Devotional Reading
The Discipline of Devotional Reading
The Discipline of Devotional Reading
Pastor Richard Hovey
Pastor Richard Hovey
"Most of us, if we are going to experience the Bible as a life changing text charged with the presence of God, are going to have to learn all over again how to read it. There are all sorts of assumptions and preconceived ideas we may need to lay aside, and some new expectations we'll need to nurture. There are fresh skills to be learned, the skills of attentiveness, openness and obedience alongside the skills of the linguist, the exegete, and the theologian."
"Most of us, if we are going to experience the Bible as a life changing text charged with the presence of God, are going to have to learn all over again how to read it. There are all sorts of assumptions and preconceived ideas we may need to lay aside, and some new expectations we'll need to nurture. There are fresh skills to be learned, the skills of attentiveness, openness and obedience alongside the skills of the linguist, the exegete, and the theologian."
Chris Webb, The Fire of the Word
Practicing the Discipline of Devotional Reading of Scripture
Practicing the Discipline of Devotional Reading of Scripture
Below are two books to help in understanding the use of Lectio in devotional reading.
An Overview of Lectio Divina by James Martin
An Overview of Lectio Divina by James Martin
Resources
Resources
Articles
Articles
Relearning our Story (using Lectio) by Chris Hall
An example of Visio Divina: Mary's Choice
Another resource, by Scripture Union Press, is The Story. This is a "bible reading guide" which is intentionally devotional - "connecting our story with God's story." Click on the image to go to their site.
Another resource, by Scripture Union Press, is The Story. This is a "bible reading guide" which is intentionally devotional - "connecting our story with God's story." Click on the image to go to their site.
"The Bible is not an 'object' for us to study but a partner with whom we may dialogue. . . Reading the Bible demands that we abandon the subject-object way of perceiving things. It requires that we give up the notion of the Bible as a 'book' to be acted upon, analyzed, studied, and interpreted. Perhaps it would help if we gave up reading it as a 'book' and regard it as a 'tradition' which continues to be alive and surging among us."
"The Bible is not an 'object' for us to study but a partner with whom we may dialogue. . . Reading the Bible demands that we abandon the subject-object way of perceiving things. It requires that we give up the notion of the Bible as a 'book' to be acted upon, analyzed, studied, and interpreted. Perhaps it would help if we gave up reading it as a 'book' and regard it as a 'tradition' which continues to be alive and surging among us."
Walter Brueggemann, The Bible Makes Sense
Devotional Reading of Auto/Biographies
Devotional Reading of Auto/Biographies
Eric Warren
Eric Warren
Sources for this reflection and for further reading:
Sources for this reflection and for further reading:
Damien the Leper John Farrow
The Spirit of Father Damien Jan de Volder
Patterns of Discipleship in the New Testament Richard N. Longnecker
Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (DVD) Paul Cox