Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we are continuing our new series called ‘Holy Spirit Adventures’. During this series we will be reading and praying our way through the book of Acts, which is packed with stories about what the Holy Spirit did in and through Jesus’ followers after He had gone to Heaven.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

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

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

On the day of Pentecost, Luke writes that more than 3000 people became Christians. Today we’re REFLECTING on what happened next, when the very first church began.

Read by Selah
Acts 2:42-44, 47
They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together. The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. All the believers were together and shared everything. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.
Acts 2:42-44,47 (NCV)

This sounds exciting, doesn’t it! Miracles are happening. People are becoming Christians every single day. And even though this new church was growing fast, it was really simple; the people met together in their homes, they learned from the Bible together, they ate meals together, they shared the things they had with one another, and they prayed together. Just like Peter had said, their hearts and their lives were being completely changed by Jesus.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What things do we like about our church?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

And now we ask God to help us and others.

Loving God, just like the early believers, help us to learn together, to share what we have with others, and pray regularly with each other. And we pray for those other things too. We want to see miracles and we want many more people to become Christians too.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

The early church shared everything that they had. They would sell their possessions and share with those who were in need.

Holy Spirit, we ASK You to make us – the church – more aware of the needs that people have in our communities – whether that’s a place to live, food to eat, or maybe they simply need compassion or friendship. Help us to be more like the early church in the way that we respond.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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 2:42-44, 47
They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together. The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. All the believers were together and shared everything. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.
Acts 2:42-44,47 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. We say YES to sharing what we have with others. We want to be fully who Jesus calls us to be.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.