Lectio Divina: Discipleship and Evangelism

From the Rule of Saint Benedict: (Idleness is the enemy of the soul)

Therefore, the daily life of discipleship is labor and sacred reading

Today's Scripture: Matthew 10:1-33

Four movements of Lectio Divina:

Lectio (Read): Read attentively and carefully, identify key words

Disciples: a learner, pupil

Apostles: ambassador, commissioner, delegate, messenger

Heal, resurrect, cleanse: requires power

Acquire nothing: depend on those we are serving, offer peace to the receptive, warning to the rejecting

Persecution is opportunity to witness: The Spirit will speak through us in persecution

Persecution is prompted by Christ-likeness: the more we’re like Christ, the more we’re treated like Him

Endurance leads to salvation: if we acknowledge Christ on earth He will acknowledge us in heaven

Do not fear men: fear only God

Meditatio (Think): Reflect, ask what is God saying to me?

An integral part of discipleship is evangelism, or sharing the gospel. As we are faithful to share the gospel, God promises to empower us, provide for us, and speak through us. He also promises that our success will provoke persecution that may test our faith, but staying focused on our Father in heaven will encourage endurance that will produce a stronger witness and increase our assurance of salvation.

Oratio (Pray): Respond to God

Lord, please help me to be sensitive and responsive to the opportunities you provide for me to share the gospel. Increase my faith in your empowering and providing hand and fill me with your anointed words that I might look, live, and love more like Jesus Christ each day. Please keep me focused on You, fearful of no one or nothing of earth, that I might endure persecution with a testimony that exalts Christ here on earth and anticipates His blessed acknowledgement in heaven.

Contemplatio (Act): How am I changed by this encounter with God?

Today, I am reminded of the inseparable link between discipleship and evangelism. With God’s grace, may this reminder make me more sensitive and responsive to gospel-sharing opportunities every day.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina means Sacred Reading. It is a method of reading the Scriptures devotionally that was developed by Saint Benedict and incorporated into his rule for his monasteries. Benedict created and developed monasteries during the time of the collapsing Roman culture for the purpose of preserving the Christian faith and passing it on to a generation that he hoped would rebuild Christian culture. He instructed his leaders in the priority of the scriptures for maturing disciples with these words... 

"Idleness is the enemy of the soul, therefore, the daily life of discipleship is labor and sacred reading".

Because the goals of classical and Christian schools are also preserving and passing on the faith to a Biblically-reasoning generation of culture-shaping disciples, our students might benefit from the practice of Lectio Divina. The logic stage of learning is an ideal time to introduce students to the practice in order to help them learn and develop a life-long habit of hearing from and responding to God's Word.

The four movements of Lectio Divina are:
Lectio (Read): Read attentively and carefully, identifying key words.
Meditatio (Think): Reflect, ask what is God saying to me?
Oratio (Pray): Prayerfully respond to God, acknowledge the challenge and ask for grace to obey.
Contemplatio (Act): Practically respond to God, ask how am I changed by this encounter with God?

Watch here for samples of Lectio Divina from our faculty and our students!