Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we are continuing to explore the life of Jesus as told in 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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

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.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

When people noticed that Jesus’ followers weren’t fasting – which usually means giving up food and praying instead of eating – they wanted to know why. Today, we’re REFLECTING on Jesus’ response to their question.

Read by Noelle
Mark 2:19-20
Jesus answered, ‘The friends of the bridegroom do not fast while the bridegroom is still with them. As long as the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.’

Mark 2:19-20 (NCV)

People expected Jesus and His disciples to behave in a certain way. But Jesus often didn’t do what they expected – for example, He feasted when they thought He should be fasting.

Jesus wasn’t against fasting. In fact, the Bible says that Jesus Himself sometimes fasted when he prayed (Matthew 4:2). But something new was happening – people were getting to know God through Jesus – this was a time for celebrating and feasting!

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When was the last time we had a huge feast or a party?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Being with Jesus is like having a huge feast or enjoying a party with Him.

Jesus, we want to be with You, and we want to receive everything You have for us. We ASK You to help us let go of any wrong expectations that we have about You and the way we think You should do things, so that we can get to know You properly.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Let’s think about our church community for a moment and pray a similar prayer.

Jesus, our church belongs to You – the Bible says that You’re the head of the church (Colossians 1:18). We ASK You to help us to let go of any wrong expectations about You and what we think You should be doing with us – remind us that you’re in charge.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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 2:19-20
Jesus answered, ‘The friends of the bridegroom do not fast while the bridegroom is still with them. As long as the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.’

Mark 2:19-20 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Jesus, we say YES to following You, whether things are going well or not, whether we are joyful or sad, whether we are feasting or fasting. We trust You, and we want to be with You always.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.