Listening to the Word of God in a Personal Way


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Outline:


·      We listen to God through the Scripture in 2 Ways:
1.    Personally
2.    As a Community
·      We have focused on listening as a community last month
·      Now focusing on personal connection
·      Last week: listen through our own continual learning, specifically through what Study Bible we use
·      Now will look at how we hear what God is saying to us today
1.    Lectio Divina
·     Covered before as a method to be used with Groups
·     Also works for individuals
·     Designed to help focus on what God is saying to you today
o  Focuses on words and phrases that jump out
o  Those words help discern what God might be saying
·     As an individual, can take as much/little time as you choose
·     Can use with other books as well
2.    Ignatian Method
·     Idea is to put yourself in the place of characters in story
·     Ex. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
o  Which son do you identify with?
o  Could also identify with the father or the celebrators
·     Could do this with non-Parable Stories too
o  NT ex. the anointing of Jesus’ feet
§  Version in all 4 Gospels 
§  What Character do we identify with?
·     Woman
·     Those opposed (Simon, Judas, others)
·     or even Jesus
o  OT ex. Golden Calf (Exodus 32)
§  Identify w/Aaron, Moses, People, or even God
o  Other Examples throughout Scripture as well
·     Point is to see where you are in your life
o  Helps to see who you are
o  Can help see where our relationship with God is
o  Can also help to see where we might need to change  
·   Helps understand stories in a new way because we become present in the stories

To Sum Up:
·      Many different ways to look at and understand Scripture
·      These Methods help hear what God is saying to us personally
·      Help us engage with Scripture deeper and more personally
·      Helps our individual growth