Lectio Divina
4
The study of God
Whether or not someone is a good _____________ depends on what shapes their worldview.
theologian
Relative truth is ___________ true. Absolute truth is ___________ true.
Relative truth is sometimes true. Absolute truth is always true.
Who are the three Persons of the Trinity?
The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit
What does "Lectio Divina" mean?
Divine Reading
What three things does theology seek out truth about?
1. God
2. Ourselves
3. The World
What is the foundation of our Christian worldview?
The Bible/Scripture/God's Word
What is an example of relative truth?
Examples: time, temperature, which way is right vs. left, best ice cream flavor
What does "Trinity" mean?
Three in one
What are the Lectio Divina steps?
1. Lectio: Read
2. Meditatio: Meditate
3. Oratio: Pray/Respond
4. Contemplatio: Contemplate/Rest
What is an example of a theological question?
...
Define "worldview" without using the words "world" or "view."
Anything along the lines of: "beliefs that impact our actions and interactions"
What is an example of absolute truth?
Examples: God created us. God is good. The earth revolves around the sun. Gravity exists.
During Jesus' baptism, how do we see all three Persons of the Trinity? (Matthew 3:13-17)
Jesus is baptized.
The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove.
The Father speaks from heaven, and says, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased."
Explain the Hebrew term hagah in relation to biblical meditation. (Hint: Cow)
What are the four key aspects of theology?
1. Biblical
2. Systematic
3. Contemporary
4. Practical
What are three examples of things that can impact someone's worldview.
Ex: friends, family, where they live, politics, climate, religion, church, finances, if they have siblings, birth order, if they are married, if they have kids, etc.
What is the opposite of absolute truth?
Deception
Timothy Keller described the Trinity as an eternal dance. In this dance, who does each Person of the Trinity glorify?
The Father glorifies the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Son glorifies the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son.
We talked about being still in Step 2 and Step 4 of Lectio Divina. Both of these steps require focus, but one is an "active stillness" and one is a "passive stillness." Which step is active, and which step is passive? Explain your answer.
Step 2 is active, because meditating on God's Word requires actively "chewing" and "rechewing" while being still.
Step 4 is passive, because it is about experiencing and resting in God's presence.
1. Biblical: Theology is based on God's Word
2. Systematic: Theology connects Scripture to build one big picture.
3. Contemporary: Theology uses modern language and ideas to express timeless truths.
4. Practical: Theology is a call to action.
Think about the Allegory of the Cave example from class. One prisoner left the cave and experienced the outside world. When he returned to tell the other prisoners, they all wanted to stay in the cave.
1. What does this example show us about how a lack of knowledge impacts someone's worldview?
2. Why is it important for us to study and read Scripture?
1. When someone lacks knowledge, they are unaware of truth.
2. It is important to study and read Scripture because it is the foundation of our worldview. God reveals truth to us through His Word, and we do our part by studying the context to understand what God is saying.
Culture treats absolute truth like it is relative truth by encouraging people to define their own identity and purpose.
1. Who gives us our identity and purpose?
2. Where do we look to find our identity and purpose?
3. Why is defining our own identity and purpose an impossible task?
1. God
2. The Bible
3. We were not created for the task of finding our own identity and purpose. This puts pressure on us that we were never meant to carry.
How does Timothy Keller define "glorify" regarding the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Timothy Keller defines "glorify" as "to praise, enjoy and delight." The appreciation and admiration of beauty is selfless and sparks joy.