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 Your invitation, 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 Hubo
Psalm 93:2
Lord, your kingdom was set up long ago. You are everlasting.
Psalm 93:2 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on one of Jesus’ parables. A parable is a story with a deeper meaning, and this one is all about planting seeds.
Read by Hubo
Mark 4:3-8 (abridged, NCV)
Mark 4:3-8
[Jesus said] ‘Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. Some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground – that seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots. Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow.’
A lot of the people listening to Jesus talk would have known a lot about planting seeds and growing crops, so all of this might have seemed a bit obvious to them. But Jesus wasn’t really talking about gardening and farming – He was talking about what was growing in their lives.
Let’s press pause and chat about today’s question, which is: When have we planted seeds or tried to grow something? What happened?
As we think and pray about Jesus’ parable of the seeds, let’s also try to notice the things around us that are growing.
Creator God, help us notice the incredible variety of plants and the trees that You have made. We know that You made every one of them, and You made them for us, so we ASK You to help us take care of them too.
In many places around the world, changes in the climate are destroying plants and trees that animals and people need for food and shelter.
Creator God, we ASK You to give wisdom to governments and organisations who are working in these places and with the people who are suffering.
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 4:3-8
Mark 4:3-8 (abridged, NCV)
[Jesus said] ‘Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. Some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground – that seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots. Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow.’
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Creator God, in the Bible it says that You gave human beings responsibility to care for everything that You made. We say YES to doing everything we can to take care of the world… for us and for future generations.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 93:2
Lord, your kingdom was set up long ago. You are everlasting.
Psalm 93:2 (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.
Hubolodumo (Hubo) is 10 years old, and lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with his parents and 4 siblings.
When he’s not busy trying out ninja moves, he’s practicing the latest dance moves, playing soccer, drawing or playing games with his friends.
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.
