Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
There's a verse in 1 Timothy 4:13 that says, "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." In this verse, Paul is instructing a young preacher named Timothy in the ways that he can keep his congregation engaged. The importance of preaching and teaching are easy enough to understand, but what about the public reading of Scripture?
Due to the powerful effect of public Scripture reading, reading Scripture aloud became a key practice in the Jewish faith.
Paul and other Apostles writings were routinely read publicly. Of course, in Biblical times, few people knew how to read, meaning that unless the Scriptures were read aloud they would never hear them. Nevertheless, it's important not to underestimate the power that public Scripture reading still has for Christians today. Reading alongside other people guards us against distractions and provides us with fellowship. It's a practice that God's people have always done to remind themselves of who they are and what they have been called for, and it's still a powerful practice for us today.
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