Reading Scripture in a Service - Public Speaking

Question

I'm often asked to read scripture in church. How do I make this sound interesting even when I'm reading?

Answer 1

General notes with scripture reading: 

1. Read over the passage you’ve been asked to read 2-3 times and make sure you understand what you’re saying 
2. Mark up the spots in the passage where you want to vary your pacing / inflection / stress / volume - practice that!
3. Decide how you will say any difficult names / places and practice them - the key is sounding confident, not necessarily being correct. :) 
4. Practice, practice, practice - try to read through it OUT LOUD and ideally standing up; run through it 4-5 times before you are ready. 
5. After going through it multiple times, try to look up for longer periods of time. Look for places to look up that are more interesting or the phrasing is easier. Try to look up. 
6. Put a pleasant / interested expression on your face - consider raising your eyebrows just a bit to make yourself look more interested and less grumpy / bored / tired.
7. Use your hand / fingers / thumbs as guides to show you where you’re at so you can look up and then back down and not lose your place. 
8. Now that you’re thinking about all that, go back and read it out loud once or twice more. 
9. Especially practice once or twice the day before and that morning when you’ll be speaking. 
10. These things will become more natural the more you practice them!

I'd love to help you practice this skill. If you've been asked to read a specific scripture, we can work on that together or we can work on reading scripture in general. Message me to find a time that fits both of us!