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, 9/29/25 – 10/4/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 9/29/25: Numbers 27, Zelophehad’s Daughters
In the desert, Moses and leaders are trying to create a new society. Daughters of a deceased man without sons come forward to request the inheritance. Such an audacious request moves Moses to seek God’s approval—which God gives immediately. There’s no question about what is right. Then, why had women before this not received their rights? How does this story illustrate change within the believing body?
TUESDAY 9/30/25: Mark 11:1-33, Entering Jerusalem
Several short vignettes mark out Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem. When Jesus turns over tables in the temple, notice that he quotes Isaiah 56. The temple is to be a place of prayer for all people. In chapter 13, Jesus will announce that the entire temple will fall and he will rebuild it in 3 days. Jesus is critiquing the whole religious system, or at least what it has turned into. With humility and an open heart, let us ask ourselves what Christ might critique in our own religious activities? Listen.
WEDNESDAY 10/1/25: 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 10/2/25: Exodus 33:12-23, Seeing God’s backside
God has rescued the Israelites from slavery, done away with their enemies, provided food and water, and promised them a good and prosperous land. Still, the Israelites turn away from God, and God is about ready to let them go. However Moses pleads with God, and God gives into to Moses’ prayers. Then, Moses gets bold and asks to see God’s glory – glory that would even kill him. God gives Moses a glimpse. What does a glimpse of God’s glory look like to you?
FRIDAY 10/3/25: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20, The final hope
1 Corinthians is a letter on how to get along and be the church. Throughout the letter, Paul has hinted at our future hope and reality (1:7; 3:13; 4:5; 6:2; 13:12-13). Now he begins to tell us what the resurrection of Jesus means for our future hope. For Paul, what happened to Jesus (death and resurrection) is a sign for our future. What are your thoughts about resurrection, Jesus’ and yours? How have you thought about resurrection as a part of the next life for you?
SATURDAY 10/4/25: John 11:33-44; Removing the Stones
US crime rates are the lowest since 1961, and yet our incarceration rate is 800% higher. We have built a system that is nearly impossible to escape…without help. Inspired by Jesus’s direction to “remove the stones” from Lazarus’s tomb, we’ll share what Faith Church is doing to bring light to a troubling prison system and help a child of God come back to life. Be sure to join us on Sunday as we share more about our One Parish One Prisoner Ministry. You matter to God.
Faith UMC
MONDAY 9/29/25: Numbers 27, Zelophehad’s Daughters
In the desert, Moses and leaders are trying to create a new society. Daughters of a deceased man without sons come forward to request the inheritance. Such an audacious request moves Moses to seek God’s approval—which God gives immediately. There’s no question about what is right. Then, why had women before this not received their rights? How does this story illustrate change within the believing body?
TUESDAY 9/30/25: Mark 11:1-33, Entering Jerusalem
Several short vignettes mark out Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem. When Jesus turns over tables in the temple, notice that he quotes Isaiah 56. The temple is to be a place of prayer for all people. In chapter 13, Jesus will announce that the entire temple will fall and he will rebuild it in 3 days. Jesus is critiquing the whole religious system, or at least what it has turned into. With humility and an open heart, let us ask ourselves what Christ might critique in our own religious activities? Listen.
WEDNESDAY 10/1/25: 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 10/2/25: Exodus 33:12-23, Seeing God’s backside
God has rescued the Israelites from slavery, done away with their enemies, provided food and water, and promised them a good and prosperous land. Still, the Israelites turn away from God, and God is about ready to let them go. However Moses pleads with God, and God gives into to Moses’ prayers. Then, Moses gets bold and asks to see God’s glory – glory that would even kill him. God gives Moses a glimpse. What does a glimpse of God’s glory look like to you?
FRIDAY 10/3/25: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20, The final hope
1 Corinthians is a letter on how to get along and be the church. Throughout the letter, Paul has hinted at our future hope and reality (1:7; 3:13; 4:5; 6:2; 13:12-13). Now he begins to tell us what the resurrection of Jesus means for our future hope. For Paul, what happened to Jesus (death and resurrection) is a sign for our future. What are your thoughts about resurrection, Jesus’ and yours? How have you thought about resurrection as a part of the next life for you?
SATURDAY 10/4/25: John 11:33-44; Removing the Stones
US crime rates are the lowest since 1961, and yet our incarceration rate is 800% higher. We have built a system that is nearly impossible to escape…without help. Inspired by Jesus’s direction to “remove the stones” from Lazarus’s tomb, we’ll share what Faith Church is doing to bring light to a troubling prison system and help a child of God come back to life. Be sure to join us on Sunday as we share more about our One Parish One Prisoner Ministry. You matter to God.