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Our preaching them for 2022 is Begin again.
Currently, I have entitled this series “spiritual awakening.”
But this is not so much a preaching series as it is a time to encounter God experientially.
Last week we read through the book of Esther interactively.
This week we are going to read a Psalm and it will also be interactive, but in a different way.
We are going to be reading through Psalm 40 three times, using three different readers.
Each time the Psalm is read, there will be a time of silent meditation, a little longer each time.
Then I will ask a question and we will open the mic for sharing your reflections.
After all of that we will close with a time of communion.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is the Latin phrase which means “Spiritual Reading”
The practice dates back to at least the sixth century, possibly even the third.
Origen, Ambrose and Augustine used the term “spiritual reading”, but the steps were not made clear until later.
It was published as a four-step process by a monk (Guigo II) in the Eleven Hundreds.
The practice of reading the scripture and meditating on it was sometimes described as “Jacobs Ladder” leading to heaven.
Today as Protestant Evangelicals we practice and teach hermeneutics which is the science of biblical interpretation.
What does the text say?
What does the text mean?
What does it means for us today?
But the steps of biblical exegesis are not so different from that of the spiritual reading
Lectio - reading the text
Meditatio - understanding the text
Oratio - praying over the text
Contemplatio - listening to God; obeying the text
Do you ever find that you Bible reading is just going through the motions?
Some people don’t read the Bible because they say they don’t get anything out of it.
What if we were to slow down and be more deliberate about the process?
Better yet, what if we do it together?
We are going to practice a spiritual reading of Psalm 40 and let God speak to us through the scripture and through each other.
First, let me describe the process in more detail:
Reading
We are going to read the passage multiple times.
It is important that we don’t just read the words, but that we hear them.
Reading aloud is an interpretive act as it requires expression and tone to give meaning to the words.
We are going to have three different readers, they may even use different translations.
Different readers gives us the opportunity to hear and interpret differently.
Meditation
When you are reading the scripture, it is also reading you.
How you feel when you hear the words?
What you notice or ignore says something about you.
So when the scripture is read, pay attention, not just to the text but to what is going on inside you.
For meditation you want to take a bite sized piece of what you hear and chew on it.
Find a word or phrase that jumps out at you an mull it over until you understand what it means,and more importantly, what it means to you.
Prayer
Ask God about what you are hearing.
If you don’t understand why something is standing out to you, ask God!
Ask God what message he is trying to speak to you through the scripture.
Listen in the silence for God’s voice or at least for clues to what God might be saying.
Pay attention to what you think and feel.
Expect God’s Presence to answer you.
Contemplation
Contemplation is cultivating an awareness of God’s Presence.
It is also becoming aware of what is on the inside of one’s self.
Thoughts and emotions that we have suppressed are brought to the light and held up against the truth of God’s Word.
Most important to this step is the alignment of our hearts with that of God.
First reading
We are going to pray, read the passage and then take two minutes for silent reflection.
As you are reflecting, what sticks in your mind?
I am going to give opportunity to share a word or a phrase that spoke to your heart.
I will repeat it for those online.
“Lord, as we listen to your Word, illuminate it for us that we might hear what you are saying.”
Two minute countdown
Call out a word or a phrase that stands out to you from the text and I will repeat it for those online.
Second Reading
We are going to read the Psalm again.
This time I am going to have Vicki read it.
After she has finished reading we are going to have three minutes of silence.
I want you to use that time to pray about what you have heard.
Talk to God about what you are hearing and ask God the questions that are on your heart.
After the time of silence, I am going to ask 2 or 3 people to share what God is speaking to them.
3 Minute Countdown
What is God saying to you through the scripture?
Who has heard something from God that you would be willing to share with the congregation?
Come to the mic so those online can hear.
And if you are online and want to share something, you can type it in the chat to Karie or send one of us a text and we will share it.
Third Reading
We are going to read the Psalm a third time.
This time I am going to have Jeffery read it.
After he has finished reading we are going to have five minutes of silence.
I want you to continue your conversation with God.
Ask God what He wants you to do with what you have heard.
You might find yourself wrestling with what God is saying, but remember that he won’t ask you to do anything that He will not also equip and empower you to do.
Concentrate on His Presence and His sufficiency as you contemplate what is your part.
After the time of silence, I am going to ask 2 or 3 people to either share what God is speaking to them or perhaps to simply lead out in a corporate prayer for strength and boldness to obey God.
5 Minute Countdown
What is God directing to you to do through the scripture?
Who has heard something from God that you would be willing to share with the congregation?
Come to the mic so those online can hear.
Perhaps it is not so much sharing as it is making a declaration of your obedience to God.
Or perhaps if what you are sharing is true for many of us, you would lead us in a prayer of response to God.
Communion
Jesus became the sacrifice for sin.
When we take this bread - it is not so that God will forgive us or save us - He has already done that!
He wants to open our ears to hear Him.
He wants to have relationship - fellowship with us.
We are partaking of His body - we are His Body!
By partaking, we are renewing our connection to the Head - to Christ our source.
As we partake of the bread, tell God that you are listening and that you delight to do His will.
Lord Jesus Christ, let this bread that we partake, not only remind us of you, but let it be you in us.
Open our spiritual ears.
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