Welcome to Lectio for Families. We are continuing to explore the theme that Jesus talked about more than anything else, the Kingdom of God. This week we are exploring how to receive God’s Kingdom in our lives.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

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.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we’re REFLECTING on a few verses from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, where he explains how we should live in the Kingdom of God.

Read by Hubo
Romans 14:17-18
In the kingdom of God… the important things are living right with God, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God and will be accepted by other people.
Romans 14:17-18 (NCV)

As we’ve seen throughout this series, the Kingdom of God isn’t a place, and it isn’t really a series of rules and instructions either – it’s a way of living our lives, it’s about our hearts and our attitudes.

Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to understand this, so he explained it very simply. Live right with God, he said. And be filled with the Holy Spirit’s peace and joy at all times. Live like this, he said, and not only will God be pleased, but other people will notice and be glad too. Win, win!

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What have we felt joyful about recently?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.

Lord Jesus, we want to live in the best way possible – we want to live God’s way. We ASK You to help us by filling us with Your Holy Spirit. And fill us especially with peace and joy.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Is there someone we know who might need the peace or joy of the Holy Spirit at the moment? Let’s whisper their names as we pray for them now.

Father God, we ASK for more peace and joy in the world around us. We pray especially for those who struggle with anxieties and fears, for whatever reason, and we ASK You to fill their hearts with peace and joy instead.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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.

Romans 14:17-18
In the kingdom of God… The important things are living right with God, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God and will be accepted by other people.
Romans 14:17-18 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Lord Jesus, we say YES to seeking first God’s Kingdom in our lives, and in the world – to putting God first and living the way You show us to. Fill us to overflowing with Your peace and joy, so that it spills over onto others we meet too.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.