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, 8/25/25 – 8/30/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 8/25/25: 2 Kings 18:1-8, Hezekiah destroys a national treasure!
Israel and Judah a few good kings, according to Scripture. One, however, was Hezekiah. As we are introduced to Hezekiah, we’re told that he destroyed the bronze serpent Moses made in the desert. God told Moses to make that serpent so that any who looked at it would be healed of venomous snake bites. It was a symbol of God’s healing in Israel’s origin story, how could Hezekiah destroy it!? What was once good for the people, became an idol. How can nostalgia lead to idolatry?
TUESDAY 8/26/25: Mark 9:14-29, I believe, help my unbelief
I imagine the words of a father, desperate to see his son healed. Jesus tells the father that all things are possible with faith. The father knows the right answer: “I believe.” But this desperate father is honest with himself and with Jesus. The father answers Jesus with paradoxical honesty: I believe, help my unbelief. It is true, it is honest, it is faithful. Maybe these are words that we need from time to time. Jesus doesn’t reject the honest believer; he answers their prayer.
WEDNESDAY 8/27/25: Psalm 112, The goal of righteousness
Some psalms, like this one, are categorized as wisdom psalms, full of short sayings and proverbs about virtuous living. These are goals for ourselves. We don’t pretend like we have it all together, but we strive to do good and live in ways God dreams for us. What is challenging in this psalm for you? What is God calling you to do today?
THURSDAY 8/28/25: Exodus 19:1-8, A kingdom of priests
God has heard the cry of the enslaved Israelites! God has dealt decisively with their oppressors! God has set them free! Now what? What are they supposed to do? Who are they supposed to be? God has called them to be a “kingdom of priests.” Priests are intermediates between God and people, but for whom are the Israelites to be priests? What other people? There is an echo of God’s call to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3, that through this people God will bless all people. The Israelites are set free to bless the world. Who is God calling you to bless, to be a priest for?
FRIDAY 8/29/25: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Getting drunk on communion
Paul is now focusing on the worship gatherings. Another conflict has occurred around communion. Some are getting drunk and full before others have a chance to eat at all. Some members of the community are so poor that they have even lost their lives over malnutrition. How can this be? This behavior warrants Paul’s fiercest rebukes. When we gather for communion, are we being aware of the needs of the people around us? If not, then we are mistreating this act of worship.
SATURDAY 8/30/25: Psalm 18, Eye of the Tiger
What’s your pump up song? When you need to accomplish things or get ready for a sport, what do you listen to? Ancient Israel gathered these songs in a time of rebuilding, after being conquered and destroyed sever times. They needed to sing songs that made them feel powerful and gave them energy to rebuild. That’s what psalm 18 does. Join us in worship as we wrap up our summer series on the Psalms! You matter to God!
Faith UMC
MONDAY 8/25/25: 2 Kings 18:1-8, Hezekiah destroys a national treasure!
Israel and Judah a few good kings, according to Scripture. One, however, was Hezekiah. As we are introduced to Hezekiah, we’re told that he destroyed the bronze serpent Moses made in the desert. God told Moses to make that serpent so that any who looked at it would be healed of venomous snake bites. It was a symbol of God’s healing in Israel’s origin story, how could Hezekiah destroy it!? What was once good for the people, became an idol. How can nostalgia lead to idolatry?
TUESDAY 8/26/25: Mark 9:14-29, I believe, help my unbelief
I imagine the words of a father, desperate to see his son healed. Jesus tells the father that all things are possible with faith. The father knows the right answer: “I believe.” But this desperate father is honest with himself and with Jesus. The father answers Jesus with paradoxical honesty: I believe, help my unbelief. It is true, it is honest, it is faithful. Maybe these are words that we need from time to time. Jesus doesn’t reject the honest believer; he answers their prayer.
WEDNESDAY 8/27/25: Psalm 112, The goal of righteousness
Some psalms, like this one, are categorized as wisdom psalms, full of short sayings and proverbs about virtuous living. These are goals for ourselves. We don’t pretend like we have it all together, but we strive to do good and live in ways God dreams for us. What is challenging in this psalm for you? What is God calling you to do today?
THURSDAY 8/28/25: Exodus 19:1-8, A kingdom of priests
God has heard the cry of the enslaved Israelites! God has dealt decisively with their oppressors! God has set them free! Now what? What are they supposed to do? Who are they supposed to be? God has called them to be a “kingdom of priests.” Priests are intermediates between God and people, but for whom are the Israelites to be priests? What other people? There is an echo of God’s call to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3, that through this people God will bless all people. The Israelites are set free to bless the world. Who is God calling you to bless, to be a priest for?
FRIDAY 8/29/25: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Getting drunk on communion
Paul is now focusing on the worship gatherings. Another conflict has occurred around communion. Some are getting drunk and full before others have a chance to eat at all. Some members of the community are so poor that they have even lost their lives over malnutrition. How can this be? This behavior warrants Paul’s fiercest rebukes. When we gather for communion, are we being aware of the needs of the people around us? If not, then we are mistreating this act of worship.
SATURDAY 8/30/25: Psalm 18, Eye of the Tiger
What’s your pump up song? When you need to accomplish things or get ready for a sport, what do you listen to? Ancient Israel gathered these songs in a time of rebuilding, after being conquered and destroyed sever times. They needed to sing songs that made them feel powerful and gave them energy to rebuild. That’s what psalm 18 does. Join us in worship as we wrap up our summer series on the Psalms! You matter to God!