Week: Mark's Gospel
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
Jesus, we hear You inviting us, and so we choose to follow You, with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Eli
Psalm 103:8
The Lord shows mercy and is kind.
He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
Psalm 103:8 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
When Jesus visited the Temple in Jerusalem, He didn’t like what he saw. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what Jesus did about it.
Read by Eli
Mark 11:15-17
When Jesus returned to Jerusalem, he went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of those who were exchanging different kinds of money, and he upset the benches of those who were selling doves. Jesus refused to allow anyone to carry goods through the Temple courts. Then he taught the people, saying, ‘It is written in the Scriptures, “My Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations.” But you are changing God’s house into a hideout for robbers.’
Mark 11:15-17 (NCV)
The Temple was a very important place for the Jewish people. It was where they went to be with God, to worship and pray and read the Bible.
When Jesus saw that this special, sacred, place had been turned into a market – one where the stall owners were charging unfair prices to the poorest people – he felt upset and very angry. There aren’t many stories of Jesus feeling upset or angry like this, so this must’ve really mattered to Him.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What things are good to feel upset and angry about? Can we think of any examples – maybe something that we’ve seen online or on the news?
Following Jesus doesn’t simply mean doing what He says or even doing what He did. It also sometimes means feeling what He feels.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to touch our hearts. We want to feel a little of what You feel – even if that means feeling a bit upset or angry. But we also ASK for Your help when things feel a bit overwhelming.
Let’s each choose one of the examples we talked about just now – something that we’ve seen online or on the news.
Lord Jesus, we pray for justice – we ASK You to put things right, especially where people who are poor and vulnerable are being treated badly and unfairly. We ASK You to give courage to the women and men who are following You by challenging these injustices.
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.
Mark 11:15-17
When Jesus returned to Jerusalem, he went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of those who were exchanging different kinds of money, and he upset the benches of those who were selling doves. Jesus refused to allow anyone to carry goods through the Temple courts. Then he taught the people, saying, ‘It is written in the Scriptures, “My Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations.” But you are changing God’s house into a hideout for robbers.’
Mark 11:15-17 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together by praying some words from the book of Amos the prophet.
‘Let justice flow like a river,
and let goodness flow like a never-ending stream’ (Amos 5:24).
YES, Lord!
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 103:8
The Lord shows mercy and is kind.
He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
Psalm 103:8 (NCV)
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.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Eli is 11 and lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.
