The Practice of Lectio Divina

Recently I led a sermon with a Lectio Divina practice. A third of my allotted preaching time I used on a spiritual practice. It was the second time I was a guest preacher for this congregation and decided, “why not?”

Truthfully, it is because I was preaching a parable of Jesus and parables are illustrations mean to explain things that are unexplainable. Lectio Divina is a practice that helps us listen with our mind and heart. It is a practice that helps us to enter the Scripture, imagining ourselves in the story and paying attention to what comes up. It gives space not for answers but for ways of living and being.

This particular parable was in the context of the disciples asking, “Jesus, when will your kingdom come?” Jesus answered two ways. His first response was, “no one knows” and his second response was a parable illustrating how to live. The invitation with how to live is to know him, be aligned to him, and to be faithful.

Knowing.

Alignment.

Faithfulness.

These three things: knowing, alignment, and faithfulness reflect two of the three foundations of life with God. The three are: union with God, connection to community, and mission in the world. Knowing and alignment are reflected in our union with God. Faithfulness is reflected in living out our mission or call in the world.

We often jump to faithfulness, putting good things in the world, utilizing what God has given us, and love others. We are doing things “for” God. Yet, God’s invitation and call for us is not in the “for”, it is “with”. We get to serve WITH God. And the gifts that come for us through this is greater joy and even greater union with God (Matthew 25:14-23).

So, when you have questions for God and he doesn’t respond with an answer, you might want to look for the stories that he has. These stories that are found throughout Scripture to be listened to and heart. These stories that provide a response to the questions you didn’t even know you were asking. The questions of the heart.

Lectio Divina is a part of every retreat we lead in our Fuller Formation Groups. This along with other practices are introduced and learned throughout a year of formation. If you are interested in learning more about Fuller Formation Groups, please contact us