Week: 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.
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, 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.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson R
Revelation 22:13
[Jesus said] ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’
Revelation 22:13 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on some verses that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about Jesus being raised from the dead and coming again.
Read by Jackson R
1 Corinthians 15:20-24
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
1 Corinthians 15:20-24 (NIVUK)
After a long, cold, dark winter, when the trees and plants have lost their green leaves and most of them look like they’ve died, it’s always exciting to see signs of new life. Tiny leaves emerge, new shoots appear, and flowers start to blossom and bud. These are the ‘first fruits’, and they tell us that something has changed and new life is coming!
When Paul talks about Jesus’ resurrection being the ‘first fruits’, he’s telling us that Jesus was the first to be resurrected – never to die again – but that we will be resurrected too, just like Jesus, to live forever with God. Isn’t that incredible!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What are our top three favourite fruits?
In today’s passage we are reminded that Jesus has been raised from the dead… Jesus is alive forever!
Lord Jesus, sometimes it’s hard for us to understand how incredible this really is – You were dead, but now You’re alive, and You’ll be alive forever. But not only that – one day, we’ll be alive forever with You too. Thank you, Jesus!
The Bible says that when Jesus comes again, there will be no more pain and suffering, no more tears, no more violence – everything will be made new. (Revelation 21:4)
Lord Jesus, we know that this day will come, when everything that is wrong in the world will be put right, once and for all. But until that day, we continue to ASK You to put things right. Help those who are having problems, heal those who are sick and comfort those who are suffering.
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.
1 Corinthians 15:20-24
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
1 Corinthians 15:20-24 (NIVUK)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, You are the ‘first fruit’, the first to be resurrected from death into living forever. We say YES to being resurrected with You one day – to living forever with You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Revelation 22:13
[Jesus said] ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’
Revelation 22:13 (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.
Jackson is 11 and lives with his younger brother and parents in Surrey. He loves pretty much all sport but his favourites are football, golf and jumping off high stuff into water! He enjoys gaming and is always ready to build something on Minecraft.
