Welcome to Lectio for Families. Over the last few weeks, we have explored what the Bible says about Jesus’ life and about the weeks shortly after his death and resurrection, before He was taken up to Heaven. In this, the final week of our ‘Jesus’ series, we are focusing on what the Bible says about Jesus coming again.

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

Jesus, as we spend these few minutes together, we open our eyes to see what You’re doing, our ears to hear what You’re saying, and our hearts to receive what You want to give to us today.

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 another few verses from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi.

Read by Jackson R
Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you. I thank God for the help you gave me while I preached the Good News – help you gave from the first day you believed until now. God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:3-6 (NCV)

Have we ever started a project that we didn’t complete? Maybe it was more difficult than we first thought, or we got distracted before we were done, or it felt more like work than fun?

The good news is that God is faithful – God finishes what He starts. God never gives up, never gets bored and He is never distracted. God will continue growing us and shaping us until the day ‘Jesus Christ comes again’. From the moment that we are born until the day we see Jesus face to face, God is at work in our lives. God will complete what He started.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What have we made or created that we are really proud of?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

And now let’s ASK God to help us and others.

Loving Father, thank You for never give up on us. We put our trust in You and we ASK You to continue Your work in us, so that we become the best that we can be.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Let’s take a moment to think about those who may be feeling frustrated or disappointed that God seems to be taking a long time to change things in their lives, or answer prayers that they have been praying for a long time.

Father God, we ASK You to help these people to be patient, to be still and wait on You. Help them to trust Your process and commit to Your work in their lives, even if it feels like it’s taking forever.

• 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.

Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you. I thank God for the help you gave me while I preached the Good News – help you gave from the first day you believed until now. God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:3-6 (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.

Father God, we trust You. We say YES to all that You are doing in our lives, even though we don’t always understand it, we don’t always see it, and even when we do, it sometimes seems to be taking forever! Thank you that You are always working in us, and through us, to make us more like Jesus.

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.