Lectio Divina For Small Groups
If prayer is a conversation, it involves listening to God as much as it involves speaking to Him. One way we can hear God speak to us is through Scripture. We can listen to God speak to us through it by practicing an ancient form of prayer called Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina, directly translated from Latin, means “Divine Reading.” But our goal here isn’t simply to read as much of the Bible as possible. The goal is to slow down and pray with a small passage, let it soak in, and give God the space to speak into our present-day lives.
Lectio Divina is a method of prayer that can be used by one person or in a group setting. In this blog, we’ll be sharing about doing Lectio Divina in a small group setting. This format creates an environment conducive to sharing their prayer and reflections, while also hearing others’ experiences.
What Will I Need?
In order for Lectio Divina to be really effective as a group prayer experience, everyone should have a Bible to read along with and even be ready to underline words or phrases that stick out to them. We want to get young people comfortable with using a real Bible, so don't just print out the scripture on sheets of paper. We also recommend inviting your young people to bring a prayer journal as well.
Step 1: Lectio
In Latin, Lectio means “Reading.”
Begin by choosing a short passage. Typically, no more than five verses are recommended. One way to choose your passage is by starting with one of the readings for the upcoming weekend, a Psalm, or a parable from one of the Gospels.
Begin with the sign of the cross and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer. Next, pause for a moment of silence. Then, read the passage aloud three times, taking your time and giving a 10-second pause between readings.
During this step, encourage them to take note of any words or phrases that stand out to them. After reading the passage a final time, you can invite your small group members to share which word or phrase stood out to them but don't worry about diving into why this phrase stood out just yet.
Step 2: Meditatio
Meditatio is the Latin word for "Meditation".
This is the time to reflect on why this word or phrase might be standing out. We want the young people to reflect on their lives and ask themselves: why is this standing out to me?
Additionally, they should ask God: How does it relate to my family, relationships, problems, prayer, or any other aspects of my life?
Invite everyone to write their thoughts down in their journals. Then, encourage each person to share why they think the word or phrase caught their eye.
Step 3: Oratio
Oratio is from the Latin word for "speech" or "prayer."
Now that they have considered what God might be saying to each of them in scripture, this is their opportunity to respond to Him. Do they need to ask Him for grace, forgiveness, strength, or help in a situation or simply thank Him for His presence in their lives?
Invite small group members to write down their prayer in their journal. This step can be 5-10 minutes of silent prayer, or they can each speak aloud any thoughts they have.
Step 4: Contemplatio
Contemplatio comes from the Latin word for "Contemplation."
For this step, consider moving to a church, chapel, or quiet space. Regardless, invite your small group to spread out.
Have everyone take a deep breath, relax, and sit with their attention on the Lord. At any point in Lectio Divina, the person doing the praying is invited to move beyond words into a quiet time of resting and being near to God. If some experience this sense of “rest”, encourage them to sit with it.
However, we may not experience contemplation every time we pray, and that’s totally ok. This is a gift of grace, not the result of a formula.
So there you have it–a simple group format for Lectio Divina. Although these instructions are geared towards a group, encourage your small group members to try this method of prayer on their own and check in with them about their experience.
