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, 9/7/26 – 9/12/26
Faith UMC
MONDAY 9/7/26: Matthew 13:44-58, The Kingdom of Heaven is like
Jesus’ message about the Kingdom of God is a harsh critique of the world “as is,” and an announcement of the world to come. In order to get this message across, Jesus employs stories (parables) and signs (miracles). As we read a few more mysterious parables, we also read about others’ reactions to Jesus’ teaching. What is offensive about Jesus’ message? What do these parables say about the seriousness of sin?
TUESDAY 9/8/26: Luke 17:1-10, Sayings of Jesus
Luke strings together a few short sayings of Jesus at the beginning of chapter 17. Jesus warns us to care for each other. This care comes in the form of teaching children correctly about faith, lovingly call a brother or sister out on sin, and increasing our faith to imagine how much more God can do in our lives. Jesus’ final teaching reminds us that we servants of God. Obedience is inherent with our station. We aren’t requested to honor God, but this is already expected of us because God is our creator. What do you think about this?
WEDNESDAY 9/9/26: Psalm 103, God abounds in “hesed”
“Hesed”—loving-kindness or steadfast love— characterizes
God 3 times in this psalm. God saves us from death,
revealed his ways to our ancestors, and forgives our sins. In
all these ways, God’s love is exemplified. How have you
know God’s love? As you read this psalm, how is God
calling you to respond today?
THURSDAY 9/10/26, 1 Kings 12:16-24, Israel is divided
Solomon lost his way, but he also lost the hearts of the people of Israel. After his death, 10 of the 12 Tribes of Israel rejected Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, as king. They set up Jeroboam as the king of Israel, and Rehoboam as the king of Judah. They are now two nations. How will they fulfill their calling as the people of God? People blessed to be a blessing? They’ve lost their vision. It will be a dark age for these nations, resulting finally in destruction and exile.
FRIDAY 9/11/26: Titus 1:1-16, Everything is clean to those who are clean
Paul opens this letter to Titus with a discussion on appropriate behavior for leaders in the church. In this discussion, he argues that everything is clean to those who are clean. What does that mean? What does it mean to be clean? How does one get clean?
SATURDAY 9/12/26: Act 10:34-44, Why Jesus?
Tomorrow, we begin a new sermon series entitled, “Why Christianity?” We’re getting to the heart of our religion, and there’s no place else to start except Jesus. In our reading, Peter addresses a Roman crowd with the gospel message, and it is simply this: Jesus is Lord of all. That’s the good news! What did that mean for those early crowds, and what does it mean for us, today? Join us as we begin “Why Christianity?” this Sunday! You matter to God.
Faith UMC
MONDAY 9/7/26: Matthew 13:44-58, The Kingdom of Heaven is like
Jesus’ message about the Kingdom of God is a harsh critique of the world “as is,” and an announcement of the world to come. In order to get this message across, Jesus employs stories (parables) and signs (miracles). As we read a few more mysterious parables, we also read about others’ reactions to Jesus’ teaching. What is offensive about Jesus’ message? What do these parables say about the seriousness of sin?
TUESDAY 9/8/26: Luke 17:1-10, Sayings of Jesus
Luke strings together a few short sayings of Jesus at the beginning of chapter 17. Jesus warns us to care for each other. This care comes in the form of teaching children correctly about faith, lovingly call a brother or sister out on sin, and increasing our faith to imagine how much more God can do in our lives. Jesus’ final teaching reminds us that we servants of God. Obedience is inherent with our station. We aren’t requested to honor God, but this is already expected of us because God is our creator. What do you think about this?
WEDNESDAY 9/9/26: Psalm 103, God abounds in “hesed”
“Hesed”—loving-kindness or steadfast love— characterizes
God 3 times in this psalm. God saves us from death,
revealed his ways to our ancestors, and forgives our sins. In
all these ways, God’s love is exemplified. How have you
know God’s love? As you read this psalm, how is God
calling you to respond today?
THURSDAY 9/10/26, 1 Kings 12:16-24, Israel is divided
Solomon lost his way, but he also lost the hearts of the people of Israel. After his death, 10 of the 12 Tribes of Israel rejected Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, as king. They set up Jeroboam as the king of Israel, and Rehoboam as the king of Judah. They are now two nations. How will they fulfill their calling as the people of God? People blessed to be a blessing? They’ve lost their vision. It will be a dark age for these nations, resulting finally in destruction and exile.
FRIDAY 9/11/26: Titus 1:1-16, Everything is clean to those who are clean
Paul opens this letter to Titus with a discussion on appropriate behavior for leaders in the church. In this discussion, he argues that everything is clean to those who are clean. What does that mean? What does it mean to be clean? How does one get clean?
SATURDAY 9/12/26: Act 10:34-44, Why Jesus?
Tomorrow, we begin a new sermon series entitled, “Why Christianity?” We’re getting to the heart of our religion, and there’s no place else to start except Jesus. In our reading, Peter addresses a Roman crowd with the gospel message, and it is simply this: Jesus is Lord of all. That’s the good news! What did that mean for those early crowds, and what does it mean for us, today? Join us as we begin “Why Christianity?” this Sunday! You matter to God.