Claudia Rosett wrote in 2001:
So I write here in praise of a favorite practice of my own family: reading to each other aloud. Many of us were read to as children, of course, and may now read to our own. But how often these days do adults read to one another? We are too busy, too wary perhaps of a pastime so decidedly of the past. But reading aloud lets you hear each others’ voices in a new way, and value afresh the power of the English language. At its best, it can conjure an enchanted circle.
If you’re like many Christians, the only time you hear an extended passage of Scripture out loud is at church when someone shares the reading for the day.
When you study the Bible–whether individually, with your family, or in a group–we hope you take the time to read aloud at least some of the passages you’re studying.
Reading out loud slows you down and helps you see Scripture in new ways. It also helps you better remember what you’ve read. It can especially heighten your appreciation for some of the more lyrical passages of Scripture: try reading Psalm 104 aloud, for example, and hear your voice naturally crescendo as you progress through the psalm.
Audio Bibles are another way to experience the Bible out loud. You can put them on your iPod and listen to them during your commute–or just for fun.
MP3 technology has dramatically reduced the cost of audio Bibles. Max McLean has recorded the entire ESV onto four MP3 CDs, which you can get (at the time of this writing) for about the price of a high-quality printed ESV: $41.99 at Christianbook.com.
You can also listen to the New Testament read by Marquis Laughlin in smaller increments for free at the ESV Online Edition. Of course, then you have to stay near your computer and remain connected to the Internet.
HT: Josh Sowin
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