Week 3: Scripture - Take Home Sheet

Week 3: Scripture
Additional Thoughts/Information/Suggestions

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. – The Book of Common Prayer

Spiritual reading is a meditative approach to the written word. It requires unhurried time and an open heart. If the purpose of our reading is to be addressed by God, we will need to practice attentive listening and a willingness to respond to what we hear. Many kinds of literature can be read in this manner (even newspapers, if we are willing to hear to what God may be saying to us through current events). But the primary focus of spiritual reading for Christians has always been scripture, with good reason. The purpose for which the scriptures were written - presenting hearers with God’s Word – and the purpose of spiritual reading – allowing ourselves to be addressed by God’s Word – are completely consonant. They are suited to each other as a hand and a glove. – Marjorie J. Thompson


More resources for spiritual reading:

Meditations on the Book of Psalms by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton
Short daily devotions on various Psalms

A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People by Reuben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck
Lectionary based resource combining prayer, scripture, and spiritual quotations

Wisdom’s Daughters: Stories of Women Around Jesus by Elizabeth G. Watson
Stories that lend flesh and meaning to the women who were part of the Jesus movement.

In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henri Nouwen
Read anything by Henri Nouwen, but especially read this short gem on being a humble leader.

White China: Finding the Divine in the Everyday by Molly Wolf
An incredible book broken up into smaller devotional readings from a woman who has amazing wisdom about life, divorce, loss, nature, and just about anything else.

Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by Dr. Lauren Artress
If you have never walked a labyrinth read this and re-discover an ancient practice that is incredibly spiritual.

Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris
A classic book struggling with what what we name things and why it matters.

A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren
One of the evangelical emerging church leaders that I greatly admire. Read this book.

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
Struggling with scripture? Read this and learn how scripture is central to our faith and yet can be read in new ways.

Reflecting the Glory: Meditations for Living Christ’s Life in the World by N.T. Wright
Daily meditations that challenge you to live as Christ to a broken world. Not an easy read, but one that will make you think.

Please share books or other resources that have been sources of spiritual nurture for you.