Wednesday, February 5, Childcare at Leawood, West, Overland Park will not be open during morning due to local public school systems announcing late arrival schedules. All church buildings will operate on regular schedule. However, at Leawood, West and Overland Park, programs requiring childcare will not be held prior to noon Wednesday.
On Sunday, February 9, we’re moving our regular 5 pm worship service to 4 pm so everyone can get home in time to watch the Chiefs play in the Super Bowl.
14 Remind them of these things and warn them in the sight of God not to engage in battles over words that aren’t helpful and only destroy those who hear them. 15 Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly.
23 Avoid foolish and thoughtless discussions, since you know that they produce conflicts. 24 God’s slave shouldn’t be argumentative but should be kind toward all people, able to teach, patient, 25 and should correct opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will change their mind and give them a knowledge of the truth.
Some people argue that they don’t need to “interpret” the Bible. “I just take the plain Word at face value,” they say. It appears the apostle Paul would disagree. He urged Timothy to put effort into reading and applying the Bible’s principles accurately. “Interpret[ing] the message of truth correctly” also involved embodying its principles in the way he taught and shared. “Be kind toward all people” was an important part of effectively guiding their study.
Lord of my life, help me to keep growing into a “tried and true worker” for your kingdom. Make me accurate, kind and gentle in sharing what I learn from you. Amen.
Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality, teaching at several seminaries. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. Her latest book (Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness, Abingdon Press, 2017) traces ancient mindfulness practice for Christians today.
(Shannon Starek was unable to write for today. Dr. Amy Oden first enlightened us with this post in 2019, but her insights–like the practice of reflectively reading the Bible–are timeless.)
Lectio Divina is Latin for “divine reading,” and is the name for an ancient practice used by many Christians to read the Bible more deeply. It is done by reading a passage 4 times, in this manner:
Read – What word or phrase especially speaks to you?
Meditate– What does your word or phrase mean to you?
Pray – How is God calling you to act in response to this passage?
Contemplate – Silently reflect, creating a space for God’s Spirit to speak to your heart.
The practice of “lectio divina” has been significant in changing my relationship with Scripture. I first encountered this practice 25 years ago and was surprised I hadn’t heard of it before. Until that time, my understanding of Scripture had come mostly through Bible study. That way of relating to the Word focused on information and interpretation. I’m grateful for Bible study, its insights and commitment to knowledge.
Lectio divina, however, pulled me into a different way of living in the Word. Lectio divina is not so much about information as formation, more about being known than knowing. Lectio divina invites me to open up my life and let God speak into it. With each of the 4 steps, I let Scripture read me, allowing a word or phrase to enter like a shaft of light through the surface of my life to illumine something at a deeper level. Sometimes it strikes a chord in me that I didn’t know was there. Sometimes it stirs up in me a desire to follow Jesus more closely.
Lectio divina can be playful, imaginative and dynamic. Through this practice, I’ve learned to be more relaxed and vulnerable with Scripture, because I’m not the one in charge here! Jesus, the Living Word, is the One who addresses me through Scripture, in all its messiness and beauty.
Give it try. Experiment with this ancient Christian practice. Use the passage in today’s GPS, a psalm or favorite passage of your own. See what happens. Let the Word read you.