If your class is meeting online, invite your students to bring an index card or piece of paper, along with a pen or pencil, with them to class.

We’ve talked about how important it is to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His direction, but how can we hear His guidance in our day-to-day lives? One way is to make sure we are spending time praying and reading God’s Word just like the Christians we read about in our Bible passage today in Acts. Just reading, though, isn’t the same as really listening. 

Today we’re going to practice one way to read the Bible that can help us listen for the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is sometimes called Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading. Ask your students to open their Bibles or open a Bible app on their smartphones to Galatians 5. Instruct them to follow along silently as you read 5:16-25. We’ll read this passage through three times. The first time, just listen. The second time, pay attention to one word or phrase that sticks out to you. During the third reading, think about what the Holy Spirit might be calling you to do or be through this passage. 

Hand out one index card to each student and a pen/pencil. If your class is meeting online, invite students to have their papers and pens or pencils ready. Have students take notes/journal their thoughts if they would like.

Before you begin the first reading, let your teens sit in silence for a little while, so they can focus on God. Remind your students what they are to be doing during each reading (first reading, just listen; second reading, listen for a phrase or word that impresses them in some way; third reading, think about what the Holy Spirit might be calling them to do or be based on that passage).

As you begin the first reading, let them follow along in their own Bibles/Bible apps or they might like or sit and listen with eyes closed. Before the second reading, remind them to listen for a particular word or phrase that sticks out to them and tell them to write it down if they’d like. Before the third reading, remind them again to consider what God might be asking them to do or be through this passage. End with a few more seconds of silence so the students can finish formulating and journaling their thoughts.

• What did you experience during this exercise? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
• What word or phrase did you write down in the second reading? (Answers will vary. Make sure no one feels pressure to share, as this could be quite personal.)
• Does anyone want to share what you feel God is leading you to do or be through this passage? (Again, this could be quite personal. If students would rather keep this answer private, allow that.)

Lectio Divina is an excellent practice for personal quiet time with God. Challenge your teens to try it this week. Ask them to choose a passage, read it three times, and ask themselves the same questions between each reading. Make sure they know to take time to listen to the Holy Spirit’s direction before and after each reading. Some good passages to suggest are:

• Deuteronomy 30:15-20
• Isaiah 55:1-6
• Psalm 63:1-8
• Colossians 3:12-17

End the class by praying together, asking for help in hearing the Holy Spirit’s direction in all we do.