Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we’ve been reflecting on prayer, using content from Pete Greig and Gemma’s Hunt’s book, How to Pray: A Guide for Young Explorers. But today is our Sabbath, so we’re taking a break from our regular P.R.A.Y. pattern to pray a little differently.

The Bible tells the story of God making the Universe and everything in it in six days. Every Sunday, we remember the Sabbath, when God rested and enjoyed everything that was made.

Pause

As usual, 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

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we’re focusing on the prayer that Jesus used to teach his disciples how to pray, which we know as The Lord’s Prayer. We’re going to read it from a different version of the Bible, because sometimes this brings familiar words to life in a new way. Let’s listen for a word or phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us today.

The Lord’s Prayer

Read by Eli
Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best – as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Matthew 6:9-13 (MSG)

What word or phrase stood out from this well-known prayer?

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

Perhaps the most amazing words in this prayer are the first two, ‘Our Father’. Jesus invites his disciples, and He invites us too, to join in His relationship with God. He doesn’t just say ‘My Father’, but ‘Our Father’. We are welcomed, warmly, into God’s family.

And so, on this day of rest and joy, as we prepare to pray, let’s reflect on what it means to belong with God, to be part of God’s family.

Pause

Ask

ASK Prayers

The apostle John wrote, ‘the Father has loved us so much! He loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children.’ (1 John 3:1a, NCV)

Thank You, Father God, for loving us so much, and for welcoming us into Your family. Help us to love You more this week.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

The apostle John also wrote, ‘we know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.’ (1 John 3:16, NLT)

Thank You, Jesus, for showing us what real love looks like. You gave Your life so that we could receive a brand-new life. Help us to share Your love with others this week.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

The apostle Paul wrote, ‘for we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.’ (Romans 5:5b, NLT)

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for filling us up with God’s love. Send us and help us to do all we can to make the world a little bit better this week.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Let’s press pause and talk about our Sabbath question which is: As our week comes to an end, what are we thankful for from this week? It might be something big or small!

• PAUSE the audio player now

Yes

Memory Verse

As we finish our time together, let’s say this week’s memory verse one last time:

God, help us to remember your Word.

Sabbath Blessing

May this Sabbath bring rest and joy to our hearts and our homes.
May today be a little less go, go, go, and a little more slow… slow… slow…
May we care less about things, and care more for people.
As we relax in God’s love, may we take time to listen and remember that we are all God’s children.