Taking Home Faith 11.15.26

NOVEMBER 15, 2026 TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST The importance of encouraging one another. DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 25:14-30 Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 Parable of the talents Judgment of Judah 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Encourage one another Wednesday Romans 1:8-15 Prayer of thanksgiving Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Joshua 1:1-9 Philemon 1:4-7 Psalm 90:1-12 Matthew 25:31-46 God’s commission to Joshua Philemon’s love and faith God is eternal The sheep and the goats SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Gracious God, we thank you for the body of Christ that helps us when life is difficult and our faith is weak. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: Lord God, you who make the earth fruitful, we thank you for this meal that strengthens our bodies and encourages our souls. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May God bless you with faith, love, and hope. (1 Thessalonians 5:8) © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. NOVEMBER 15, 2026 HYMN OF THE WEEK Will You Let Me Be Your Servant WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  How does encouragement from others help you?  Why do you think Christians need support and encouragement from one another? DEVOTIONS Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. Good times and hard times can happen—and change—rather quickly. Daily life is fragile. Life experiences can change dramatically with a phone call. What is constant is the need to care for one another and build up the community of faith. There are important connections between this reading and the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. God has gifted us to use our vocation, our calling in life as a child of God, to do God’s work in the world. If we do not do this and ignore or hide our calling, the work of God in the world suffers. Instead, we are to trust in a God who acts; we are not to fall prey to complacency or speak and live as though God is not present and active in our lives and in history (Zephaniah 1:12). Paul reminds the people that they—and we—are to reach out to others, especially our brothers and sisters in the faith. We are to do so with encouragement to live each day in faith, love, and hope because of the God who acts and has given us “salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Discuss: How are you encouraged by others to live your faith and how do you encourage others? Pray: God of grace, we thank you for the cloud of witnesses that walks alongside us to strengthen us in faith, love, and hope through Christ. Amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, who would benefit from an encouraging word while going through a tough time? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS A talent in Jesus’ day was money. Jesus tells a story about three servants (Matthew 25:14-30). One hid his money and never used it. In our day, we think of a talent as a natural ability to be good at something and God given. If we are good at something, we should not hide our talent but use it to the best of our ability. Think or talk about what talent(s) you have. Pray: Dear God, help me to use my talents, whether big or small, so that others may know of your love. Amen. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org