Power to Be Sent Out
Month 3: Come, Follow Me · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Mark 3:14-15 & Acts 1:8
14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. — Mark 3:14-15
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8
Memory Verse
“He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,”— Mark 3:14 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 2 Samuel 11-13
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (David's painful fall reminds us why we desperately need a Savior and the Spirit's help.)The Heart of It
When Jesus chose the Twelve, He didn't just send them out with good advice. He "gave them power" (). Notice He didn't say, "Go do your best and try really hard." The mission Jesus gives always comes with the power He supplies. The disciples couldn't heal the sick or cast out demons by gritting their teeth. They needed something far greater than their own willpower. They needed Someone. That same truth runs straight through to . There the risen Jesus says the very same kind of thing: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me."
This is the heart of walking in the Spirit. We were never meant to follow Jesus or tell others about Him on our own steam. After we belong to Jesus, He longs to fill us with His Holy Spirit. The Bible calls this being baptized in the Spirit. He fills us for boldness, for love, and for power to serve. This isn't only for a special few. It's a promise for every believer, even children (). The pattern of our whole week comes together right here. Being with Him fills us up. The Spirit carries us out. Your family can ask the Father for this fresh filling tonight. And He delights to give it.
Around the Table
Jesus gives His friends His own power so they can be brave and kind. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us!
Let's do it: Make a strong-arm muscle, then say, "Holy Spirit, give me Your strength, not just mine!"
Jesus didn't send the disciples out with willpower. He sent them out with power from the Spirit. Why can't we follow Jesus on our own strength?
Let's talk: When is a time you needed to be braver or kinder than you felt? That is exactly when to ask the Spirit for help.
Mission and power go together. After we belong to Jesus, He wants to baptize us in the Holy Spirit. That power is for telling others about Him. It's not for show.
Let's go deeper: Have you ever asked Jesus to fill you with His Spirit? What might hold you back from asking tonight?
💬 Conversation Starter
A phone won't turn on without charging first. What's something you simply cannot do without power from outside yourself? How is that like serving Jesus?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
The huge change in the apostles is hard to explain away. Timid men fled when Jesus was arrested. Then, after Pentecost, those same men became fearless preachers. Many of them died rather than take back what they said. Something real happened to them. The Spirit's power is the best explanation.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Classic Pentecostal teaching sees the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a real, experienced empowering for mission. It is distinct from conversion and comes after it, and it is available to every believer, your children included. But guard the goal carefully. The Spirit's power is never for spectacle or status. As Sam Storms reminds us, "character is always more important than gifting." A Spirit-filled home is marked by Christlikeness, humility, and love. It is not marked by noise, hype, or anything like the prosperity teaching that turns the Spirit into a vending machine. And here is the searching question, Dad. Are you leading from the Spirit's power, or merely from your own willpower and good intentions? You cannot give away what you do not possess. Before you teach your kids to ask the Father for the Spirit, ask Him yourself, fresh and unashamed (). A weary, white-knuckling father and a Spirit-filled, restful father are leading their children in two very different directions.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story; Sam Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, we cannot follow Jesus or tell others about Him in our own strength. So fill our family with Your Holy Spirit. Give us power, give us boldness, and give us love to be sent out for You. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus never sends me empty-handed. His mission comes with His Spirit's power.