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 Kate
Romans 15:13
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him.
Romans 15:13a (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on one of many encounters that Jesus had with the Pharisees – the Jewish religious leaders.
Read by Kate
Mark 8:11-13 (NCV)
Mark 8:11-13
The Pharisees came to Jesus and began to ask him questions. Hoping to trap him, they asked Jesus for a miracle from God. Jesus sighed deeply and said, ‘Why do you people ask for a miracle as a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to you.’ Then Jesus left the Pharisees and went in the boat to the other side of the lake.
The Pharisees were always trying to trick Jesus and trap Him into saying or doing something wrong. Some of them had listened to Jesus’s stories – to the things that Jesus said about God and God’s kingdom. And some of them had seen some of the miracles that Jesus had performed. But despite all of their first-hand encounters with Jesus, they still chose not to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.
The Pharisees asked Jesus lots of questions. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we could each ask Jesus one question – it could be anything at all – what would it be?
And now, we ASK God to help us and others.
Jesus, we really want to help other people – especially our friends and families – know who You really are. When we are asked questions about You, please give us some great answers.
The Pharisees talked with Jesus and they saw His miracles, but they still found it hard to believe who He was. Maybe we know someone who’s a bit like this; they talk about Jesus and maybe they’ve even seen prayers being answered, but they still find it hard to believe in Jesus themselves.
Lord Jesus, please show them who You are. May they know deep inside that You are real, that You love them and want to have a life changing relationship with them.
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 8:11-13
Mark 8:11-13 (NCV)
The Pharisees came to Jesus and began to ask him questions. Hoping to trap him, they asked Jesus for a miracle from God. Jesus sighed deeply and said, ‘Why do you people ask for a miracle as a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to you.’ Then Jesus left the Pharisees and went in the boat to the other side of the lake.
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we say YES to asking questions so that we can get to know You more. And YES to answering the questions that other people ask us about You too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Romans 15:13
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him.
Romans 15:13a (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.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Kate is 11 and lives in Melbourne Australia, with her parents, younger sister, and puppy Leo. Kate loves visual arts, reading, playing basketball and spending time with her family.
