Week: Holy Spirit Adventures - the Book of Acts
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
Holy Spirit, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Max
John 14:16-17
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.
John 14:16-17 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the promise that Jesus left with His followers, just before He returned to heaven. This was the beginning of the adventures of the Holy Spirit as told in the book of Acts.
Read by Max
Acts 1:4-5,8
Once when He was eating with them, He told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, ‘Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. John baptised people with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’
But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.
Acts 1:4-5,8 (NCV)
After Jesus’ death and resurrection He appeared to His followers many times. Imagine what that would have been like – Jesus had died, but He came back to life again, and then he kept on appearing to them and He was getting them ready for what was going to happen next.
They must’ve been disappointed when He told them that He was going for good, but He promised to send them His Holy Spirit, to be with them forever! All they needed to do now was wait.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we had to wait patiently for something that we really really wanted? Maybe an upcoming event, or something we’ve ordered online that hasn’t arrived yet!
In our memory verse this week, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a helper.
Holy Spirit, we ASK that You would help us with all that we need. And we ASK especially that You would help us to have patience when we’re waiting for things.
Perhaps we could make a ‘pause and pray’ sign and stick it on the inside of our door to remind us that we need the Holy Spirit every day.
Waiting can be hard work. Whether we’re waiting for some news, medical results or a place on a team we’ve tried out for. Let’s think of someone who’s waiting for something now.
Heavenly Father, we ASK that You would be with those who are waiting and finding it hard. We ASK that You would help them to have patience and be comforted in knowing that You know their needs.
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.
Acts 1:4-5,8
Once when He was eating with them, He told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, ‘Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. John baptised people with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’
But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.
Acts 1:4-5,8 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. We say YES to being led by you, help us to do what You want us to do today.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 14:16-17
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.
John 14:16-17 (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.
Max is 9 years old and lives in Melbourne, Australia with his older brother and mum and dad. He often rides his bike to school and enjoys being creative by drawing or building with Lego. Max is also learning how to play the electric guitar and loves turning it up loud!
