Week: Holy Spirit Adventures - the Book of Acts
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
Holy Spirit, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson R
Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:14 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on how Saul was received by Jesus’ followers.
Read by Jackson R
Acts 9:26-27
When Saul went to Jerusalem, he tried to join the group of followers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he was really a follower. But Barnabas accepted Saul and took him to the apostles. Barnabas explained to them that Saul had seen the Lord on the road and the Lord had spoken to Saul. Then he told them how boldly Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
Acts 9:26-27 (NCV)
Saul had been persecuting the church, and news of the cruel things that he had been doing had spread widely. So, even after he started following Jesus, many of the disciples were afraid of him.
Barnabas, however, welcomed Saul. Barnabus became his friend and convinced the other disciples to welcome him too. Barnabus took a real risk with Saul. He saw something in Saul that others were too afraid to see – that God had met Saul and changed him for good. This was the start of an important friendship between Saul and Barnabus.
We could probably all do with a friend like Barnabus!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who has been a good friend to us? What makes them a good friend?
And now, we ASK God to help us and others.
Lord God, we want to be a good friend to others, like Barnabus was. We ASK you to help us in our friendships – to be kind, caring, generous and patient with those around us.
Let’s think of the friends we named just now, and quietly thank God for them.
Perhaps we think of a way to let them know how much their friendship means to us?
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.
Acts 9:26-27
When Saul went to Jerusalem, he tried to join the group of followers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he was really a follower. But Barnabas accepted Saul and took him to the apostles. Barnabas explained to them that Saul had seen the Lord on the road and the Lord had spoken to Saul. Then he told them how boldly Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
Acts 9:26-27 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. We say YES to being a friend like Barnabus – to seeing the best in people.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:14 (NIV)
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.
Jackson is 11 and lives with his younger brother and parents in Surrey. He loves pretty much all sport but his favourites are football, golf and jumping off high stuff into water! He enjoys gaming and is always ready to build something on Minecraft.
