A Beginner's Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination

By Kenneth H. Carter, Jr.

What is scriptural imagination? The word imagination does not mean the Bible is fantasy or untrue. A scriptural imagination allows us to look at the world through the stories and images of the Bible. As we view our world with scriptural imagination, we enter a continuous process of becoming more Christlike.

In A Beginner's Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination, Kenneth Carter focuses on four scripture passages to give readers an easy entry into the practice of scriptural imagination. Carter advocates reading and reflecting on the biblical texts with a group.

Carter says that almost every situation and problem we face can be addressed by men and women sitting with biblical texts, listening for what God might be saying through those passages. Equally important is taking time to listen attentively to people who are marginalized. As readers practice the spiritual exercises in this book, they will grow as disciples of Jesus who can then transform their world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Upper Room Books
• Release date: Mar 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780835819206

Book preview

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO PRACTICING SCRIPTURAL IMAGINATION

Copyright © 2019 by Kenneth H. Carter Jr.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except for brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, write Upper Room Books®, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212.

Upper Room Books® website: upperroombooks.com

Upper Room®, Upper Room Books®, and design logos are trademarks owned by The Upper Room®, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

At the time of publication all website references in this book were valid. However, due to the fluid nature of the Internet some addresses may have changed or the content may no longer be relevant.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV™ are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked CEB are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

Hymns designated UMH are taken from The United Methodist Hymnal, Copyright © 1989 by The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, Tennessee.

Cover design: Bruce Gore | Gore Studio

Cover imagery: Shutterstock

Typesetting and interior design: PerfecType | Nashville, TN

ISBNs

978-0-8358-1918-3 (print)

978-0-8358-1919-0 (mobi)

978-0-8358-1920-6 (ePub)

In memory of my mother, Frieda; and with gratitude for my granddaughter, Paige; and with sure trust and confidence that the scriptures will speak to us, from generation to generation

Contents

Introduction: A Beginner’s Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination

How to Use This Book

1 | The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-17)

2 | The Sower, the Seed, and the Soils (Mark 4:1-9)

3 | The Feeding of the Multitudes (Luke 9:10-17)

4 | The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30, CEB)

Next Steps

Acknowledgments

Notes

Introduction:

A Beginner’s Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination

My purpose in writing this brief volume is to focus on four passages of scripture that can contribute to our growth as followers of Jesus:

• The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-17)

• The Sower, the Seed, and the Soils (Mark 4:1-9)

• The Feeding of the Multitudes (Luke 9:10-17)

• The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

The intention is that these passages and reflections on them will be read in community—in a home or a coffee shop, in a church classroom or a pub. This community might be established, such as the gathering of close friends over a sustained period of time in a small group or Sunday school class. Or its members may be coming to know one another. The church is more than a gathering of persons within the walls of our buildings. There is an increasing need for gatherings of friends and strangers beyond the walls of our churches. And yet, once we are there, how is growth nurtured? How do we become disciples?

I have lived for some time with these four passages of scripture, and each includes lessons about spiritual growth and development, how we are formed to live more graciously, and how we resist the obstacles—the fightings without, and fears within (UMH, no. 553; see also 2 Corinthians 7:5)—to this process. And yet, through it all, the God who began a good work in us, the apostle Paul writes, will be faithful to complete it (see Philippians 1:6). The initial gift of grace, present in every person, is honored through attention to the means (channels) of God’s presence—the scriptures, prayers, conversation and listening, testimony, mutual encouragement, and accountability. These channels of God’s grace, ordinary and extraordinary, contain the current of a powerful and ever-present stream of the divine revelation. At times, if we are attentive, we will sense that something is happening in our midst; Jesus called this the kingdom (or reign) of God (see Mark 1:15).

This book is intended as a basic catechesis (a Greek word for instruction or preparation) for participants to explore these biblical texts and as an additional guide for seasoned leaders to think through their callings in a