, they raised hands, they sat, they fell on their faces. It was truly a whole body experience. The Bible is a precious gift for our life. Thanks be to God!