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.
G•P•S - Grow, Pray, Study Guide, 12/22/25 – 12/27/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 12/22/25: Matthew 9:18-26, Be Encouraged Daughter
It is agreed that Matthew’s Gospel uses material from Mark’s Gospel. The fuller story is found in Mark 5:21-43. Matthew shortens the story quite a bit, but keeps an important detail: calling the woman to touched Jesus’s robe “daughter.” There are two daughters in the story. One has people to advocate for her, the other is on her own, but they are both daughters. They belong to God. In what sense is there healing or salvation in being called “daughter?”
TUESDAY 12/23/25: Luke 1:26-45, The announcement to Mary
The scene of Luke’s first chapter moves from the wealth and prestige of the Jerusalem Temple to the poor and dirty town of Nazareth. We move from a highly honored priest to a peasant girl: Mary. Mary is given an honor and a responsibility: to carry Christ into this world. In what ways is God calling you to bear Christ in your world? May your answer be like Mary’s answer: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be so.”
WEDNESDAY 12/24/25: Psalm 96, Sing to the Lord a new song
This psalm is the chosen psalm for every Christmas eve. It is a psalm of joy, thanksgiving, and hope. What do you hope for in this coming year? Where do you need to see God’s goodness? This can be a new year, and you can sing a new song!
THURSDAY 12/25/25, Luke 2:1-20, Not a silent night!
Merry Christmas! I hope you can find a little time today in the midst of celebration to hear the Christmas story again! I know a family that makes a game of telling the Christmas story every year. They go around in a circle, each person saying only one sentence of the story, and attempt to recreate the story from memory. It gets a little out of hand! I hope you have a wonderful celebration!
FRIDAY 12/26/25: Galatians 5:16-26, What freedom looks like
Paul lays out for us two ways of living. One is led by selfishness, the other is led by the Spirit. We may be tempted to think that selfishness equals freedom, but elsewhere, Paul tells us that the Spirit brings freedom (2 Cor. 3:17). For Paul and Christians, living according to selfish desire is more like slavery, and living according to the Spirit is true freedom. True freedom, then, is the ability to be loving, have joy, have peace, be patient, be kind…
SATURDAY 12/27/25: Luke 2:39-52, Jesus grows in grace
This is brief story is all that we have in the Bible about Jesus’ childhood. Jesus grew in wisdom, years, and favor. Did Jesus have to grow? An old theologian once said, “The unassumed is the unhealed,” meaning that Jesus experienced the whole range of humanity in order the heal all of humanity. In this case, Jesus experiences growing up, getting in trouble, learning, etc. Jesus truly knows us. This Sunday in worship, Pastor Ric will be answering your questions! Bring your questions on Sunday morning or email them in early to ric@faithunited.org. You matter to God.
Faith UMC
MONDAY 12/22/25: Matthew 9:18-26, Be Encouraged Daughter
It is agreed that Matthew’s Gospel uses material from Mark’s Gospel. The fuller story is found in Mark 5:21-43. Matthew shortens the story quite a bit, but keeps an important detail: calling the woman to touched Jesus’s robe “daughter.” There are two daughters in the story. One has people to advocate for her, the other is on her own, but they are both daughters. They belong to God. In what sense is there healing or salvation in being called “daughter?”
TUESDAY 12/23/25: Luke 1:26-45, The announcement to Mary
The scene of Luke’s first chapter moves from the wealth and prestige of the Jerusalem Temple to the poor and dirty town of Nazareth. We move from a highly honored priest to a peasant girl: Mary. Mary is given an honor and a responsibility: to carry Christ into this world. In what ways is God calling you to bear Christ in your world? May your answer be like Mary’s answer: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be so.”
WEDNESDAY 12/24/25: Psalm 96, Sing to the Lord a new song
This psalm is the chosen psalm for every Christmas eve. It is a psalm of joy, thanksgiving, and hope. What do you hope for in this coming year? Where do you need to see God’s goodness? This can be a new year, and you can sing a new song!
THURSDAY 12/25/25, Luke 2:1-20, Not a silent night!
Merry Christmas! I hope you can find a little time today in the midst of celebration to hear the Christmas story again! I know a family that makes a game of telling the Christmas story every year. They go around in a circle, each person saying only one sentence of the story, and attempt to recreate the story from memory. It gets a little out of hand! I hope you have a wonderful celebration!
FRIDAY 12/26/25: Galatians 5:16-26, What freedom looks like
Paul lays out for us two ways of living. One is led by selfishness, the other is led by the Spirit. We may be tempted to think that selfishness equals freedom, but elsewhere, Paul tells us that the Spirit brings freedom (2 Cor. 3:17). For Paul and Christians, living according to selfish desire is more like slavery, and living according to the Spirit is true freedom. True freedom, then, is the ability to be loving, have joy, have peace, be patient, be kind…
SATURDAY 12/27/25: Luke 2:39-52, Jesus grows in grace
This is brief story is all that we have in the Bible about Jesus’ childhood. Jesus grew in wisdom, years, and favor. Did Jesus have to grow? An old theologian once said, “The unassumed is the unhealed,” meaning that Jesus experienced the whole range of humanity in order the heal all of humanity. In this case, Jesus experiences growing up, getting in trouble, learning, etc. Jesus truly knows us. This Sunday in worship, Pastor Ric will be answering your questions! Bring your questions on Sunday morning or email them in early to ric@faithunited.org. You matter to God.