Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
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 J
Romans 15:13
I pray that… your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on one of the saddest stories in the book of Acts. Paul and Barnabas had been the closest of friends. They’d stuck together through some amazing highs and terrifying lows, but then it all changed.
Read by Jackson J
Acts 15:36-39,40
After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, ‘We should go back to all those towns where we preached the message of the Lord. Let’s visit the believers and see how they are doing.’ Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but he had left them at Pamphylia; he did not continue with them in the work. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him. Paul and Barnabas had such a serious argument about this that they separated and went different ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left.
Acts 15:36-39,40 (NCV)
It sounds like John Mark had previously let Paul and Barnabas down. Paul wasn’t sure if he could trust John Mark – would he be reliable, or would he desert them again? But Barnabas, always the encourager, wanted to give John Mark another chance.
Things like this happen in our lives too. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, friends and family fall out with one another.
We don’t hear about Barnabas again in the book of Acts but other parts of the Bible suggest that, later on, Paul, Barnabas and John Mark were friends again, and were serving Jesus together (1 Corinthians 9:5-6, Colossians 4:10). This gives us hope because it shows us that even after ‘serious arguments’ and big fall-outs, friendships can be restored.
Let’s imagine that we’re in this conversation with Paul and Barnabas as we talk about today’s question, which is: Would we agree with Barnabas and give John Mark another chance; or would we agree with Paul and find someone more reliable to be on our team? Can we explain why we’d make that choice?
Is there a person we used to be friends with that we’re no longer close to? How do we feel about that? Let’s ASK God to help us with those feelings.
Loving God, please help us when we feel sad about falling out with our friends. Show us if there is anything we can do to restore those friendships.
Is there someone we know who doesn’t have many friends? Maybe someone we go to school with or who lives near us? If someone does come to mind, let’s think about how we could be a good friend to them as we pray.
Lord Jesus, please help those who feel alone to find kind people to share their lives with. Help us to be a good friend to those who are lonely.
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 15:36-39,40
After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, ‘We should go back to all those towns where we preached the message of the Lord. Let’s visit the believers and see how they are doing.’ Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but he had left them at Pamphylia; he did not continue with them in the work. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him. Paul and Barnabas had such a serious argument about this that they separated and went different ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left.
Acts 15:36-39,40 (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. Although we sometimes feel sad or confused, we say YES to continuing to follow You. Whatever we’re facing, we remember that You are good and that You are always our friend.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Romans 15:13
I pray that… your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (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.
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.
Jackson is 11 and he lives in Chichester, on the south coast of England, with his parents and his sister. He loves Pokemon (who doesn’t?), music and having fun with his friends.
