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, 9/8/25 – 9/13/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 9/8/25: Philippians 2:1-11, Imitate Christ
In Paul’s appeal for unity in the church, he points to Christ as our example. He then quotes what is likely a hymn that was already common among the churches. What are the features of this hymn that must have been radical for the first century? What are the implications of God who humbles himself to slavery, humanity, and death? What are we supposed to imitate?
TUESDAY 9/9/25: Mark 9:42-50, The seriousness of sin
While there is always grace and forgiveness, Christians never diminish the seriousness of sin. John Wesley defined sin as a “willful transgression of a known law of God.” Sin violates God’s call to love God and neighbor. They are those actions that interrupt our growth in grace and draw us away from being used by God. As Christians, we continually ask God to examine our lives, so that we can be more free from sin, in order to deepen our love for God and neighbor.
WEDNESDAY 9/10/25: Psalm 98, What is worship for you?
This psalm is a call to worship! The psalmist calls all things to worship God our king. What is worship for you? Think back on some of those times in your life when your heart was full of worship. Where were you? What was going on in your life? How do you let yourself worship today? Sing to the Lord a new song!
THURSDAY 9/11/25: Exodus 21:1-27, A taste of the Mosaic Law
As we continue to journey through the story of Moses and the Israelites, we come upon pages and pages of laws and rules. We won’t read all of them in the GPS, but today, let’s take a moment to look for God’s grace within these new laws given to the Israelites. As you read about the treatment of slaves and violent actions, what is being revealed about God’s desires for people? How does Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount interact with the Mosaic Law?
FRIDAY 9/12/25: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, The Love Chapter!
After having read all the problems the Corinthians are going through, this love chapter takes a different shape! This chapter is not merely a poem about beauty of love, it is the answer to a community that is divided by arrogance and selfishness. As Paul describes how love works, he is countering all the ways this community is currently working. For those who have pursued the higher spiritual gifts, Paul argues that love is the greatest. How can you deepen your love for God and neighbor this week?
SATURDAY 9/13/25: Colossians 3:12-4:5, Advice on Marriage, Parenting, and Slavery
Now we dive into one of those problematic passages. Paul applies an ethic of Christ to household relationships, which shockingly for our culture includes a slaver/enslaved relationship. What do we do with this today? And what models of interpretation do we use for this and other passages? Join us as we dig into this Sunday. You matter to God!
Faith UMC
MONDAY 9/8/25: Philippians 2:1-11, Imitate Christ
In Paul’s appeal for unity in the church, he points to Christ as our example. He then quotes what is likely a hymn that was already common among the churches. What are the features of this hymn that must have been radical for the first century? What are the implications of God who humbles himself to slavery, humanity, and death? What are we supposed to imitate?
TUESDAY 9/9/25: Mark 9:42-50, The seriousness of sin
While there is always grace and forgiveness, Christians never diminish the seriousness of sin. John Wesley defined sin as a “willful transgression of a known law of God.” Sin violates God’s call to love God and neighbor. They are those actions that interrupt our growth in grace and draw us away from being used by God. As Christians, we continually ask God to examine our lives, so that we can be more free from sin, in order to deepen our love for God and neighbor.
WEDNESDAY 9/10/25: Psalm 98, What is worship for you?
This psalm is a call to worship! The psalmist calls all things to worship God our king. What is worship for you? Think back on some of those times in your life when your heart was full of worship. Where were you? What was going on in your life? How do you let yourself worship today? Sing to the Lord a new song!
THURSDAY 9/11/25: Exodus 21:1-27, A taste of the Mosaic Law
As we continue to journey through the story of Moses and the Israelites, we come upon pages and pages of laws and rules. We won’t read all of them in the GPS, but today, let’s take a moment to look for God’s grace within these new laws given to the Israelites. As you read about the treatment of slaves and violent actions, what is being revealed about God’s desires for people? How does Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount interact with the Mosaic Law?
FRIDAY 9/12/25: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, The Love Chapter!
After having read all the problems the Corinthians are going through, this love chapter takes a different shape! This chapter is not merely a poem about beauty of love, it is the answer to a community that is divided by arrogance and selfishness. As Paul describes how love works, he is countering all the ways this community is currently working. For those who have pursued the higher spiritual gifts, Paul argues that love is the greatest. How can you deepen your love for God and neighbor this week?
SATURDAY 9/13/25: Colossians 3:12-4:5, Advice on Marriage, Parenting, and Slavery
Now we dive into one of those problematic passages. Paul applies an ethic of Christ to household relationships, which shockingly for our culture includes a slaver/enslaved relationship. What do we do with this today? And what models of interpretation do we use for this and other passages? Join us as we dig into this Sunday. You matter to God!