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 Your invitation, 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 Kate
Romans 15:13
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him.
Romans 15:13a (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on what must have been some shocking news for the disciples.
Read by Kate
Mark 8:31-32
Mark 8:31-32a (NCV)
Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and that he would be rejected by the Jewish elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. He told them that the Son of Man must be killed and then rise from the dead after three days. Jesus told them plainly what would happen.
When Jesus talked about ‘the Son of Man’ He was talking about himself, and He was predicting His own death and resurrection. This was earth-shattering news, and it wasn’t what the disciples were expecting at all. They were expecting Jesus to be ‘the Messiah’, a revolutionary leader who would rescue them from the Romans and eventually be their king. But Jesus told them very clearly that this wasn’t the plan.
Jesus gave the disciples some unexpected news. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we received some unexpected news?
Jesus’ disciples found it difficult to accept what He was saying, because they didn’t fully understand God’s Great Plan to save the world and everything in it.
Lord Jesus, there are lots of things that we don’t understand too, but we’re incredibly grateful for God’s Great Plan – You lived and died and came back to life again to save the world and everything in it, including us. Thank you!
People from many religions believe that Jesus existed, but they don’t believe that He was God’s Son and that His death and resurrection saved the world and everything in it.
Loving God, we ASK that You would open the eyes and the hearts of those who haven’t yet realised that Jesus is Your Son, and that He has done amazing things for them.
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 8:31-32
Mark 8:31-32a (NCV)
Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and that he would be rejected by the Jewish elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. He told them that the Son of Man must be killed and then rise from the dead after three days. Jesus told them plainly what would happen.
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, You spoke plainly to Your disciples to help them understand. Speak plainly to us too – help us to understand so that we can follow You better. We say YES to following You wherever You lead us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Romans 15:13
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him.
Romans 15:13a (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.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Kate is 11 and lives in Melbourne Australia, with her parents, younger sister, and puppy Leo. Kate loves visual arts, reading, playing basketball and spending time with her family.
