Grow • Pray • Study
daily Devotional Guide
Our Grow • Pray • Study (GPS) Guide offers daily readings and thoughts that follow along the Scriptural themes of our Sunday Worship services.
In the month of May, we'll focus on the Gospel of Matthew. Join us as we highlight Matthew's emphasis on God's faithfulness to the people of Israel even as God surprises us with Jesus. The GPS will be updated weekly, so check back here often!
In the month of May, we'll focus on the Gospel of Matthew. Join us as we highlight Matthew's emphasis on God's faithfulness to the people of Israel even as God surprises us with Jesus. The GPS will be updated weekly, so check back here often!
G•P•S - Grow, Pray, Study Guide, 10/6/25 – 10/11/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 10/6/25: John 11:45-57, Consequences of raising the dead
Two things happened because Jesus raised Lazarus: people came to believe in him, and the powerful decided to kill him. What do you make of the priests and Pharisees’ conversation? What are they afraid of? What do we face if we join Jesus in death-reversing work?
TUESDAY 10/7/25: Mark 12:1-12, What will the vineyard owner do?
At the end of the parable, Jesus asks what we think the vineyard owner will do to the tenants who killed his son. The answer is obvious, the owner will destroy them. Therefore, as readers of Gospel, we should then expect God to destroy the world when Jesus is killed, but that is not what happens. Our expectations of God are shattered. We think God will do one thing, but God does another thing entirely. God forgives. God loves. Amazing.
WEDNESDAY 10/8/25: Psalm 66:8-20, Refined like silver
Our psalm today demonstrates the two characteristics of God we’ve been thinking about this week: testing and providing. The psalmist understands that hardships are a form of testing, and through it, God has purified and strengthened. This is praiseworthy. Then the psalmist exclaims about God’s deliverance and freedom. What in these ancient words jumps out at you? What is God speaking to you today through this psalm?
THURSDAY 10/9/25: Exodus 34:29-35, Moses’ Glow in the Dark Face
Here we have an interesting snapshot at Moses’ relationship with God and practice with the people. Whenever Moses got away alone in God’s presence, his face would begin to shine. Then Moses and his glow-in-the-dark face would go and speak to the people about God. Moses would put a veil on until the next time he was “recharged” in God’s presence. The veil becomes an important image and metaphor of a separation from God’s presence. In Jesus, the veil has been lifted. We are in God’s presence even now. Still, we need to remember to “recharge” with God, so that we can shine in the world.
FRIDAY 10/10/25: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Christ is the first crop
Now, Paul links Christ’s resurrection to our resurrection. Christ came out the other side of death first. Christ is our example, and we will follow suit. What does that mean for you? Have you thought about resurrection as your fate and after life? What would that mean for us to be like Christ? For all things to undergo a resurrection?
SATURDAY 10/11/25: Luke 16:10-18; Marriage (and Divorce) ain’t what it used to be
What do we make of Jesus’s teachings on marriage and divorce? In a few places, Jesus forbids divorce except in the case of infidelity. In all other cases, he calls it adultery. Are there really no other cases where divorce is appropriate? The easy example is abuse. Surely Jesus would approve a victim leaving their abuser, right? We’re going to tackle these questions on Sunday, and with God’s help, learn some better tools for interpretation and find God’s good news in every teaching. Join us! You matter to God.
Faith UMC
MONDAY 10/6/25: John 11:45-57, Consequences of raising the dead
Two things happened because Jesus raised Lazarus: people came to believe in him, and the powerful decided to kill him. What do you make of the priests and Pharisees’ conversation? What are they afraid of? What do we face if we join Jesus in death-reversing work?
TUESDAY 10/7/25: Mark 12:1-12, What will the vineyard owner do?
At the end of the parable, Jesus asks what we think the vineyard owner will do to the tenants who killed his son. The answer is obvious, the owner will destroy them. Therefore, as readers of Gospel, we should then expect God to destroy the world when Jesus is killed, but that is not what happens. Our expectations of God are shattered. We think God will do one thing, but God does another thing entirely. God forgives. God loves. Amazing.
WEDNESDAY 10/8/25: Psalm 66:8-20, Refined like silver
Our psalm today demonstrates the two characteristics of God we’ve been thinking about this week: testing and providing. The psalmist understands that hardships are a form of testing, and through it, God has purified and strengthened. This is praiseworthy. Then the psalmist exclaims about God’s deliverance and freedom. What in these ancient words jumps out at you? What is God speaking to you today through this psalm?
THURSDAY 10/9/25: Exodus 34:29-35, Moses’ Glow in the Dark Face
Here we have an interesting snapshot at Moses’ relationship with God and practice with the people. Whenever Moses got away alone in God’s presence, his face would begin to shine. Then Moses and his glow-in-the-dark face would go and speak to the people about God. Moses would put a veil on until the next time he was “recharged” in God’s presence. The veil becomes an important image and metaphor of a separation from God’s presence. In Jesus, the veil has been lifted. We are in God’s presence even now. Still, we need to remember to “recharge” with God, so that we can shine in the world.
FRIDAY 10/10/25: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Christ is the first crop
Now, Paul links Christ’s resurrection to our resurrection. Christ came out the other side of death first. Christ is our example, and we will follow suit. What does that mean for you? Have you thought about resurrection as your fate and after life? What would that mean for us to be like Christ? For all things to undergo a resurrection?
SATURDAY 10/11/25: Luke 16:10-18; Marriage (and Divorce) ain’t what it used to be
What do we make of Jesus’s teachings on marriage and divorce? In a few places, Jesus forbids divorce except in the case of infidelity. In all other cases, he calls it adultery. Are there really no other cases where divorce is appropriate? The easy example is abuse. Surely Jesus would approve a victim leaving their abuser, right? We’re going to tackle these questions on Sunday, and with God’s help, learn some better tools for interpretation and find God’s good news in every teaching. Join us! You matter to God.