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 Max
John 14:16-17
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.
John 14:16-17 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Jesus’ followers had been waiting and praying together for ten whole days. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened when the moment finally arrived.
Read by Max
Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a noise like a strong, blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something like flames of fire that were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them.
Acts 2:1-4 (NCV)
We don’t know what they were expecting but the disciples probably weren’t expecting the Holy Spirit’s arrival to be quite like this. It must have been a bit of a shock to have flames appearing above their heads!
At that time, Jerusalem was packed with people from many different countries who spoke many different languages – but they all needed to hear the good news about Jesus. So, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples an incredible gift; the ability to instantly speak their languages – languages that the disciples hadn’t ever learned.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we could instantly speak a different language, which one would we choose and why?
As we pray now, let’s hold out our hands as if we’re ready to receive a gift.
Holy Spirit, we ASK that You would fill us and give us the gifts that we need.
The whole Bible has been translated into less than 10% of the languages in the world.* (There are more than 7000 different languages, by the way.)
Father God, we thank You for organisations who are working to translate the Bible into different languages. We ASK You to send Your Holy Spirit to help them, to give them wisdom and understanding and anything else that they need for their work today.
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 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a noise like a strong, blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something like flames of fire that were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them.
Acts 2:1-4 (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. We say YES to receiving the gifts that You want to give us today.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 14:16-17
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.
John 14:16-17 (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.
*Wycliffe Bible Translators wycliffe.org.uk
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!
