Week: Jesus' Questions
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
God of rescue and restoration, thank You for Your beautiful mission to save the whole world. Here we are, Lord. Fill us with Your Spirit, and send us so that we can join in with Your mission.
When Jesus rose from the dead, he gave his followers some instructions to continue his mission, which are known as ‘the great commission’. These words had a big impact on today’s hero, so let’s REFLECT on them together.
Read by Bea
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All power in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.’
Matthew 28:18-20 (NCV)
John Wimber was born in 1934 in Missouri, USA. He learned to sing and play lots of different instruments when he was young, and he was already playing in bands by the time he was 15. Eventually, he joined a pop group called The Righteous Brothers who went on to be famous all around the world.
When John was 29 he became a Christian, and from then on Jesus became more important to him than anything else. He talked about Jesus with everyone he met and hundreds of these people decided to become Christians too. He also helped people to study the Bible together and this led him to start a network of churches called the Vineyard Church Movement.
But John’s special gift was music so he used his love of pop music to help people get to know Jesus. He wrote lots of worship songs and he inspired other people to do the same – mostly worship songs to Jesus, instead of about Jesus. John once wrote, ‘we should always come to worship prepared for an audience with the King.’*
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What was the last song that we sang along to?
When we sing songs in church, do we remember that we’re having ‘an audience with the King’, the God who made the entire Universe?
God, You really are awesome! We forget that sometimes. We ASK You to help us to remember that You are not only our loving Father, but You are also the King of the whole Universe.
John was working with a famous band when he became a Christian. Let’s think of a well-known singer or a band and then let’s pray for them.
Lord God, as we whisper their names to You now, we ASK You to meet with them, just as you did with John. May they come to know and follow You.
John took today’s Bible passage very seriously. He knew that Jesus’ power to heal people and do miracles was also available to us, through the Holy Spirit. ‘As you step out in faith and take risks,’ he said, ‘the Holy Spirit will guide you and speak through you.’**
Pause
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to You guiding us and speaking through us, just like John Wimber.
Pause
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.
*John Wimber, Equipping the Saints Vol. 1, No. 1 (Vineyard Ministries International, January 1, 1992)
** FROM https://www.kingdomtheology.org/wimber-quotes: Anaheim: Vineyard Ministries International, 1996), 28.
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.
Bea is 14 and she lives in Hampshire, in the UK, with her family. Her favourite football team is Manchester United, even though she lives a loooong way from Manchester. Bea likes horse riding and running, and when she’s older, she wants to become a vet, or a professional horse-rider.
