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, 7/7/25 – 7/12/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 7/7/25: Acts 16:22-31, Singing in prison
Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned for freeing an enslaved girl from a demon (making her less valuable to her slavers). The narrator makes a point to show that Paul and Silas were singing in their imprisonment. What power is there in singing? How does singing energize us and defy evil?
TUESDAY 7/8/25: Mark 5:1-20, Do people want Jesus’s liberating actions?
Part of proclaiming the kingdom of God is acting in ways to bring about that kingdom. Jesus demonstrates this by setting this demon-possessed man free. One verse that strikes me is v. 17. Those who saw Jesus do this incredible miracle begged Jesus to leave. Now they would have to deal with a rehabilitated man. Why did they want Jesus gone? What was it about this life-giving action that threatened people?
WEDNESDAY 7/9/25: Psalm 82, God’s justice
When you think about God’s justice or judgement, what comes to mind? Often we think about an angry judge pouring over incriminating evidence of our sin and wickedness, but that is not the God of justice revealed in Scripture. Here, and throughout the Prophets, God’s judgment is a restoration of the poor, oppressed, and marginalized. How does this shape your picture of God? How is God calling us to participate in God’s justice?
THURSDAY 7/10/25: Exodus 12:1-14, Origins of passover
The last plague is a sign of what the ways of empire lead to: death. Death is widespread and touches all. However, God has made a provision for the Israelites. Passover becomes the observance that remembers the things that lead to death and the salvation that comes from God. How might a people coming out of exile experience this story?
FRIDAY 7/11/25: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Can’t we settle our own disputes?
Paul moves seamlessly into another discussion about judging matters within the community. We are called to settle our own disputes, but notice the higher way that he calls us to. He asks, “Why not be wronged? Why not be cheated?” When are those times for us to give up the fight? When is it appropriate for us to say, “I’ll lose this fight, for the sake of community.”? What stands out to you in this Scripture? What do you think God is saying to you today?
SATURDAY 7/12/25: Psalm 42, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Sometimes singing isn’t about joy! Sometimes our songs can be a cathartic outburst of pain, anger, or dissatisfaction! Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones captured that all-too-human feeling, and we’ll pair it with Psalm 42 in the sermon. What does your soul long for? Join us in worship tomorrow as we continue our series, “Psalms of the Summer.” You matter to God!
G•P•S - Grow, Pray, Study Guide, 7/14/25 – 7/19/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 7/14/25: Matthew 5:1-11, Blessed are those who thirst
Thirst and hunger are inescapable human conditions. Of course, we hunger and thirst for more than food and drink. In these blessings that start the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus blesses those who thirst for the right things—God’s righteousness/justice—will receive them. What do you long for? Are they the same things God longs for?
TUESDAY 7/15/25: Mark 6:1-6, Rejected by his own family
Why was it easy for Jesus’ hometown to dismiss his message and mission? Maybe they’ve known him too long. Maybe they’ve heard all his stories. Maybe they “get it already,” and they aren’t bothered by his message anymore. These are his own people. May we never become so used to Jesus’s sstory that it becomes dull or meaningless to us. How do we keep Jesus’ story and message fresh to us? Invite the Holy Spirit to speak something new to you in Jesus’ words.
WEDNESDAY 7/16/25: Psalm 15, Who can live in the Lord’s tent?
This psalm asks and answers the question, “Who can be in the presence of God?” Notice the answer is not a description of a race, class, or kind of people. Rather the answer is behavior. This psalm was probably used in the beginning of worship as a stark call to right living if we are going to come to God in worship. This psalm is not a law, but calls us to take seriously our actions when we join together in worship. What verse or behavior is God highlighting for you today?
THURSDAY 7/17/25: Exodus 13:17-22, The Lord lead them
God chose the longer route for the Israelites because God knew it was safer. I wonder if the Israelites knew this? They had been slaves for many generations and probably knew nothing of geography, politics, or war, so God lead them through the desert. Where is God leading you? Does it feel like a desert? Maybe God knows something you don’t know. In any case, God is with you, just as God was with them.
FRIDAY 7/18/25: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Baptism and sexual ethics
For Paul, being part of the community means being joined with Jesus’ body. Paul pushes this metaphor when discussing sexual ethics. Should we engage Jesus’ body in acts of prostitution? Paul is drawing out some large implications about our own sexual ethics and our participation in the community of faith. When we baptize a person, we are baptizing them into our family––our body. Therefore, whatever concerns this new member concerns the entire body. This notion rubs against our culture’s high value on privacy and individualism. As a community charged to care for each other, to what extent should we be concerned for each other’s relationships and sexual ethics?
SATURDAY 7/19/25: Psalm 90, MMMBOP
I love a catchy poppy tune about mortality and the fragility of life! “MMMBOP,” the 1997 hit by “Hanson” is just that. Between poppy nonsense words, Hanson stares down mortality and questions what relationships or efforts really last in life. It’s a feeling that the psalmist echoes in Psalm 90, admitting that human life is like grass, here today and gone tomorrow. Is there a message of hope in the midst of this honesty about human life? Join us as we talk it out in worship, tomorrow. You matter to God!
Faith UMC
MONDAY 7/7/25: Acts 16:22-31, Singing in prison
Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned for freeing an enslaved girl from a demon (making her less valuable to her slavers). The narrator makes a point to show that Paul and Silas were singing in their imprisonment. What power is there in singing? How does singing energize us and defy evil?
TUESDAY 7/8/25: Mark 5:1-20, Do people want Jesus’s liberating actions?
Part of proclaiming the kingdom of God is acting in ways to bring about that kingdom. Jesus demonstrates this by setting this demon-possessed man free. One verse that strikes me is v. 17. Those who saw Jesus do this incredible miracle begged Jesus to leave. Now they would have to deal with a rehabilitated man. Why did they want Jesus gone? What was it about this life-giving action that threatened people?
WEDNESDAY 7/9/25: Psalm 82, God’s justice
When you think about God’s justice or judgement, what comes to mind? Often we think about an angry judge pouring over incriminating evidence of our sin and wickedness, but that is not the God of justice revealed in Scripture. Here, and throughout the Prophets, God’s judgment is a restoration of the poor, oppressed, and marginalized. How does this shape your picture of God? How is God calling us to participate in God’s justice?
THURSDAY 7/10/25: Exodus 12:1-14, Origins of passover
The last plague is a sign of what the ways of empire lead to: death. Death is widespread and touches all. However, God has made a provision for the Israelites. Passover becomes the observance that remembers the things that lead to death and the salvation that comes from God. How might a people coming out of exile experience this story?
FRIDAY 7/11/25: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Can’t we settle our own disputes?
Paul moves seamlessly into another discussion about judging matters within the community. We are called to settle our own disputes, but notice the higher way that he calls us to. He asks, “Why not be wronged? Why not be cheated?” When are those times for us to give up the fight? When is it appropriate for us to say, “I’ll lose this fight, for the sake of community.”? What stands out to you in this Scripture? What do you think God is saying to you today?
SATURDAY 7/12/25: Psalm 42, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Sometimes singing isn’t about joy! Sometimes our songs can be a cathartic outburst of pain, anger, or dissatisfaction! Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones captured that all-too-human feeling, and we’ll pair it with Psalm 42 in the sermon. What does your soul long for? Join us in worship tomorrow as we continue our series, “Psalms of the Summer.” You matter to God!
G•P•S - Grow, Pray, Study Guide, 7/14/25 – 7/19/25
Faith UMC
MONDAY 7/14/25: Matthew 5:1-11, Blessed are those who thirst
Thirst and hunger are inescapable human conditions. Of course, we hunger and thirst for more than food and drink. In these blessings that start the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus blesses those who thirst for the right things—God’s righteousness/justice—will receive them. What do you long for? Are they the same things God longs for?
TUESDAY 7/15/25: Mark 6:1-6, Rejected by his own family
Why was it easy for Jesus’ hometown to dismiss his message and mission? Maybe they’ve known him too long. Maybe they’ve heard all his stories. Maybe they “get it already,” and they aren’t bothered by his message anymore. These are his own people. May we never become so used to Jesus’s sstory that it becomes dull or meaningless to us. How do we keep Jesus’ story and message fresh to us? Invite the Holy Spirit to speak something new to you in Jesus’ words.
WEDNESDAY 7/16/25: Psalm 15, Who can live in the Lord’s tent?
This psalm asks and answers the question, “Who can be in the presence of God?” Notice the answer is not a description of a race, class, or kind of people. Rather the answer is behavior. This psalm was probably used in the beginning of worship as a stark call to right living if we are going to come to God in worship. This psalm is not a law, but calls us to take seriously our actions when we join together in worship. What verse or behavior is God highlighting for you today?
THURSDAY 7/17/25: Exodus 13:17-22, The Lord lead them
God chose the longer route for the Israelites because God knew it was safer. I wonder if the Israelites knew this? They had been slaves for many generations and probably knew nothing of geography, politics, or war, so God lead them through the desert. Where is God leading you? Does it feel like a desert? Maybe God knows something you don’t know. In any case, God is with you, just as God was with them.
FRIDAY 7/18/25: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Baptism and sexual ethics
For Paul, being part of the community means being joined with Jesus’ body. Paul pushes this metaphor when discussing sexual ethics. Should we engage Jesus’ body in acts of prostitution? Paul is drawing out some large implications about our own sexual ethics and our participation in the community of faith. When we baptize a person, we are baptizing them into our family––our body. Therefore, whatever concerns this new member concerns the entire body. This notion rubs against our culture’s high value on privacy and individualism. As a community charged to care for each other, to what extent should we be concerned for each other’s relationships and sexual ethics?
SATURDAY 7/19/25: Psalm 90, MMMBOP
I love a catchy poppy tune about mortality and the fragility of life! “MMMBOP,” the 1997 hit by “Hanson” is just that. Between poppy nonsense words, Hanson stares down mortality and questions what relationships or efforts really last in life. It’s a feeling that the psalmist echoes in Psalm 90, admitting that human life is like grass, here today and gone tomorrow. Is there a message of hope in the midst of this honesty about human life? Join us as we talk it out in worship, tomorrow. You matter to God!