Analysis of the responses to Q19. The data derived from Q19 implies that 70% of worship pastors include Scripture reading as a part of the corporate worship service that precedes the sermon. (This calculation is based upon 30% of the worship pastors indicating that Scripture is typically only read during the message, implying that 70% include Scripture reading as a part of their corporate worship services.)  Slightly over one-third of the worship pastors sampled include Scripture reading as a part of their service beginnings. This means that a majority of worship services, over 62%, do not include Scripture reading as a part of their worship service beginnings. In addition, almost one-third of the worship pastors surveyed include no Scripture reading as a part of the congregational worship time preceding the message. Figure 8 offers a visual representation of Scripture’s place in worship services:

Figure 8. Chronological placement of Scripture reading

Presentation of Q19 and response bank. Q19 was designed to discover whether Scripture reading is a part of worship service beginnings. The question was stated as follows:

Q19. When is Scripture typically read during the portion of the worship service that precedes the message? Check all that apply.

Worship pastors were asked to select one or more of the following time periods where Scripture reading occurs in their worship services:

1. Near or at the beginning (e.g., within the first 10 minutes)
2. The middle (e.g., minutes 11-20)
3. Near the end (e.g., minutes 21-30)
4. Scripture is typically only read during the message
5. Other

Table 6 indicates the responses by worship pastors concerning the time period in which Scripture reading may occur in their worship services.

Worship pastors could select more than one response to Q19. The total number of worship pastors responding to this question was n=260. Calculations are based on the total number of worship pastors responding to the question (n=260) rather than the total number of responses.