Taking Home Faith 9.20.26

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST God’s generosity is amazing! DAILY BIBLE READINGS These passages are related to the Lectionary texts for this Sunday. Sunday Monday Tuesday Matthew 20:1-16 Jonah 3:10–4:11 Philippians 1:21-30 Wednesday Exodus 16:9-21 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Psalm 105:37-45 Romans 2:1-11 Psalm 145:1-8 Matthew 21:23-32 SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS WEEK The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 145:8 (NRSV) PRAYERS AND BLESSING A Prayer for the Week: Gracious God, we thank you that you care for all, especially those who feel judged or ignored, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Mealtime Prayer: God of grace and mercy, we thank you for your care for us that gives us food from your fruitful creation. Amen. A Blessing to Give: May God’s grace be a blessing to you each day. © 2025 Milestones Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 HYMN OF THE WEEK God’s Work, Our Hands WEEKLY MILESTONES Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life. CARING CONVERSATIONS Parable of the vineyard workers Jonah goes to Nineveh Discuss in your home, small group, or use for personal reflections:  When has someone surprised you with an act of kindness?  In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus told a parable about some vineyard workers. The ones hired last were paid the same as the ones hired first. Do you think this is fair? Why or why not? What life means to Paul Bread from heaven God’s faithfulness to Israel God’s judgment is fair The Lord is kind and merciful Parable of the two sons DEVOTIONS Read: Jonah 3:10–4:11 and Matthew 20:1-16. Frankly, we don’t really like God’s justice. It’s too supportive of people unlike us! Like Jonah, we don’t want a God who is slow to anger and full of steadfast love for people we don’t think deserve it, especially those we would consider our enemies. That is why Jonah ran away from God. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrians who had destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. God told Jonah to preach repentance to the Ninevites. Jonah was afraid to do this because he knew of God’s love and mercy, something he did not want showered upon his enemies. Jonah was right; it happened, and it angered him. It is like Jesus’ parable of the generous landowner where it seems so wrong for people who work in the fields all day to get the same wage as those who started at the end of the day. We tend to think that we deserve God’s grace more than others, but God’s grace is truly undeserved. Discuss: How do you respond when someone you believe is undeserving but treated the same as someone who works hard and deserves recognition? Pray: Gracious and merciful God, give me faith to love your generosity for all people, especially those who are different from me. In Jesus’ name, amen. SERVICE Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how can you show kindness to someone you feel has not been treated fairly? RITUALS AND TRADITIONS September 21st is the day when the Christian church remembers the Apostle Matthew, one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples (most of the Gospel readings for this year are from Matthew’s Gospel). One day, while seated at his table of books and money, Jesus looked at Matthew and said two words: "Follow me." This was all that was needed to make Matthew, a tax collector, rise and leave behind his pieces of silver to follow Christ. What does it take for someone to follow Jesus? Write a list of words that describe someone who follows Jesus. Take a moment to read through the list. Pray: Lord, we give thanks for Matthew, the tax collector and disciple; help me to open my heart and mind to understand what it means to follow you. Amen. In addition to Taking Faith Home, celebrate milestones in your daily life as an effective faith formation tool. Go to: www.milestonesministry.org