Reading Scripture has been a central part of Christian life for a long, long time. But it was not always something that could be done in the home. Reading Scripture in the home is a relatively recent innovation, partly due to Martin Luther and a combination of other factors, including the invention of the printing press.
Prior to this, Scripture reading was something left to the religious educated to do, the elites. But the common people were to do more than just passively receive the words of Scripture. The words of Scripture were heard (not quietly read) and then modeled in lived life. The process of hearing Scripture and then being shaped by it is a sacred thing.
This is how we want to understand the importance of reading Scripture as we think about being families who worship, as we have been taking a look at what worship is (see posts here, here, and here), and how we can be families who worship. The book inspiring these thoughts, Family Worship, holds reading Scripture highly as part of being a family who worships.
Reading Scripture itself does not make a worshiping family. Reading Scripture is another "habit of enhancement" for the purpose of inspiring lives of worship and devotion to God that are lived and experienced by others in our actions and interactions.
