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.
When the Holy Spirit filled Jesus’ followers, they received the gift of talking in other languages. Some people were amazed by this whilst others were not and started to make fun of them. So Peter stood up and started to explain to the crowd what was going on, using words from the prophet Joel.
Read by Max
Acts 2:17-18a, 21
God says: In the last days
I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
At that time I will pour out my Spirit…
Then anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.
Acts 2:17-18a, 21 (NCV)
There were thousands of people in Jerusalem that day, and they listened to Peter’s explanation of what was happening.
‘People will prophesy,’ he said – they will say the things that God wants to say.
‘People will see visions,’ – they will see the things that God sees.
‘People will dream dreams,’ – they will imagine new possibilities.
These are the things that God said the Holy Spirit will do, and is doing right now!
Peter mentioned three ways that God can communicate with us. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: In what other ways can God communicate with us? Can we think of any examples?
Let’s close our eyes and be quiet for a moment. Let’s ASK God to tell us what He wants to say to us, or show us what He wants us to see.
If we don’t hear or see anything right away, let’s keep listening throughout the week.
Pause
If we want to, perhaps we could share what we think God is saying or showing us and if we’re still waiting let’s pray for each other that God would speak to us throughout this week.
And now, let’s pray for our church to be filled with the Spirit in the way that Peter describes.
Loving God, we ASK that You would pour out Your Spirit on all the people in our church.
Give daughters and sons the gift of prophecy.
Give young people visions from You.
Give old people dreams.
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 2:17-18a, 21
God says: In the last days
I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
At that time I will pour out my Spirit…
Then anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.
Acts 2:17-18a, 21 (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 using all the gifts that You give so that others will hear more about Jesus.
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!
