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Identity

The Door

Week: Who is Jesus?

  • P.R.A.Y
  • Pause
  • Rejoice
  • Reflect
  • Ask
  • Yes
Unathi Eli
With Unathi and Eli
Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we are continuing our ‘Identity’ series by reflecting on the different names of Jesus in the Bible, and on what they tell us about who Jesus is.

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

Lord Jesus, thank you for the many ways you make yourself known. Our minds are open to learning more about You, and our hearts are open to knowing You better. We’re ready for You to speak to us.


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 read about Jesus calling Himself the bread that gives life. In today’s Bible verses, Jesus describes Himself as something completely different.

Read by Eli
John 10:7-10
So Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the door for the sheep. All the people who came before me were thieves and robbers. The sheep did not listen to them. I am the door, and the person who enters through me will be saved and will be able to come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life – life in all its fullness.’
John 10:7-10 (NCV)

In those days, when the weather was good, shepherds would often stay out in the countryside with their sheep. To keep them safe at night, the shepherd would steer the sheep into a rough pen with walls made from piled up rocks – but these sheep-pens didn’t have a door, so the shepherd would become the door. They would lie across the opening to protect the sheep.

That’s what Jesus meant when He called Himself ‘the door’. We are His sheep, and He lays down His life to protect and save us.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What different kinds of doors can we think of? And what’s the strangest door we’ve been through?

  • PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

In today’s Bible passage, Jesus also talks about a thief. Sometimes it feels like good things are being stolen from us, whether it’s our friendships, or our peaceful sleep, or our self-confidence.

Lord Jesus, we ASK You to protect us and save us. We ASK You to come and be the door of our lives – to keep the good things in and the bad things out.

  • OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Let’s think about others in our community who may be feeling unsafe and afraid today. Maybe someone has hurt them, or they’ve lost their job, or maybe they’re very sick?

Lord Jesus, we ASK You to be the door of their lives too. Protect them and keep them safe from anything that might harm them. May they know that You are with them.

  • 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.

John 10:7-10
So Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the door for the sheep. All the people who came before me were thieves and robbers. The sheep did not listen to them. I am the door, and the person who enters through me will be saved and will be able to come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life – life in all its fullness.’
John 10:7-10 (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.

Lord Jesus, You are the door that keeps things out. You lie at the entrance to our lives like a shepherd, to protect us and keep us safe. But You are also the door that lets us in. You welcome us and open the way for us to know God. So, we say YES, Jesus – be the door of our lives.

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.

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Your Memory Verse

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Unathi

Unathi

Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.

Eli

Eli

Eli is 11 and lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.

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