Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we are continuing our ‘Holy Spirit Adventures’ series. During this series we are reading and praying our way through the book of Acts, which is packed with stories about what the Holy Spirit did in and through Jesus’ followers after He had gone to Heaven.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

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.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we’re REFLECTING on a conversation that Paul had with some Christians he met on his way to Ephesus. When he asked them if they’d received the Holy Spirit, they replied, ‘We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit.’

Read by Hubo
Acts 19:3-6
So [Paul] asked, ‘What kind of baptism did you have?’
They said, ‘It was the baptism that John taught.’
Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of changed hearts and lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.’
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Acts 19:3-6 (NCV)

The people Paul met had already been baptised in water, just like John the Baptist had shown them, as a symbol of turning their whole lives towards following Jesus. While this was an amazing thing to have done, John himself had told the people he baptised that something even greater was coming and that something was Jesus.

Jesus gives a different kind of baptism – being filled with the Holy Spirit – instead of us simply having to try really hard to do the right things on our own, the Holy Spirit fills us and gives us new power to live completely differently. Being a Christian is a Holy Spirit Adventure!

The word ‘baptism’ comes from a Greek word, which means ‘to be overwhelmed’ or ‘to plunge or fully immerse’. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is; When have we been ‘fully immersed’ or swam in deep water? Maybe in the sea, or at a water park? What was it like?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Let’s close our eyes for a moment, and let’s use some of the words from the prayer we’ve been using at the start of each Lectio for Families during this series.

Holy Spirit, we’re waiting patiently for You. We ASK You to fill us with Your power and Your presence, just like You did for those people who Paul prayed for. Come, Holy Spirit.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

If we sometimes feel like we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit again probably the people around us, in our church family, do too.

Holy Spirit, we also pray for people in our church who may be like those who Paul met – they’re trying to live right but they haven’t yet experienced Your power in them. We ASK You to fill them to overflowing. Give them the peace and the power of Your presence in them.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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 19:3-6
So [Paul] asked, ‘What kind of baptism did you have?’
They said, ‘It was the baptism that John taught.’
Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of changed hearts and lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.’
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Acts 19:3-6 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. We say YES to You. We want to be overwhelmed by You and in You – fully baptised – filled to overflowing by You.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.