Reading the Bible together
Episcopal worship focuses heavily on reading, hearing, and studying the Bible. Every service usually includes a reading from each of these sources:
- the Hebrew scriptures (sometimes called the ‘Old Testament’)
- the Psalms
- the Epistles (letters)
- the Gospels
The Lectionary Page – The Revised Common Lectionary is the three year cycle that several liturgical churches use to read through the Bible during weekday and Sunday worship. Churches that use this lectionary cycle will all be reading the same texts on the same day, all over the world. It’s a way for millions of people to read the Bible together.
Often, after the readings, a clergy member or lay person preaches a sermon to explain, expound or further encourage reflection on the sections of scripture just heard.
- Examples of sermons from across the Episcopal Church.
- Sermons from preachers in the Diocese of Fort Worth
Texts & Translations
Translations – read/hear/see the Bible in different languages
- Access text versions of the Bible in many languages
- Audio in a variety of languages
- View passages in sign language
Parallel and Interlinear study tools – bring different versions in conversation with each other
- The Bible Tool: add or remove versions for comparison
- Gospel Parallels: 4 Canonical Gospels – and other combinations
- Hebrew and Greek interlinear presentations
Manuscripts – view and learn about some of the oldest texts
- View the Codex Sinaiticus (Greek – written in mid-300s)
- View the Aleppo Codex (Hebrew – written in 930)
More Resources
Learn about how the Bible was written and compiled and about the history and theology of the Church over several centuries in a small group. Several congregations in the diocese have Education for Ministry (EfM) groups, which include 6-12 people committed to in-depth study and reflection over the course of a year. The entire course covers 4 years.
The Bible in the Life of the Church – an assortment of resources for helping groups and individuals study the Bible, on the Anglican Communion’s website.
Church Next offers video courses on several topics (some free and some for a subscription). View the preview for a course titled “Getting More Out of the Bible” with Archbishop Justin Welby: