Session 3 "Inspired by Scripture"



Opening Prayer:  

O God, May we bless you as long as we live, lifting up our hearts, calling on your name, and meditating on your power and glory. When we are spiritually hungry, satisfy our souls with a rich feast. When our bodies thirst and yearn for comfort, replenish us with living waters. When we find ourselves lost and unprotected, shadow us in your sheltering wings. With your stronghold, defend us. Amen.



We read the children's book Is that story true? by Laura Alary, about bedtime stories that contain a bit of history, some mythology, parable and scripture, but which usually contain some "truth" even if they are not facts, where Maggie says to her mother "I've been thinking... I think that some stories are true on the inside, even if they are not true on the outside."



Do you have a favourite story or biblical image? Why?



What is your relationship to scripture today?

-          Something from childhood/history

-          Something that happens at church/worship?

-          Something that is interwoven in your life today?


Approaches to scripture can be:

1)      Literal - though even these often pick and choose what to read

2)      Historical - taking the Bible apart like archeologists

3)      Metaphorical - the literal storm becomes our stormy lives

4)      Sacramental - reading the 23rd Psalm at a memorial service



We also looked at various Bible translations – read Matthew 5:1-10 The Beatitudes

Some of the group loved the poetry and familiarity of traditional versions - at other times we welcome the wake-up of a new perspective.



What does it mean to have a “spiritual practice” of scripture – what would it mean if you read scripture every day?  


Do you think it would inspire you?

Bott/Anderson suggest the gospel of John.  With the time left in Lent, we could read a chapter (almost) every day, until John 18 – which begins the passion story 
Or you can do the old-fashioned "open on any page and read where your finger falls" method.  


It is not meant to be Bible Study, but a time to encounter scripture.  Just to ask yourself: how does this make me feel? Am I inspired or resisting what it says and why? What questions do I have about it? How does it frame what I did today/what I plan to do today?



We took some questions from Biblical Bingo and each person spoke about the category that reflected something from their relationship with scripture:

Do you or Have you:
  • Had a grandparent who read or told Bible stories to you when you were a child? 
  • Seen a film based on a biblical story? 
  • Know how many Bibles you have in your home?
  • Performed in a biblical drama or musical – what part did you play? 
  • Have a Bible (or bible story book) from your childhood? 
  • Memorized bible verses (are there any you still remember?)
  • Use a Bible for something other than the one intended?
  • Eaten the three fruits mentioned in the Bible? (figs, apples, pomegranates)
  • Had a name taken from the Bible?
  • Have a preferred Bible translation?
  • Know how to say “Bible” in a language other than English? 
  • Feel confident to find any book in the Bible? 
  • Travelled to a place mentioned in the Bible? 
  • Passed Bible stories on to another generation? 
  • Heard a rabbi teaching from the Torah?
  • Make reference to Bible quotes or stories in everyday conversations? 

We closed with the United Church "Statement of Faith" on scripture (2006) – a few lines at a time:   



“Scripture is our song for the journey, the living word passed on from generation to generation, to guide and inspire  – that we might wrestle a holy revelation for our time and place from the human experiences and cultural assumptions of another era.  God calls us to be doers of the word and not hearers only.  The Spirit breathes revelatory power into scripture bestowing upon it a unique and normative place in the life of the community.  The spirit judges us critically when we abuse scripture by interpreting it narrow-mindedly, using it as a tool of oppression, exclusion or hatred.  The wholeness of scripture testifies to the oneness and faithfulness of God.  The multiplicity of scripture testifies to its depth: two teatments, four gospels, contrasting points of view held in tension –   All a faithful witness to the One and Triune God, the Holy Mystery that is Wholly Love. “

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