Study begins the week of Sept. 14
Due to the nature of the study, the initial Meditative Fiction group will be capped at eight participants. If there is interest we either run concurrent groups or offer the study following the first group’s completion. If you are interested in participating, please use the form at the bottom of the page.
Use the buttons below to download the materials for the study. “Booklet PDF” is designed to be printed double sided, folded, and stapled to create a print book.
Why this study?
Schedule
| Week Of | Title | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 14 | Standing Low | Matt. 5:3–4 |
| Sept. 21 | Unassuming Righteousness | Matt. 5:5–6 |
| Sept. 28 | Bridge Builders | Matt 5:7–9 |
| Oct. 5 | On His Account | Matt. 5:10–12 |
| Oct. 12 | The Tradition | Matt. 5:11–12 |
Creative pursuits have, throughout human history, been seen as expressions of spirituality. Shaping elements like word or stone, painting images which capture certain aspects of the world, telling stories, and even writing plays have all been used to reflect upon both humanity’s place in this world and our connection with the divine. In Christian theology, humanity’s ability to create is often considered to be an aspect of how we image God.
It is unfortunate, but in our culture creative pursuits are often seen as a realm in which only masters can participate—which discourages non-experts from attempting to express themselves through creativity. While creative masters can be appreciated, however, they should never be considered the gatekeepers of the creative arts. Creativity is useful and meaningful pursuit for all people. For Christians, in particular, creative pursuits can help us engage with the biblical text in ways which abstract Bible study cannot. These pursuits are, by their very nature, tied to our personalities and experiences. This shifts our focus from what a passage meant, trying to figure out the “right” way to apply a passage in the present day, and makes the experience of Scripture personal. This is not to say more abstract/analytical biblical studies do not have value. In fact, each movement in this study will begin with such a meditation. But creative exploration changes our perspective.
Meditative Fiction is a five week devotional study, which will use both fiction and photography to meditate on Jesus’ Beatitudes. Discussion will be held both through a Discord server and a weekly Zoom chat.
Sign Up
As the group size is capped at eight, filling out this form does not guarantee participation in the first Meditative Fiction study. People who don’t make the initial cut will be added to a wait list and invited to participate as soon as we are able.