Setting aside portions of time from church gathers for the pupose of corporately sharing from the Word is very profitable.  In some churches times is set aside for sharing "testimonies."  This can be profitable, but not as profitable as having people share only from the Word.  Dedicating time to corporate sharing from the Word is profitable for many reasons.

 

We learn to appreciate the Word as we see it powerfully work in each other’s lives.

Psalm 1:1-3
1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

 

Psalm 119:103         
103How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

We are challenged to be ready to encourage others from the Word.  We should always be ready to challenge and encourage others from the Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

These times give each of us an opportunity to fulfill our responsibility of encouraging others from the Word.  We all have the responsibility to encourage others from the Word.  This is one way we can work towards fulfilling that responsibility.

Psalm 119:172
172My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.

 

Colossians 3:16
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

 

It reminds us all that the body of Christ does not reach maturity through the preaching and teaching of pastors alone. 

Ephesians 4:15-16
15…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

It reminds everyone of the personal responsibility to study and know the Scriptures.  When someone only listens to preaching he is not fulfilling his personal responsibility to know the Scriptures. 

Acts 17:11
11Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.