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 You inviting us, 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 Bella
John 14:12
[Jesus said] ‘I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these.’
John 14:12a (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Jesus was watching some of the religious leaders in the Temple. Today, we’re REFLECTING on a warning that Jesus gave about them.
Read by Bella
Mark 12:38-40
[Jesus said] ‘They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts. But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers.’
Mark 12:38b-40a (NCV)
It was the religious leader’s responsibility to lead the people to God, by their example – by the way they lived – and through teaching people about God too. They were the ones who were supposed to be trusted. But the religious leaders often seemed more interested in being important and powerful and popular.
Jesus clearly didn’t care about any of that, and He still isn’t. It doesn’t matter what we wear. It doesn’t matter how popular we are. It doesn’t matter where we sit in church or at school. What matters is what’s going on inside us – in our hearts and minds – and it matters how we express that by loving God and loving others.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we had to dress up in fancy clothes? What was the special occasion?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, we ASK You to help us not to get too concerned about what we look like or what other people think about us. Remind us that You love us, no matter what, and that You’re more interested in the good things that are growing inside of us.
There are lots of different jobs that involve teaching people – let’s quickly think of a few.
Father God, we ASK You to be with those whose responsibility it is to teach other people. Give them everything that they need to do their job well, and help them to lead by example too – by the way that they love other people.
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 12:38-40
[Jesus said] ‘They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts. But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers.’
Mark 12:38b-40a (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 You being our teacher. Jesus promised that You would be our guide – to lead us and show us how to live. We ASK You to change us from the inside out – shape our hearts so that we love God and love other people in every way.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 14:12
[Jesus said] ‘I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these.’
John 14:12a (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.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Bella is 13 years old and lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her mum, dad and cocker spaniel Summer. She loves art, performing and Jesus!
