Week: Introduction to the Kingdom of God
As usual, each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Lord Jesus, we open our minds to learn new things, so that we know more about You. We open our hearts to be filled with Your love, so that we become more like You. And we open our hands to receive all we need to live our lives for You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Eli
Colossians 1:13
God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Colossians 1:13 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on one of the many times Jesus talked with the crowds who followed him about the ‘Kingdom of God’.
Read by Eli
Matthew 6:33-34
[Jesus said] ‘Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
Matthew 6:33-34 (NCV)
Jesus says, ‘Seek first God’s kingdom’. He tells us to look for it. In fact, Jesus says that we should make looking for it our top priority, because it’s more important than anything else.
But where is God’s Kingdom? It’s not a physical place on earth, like the countries we live in. We can’t draw a map of it or visit it on holiday, so how do we find it?
The answer is that God’s Kingdom is anywhere that God is in charge. One day God will be in charge of everything and everywhere – His Kingdom will be here completely – but until then God’s kingdom comes little by little, whenever and wherever we put God first and live the way that Jesus shows us to.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: How many countries can we name that start with a different letter? (Believe it or not, there are countries that start with 24 of the 26 letters in the alphabet!)
Let’s close our eyes for a moment and ask God to speak to us.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to help us put God first in everything that we say and do, and help us to live the way You show us to.
Now let’s think back to the countries we listed a couple of minutes ago. Who do we know that lives in one of them? Or maybe we know someone who is visiting one of them? Let’s pray for them now.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to be with those we know who live in another country. We ASK You to provide whatever they need, whether it’s encouragement, protection, new friends, money, or something else. And if the people we’re thinking of are just visiting – perhaps they’re on holiday – may they have lots of fun and rest and some adventures too.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Matthew 6:33-34
[Jesus said] ‘Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
Matthew 6:33-34 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we say YES to seeking first God’s Kingdom in our lives – to putting God first and living the way You show us to.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Colossians 1:13
God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Colossians 1:13 (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Eli is 11 and lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.
