Lectio divina, or divine reading, is the ancient Christian practice of communicating with God through the reading and study of Scripture. The Lectio Divina Bible Studies build on this time-honored tradition, inviting readers to listen to God as they read His word. The approach is built around eight steps, lectio, meditation, oratio, contemplation, silencio, incarnation, epitome, and praeparatio - all designed to help the reader slow down, read Scripture, meditate upon it, and prayerfully respond to God's Word.
Each Lectio Divina Study is designed around these elements:
Summary - a brief overview of the session
Silence - a time of quieting oneself before reading the Word
Preparation - focusing the mind on the central theme of the text
Reading - carefully reading a passage of Scripture
Meditation - exploring the meaning of the Bible passage
Contemplation - yielding oneself to God's will
Prayer - expressing praise, thanksgiving, confession, or agreement to God
Incarnation - resolving to act on the message of Scripture |
