Monday: Understanding
Pray: Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God's name.
From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Heavenly Father, be with us as we read your holy Word. Show us your grace and mercy and bring us a deeper faith. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Listen: Listen carefully as the Bible story for the week is read aloud.
Acts 1:3-11
For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God’s kingdom. 4 While he was still with them, he said: “Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. 5 John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?” 7 Jesus said to them, “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8 But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” 9 After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, 10 but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. 11 They said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go.” (CEV)
Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.
Child: Why did Jesus have to prove to his friends so many times that he was raised from the dead?
Child: Can you tell me a time when you struggled to believe in something or someone and you had to hear it or see it over and over again before you believed?
Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.
Holy God, you are the Lord. Help us to share your live-giving Word with those we meet, so they would know your promises too. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Have each person in the family bless one another with these words:
May the Lord remind you each day of his promise of eternal life in Christ. Amen.