Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
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
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 Bella
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
John 3:8 (NIVUK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
When Paul left for Syria, he left his good friends, Priscilla and Aquila, in Ephesus to start a new church in their home. Today, we are REFLECTING on what happened when Priscilla and Aquila met an enthusiastic young man called Apollos.
Read by Bella
Acts 18:24-26
Apollos… was a good speaker who knew the Scriptures well. He had been taught about the way of the Lord and was always very excited when he spoke and taught the truth about Jesus. But the only baptism Apollos knew about was the baptism that John taught. Apollos began to speak very boldly in the synagogue, and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him to their home and helped him better understand the way of God.
Acts 18:24-26 (NCV)
Apollos was excited and enthusiastic about Jesus and the Bible, but he was a bit confused about a few important things.
Instead of telling him off – instead of telling Apollos to stop teaching altogether – Priscilla and Aquila helped him. They invited Apollos into their home and gently explained the things that he was confused about, so that he could teach better. That’s what good, Holy Spirit-filled leaders are like – they help us to be better and to do better.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is; Who do we know that is like Priscilla and Aquila – people who help us and gently encourage us, especially when we get things wrong?
And now we ASK God to help us and others.
Father God, when we make mistakes and get things wrong, we ASK You to help us be more like Apollos – willing to listen and learn, so that we can be better and do better.
And when others make mistakes and get things wrong, we ASK You to help us be more like Priscilla and Aquila – willing to gently help and encourage them, instead of telling them off.
Sadly, not all leaders are like Priscilla and Aquila. Sometimes the way that leaders behave and the things that they say do more harm than good.
Father God, we ASK You to be with those who feel hurt and discouraged by unkind things that have been said to them, whether it was at school or at home, or even in church. We ASK You to comfort and strengthen them, and give them courage to talk with someone else about how they feel if they need to do that.
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 18:24-26
Apollos… was a good speaker who knew the Scriptures well. He had been taught about the way of the Lord and was always very excited when he spoke and taught the truth about Jesus. But the only baptism Apollos knew about was the baptism that John taught. Apollos began to speak very boldly in the synagogue, and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him to their home and helped him better understand the way of God.
Acts 18:24-26 (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 excited and enthusiastic about Jesus and the Bible. But we also say YES to being humble and willing to listen and learn when we make mistakes and get things wrong.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
John 3:8 (NIVUK)
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.
Bella is 13 years old and lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her mum, dad and cocker spaniel Summer. She loves art, performing and Jesus!
