Adventure Lectio

Team Divina
Devotional ancient Christian practices series.

//01.09.09-01.11.09//

“I will meditate on your

precepts and fix my eyes on
your ways. I will delight in
your statutes; I will not
forget your word.”
- Psalm 119:15-16
 Lectio Divina
History of Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina (‘Sacred Reading’) is an ancient method of Bible study,
practiced at one time by nearly all Christians. Falling out of popular use
during the Protestant Reformation, Lectio Divina has been kept alive
through the Christian monastic movement. Traditional Lectio Divina
involves four phases: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation.
These four movements date back to the 12th century when Guigo II, a
Carthusian monk, wrote a book entitled The Monk’s Ladder. In his book,
Guigo II laid out his four ‘rungs’ which are like a ladder lifting one up
from earth to heaven as one proceeds through the four movements of
Lectio Divina.
Purpose
To enter deeply into God’s presence by reading, meditating, praying, and
contemplating the Scriptures.
Practice
** See back page for tips on practicing Lectio Divina in a group setting
1. Preparation
o Choose a passage of Scripture to read – You may randomly
choose a passage of Scripture each time you read, you may
methodically work through a book of the Bible, or you may
follow a Bible reading plan – choose what works best for you. Try
not to set any goals on how much you will read – leave that in
God’s hands, some days only a single word will be all that you
will get through.
o Find a quiet place –This should be a place without distraction
where you are comfortable. Use a posture (sitting, standing,
kneeling, etc.) that best prepares you to experience God’s
presence.
o Prayer – Ask the Holy Spirit to help you let go of any worries,
tensions, etc. that you may have and that you may fully enter into
the manifest presence of God.
2. Reading (1st Movement) – Once you have found a quiet place and
have taken a few moments to still your mind, begin by slowly reading
the passage of Scripture that you have chosen several times. Don’t
rush through as you read and pay attention to words and phrases that
catch your attention. Allow the passage to trigger memories and other
thoughts. Watch for a certain word or phrase that says, “I am for you
today.”
3. Meditation (2nd Movement) – Take that word or phrase that
caught your attention and begin to repeat it over and over again.
Focus on the feelings and emotions that arise as you repeat the word
or phrase. Do not be disappointed by distracting thoughts – as
thoughts or ideas arise, offer them to God. Allow your meditations to
draw you into a conversation with God.
4. Prayer (3rd Movement) – Once you have had ample time to
meditate, begin speaking to God and asking for illumination. Tell God
the word or phrase that stuck out to you and what it brought to mind
as you meditated on it. Ask God for a deeper understanding of this
word or phrase and how it can draw you into a deeper relationship
with Him.
5. Contemplation (4th Movement) – Recognize and take comfort in
the fact that you are in the presence of God. This is a time to simply
enjoy God’s presence. In this final step you must stop doing and learn
to simply be.
6. Journal - Take a few moments to journal your experience using
Lectio Divina
Tips for Lectio Divina
o Try not to set any goals on how many verses you will read
each time.
o Contemplation is the hardest step to achieve – it requires time
and patience, but the benefits are well worth it.
o Sometimes in Lectio Divina you will need to look back at
your Scripture passage to further enjoy the word or phrase or
you may need to choose a new word or phrase – that is ok.
o Feel free to return to previous movements of Lectio Divina as
many times as needed. There is no absolute structure to Lectio
Divina.
 Date: ___/___/______ Date: ___/___/______

Lectio Divina Lectio Divina

What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you today? What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you
today?

As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or

ideas did it bring to mind? As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or
ideas did it bring to mind?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship with
God? What is God calling you to do? How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship
with God? What is God calling you to do?
 Date: ___/___/______ Date: ___/___/______

Lectio Divina Lectio Divina

What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you today? What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you
today?

As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or

ideas did it bring to mind? As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or
ideas did it bring to mind?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship with
God? What is God calling you to do? How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship
with God? What is God calling you to do?
 Date: ___/___/______ Date: ___/___/______

Lectio Divina Lectio Divina

What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you today? What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you
today?

As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or

ideas did it bring to mind? As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or
ideas did it bring to mind?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship with
God? What is God calling you to do? How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship
with God? What is God calling you to do?
 Date: ___/___/______ Date: ___/___/______

Lectio Divina Lectio Divina

What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you today? What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you
today?

As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or

ideas did it bring to mind? As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or
ideas did it bring to mind?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship with
God? What is God calling you to do? How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship
with God? What is God calling you to do?
 Date: ___/___/______ Date: ___/___/______

Lectio Divina Lectio Divina

What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you today? What passage did you read? What word or phrase stood out to you
today?

As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or

ideas did it bring to mind? As you meditated on the word or phrase, what emotions, thoughts, or
ideas did it bring to mind?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

Did God give you a deeper understanding of the word or phrase?

How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship with
God? What is God calling you to do? How will today’s Lectio Divina draw you into a deeper relationship
with God? What is God calling you to do?
Practicing Lectio Divina as a Group
First Reading
Choose an individual to slowly read the selected passage of Scripture
aloud twice. During the first reading, each person should be listening
for a word or phrase that catches their attention. Each person should
choose a word or phrase from the reading that says, “I am for you
today.” After the passage has been read twice, allow for 1-2 minutes of
silent reflection. During this time of reflection, individuals should
reflect on their chosen word or phrase by slowly repeating it. Once
individuals have had time to reflect on their chosen word or phrase,
allow time for each person to share their chosen word or phrase.

Second Reading
Choose another individual to slowly read the same selected passage
aloud two more times. After the passage has been read twice, allow for
2-3 minutes of silent reflection. During this time of reflection,
individuals should reflect on the question, “Where does the word or
phrase you have chosen touch your life today?” Once individuals have
had time to reflect on the question, allow time for each person to share
briefly.

Third Reading
Choose another individual to slowly read the same selected passage
two more times aloud. After the passage has been read twice, allow for
2-3 minutes of silent reflection. During this time of reflection,
individuals should reflect on the following question, “What does God
want you to do this week?” Once individuals have had time to reflect
on the question, allow time for each person to share at greater length
the results of their reflections.

Prayer
Thank God for each person’s reflections and that they would be
brought into a deeper relationship with Christ through this experience.