Some scripture studies are best done alongside the incarcerated. This is a study I first did in a maximum security unit in 2016. You can read about that here: Compassion for Your Jailer
Last Tuesday I filled in for another chaplain. I wanted to introduce a facilitation technique that is a combination of Lectio Divina and the Inductive Bible Study. It involves listening to the reading of the same scripture passage three different times, with a distinct focus each time. It is best to have a different person read each time.
I also wanted one of the men to facilitate the study rather than me. I asked for a volunteer to lead and said that I would coach him along the way. The goal was to give someone experience leading a study, but in a very supportive environment. One of the men volunteered – he did a great job.
I had him explain the process for the group.
First Reading: Have people listen for a word or phrase that catches their attention. What stood out, or what didn’t you understand?
Second Reading: What do you see God doing in this scripture?
Third Reading: How does this scripture apply to your life? What is it calling you to do? What does this scripture call you to believe about yourself and your relationship with God?
The scripture was from Acts 16:22-36
22 A mob was quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the judges ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden whips. 23 Again and again the rods slashed down across their bared backs; and afterwards they were thrown into prison. The jailer was threatened with death if they escaped, 24 so he took no chances, but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet into the stocks.
25 Around midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to the Lord—and the other prisoners were listening— 26 suddenly there was a great earthquake; the prison was shaken to its foundations, all the doors flew open—and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer wakened to see the prison doors wide open, and assuming the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself.
28 But Paul yelled to him, “Don’t do it! We are all here!”
29 Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 He brought them out and begged them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and your entire household.”
32 Then they told him and all his household the Good News from the Lord. 33 That same hour he washed their stripes, and he and all his family were baptized. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set a meal before them. How he and his household rejoiced because all were now believers! 35 The next morning the judges sent police officers over to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” 36 So the jailer told Paul they were free to leave.
There is something very unique about studying this particular scripture inside a jail alongside the incarcerated. We are surrounded by locked doors, correctional officers, shackles, chains, and handcuffs. We are also located in a part of the world that has earthquakes. So much of what the scripture talked about was all around us.
What did they notice?
- Paul and Silas were singing in jail
- The prisoners didn’t leave even though their chains fell off and the doors opened
- They kept the jailer from committing suicide (today the suicide rate for correctional offers is 7 times higher than for the general population)
What was God doing?
- He moved of the heart of the correctional officer
- He gave Paul and Silas compassion for the correctional officer
How does the scripture call you to respond?
- Learning to live as people free in Christ even though we are incarcerated. Paul and Silas were freely worshiping even as they were in chains.
- Respond with compassion toward the correctional officers including the ones who make our lives difficult.
- We are called to be like the earthquake breaking chains and opening doors: breaking chains of addiction and abuse, opening doors to freedom in Christ even though we are still incarcerated.
God in the Max 