Week: Mark's Gospel
Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we’re returning to our series exploring the life of Jesus as told in 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.
As usual, 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 Vera Lynn
John 10:10
[Jesus said] I came to give life – life in all its fullness.
John 10:10b (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
In today’s story, Jesus is surrounded by a large crowd of people who gathered to listen to his teaching. It was difficult for those further back in the crowd to get anywhere near to him!
Read by Vera Lynn
Mark 10:13-14
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.’
Mark 10:13-14 (NLT)
Jesus was busy talking with people and praying for those who were sick, and so His disciples thought He wouldn’t want to waste His time with children. But they were wrong!
In fact, Mark says that Jesus was angry with his disciples for not making a way through the crowds for the children to reach him. And so Jesus insisted that they make it easy for the children to come and meet Him.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Have we ever met someone who was famous? Maybe a sports player, or a TV celebrity? If we haven’t, who would we like to meet?
Whether we are 8 years old or 80, Jesus invites us to come to God as His children.
Loving Father, we make things so complicated sometimes. Help us to remember that we are all Your children, and that You want us to come to You and spend time with You.
Let’s think of some of the parents and carers that we know, and let’s pray for them now.
Father God, we ASK You to give them strength and wisdom as they care for their children. Lead them as they do their best to lead their children to You.
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 10:13-14
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.’
Mark 10:13-14 (NLT)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, we thank You that we can have a relationship with You no matter how young or old we are. We say a big YES to learning what it means to have a child-like faith and live a life of adventure with you.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 10:10
[Jesus said] I came to give life – life in all its fullness.
John 10:10b (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.
Vera Lynn is 10 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
