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, 12/8/25 – 12/13/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 12/8/25: Luke 1:57-66, His name will be John
When Zechariah questioned the angel about the conception of their son (due to age), he was struck mute. Pretty harsh! But maybe there’s something about being silent in these narratives that move the women to center stage. At John’s birth, the family press in on what the child should be named, overriding the mother’s wishes. John’s power of speech returns when he listens to her. What themes for the rest of the Gospel is Luke setting up in these early stories? How do we use our speech to lift up others?
TUESDAY 12/9/25: Mark 16:1-20, The non-ending ending of Mark
Mark’s original ending (at verse 8) is a call back to chapter 5, where the woman with a bleeding approaches Jesus with “fear and trembling” (Mk 5:33). That story ends with the woman’s healing and the “resurrection” of Jairus’ daughter. Mark’s ending is meant to fill us with wonder, fear, excitement, and hope. Verses 9-20 were indisputably added by later Christians to fill the void of wonder. Depending upon the other Gospels and Acts, the reader is now given an ending that includes a commission for disciples.
WEDNESDAY 12/10/25: Psalm 146, Who can we trust in?
Who do we trust? Our friends, our families, for sure. Our employers, our governments? – to a lesser extent, I think. How about ideologies? Democracy, capitalism, free-market and competition, etc. Our psalm, today, directs us to trust in God to make the world right. What does trusting in God look like for you? How does God call you to make things right?
THURSDAY 12/11/25: Numbers 27:1-11, New justice for daughters
The Old Testament can appear like a brutal, savage, and ancient collections of stories. However, as we read through the story of Ancient Israel, time and time again, we come across moments of culturally challenging grace. The story of Zelophehad’s daughters is such a story. These daughters, in their appeal to authorities, and in Moses’ appeal to God, move the nation in a direction that allows women to hold property. This is happening 3,000+ years ago. What is surprising to you in this story? How does this cast a different light on the Old Testament and what God is doing in Ancient Israel?
FRIDAY 12/12/25: Galatians 4:8-31, We are free!
Some of the Galatians desire a law to go back to, but Paul implores them, “You are free, people!” What does freedom in Christ mean to you? What some of the “old laws” that we are attracted to and are tempted to return to? Let’s live as people who are free: free to love and do the right thing.
SATURDAY 12/13/25: Luke 1:39-45, Joy & Vulnerability
Hearing that her cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant is exactly what Mary needed to hear. Not only does it give her peace, it gives her a plan. It’s in the protection of Elizabeth and Zechariah’s house that she can relax. It’s in the connection with another mother that she can experience something that likely seemed far away: joy. Join us in worship as seek Joy with Mary and Elizabeth. You matter to God!
Faith UMC
MONDAY 12/8/25: Luke 1:57-66, His name will be John
When Zechariah questioned the angel about the conception of their son (due to age), he was struck mute. Pretty harsh! But maybe there’s something about being silent in these narratives that move the women to center stage. At John’s birth, the family press in on what the child should be named, overriding the mother’s wishes. John’s power of speech returns when he listens to her. What themes for the rest of the Gospel is Luke setting up in these early stories? How do we use our speech to lift up others?
TUESDAY 12/9/25: Mark 16:1-20, The non-ending ending of Mark
Mark’s original ending (at verse 8) is a call back to chapter 5, where the woman with a bleeding approaches Jesus with “fear and trembling” (Mk 5:33). That story ends with the woman’s healing and the “resurrection” of Jairus’ daughter. Mark’s ending is meant to fill us with wonder, fear, excitement, and hope. Verses 9-20 were indisputably added by later Christians to fill the void of wonder. Depending upon the other Gospels and Acts, the reader is now given an ending that includes a commission for disciples.
WEDNESDAY 12/10/25: Psalm 146, Who can we trust in?
Who do we trust? Our friends, our families, for sure. Our employers, our governments? – to a lesser extent, I think. How about ideologies? Democracy, capitalism, free-market and competition, etc. Our psalm, today, directs us to trust in God to make the world right. What does trusting in God look like for you? How does God call you to make things right?
THURSDAY 12/11/25: Numbers 27:1-11, New justice for daughters
The Old Testament can appear like a brutal, savage, and ancient collections of stories. However, as we read through the story of Ancient Israel, time and time again, we come across moments of culturally challenging grace. The story of Zelophehad’s daughters is such a story. These daughters, in their appeal to authorities, and in Moses’ appeal to God, move the nation in a direction that allows women to hold property. This is happening 3,000+ years ago. What is surprising to you in this story? How does this cast a different light on the Old Testament and what God is doing in Ancient Israel?
FRIDAY 12/12/25: Galatians 4:8-31, We are free!
Some of the Galatians desire a law to go back to, but Paul implores them, “You are free, people!” What does freedom in Christ mean to you? What some of the “old laws” that we are attracted to and are tempted to return to? Let’s live as people who are free: free to love and do the right thing.
SATURDAY 12/13/25: Luke 1:39-45, Joy & Vulnerability
Hearing that her cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant is exactly what Mary needed to hear. Not only does it give her peace, it gives her a plan. It’s in the protection of Elizabeth and Zechariah’s house that she can relax. It’s in the connection with another mother that she can experience something that likely seemed far away: joy. Join us in worship as seek Joy with Mary and Elizabeth. You matter to God!