Using study of the Bible to Discern

Big Chill 2024

Genesis 1 and 2

Background

Our aspirations for this devotion and how we come together around the text

• Communal – texts from the Bible are intended to be spoken, together.
• Meditative – texts are intended to make us think – the literature is not written in our language and has intentionally hidden meanings.
• Wisdom – these texts are intended to help us learn, act differently and transform over a lifetime.

Participation is optional – in all ways.

• You do not have to participate at all.
• Or you can join us, and just listen.
• Or you can go for it, be a reader, or a sharer.

If you chose to participate:

We’ll gather:

1. Read Aloud Genesis 1 and 2
2. Share Answers for the 3 Questions
3. Or just listen tomorrow.

Decide if you wish to take an active role – be a reader, sharer (explained below)

If you chose to participate you’ll get the most out of this by reading Genesis 1, 2 as soon as possible. It will help you meditate and gain wisdom on the scroll, verses, words. There are 55 verses.

Active Roles:

Readers – read the text aloud

We need volunteers to do the reading. We’d like to spice it up – you could read in Shakespearian voice, or act out some of the scenes – or play the part of a “great sea monster”.

We’ll read through both Genesis 1 and 2 – 55 Verses. So, I’d hope we can split it up so the reading is shared.

Sharers

Those who choose to answer the questions below and are willing to share their answers with the group:

The Three Questions

1. What do you notice, or know about Genesis?

• Fun facts or factoids you know or have researched.

Examples:

I know that Gensis was likely written under the direction of Moses both before the Jews entered the promised land, and then afterward, with more “tweaking” until the 2nd century BCE.

I see that there are two stories of creation.

2. What did you learn?

• What new, or reinforced insights?
• Example: This reading reinforced who I am – I am made in the image of God, very good, to work, to rule, to steward over the Earth.
• Or, I am intended to live with God, in Eden.

3. How do you feel after reading these texts?

Most often we don’t think about how text makes us feel. But that’s the authors’ intent is to elicit feelings about what’s said, written. Nowadays we listen to dry, unfeeling reading odf the Bible – waiting it out until it’s done. But let’s try to listen more intently, and gauge our emotions as we read. And, yes, you may still be bored to tears, but I hope not.

• Feelings Fit Into Catories – Happy, Sad, Angry, Afraid, Peaceful, Energized. Many others but these can be starters.
• Example: I feel joy, feel and see beauty when I read this and am reinforced I am created very good, and in the image of God.

More Context – why are we doing it this way?

• The Bible is intended to be Communal/Spoken Literature – The Bible through most of human history has been spoken to others. Literacy was uncommon. Additionally, community has been a societal cornerstone of the Hebrew and Christian way of life. They recited, read aloud to each other, and discussed and decided implications for themselves as individuals, but more importantly for their community.
• The Bible is Wisdom Literature – The Bible is ancient Jewish  literature, artistically designed. Designed to read, reread over and over – through a lifetime. Reading it in all seasons – at all times of year, all times of life.  The Bible describes a way of life, embodies a of set of values and is a story of lives – to be read carefully, with study, with curiosity of who and why it was written. Read in context, it can uncover knowledge and wisdom, and can transform our character. And sometimes we read something and have no idea. But the way the ancient authors intend it to be read is to be read, studied, and discussed with others to continually seek out the meaning, despite not understanding immediately. It’s is very sophisticated literate, with designs, links, hidden meanings, and an underlying story of God and humanity, culminating in Jesus.
• The Bible is Meditation Literature -the Bible is also meditation literature. This doesn’t mean you practice “meditation”, although you can – learn about Lectio Divina – it means that you think about it, mull it over, search your mind, let it simmer in your mind.
• Contextually Written Ancient Near East Literature
  • The Bible is a masterpiece of literature.
  • Not written in English.
  • Word meanings are key – Hebrew, Nephesh means Heart – in English, it means your whole being.
  • It’s about the whole – the science today is cosmology. How the world is put together and works.
  • The world is considered “sacramental” – not simply material in natural.
  • It contains cultural values, assumptions, norms – e.g., most glaring for us, are women’s roles