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 what happened when Jesus became more popular.
Read by Hubo
Mark 3:20-23 (NCV)
Mark 3:20-23
Then Jesus went home, but again a crowd gathered. There were so many people that Jesus and his followers could not eat. When his family heard this, they went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind. But the teachers of the law from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is living inside him! He uses power from the ruler of demons to force demons out of people.’ So Jesus called the people together and taught them with stories. He said, ‘Satan will not force himself out of people.’
Jesus had become a lot more popular since his last visit home – the crowds had gotten bigger, and people wanted to be close to him all the time. Sometimes, He could barely even eat because people were crowding around him all the time!
Some people were confused about the things Jesus said and did, and others were simply jealous that Jesus was so popular. Some even called him ‘Beelzebul’, which is another name for the Devil. But Jesus ignored them all, and He continued to love people and heal those who were sick and tell stories about God.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: How does it feel when people say mean things about us?
Maybe today’s question has reminded us of mean things that other people have actually said to us. Let’s close our eyes for a moment and offer these things to Jesus.
Jesus, we know that You understand how we feel because people said mean things about You too. Help us to ignore the mean things that other people say, and to keep on loving, just like You.
Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who have hurt us. (Matthew 5:44 NCV)
Jesus, we need Your help with this, because it’s hard. We ASK You to help us as we pray a blessing over those who have criticised or said mean things about us.
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 3:20-23
Mark 3:20-23 (NCV)
Then Jesus went home, but again a crowd gathered. There were so many people that Jesus and his followers could not eat. When his family heard this, they went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind. But the teachers of the law from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is living inside him! He uses power from the ruler of demons to force demons out of people.’ So Jesus called the people together and taught them with stories. He said, ‘Satan will not force himself out of people.’
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, the more we read of Your story, the more we realise that some people were really against You and made things difficult for You. And yet, You kept on loving and forgiving those people. We say YES to trying our best to follow your example.
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.
