Shema.
Hear, O Israel.
For centuries, the Word of the God was spoken and heard.
The people of God would listen as their parents and grandparents and leaders and shepherds would recount their creation stories, their deliverance stories, their war stories, their resistance stories. They sat under the stories of God together.
Poems. Songs. History. Everything Israel knew of Scripture was experienced within the context of community. After hearing the Scriptures, they would bring their questions, ideas, confusion and clarity into that same community and wrestle with God and one another for a revelation of truth that would shape them.
The early Jesus followers were no different. With the Holy Spirit as their guide, they were faced with the task of wrestling with the Jewish Scriptures anew in light of the reality that the Messiah had come.
Every year, we explore what it means to be a Spirit-empowered community in our own context and approach to scripture. Week by week, we will engage and respond to a different text (this year from a variety of Paul’s letters to different churches) through the ancient spiritual practice of Lectio Divina (learn more here.).
Please read through this week's passage of Scripture three times using the following questions and practices to guide you.
Lectio (Read)
Read the passage slowly and carefully.
1) What images or words stand out as you hear/read the text?
Meditatio (Reflect)
Read the passage a second time. Take time to sit in the passage and engage it with your imagination. Pay attention to the details. Repeat the main words or phrases that are sticking out to you.
2) What might the Spirit be inviting you to receive from this text?
Oratio (Respond)
Read the passage a third time. Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding of what he is saying.
3) What might the Spirit be inviting us to do or put into practice as individuals and/or as a community through this text?
After prayerfully engaging with the text, either as a group or individual, please share your insights, questions, visions, or convictions with us! We want to know what you are hearing so that we can get a fuller picture of what Jesus is saying to our community.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Share with us what Jesus is revealing to you in this passage!
Written Reflection - Reflect on and answer one or all of the three questions above.
Questions - What questions arise for you about the text or what it means?
Creative Expression - Respond to what the text is revealing to you through song, poetry, sculpture, painting, photography or any other creative expression.
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