{"id":854,"date":"2020-09-23T00:55:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T18:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/?p=854"},"modified":"2020-09-23T00:55:48","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T18:55:48","slug":"should-you-use-a-hard-copy-of-the-bible-for-corporate-worship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/should-you-use-a-hard-copy-of-the-bible-for-corporate-worship\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Use a Hard Copy of the Bible for Corporate Worship?"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most noticeable developments within the church in recent days shows up at the beginning of each sermon I preach when I invite the congregation to turn with me to a particular passage of Scripture. At that moment, a growing number of congregants reach into their pockets to grab their smartphone. Some don\u2019t move at all, opting instead to simply read along with the words as they appear on the screens projected behind the pastor. It happens each and every Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, the collective rustle of pages turning on Sunday morning has been reduced to a gentle whisper.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, is this an inevitable result of the increased use of technology? Is this a byproduct of the age of the smartphone? Or is this something that we should resist?<\/span><\/p>\n

It is my contention that the church should aim to preserve the use of a physical, hard copy of the Bible during worship services rather than depending on smartphones and projector screens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, to be clear, I\u2019m not saying that a physical copy of God\u2019s Word is somehow inherently superior to using an electronic copy. I believe an electronic copy of the Bible can be an extremely useful tool. I use electronic copies of the Bible all the time. In my sermon prep, I will have multiple translations and versions of a passage pulled up on my computer screen. I have the Bible app on my phone and use it to look up or reference passages on the go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But when it comes to corporate worship, I believe a case can be made for using a physical copy of the Bible.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Consider these few reasons why I believe using a physical, hard copy of the Bible is a better alternative in a worship service than using your phone or just looking on the screens:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A hard copy will limit distractions.
\n<\/i><\/strong><\/span>By design, your phone is not a Bible. Your phone is a distraction. You are an email or a text message or an impulsive desire to check social media away from being completely sidetracked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology may fail<\/i><\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/strong>
\nAt times, the internet may not immediately work as you open up your phone. The app may crash. It may need to be reset. The slides may not appear on the screen in the right order or at the right time. These issues may not happen often, but they are part of the risk that isn\u2019t present with a hard copy of God\u2019s Word.<\/span><\/p>\n

A hard copy aids in following an expository sermon<\/i>.
\n<\/span><\/strong>When a pastor exposits a text of Scripture, you\u2019ll frequently hear him say, \u201cLook back at our passage.\u201d As we study a passage in depth, we will reference what the text says over and over again. Having a Bible open to the passage allows for it to remain accessible and to stick in your mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

A hard copy allows for easier note-taking<\/i><\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong><\/span>
\nPhysical copies of the Bible allow you to write cross-references, sermon outlines, or other personal notes for further study.<\/span><\/p>\n

A hard copy helps with Bible navigation<\/i><\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong><\/span>
\nAs you use your Bible frequently, you begin to know how to navigate and find passages more quickly. If you rely on an electronic copy, you are less trained to know how to find passages and verses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A hard copy aids in Bible memory<\/i><\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong><\/span>
\nIn the same way, seeing the words on a specific part on a page can help with Bible memorization. Because when you hold the Word of God in your hand, when you smell the leather binding, when you hear the rustle of the page turning, when you visually see the words on different parts of a page\u2014your senses are activated in a way that they just aren\u2019t with a handheld device.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are setting an example for the next generation<\/i><\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong><\/span>
\nOur children are being raised in a world where technology is all around them. Yet, for something like Bible reading, there is an ability to display reverence and distinction for God\u2019s Word.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology can give the appearance of being disengaged<\/i><\/strong><\/span>. <\/strong><\/span>
\nFew things are more distracting and discouraging for a pastor (or even other worshipers) than looking out and wondering, \u201cIs that person on their Bible app, or are they checking their email?\u201d If someone is looking down at their Bible, the preacher is encouraged to know they are engaged with what the text says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Again, if you choose to use an electronic copy for corporate worship, I\u2019m not suggesting that you\u2019re some sort of inferior Christian or that you\u2019re walking in sin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m simply suggesting that we consider the wisdom of committing to using a physical copy of the Word of God for corporate worship.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most noticeable developments within the church in recent days shows up at the beginning of each sermon I preach when I invite the congregation to turn with me to a particular passage of Scripture. At that moment, a growing number of congregants reach into their pockets to grab their smartphone. Some don\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":673,"featured_media":863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-854","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-practical","8":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/09\/Bible.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1141,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/recovering-the-lords-supper\/","url_meta":{"origin":854,"position":0},"title":"Recovering the Lord’s Supper","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"January 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the hidden blessings of the stay-at-home orders and the disruption of our everyday lives as a result of the onset of COVID-19 has been a greater focus on the local church and a heightened understanding of the necessity to have a biblical ecclesiology. However, one particular area of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theological"","block_context":{"text":"Theological","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/theological\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/01\/34717-communion.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/01\/34717-communion.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/01\/34717-communion.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/01\/34717-communion.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/01\/34717-communion.1200w.tn_.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":340,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/why-you-should-go-to-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":854,"position":1},"title":"Why You Should Go To Church","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"March 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Not everyone who professes to be a Christian actually goes to church. This baffling paradox of claiming to be the church but not going to church is increasingly problematic. A number of compelling reasons to attend church exist which far outweigh any reasons for neglecting to do so.","rel":"","context":"In "Theological"","block_context":{"text":"Theological","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/theological\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/03\/inside-church-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/03\/inside-church-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/03\/inside-church-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":807,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/my-first-week-as-a-pastor\/","url_meta":{"origin":854,"position":2},"title":"My First Week as a Pastor","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"March 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"My call to pastoral ministry was clear. No doubt about it, God had been preparing me and calling me to shepherd the flock. To preach the Word. I had yielded to the call nearly a decade ago and been preparing for the task my entire life. In God\u2019s providence, I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cultural"","block_context":{"text":"Cultural","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/cultural\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/03\/636483200290803894-FPC-Sanctuary-Pews-2-.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/03\/636483200290803894-FPC-Sanctuary-Pews-2-.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/03\/636483200290803894-FPC-Sanctuary-Pews-2-.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":828,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/granted-to-suffer\/","url_meta":{"origin":854,"position":3},"title":"Granted to Suffer","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"July 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake. \u2013 Philippians 1:29 Sadly, a great number of American churches reflect the culture of the world around them. Certainly, many faithful congregations continue to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cultural"","block_context":{"text":"Cultural","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/cultural\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/07\/Persecution-Hands-900x600-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/07\/Persecution-Hands-900x600-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/07\/Persecution-Hands-900x600-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/07\/Persecution-Hands-900x600-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":967,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/if-persecution-comes\/","url_meta":{"origin":854,"position":4},"title":"If Persecution Comes","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"April 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As Americans, we often assume that our freedom to exercise our faith will always be protected by our Constitutional rights. In many ways, we are often unable to relate to the biblical call to suffer well in the face of persecution. For many of us, persecution for Christians is just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cultural"","block_context":{"text":"Cultural","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/cultural\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/04\/persecuted-church.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/04\/persecuted-church.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/04\/persecuted-church.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":120,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/why-christian-marriage-is-different\/","url_meta":{"origin":854,"position":5},"title":"Why Christian Marriage Is Different","author":"TJ Daugherty","date":"June 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Weddings are not exclusive to Christians, because marriage is not exclusive to Christians. It transcends culture and time unlike nearly anything else. It has existed for millennia in a variety of cultures. And while every wedding is special its own right, Christian weddings are different. Because Christian marriage is different.","rel":"","context":"In "Marriage \/ Relationships"","block_context":{"text":"Marriage \/ Relationships","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/category\/marriage-relationships\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/06\/daugherty-0411.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/06\/daugherty-0411.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/06\/daugherty-0411.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/06\/daugherty-0411.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/06\/daugherty-0411.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/06\/daugherty-0411.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/673"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/854\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/tjdaugherty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}