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 Jackson R
Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:14 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Yesterday we heard about Peter’s vision and how the love of Jesus was meant for all people, not just Jewish people. Today we’re REFLECTING on what happened when Peter started to share this message with everyone.
Read by Jackson R
Acts 10: 34-35, 44-45
Peter began to speak: ‘I really understand now that to God every person is the same. In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right.’ While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given even to the nations.
Acts 10: 34-35, 44-45 (NCV)
This story takes place almost 10 years after the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled all of the disciples of Jesus, and the good news about Jesus started to spread amongst the Jews who were in Jerusalem. But here, in this moment, Peter says that the good news about Jesus, and that God loves and accepts anyone who worships Him and does what is right, is not just for the Jewish people, but for everyone.
And then, as Peter continued to speak, everyone who was listening was filled with the Spirit – people from many nations. The Holy Spirit was filling people and preparing them to pass on the good news about Jesus even further!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What’s the most interesting message that we’ve received or heard this week?
In today’s Bible reading Peter says, ‘I really understand now that to God every person is the same’ – God has no favourites!
Loving God, we know that this is true. We ASK you to help us live this truth in our lives to. Help us to love people and treat people equally.
There are loads of people who have never even heard of Jesus. Let’s pray for churches in our nation, and in other nations too.
Loving God, we ASK You to fill us – and fill your churches church – with the Holy Spirit. Give us courage to spread the good news about Jesus, especially to those who don’t yet know him.
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 10: 34-35, 44-45
Peter began to speak: ‘I really understand now that to God every person is the same. In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right.’ While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given even to the nations.
Acts 10: 34-35, 44-45 (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. Fill us with God’s love today so that we can share it with others.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:14 (NIV)
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.
Jackson is 11 and lives with his younger brother and parents in Surrey. He loves pretty much all sport but his favourites are football, golf and jumping off high stuff into water! He enjoys gaming and is always ready to build something on Minecraft.
