Week: Mark's Gospel
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
Jesus, we hear Your invitation, and so we choose to follow You, with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Asaph
John 14:6
Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.’
John 14:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on what happened when Jesus started teaching in the synagogue, the place where people went to worship God.
Read by Asaph
Mark 1:21-22
Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. On the Sabbath day He went to the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught like a person who had authority, not like their teachers of the law.
Mark 1:21-22 (NCV)
Mark says that the people were ‘amazed’. The Greek word that he uses literally means to be ‘struck’ or ‘astonished’. The point is that Jesus wasn’t boring! He said amazing things and He did amazing miracles. People were never the same again after they’d met Him.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When can we remember feeling amazed or astonished?
Let’s pause and think for a moment. When we imagine Jesus, what is He like? Is He amazing?
Jesus, we ASK You to teach us something new – something amazing – about You this week.
And Jesus, we also pray for our church, and for the other churches in our town. When people come to our churches, we ASK You to amaze them with Your words and Your miracles.
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.
Mark 1:21-22
Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. On the Sabbath day He went to the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught like a person who had authority, not like their teachers of the law.
Mark 1:21-22 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, the more we get to know You, the more amazing You are. The way You love people is amazing. Your kindness towards those who no-one else is kind to is amazing. Your miracles are amazing. And the way You change people’s lives for the better is amazing too. And so we say YES, we want to follow You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 14:6
Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.’
John 14:6 (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.
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Asaph lives in Portland, Oregon with his younger sister Adelina, father and mother. He enjoys riding his bike, camping, reading, playing flag football and watching Bible Project videos. Asaph is kind and smart and loves hanging out with friends!
