Lectio Divina In Christianity, Lectio Divina (Latin for divine reading) is a traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer dating back to the 4 th century Benedictine monks. It has been practiced by such pastors as John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Richard Baxter. Lectio Divina can be done privately, in groups, or in a corporate worship setting and is intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of His Word. This method of reading, meditation and prayer treats Scripture as the Living Word, which speaks to individuals and to a community. I. Preparing (Silencio) – Allow a minute of silence to relax the body and open the ears of the heart. Focus on God and come into his presence. This is a time of Gentle praise or surrender in prayer. II. Listening / Reading (Lectio) – Invite one to read the passage slowly while others follow along listening for a word, phrase or image that strikes them. Give a few minutes to settle on a word… Folks may want to use a journal to focus. Then share around the group briefly their word, phrase of image. III. Meditating (Meditatio) – Have a different person read the passage, perhaps in a different version. Have people reflect on “What is God saying in this word… Why did this word, phrase of image speak to you?” Again, give people a couple minutes to reflect. Have each one share their insight. IV. Contemplating (Contemplatio) – Have another read the passage a third time. Allow some quiet time of reflection on the question: “From what I have heard and shared what does God want me to do?" Or, "How does God invite me to change?" Share with one another what you heard. V. Praying (Oratio) – Silent prayer may be a part of the silence throughout the process. You may invite each one to respond in prayer to what God has spoken to them and others agree. Or have each one pray for the person on their right. The Ethiopian Eunuch – Acts 8:16-40 August 24, 2014 Worship (worthiness or worth-ship) – Tithes or Offerings (tenth or freewill giving) – Preparing (Silencio) – Listening / Reading (Lectio) – Acts 8: 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. [NIV] What image, word, or phrase struck you? Worship (worthiness or worth-ship) –
Transcript
Lectio Divina
In Christianity, Lectio Divina (Latin for divine reading) is a traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer dating back to the 4
th century
Benedictine monks. It has been practiced by such pastors as John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Richard Baxter. Lectio Divina can be done privately, in groups, or in a corporate worship setting and is intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of His Word. This method of reading, meditation and prayer treats Scripture as the Living Word, which speaks to individuals and to a community.
I. Preparing (Silencio) – Allow a minute of silence to relax the body and open the ears of the heart. Focus on God and come into his presence. This is a time of Gentle praise or surrender in prayer.
II. Listening / Reading (Lectio) – Invite one to read the passage slowly while others follow along listening for a word, phrase or image that strikes them. Give a few minutes to settle on a word… Folks may want to use a journal to focus. Then share around the group briefly their word, phrase of image.
III. Meditating (Meditatio) – Have a different person read the passage, perhaps in
a different version. Have people reflect on “What is God saying in this word… Why did this word, phrase of image speak to you?” Again, give people a couple minutes to reflect. Have each one share their insight.
IV. Contemplating (Contemplatio) – Have another read the passage a third time.
Allow some quiet time of reflection on the question: “From what I have heard and shared what does God want me to do?" Or, "How does God invite me to change?" Share with one another what you heard.
V. Praying (Oratio) – Silent prayer may be a part of the silence throughout the
process. You may invite each one to respond in prayer to what God has spoken to them and others agree. Or have each one pray for the person on their right.
The Ethiopian Eunuch – Acts 8:16-40 August 24, 2014
Worship (worthiness or worth-ship) –
Tithes or Offerings (tenth or freewill giving) –
Preparing (Silencio) –
Listening / Reading (Lectio) –
Acts 8: 26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
27 So he started out, and on his
way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot
reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man
reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he
invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32
This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about,
himself or someone else?” 35
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the
road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
38 And he gave orders to stop the
chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about,
preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. [NIV]
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)
27 So he got
up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot,
and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and
said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31
And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. 33
“IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the
prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
36 As they
went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
37 [And Philip said, “If you
believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]
38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they
both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched
Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 40
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea. [NASB]
What is God saying to you and why?
Worship (worthiness or worth-ship) –
Contemplating (Contemplatio) – Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.
27 And he
rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship
28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he
was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet
and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33
In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say
this, about himself or about someone else?” 35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
36 And as
they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
38 And he
commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39 And when they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed
through he preached the gospel to all the towns
“From what I have heard & shared, what does God want me to do?” Or, “How does God invite me to change?"
Praying (Oratio) –
BI:
Worship (worthiness or worth-ship) –
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Pastor Ryan Faust Senior Pastor [email protected] follow on Twitter @RyanJFaust
