“Th3 Waters’ Favs” A Discussion Series Week 2: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Hey everyone, sorry here is the correct text for this week. I got a week ahead. Sorry.
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2 Corinthians 4:1-18
1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
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here is the basics to Lectio Divina (at least the basic way Th3 Waters does it:
Basic Guide to Lectio Divina
5 Step process:
1st Read Scripture out loud (looking/listening for shimmer points) (Remember first time through the shimmer point can be for information)
2nd take 2-5 mins. For silence/prayer/meditation of the shimmer points.. your encouraged to have a discussion with the text. Ask it questions, challenge it.
3rd Read the scripture out loud a second time with a different mindset read it like a Dr. would read it or a lawyer, or even a child, and it would be great to have a different translation to read, as well.
4th Take a second time of silence but this time though be encouraged to not look for information, but transformation (How could this text actually change the way you live your life, or think about life, or treat others?)
5th Then type out your discussion as a comment on this blog post…and please remember that differening opinions are Ok and be respectful of others who read the text and ask different questions than you.
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OK go discuss…..
wow! there is so much here. Our group could have discussed this for much longer. too many shimmer points to list here. we felt like the shimmer points were different based on what stage of your life you are in or what situation. No matter what, we can always count on the Light shining through us if we let it.