Daily Scripture Reading/Prayer Resource

Several people asked me about "The Daily Office" method of reading scripture following the sermon in church today. I use this method each day by going to this website. This website is also listed on my web blog's side bar for future reference.

The advantage of this website is that in addition to the daily scripture readings, it also provides a mini-personal worship service with various prayers.

While there are many methods for daily scripture/prayer, here are some reasons why I choose to use "The Daily Office" approach:

• Over a two year period, this method helps me to read most of the bible (if I keep up with the readings!)
• It offers a balanced approach by including an Old Testament reading, a Psalm, an Epistle reading, and a Gospel reading on a daily basis.
• This method is based on the liturgical year which means that the scripture passages are always appropriate for the church season such as Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc.)
• Since Christians all around the world are using this method, there is a sense of Christian unity in knowing that I am not the only person reading these particular scripture passages each day.

A few other helpful pieces of information in using "The Daily Office:"

• The Psalm is always a response to the theme of the Old Testament reading. The Psalm for every Wednesday is always a passage from Psalm 119 which is a very long Psalm that highlights the importance of God's Word.
• Often times, the four scripture passages for a given day will be linked by a common theme depending on the church season. For example, Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter typically have common themes since there is a liturgical focus. Keep in mind that there are also many other days when the readings are not meant to be linked by a theme such as the Season After Pentecost which is the season the church is presently celebrating. During this season, there is usually a continuous reading through a particular book of the bible. Obviously, when there is a common theme, the readings will jump around a bit. The important thing to remember is that you are always getting a balanced approached to scripture from both the Old and New Testaments.
• The particular "The Daily Office" readings I use come from the Episcopal Church which is closely associated with the Anglican Church's selected readings with some variations.
• Don't confuse "The Daily Office" with the Sunday lectionary. They complement each other since they are both rooted in the seasons of the liturgical calendar. The Sunday lectionary is a three year cycle and "The Daily Office" is a two year cycle.
• A cycle of readings for private and public use goes back to the first centuries of the early church. By participating in this method of reading scripture, you are joining in an ancient Christian practice that has proven its worth over several centuries.