Welcome to Lectio for Families. We are continuing our new series called Holy Spirit Adventures. We are reading and praying our way through the book of Acts, which is full of stories about what the Holy Spirit did in and through Jesus’ followers.

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

Yesterday, we heard that the followers of Jesus were quite literally shaken by the power of the Holy Spirit. Today we’re REFLECTING on how this brought them closer together as a community.

Read by Selah
Acts 4:32-35
The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything. With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from the dead. And God blessed all the believers very much. There were no needy people among them. From time to time those who owned fields or houses sold them, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles. Then the money was given to anyone who needed it.
Acts 4:32-35 (NCV)

This is ‘sharing is caring’ in action! This new community of Jesus’ followers had been completely changed by being filled with the Holy Spirit. They’d experienced the miracle of people who were sick being physically healed, and now they were performing another miracle, by sharing everything they had so no one was in need. God was at work in every area of their lives.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What have we shared with someone recently? If we can’t think of anything, what do we have now that we could share with someone?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.

Gracious God, we welcome your Holy Spirit to work in every part of our lives. We ask you to help us to be generous with what we have and share with those in need around us.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Maybe we know a person or a family who doesn’t have what they need to live well? If we can do something to help them, let’s do it. In the meantime, let’s pray for them now.

Lord God, we know that there are some people who do not have what they need. We ASK for You to provide for their needs. Use Your followers to bless and love others.

• 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 4:32-35
The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything. With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from the dead. And God blessed all the believers very much. There were no needy people among them. From time to time those who owned fields or houses sold them, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles. Then the money was given to anyone who needed it.
Acts 4:32-35 (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 being united by Your Spirit, YES to telling others about Your greatness and a huge YES to sharing what we have so that no one is in need.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s see if we can remember our memory verse and say it 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.