For Sermon and Worship Preparation

  • Invite others to join you in your preparation, especially lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith.
  • Begin in silence and prayer, asking for God’s guidance in your engagement out and in Scripture. Lift in prayer your congregation and those who may be touched by your preaching and worship.
  • Slowly, prayerfully, read aloud the lectionary Bible readings for the day.
  • Identify any questions or images that come to your mind and heart.
  • Read the Out In Scripture commentary, pausing to reflect on questions within the commentary.
  • From time to time review the video clip you discover on the on the Out In Scripture homepage..
  • Explore what God might be saying to you and your congregation through the commentary or through the insights of those who gather with you for preparation. What are particular insights that come from the perspectives presented that heal, disturb, challenge or inspire you? What might God be saying?
  • Discern in prayer what God may be saying to you about these readings that need to be explored, advocated or celebrated through your sermon or congregation’s worship experience.
  • Conclude by following the section PRAYERFULLY OUT IN SCRIPTURE or with your own prayer or silence.

For Devotional Reflection or Bible Study

  • If possible, invite others to join you in exploring the Bible. Draw together a group of LGBT folk and allies whom you trust and with whom you feel comfortable sharing your insights, doubts, hopes and hurts.
  • If you will explore the passages alone, consider recording your journey with the passages in a journal. Perhaps begin a journal entry with a prayer or with the words, “O God…”
  • From time to time review the video clip you discover on the on the Out In Scripture homepage.
  • Begin in a time of silence and prayer. Be aware of God’s presence, the life experience you bring with you to exploring the Bible and current situations of LGBT persons.
  • Slowly read the Bible passages aloud. Pay attention to any questions, doubts, discomfort, joys and comfort that come to your heart, mind and body during the reading.
  • Read the Out In Scripture commentary, pausing to reflect on the questions or your own questions within the commentary. Share responses with others or perhaps write in a journal.
  • Again read any passage that you seem to particularly connect with — whether in a comforting or disturbing way.
  • Discern: What might God be saying to you, to your congregation, to the LGBT community? What do you want to say to whom? What do you want to do?
  • Enter into a time of prayer and silence again. onclude by following the section PRAYERFULLY OUT IN SCRIPTURE or with your own prayer or silence.