Growing Deeply

a daily scripture guide

Week of January 11-16

Naturalists: Loving God Out Of Doors

Naturalists

Take the brief assessment below to see how much of a naturalist you are.
Rate each statement 1-5, with 1 being not true and 5 very true. Taken from
Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Souls Path to God by Gary Thomas.
_______1. I feel closest to God when Im surrounded by what He has made
the mountains, the forests, or the sea.
_______2. I feel cut off if I have to spend too much time indoors, just listening
to speakers or singing songs. Nothing makes me feel closer to God than being
outside.

A naturalist sees nature as a cathedral; a place God has built.

_______3. I would prefer to worship God by spending an hour beside a small

brook than by participating in a group service.

MONDAY: Matthew 6:27-33 Lily Lesson: Being, not doing

Just be like a lily. No toiling, spinning, worrying. Scripture reminds us that
God cares for all of us, including the lilies.

_______4. If I could escape to a garden to pray on a cold day, walk through a

meadow on a warm day, and take a trip by myself to the mountains on another
day, I would be very happy.

TUESDAY: Matthew 6:27-33 Lily Lesson: In the now

When in nature, you have permission to be fully present. Nature can center us
in the now instead of the past or future.

_______5. A book called Natures Sanctuaries: A Picturebook would be

appealing to me.

WEDNESDAY: Matthew 6:27-33 Lily Lesson: Seek God

Look for heaven on earth in nature.

_______6. Seeing Gods beauty in nature is more moving to me than

understanding new concepts, participating in a formal religious service, or
participating in social causes.
__ Total (Any score over 15 indicates a preference for this spiritual temperament.)

Sensates: Loving God With the Senses

Desire for the awe, beauty, and splendor of God; use the five senses to
worship with their hearts.
THURSDAY: Matthew 14:34-36 All touch his fringes
People begged to touch the fringes on Jesus cloak. His message preceded him,
and upon meeting him they desired to touch his clothes. And they were healed.
Read this scripture again with a piece of cloth in your hands.
FRIDAY: James 1:19-26 Hear the word
This lyric might speak to a sensate: Speak, you have my attention, Lord.
(Listen to the song Attention by Know Hope Collective)
SATURDAY: Luke 24:36-49 Look at me
Jesus appears after the resurrection and invites the disciples to look at him
his hands, his feet. How do you touch Jesus?

Sensates

Take the brief assessment below to see how much of a sensate you are.
Rate each statement 1-5, with 1 being not true and 5 very true. Taken from
Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Souls Path to God by Gary Thomas.
_______1. I feel closest to God when Im in a church that allows my senses to
come alive when I can see, smell, hear, and almost taste His majesty.
_______2. I enjoy attending a high church service with incense and formal
Communion or Eucharist.
_______3. Id have a difficult time worshipping in a church building that is plain
and lacks a sense of awe or majesty. Beauty is very important to me, and I have
a difficult time worshipping through second-rate Christian art or music.
_______4. The words sensuous, colorful, and aromatic are very appealing to
me.
_______5. A book called The Beauty of Worship would be appealing to me.
_______6. I would really enjoy using drawing exercises or art to improve my
prayer life.

Read or subscribe to the full weekly

Growing Deeply Guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.

__ Total (Any score over 15 indicates a preference for this spiritual temperament.)
Read or subscribe to the full weekly Growing Deeply Guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.