Week: 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.
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 Your invitation, 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 Max
Psalm 103:8
The Lord shows mercy and is kind. He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
Psalm 103:8 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on one of the many things that Jesus said about how to live well.
Read by Max
Mark 7:14-15
Mark 7:14-15 (GNT)
Then Jesus called the crowd to him once more and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing that goes into you from the outside which can make you ritually unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of you that makes you unclean.’
The Jewish people were only allowed to eat certain food, and if they ate the wrong food they were called ‘unclean’. But Jesus changed all this.
Jesus said that it’s what comes out of our bodies that matters more than what we put in them. It’s the things that bubble up inside of us and then flow out of our mouths and through the way we behave that affects other people – things like unkind words and mean actions. Jesus said that these are the things that make us unclean.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When has someone spoken kindly, or encouraged us? How did we feel?
The words we speak with our mouths (and the words we type into messages on our phones) all flow from inside of us.
Lord God, help us to encourage all those who we see, or send messages to today.
Words can be incredibly powerful. Let’s think about those who have been bullied with words. Maybe we know someone who has experienced this?
Loving God, we ASK You to comfort those who have been hurt with words. Encourage them today, in some way – remind them that they are loved, no matter what other people say. Show them someone who they can ask for help.
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 7:14-15
Mark 7:14-15 (GNT)
Then Jesus called the crowd to him once more and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing that goes into you from the outside which can make you ritually unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of you that makes you unclean.’
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together, using a verse from Psalm 141.
‘Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.’ And keep watch over my finger-tips too. (Psalm 141:3, NIVUK)
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 103:8
The Lord shows mercy and is kind. He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
Psalm 103:8 (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!