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, 7/13/26 – 7/18/26
Faith UMC
Continue the conversation from Sunday:
MONDAY 7/13/26: Mark 11:12-25, Jesus and the Temple
For Jesus, the Temple was the center for Israel’s mission: to go to God on behalf of the people and go to the people on behalf of God—to bless the world. When something that was designed for good was being used to take advantage of people, Jesus went into action. When can our religious systems and/or buildings be misused? What is our mission?
TUESDAY 7/14/26: Luke 13:10-21, Breaking the law for God
Honoring the Sabbath is one of the big 10 commandments, something you don’t take lightly. But are there times when the Spirit calls us to defy or deny the law in ways that do no harm, but do good? Jesus sets this precedent, led by love and the Holy Spirit, he heals on the Sabbath, and demonstrates that this kind of behavior is reasonable to anyone. Be led by the Spirit and not the law!
WEDNESDAY 7/15/26: Psalm 15, Who can live in God’s presence?
This psalm asks and answers the question, “Who can be in the presence of God?” The answer is based on behavior: the one who does right, speaks truth, and is blameless. This psalm is not a law, but calls us to reflect on the One who was blameless, give thanks for his sacrifice and example, and grow in love and righteousness through the Holy Spirit. How can we be more like Christ today?
THURSDAY 7/16/26, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, David kills Bathsheba’s Husband
As we read this familiar story, a few details are worthy of note. First, David is not fighting this war. David is known as a warrior, but here he has stopped that vocation. Second, Uriah is a foreigner. Uriah is a volunteer in David’s army, no doubt signing up out of respect for David. Finally, the king of Israel is the example of deceit while a lowly foreigner is the example of righteousness. How do these details shed a new light on this story for you today?
FRIDAY 7/17/26: 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Faithfulness of Christian leaders
God calls all of us to be servants and work to build up the community of faith. No one is a leader who isn’t already a servant. As we think about leadership, think about what God might be calling you to lead up. Think about the responsibilities of leadership. What is the relationship between home life, church life, and social life?
SATURDAY 7/18/26: 1 Kings 19:8-13, Mt. Horeb & the Promise of Presence
When Israel did not live up to its mission of being an alternative community to the empires surrounding it, God sent prophets to bring them back. Elijah represents those prophets, and as you can imagine, it’s not an easy job. Join us in worship tomorrow under the event tent at 9 am and 10:30 am, or online at 10:30 am, as we see how the promise of presence accompanies Elijah and us, today. You matter to God!
Faith UMC
Continue the conversation from Sunday:
- What are the places that give you the sense of permanence?
- Israel kept two versions of their history in the Scripture. When do we need harsh truths and when do we need encouragement from the past?
- Israel’s mission is wrapped up in the call to Abraham and Moses. What is the church’s mission?
MONDAY 7/13/26: Mark 11:12-25, Jesus and the Temple
For Jesus, the Temple was the center for Israel’s mission: to go to God on behalf of the people and go to the people on behalf of God—to bless the world. When something that was designed for good was being used to take advantage of people, Jesus went into action. When can our religious systems and/or buildings be misused? What is our mission?
TUESDAY 7/14/26: Luke 13:10-21, Breaking the law for God
Honoring the Sabbath is one of the big 10 commandments, something you don’t take lightly. But are there times when the Spirit calls us to defy or deny the law in ways that do no harm, but do good? Jesus sets this precedent, led by love and the Holy Spirit, he heals on the Sabbath, and demonstrates that this kind of behavior is reasonable to anyone. Be led by the Spirit and not the law!
WEDNESDAY 7/15/26: Psalm 15, Who can live in God’s presence?
This psalm asks and answers the question, “Who can be in the presence of God?” The answer is based on behavior: the one who does right, speaks truth, and is blameless. This psalm is not a law, but calls us to reflect on the One who was blameless, give thanks for his sacrifice and example, and grow in love and righteousness through the Holy Spirit. How can we be more like Christ today?
THURSDAY 7/16/26, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, David kills Bathsheba’s Husband
As we read this familiar story, a few details are worthy of note. First, David is not fighting this war. David is known as a warrior, but here he has stopped that vocation. Second, Uriah is a foreigner. Uriah is a volunteer in David’s army, no doubt signing up out of respect for David. Finally, the king of Israel is the example of deceit while a lowly foreigner is the example of righteousness. How do these details shed a new light on this story for you today?
FRIDAY 7/17/26: 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Faithfulness of Christian leaders
God calls all of us to be servants and work to build up the community of faith. No one is a leader who isn’t already a servant. As we think about leadership, think about what God might be calling you to lead up. Think about the responsibilities of leadership. What is the relationship between home life, church life, and social life?
SATURDAY 7/18/26: 1 Kings 19:8-13, Mt. Horeb & the Promise of Presence
When Israel did not live up to its mission of being an alternative community to the empires surrounding it, God sent prophets to bring them back. Elijah represents those prophets, and as you can imagine, it’s not an easy job. Join us in worship tomorrow under the event tent at 9 am and 10:30 am, or online at 10:30 am, as we see how the promise of presence accompanies Elijah and us, today. You matter to God!