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, 4/28/25 – 5/3/25, Faith UMC
MONDAY 4/28/25: John 21:1-19, Peter’s restoration
As you read the story of Peter’s restoration. What stands out to you? Notice how Jesus calls Peter, “Simon, son of John.” “Peter” is the new name that Jesus gave him, and now Jesus calls him by his old name. This passage ends with “follow me” –the words Jesus first said to him when he was called to be a disciple. No matter how we fail, Christ restores us.
TUESDAY 4/29/25: Isaiah 65:17-25, God’s dream for creation
There are 590 references to Isaiah in 23 books of the New Testament. When the New Testament asks the question, “What is God’s hope or plan for the world?”, the New Testament turns to Isaiah. As you read this chapter, notice the real hope for lives: babies won’t die, the elderly will live out their days, people who work will receive just compensation, etc. How do we work with God to make this dream a reality? That is participation in the kingdom of God.
WEDNESDAY 5/30/25: Psalm 30, You brought me up from the grave
In this psalm, we have a rarely mentioned hope against death or the grave. Ancient Israel’s views of the afterlife were being shaped and evolving over time. Here we have a hope that the grave is not the end. It wouldn’t be right for God’s relationship with creation (and creation’s praise of God) to simply end in death. There is more. God plans to bring life again.
THURSDAY 5/1/25: Matthew 1:18-25, He will be called “Emmanuel,” kind of
Matthew begins his Gospel with this declaration of who Jesus is. The story of Jesus’ birth fulfills a prophecy about God’s presence with the people (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew quotes the prophecy, including the part where we will call this child “Emmanuel.” Only, no where else the does Gospel call Jesus “Emmanuel.” Isn’t that strange? Now, look at the last verse of the enter Gospel (Matt. 28:20). Jesus tells the disciples that he will be with them forever, a call back to the promise of “Emmanuel.” Jesus is with us. God is with us.
FRIDAY 5/2/25: Matthew 2:13-23, A New Exodus
Matthew is intent on proclaiming that Jesus’s movement is consistent with and flows from the history and faith of Israel. While John’s Gospel uses a new creation motif, Matthew’s Gospel uses a new Exodus, motif, seeing Jesus as a new (and greater) Moses figure. Jesus walks the road that Moses and the Israelites walk, which include the brutality of imperial leaders (Pharaoh and Herod). His story is their story. He is one of them. As Gentile readers, we get a glimpse of Matthew’s emphasis for the Jewish people. We also receive the invitation to be a part of Jesus’s family and movement.
SATURDAY 5/3/25: Matthew 3:1-17, A Voice Shouting in the Wilderness
John the Baptist was crazy. He was known for breaking tradition, finding God in the wilderness (not only in the temple), and preparing people for the coming King. John represent another tradition of Israel: the Prophets. Prophets called people to see the deeper truth in the Law, even if it required radical demonstration. For Matthew, Jesus is consistent with both traditions of Israel: the Law and the Prophets. What is the heart of the Law according to John’s message?
G•P•S - Grow, Pray, Study Guide, 5/5/25 – 5/10/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 5/5/25: Matthew 5:21-48, Dangers of a new law
Matthew is committed to showing Jesus as a continuation, not a deviation from the Hebrew Bible’s laws. Jesus doesn’t replace the laws, but unfolds them to uncover the deeper way of God. Unfortunately, Christians often fall for the trap of creating a new law. What are “Christian” rules that miss the point? What’s the deeper call of God in Jesus’s teachings?
TUESDAY 5/6/25: Matthew 6:1-18, Lord, teach us how to be religious
Matthew 5-7 is known as the Sermon on the Mount. Just as Moses established new ethics on Mt. Sinai, Jesus unfolds deeper ethics on this Mount. Here, he gives us instruction on how to go about our religious practices: prayer, giving to the poor, and fasting. The concern is humility and show. What is Jesus saying to you today about your practices? What other spiritual practices do you do that you could add to this list?
WEDNESDAY 5/7/25: Matthew 7:15-29, Fruit and wise builders
The Sermon on the Mount is concluded with a warning against false teachers and parable about listening. We often think of false teachers as people with incorrect doctrine, but the danger is much greater than that. The radical hospitality of the early church made them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Therefore, Jesus calls us to know people by their actions. Do they, do we, put into practice the teachings of Jesus?
THURSDAY 5/8/25: Matthew 8:1-13, Boundary breaking medical care
Having taught how we should live, Jesus then demonstrates by healing. These two healings are interesting. First we have a ceremonially unclean leper, who, according to the law, should be avoided lest you become unclean yourself. Second, we have a foreigner, even an oppressor and arm of Rome seeking help from a Jew. Jesus breaks these boundaries, and this is the Kingdom of God proclaimed. What boundaries do we need to break?
FRIDAY 5/9/25: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Who can forgive sins?
This next miracle in Matthew has its parallel in Mark 2:1-12. The issue is not so much about whether or not Jesus can heal someone. Rather, people are up in arms over Jesus forgiving sins. Blasphemy! Everyone knows only God can forgive sins! What are the Gospel writers saying about Jesus’s overlapping relationship to God?
SATURDAY 5/10/25: Matthew 10:26-31, Worth many sparrow
These are words of encouragement for the disciples sent out to do the work of Jesus in the world. The Bible doesn’t pull any punches: you will face difficulty. In your attempts to announce the Kingdom and heal the sick and care for the needy, you’ll face opposition and nay-sayers. Take courage, the God of the universe cares for you. Not a sparrow falls with God’s care, and you are worth more than many sparrows.
MONDAY 4/28/25: John 21:1-19, Peter’s restoration
As you read the story of Peter’s restoration. What stands out to you? Notice how Jesus calls Peter, “Simon, son of John.” “Peter” is the new name that Jesus gave him, and now Jesus calls him by his old name. This passage ends with “follow me” –the words Jesus first said to him when he was called to be a disciple. No matter how we fail, Christ restores us.
TUESDAY 4/29/25: Isaiah 65:17-25, God’s dream for creation
There are 590 references to Isaiah in 23 books of the New Testament. When the New Testament asks the question, “What is God’s hope or plan for the world?”, the New Testament turns to Isaiah. As you read this chapter, notice the real hope for lives: babies won’t die, the elderly will live out their days, people who work will receive just compensation, etc. How do we work with God to make this dream a reality? That is participation in the kingdom of God.
WEDNESDAY 5/30/25: Psalm 30, You brought me up from the grave
In this psalm, we have a rarely mentioned hope against death or the grave. Ancient Israel’s views of the afterlife were being shaped and evolving over time. Here we have a hope that the grave is not the end. It wouldn’t be right for God’s relationship with creation (and creation’s praise of God) to simply end in death. There is more. God plans to bring life again.
THURSDAY 5/1/25: Matthew 1:18-25, He will be called “Emmanuel,” kind of
Matthew begins his Gospel with this declaration of who Jesus is. The story of Jesus’ birth fulfills a prophecy about God’s presence with the people (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew quotes the prophecy, including the part where we will call this child “Emmanuel.” Only, no where else the does Gospel call Jesus “Emmanuel.” Isn’t that strange? Now, look at the last verse of the enter Gospel (Matt. 28:20). Jesus tells the disciples that he will be with them forever, a call back to the promise of “Emmanuel.” Jesus is with us. God is with us.
FRIDAY 5/2/25: Matthew 2:13-23, A New Exodus
Matthew is intent on proclaiming that Jesus’s movement is consistent with and flows from the history and faith of Israel. While John’s Gospel uses a new creation motif, Matthew’s Gospel uses a new Exodus, motif, seeing Jesus as a new (and greater) Moses figure. Jesus walks the road that Moses and the Israelites walk, which include the brutality of imperial leaders (Pharaoh and Herod). His story is their story. He is one of them. As Gentile readers, we get a glimpse of Matthew’s emphasis for the Jewish people. We also receive the invitation to be a part of Jesus’s family and movement.
SATURDAY 5/3/25: Matthew 3:1-17, A Voice Shouting in the Wilderness
John the Baptist was crazy. He was known for breaking tradition, finding God in the wilderness (not only in the temple), and preparing people for the coming King. John represent another tradition of Israel: the Prophets. Prophets called people to see the deeper truth in the Law, even if it required radical demonstration. For Matthew, Jesus is consistent with both traditions of Israel: the Law and the Prophets. What is the heart of the Law according to John’s message?
G•P•S - Grow, Pray, Study Guide, 5/5/25 – 5/10/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 5/5/25: Matthew 5:21-48, Dangers of a new law
Matthew is committed to showing Jesus as a continuation, not a deviation from the Hebrew Bible’s laws. Jesus doesn’t replace the laws, but unfolds them to uncover the deeper way of God. Unfortunately, Christians often fall for the trap of creating a new law. What are “Christian” rules that miss the point? What’s the deeper call of God in Jesus’s teachings?
TUESDAY 5/6/25: Matthew 6:1-18, Lord, teach us how to be religious
Matthew 5-7 is known as the Sermon on the Mount. Just as Moses established new ethics on Mt. Sinai, Jesus unfolds deeper ethics on this Mount. Here, he gives us instruction on how to go about our religious practices: prayer, giving to the poor, and fasting. The concern is humility and show. What is Jesus saying to you today about your practices? What other spiritual practices do you do that you could add to this list?
WEDNESDAY 5/7/25: Matthew 7:15-29, Fruit and wise builders
The Sermon on the Mount is concluded with a warning against false teachers and parable about listening. We often think of false teachers as people with incorrect doctrine, but the danger is much greater than that. The radical hospitality of the early church made them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Therefore, Jesus calls us to know people by their actions. Do they, do we, put into practice the teachings of Jesus?
THURSDAY 5/8/25: Matthew 8:1-13, Boundary breaking medical care
Having taught how we should live, Jesus then demonstrates by healing. These two healings are interesting. First we have a ceremonially unclean leper, who, according to the law, should be avoided lest you become unclean yourself. Second, we have a foreigner, even an oppressor and arm of Rome seeking help from a Jew. Jesus breaks these boundaries, and this is the Kingdom of God proclaimed. What boundaries do we need to break?
FRIDAY 5/9/25: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Who can forgive sins?
This next miracle in Matthew has its parallel in Mark 2:1-12. The issue is not so much about whether or not Jesus can heal someone. Rather, people are up in arms over Jesus forgiving sins. Blasphemy! Everyone knows only God can forgive sins! What are the Gospel writers saying about Jesus’s overlapping relationship to God?
SATURDAY 5/10/25: Matthew 10:26-31, Worth many sparrow
These are words of encouragement for the disciples sent out to do the work of Jesus in the world. The Bible doesn’t pull any punches: you will face difficulty. In your attempts to announce the Kingdom and heal the sick and care for the needy, you’ll face opposition and nay-sayers. Take courage, the God of the universe cares for you. Not a sparrow falls with God’s care, and you are worth more than many sparrows.