College Union

One of the ways I’ve been trying to help my students live biblical truth is asking them to shift their focus from the practice of Bible reading to the experience of the reading Bible.

Instead of approaching the Bible like a crime scene investigator gathering evidence to bag, categorize, and label, let’s allow the words of Scripture to come to us as “living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword that penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow” (Hebrews 4:12).

What would happen if we let the Scripture read us? How might our lives be transformed if we exposed our lives to the word of truth, inviting God to challenge our assumptions about Jesus, about ourselves, and about our world? Would our relationships be different if we opened up our lives to the Spirit’s leading, if we let God gather evidence on us and analyze our thoughts, emotions, values, and behavior under the light of his presence?

And what would we hear if we entered the conversational rhythm of the Trinity? Would the realities of grace, mercy, and love be spoken into the depths of our souls in ways we never could have imagined?

Below are two resources for the ancient yet relevant practice of Lectio Divina, “divine listening.” For those of you who want more in depth coverage on Lectio Divina, the first resource links you to an article by Fr. Luke Dysinger, Accepting the Embrace of God: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. The second resource, written by Roger Weber, is a simplified way to practice Lectio Divina with your students. Lectio Divina does not take the place of other types of Scripture study. It does, however, offer another way to let God speak to us.

Resource 1: Accepting the Embrace of God: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina.

Resource 2: Lectio Divina, by Roger Weber^[1]

The following is a method of reading scripture that is 1700 years old.  It is called “Lectio Divina,” which simply means “divine reading”. It is a meditative reading that encourages you to engage your heart as well as your head.  It can be practiced in groups or individually.

Prepare:  Take a moment to come fully into the present.  Sit comfortably, alert and relaxed.  Try, if you can to put away your thoughts of the day and assume a listening open posture.

1.  Hear the word that is addressed to you.

First, read the passage twice.  Listen for the word or phrase that attracts you from within the passage.  Don’t analyze the passage for the key word. That is work that is done at another time. Here, just hang on to the word or phrase that jumps out at you. Repeat this word or phrase over to yourself softly for about one minute.  (If you are in a group the leader should signal after a minute, and every one in the group say aloud only that word of phrase with no elaboration.)

2.  Ask, “How is my life touched by this word?”

Read the passage a third time.  Listen to discover how your life is touched by this passage.  During two minutes of silence consider the possibilities, or receive a sensory perception.  For example you may feel cold or warm. One time when I was praying through a passage where Jesus was getting out of a boat I had a strong sense of the smell of fish. (If in a group, the leader gives a signal asking each member to share their perception with the phrases “I am touched by… ,” “I hear…,”  “I see…,”  “I sense…,” — or you may pass.)

3.  Ask, “Is there an invitation here for me?”

Read the passage for the fourth time. Listen to discover a possible invitation relevant to today (or the next few days). Ponder it during several minutes of silence. In fact, do not leave this place until you feel you have heard all there is for you. (If in a group the leader, after ample time gives a signal, and each member shares about their sense of invitation — OR you may pass)

4.  Pray for yourself or one another that you will be able to respond.

Gregg Taylor is Executive Director and Campus Minister at the University of Arkansas Wesley Foundation in Fayetteville, AR. gtaylor@uawesley.com.

---

[1] Source: http://www.intervarsity.org/mx/item/4009/

Categories: Spiritual Formation
Tags: