Sinner, Lay Your Burdens Down

Galatians 5:1-12
Mike Maglish

Part of Galatians

November 9, 2025

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” —Galatians 5:1 

2 “Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.” —Galatians 5:2 

GRACE brings FREEDOM 

21 “that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” —Romans 8:21 

When you live under law, you live under burden. 
When you live under grace, you live under blessing. 
The law says “do more.” 
Grace says “it’s done.” “Take my yoke upon you… for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:29–30 

LEGALISM leads to BURDEN 

4 “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” —Galatians 5:4 

“You’re so focused on cutting the flesh… that you’ve cut yourself off from Christ.” 

• Spiritually: You’re disconnecting from grace by relying on law. 
• Symbolically: You’re obsessed with physical cutting (circumcision), and as a result, you’ve spiritually “cut” yourself away from the true source of righteousness — Christ.

“The grace of God is infinite and eternal. As it had no beginning, so it can have no end.” - A.W. Tozer 

5 “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” —Galatians 5:5-6 

STAND in FREEDOM 

7 “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” —Galatians 5:7-9 

The Greek for “hindered” is ἐνέκοψεν (enekopsen), from the verb enkoptō — which literally means “to cut in on,” “to hinder by breaking up a road,” or “to impede by cutting off.”

It was often used in athletic or military contexts: 
• In a race, it described someone who cut into your lane and blocked your progress. 
• In warfare, it could mean cutting a trench or obstacle in a road to slow the enemy down. 

“These Judaizers are obsessed with physical cutting (circumcision), but they’re the ones doing the REAL damage — cutting you off from grace, cutting into your progress, cutting away your freedom in Christ.” 

12 “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” —Colossians 2:12-15 

12 “I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!” —Galatians 5:12 

Takeaway: When you live under GRACE, you live in FREEDOM 

“Grace is not opposed to effort; it’s opposed to earning.” — Dallas Willard

Harassment vs. Freedom

Galatians 4:21-31
Tim Nay

Part of Galatians

November 2, 2025

21 “Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.” —Galatians 4:21-23 

The Law vs. Promise 

1 “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.” —Genesis 16:1-6 

The Law vs. Promise

• The Law represents human effort. 

1 “The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.” —Genesis 21:1-3 

The Law vs. Promise

• The Law represents human effort.

• The Promise represents God’s effort. 

24 “Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” —Galatians 4:24-27 

Hagar vs. Sarai

• Hagar represents the Law which brings slavery and bondage.

• Sarai represents the Promise which brings freedom and spiritual rebirth. 

28 “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.” —Galatians 4:28-31 

Genesis 21:8-21 

Ishmael vs. Isaac 

• Ishmael represents the Law which harasses us for not being spiritually mature. 
• Isaac represents our freedom in Christ to continue to grow toward spiritual maturity. 

TAKEAWAY: Live out Christian freedom and avoid toxic religious environments.

A Spiritual Parent’s Emotional Appeal

Galatians 4:8-20
Tim Nay

Part of Galatians

October 26, 2025

8 “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.” —Galatians 4:8-11 

5 “When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.” —Acts 14:5-7 

Do not turn back to a list of religious rituals. 

“The pharisaical goal is to make the commands of righteousness just easy enough for me to follow, but too difficult for almost everyone else. That will allow me to look pretty good while leaving me plenty of people to judge.” —p. 20, 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee, by John Fischer 

20 “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” —Colossians 2:20-23 

FAITH VS. PERFECTION

FAITHFULNESS means being authentic, devoted, consistent, and loyal.

PERFECTION means there is not any room for error. 

“When God calls for perfection, it is assumed that we cannot perform it. It’s the demand for perfection that keeps me relying on God’s mercy and grace.. But the call to faithfulness is a call I can answer. Faithful to follow, faithful to confess, faithful to obey, faithful to repent, faithful to believe, faithful to pray and seek God—all these are the requirements of faithfulness.” 
— p. 21, 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee, by John Fischer

12 “Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” —Galatians 4:12-16 

Allow others to be honest and truthful with you. 

8 “Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” —Proverbs 9:8-9 

17 “They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you.” —Galatians 4:17-18 

Be aware some people have ulterior motives. 

19 “My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.” —Galatians 4:19-20 

Emotion is a part of Christ being formed in us. 

TAKEAWAY: Who’s your heart burdened for to become like Christ?

No Nanny Needed

Galatians 3:23-4:7

Tim Nay

Part of Galatians

October 19, 2025

23 “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.” —Galatians 3:23 16 “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.” —Leviticus 19:16 

17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.” —Leviticus 19:17 

The Law imprisons us because we stand condemned. 

24 “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” —Galatians 3:24-25 

GUARDIAN (Pedagogue) 
• Responsible for training up a child morally & socially 
• Responsible for protecting the child. 
• Was to be obeyed 
• Treated the child more like a slave than someone free 
• Responsible for a determined time

LAW OF MOSES 
• Trained observers morally and socially 
• Protected the observer 
• Was to be obeyed 
• Observers were enslaved to it 
• Responsible for a determined amount of time

1 “I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” —Galatians 4:1-5 

The Law is no longer a guardian between us and our Abba Father! 

6 “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” —Galatians 4:6-7 

TAKEAWAY: Our energy is for loving God, not for keeping rules.

Standing in the Courtroom of Heaven

Galatians 3:15-22
Mike Maglish

Part of Galatians

October 12, 2025

STANDING IN THE COURTROOM OF HEAVEN 
(Not Guilty By Abraham Solomon) 

 —Romans 3:19–20 

The Law SHOWS our GUILT 
19 “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” —Galatians 3:19–22 

THE SCOPE OF THE LAW 
The Law wasn’t a mistake, it was a mirror. 
The Law reveals sin, it doesn’t remove it. 
The Law defines righteousness, but can’t deliver it. 
The Law can’t heal, but it shows what’s broken. 

“You don’t blame the thermometer for the fever. The thermometer only shows you what’s wrong. The Law does the same — it shows us how far we’ve fallen short.” 

“The Law shows us our sin, but it can’t save us from it. It’s a diagnostic, not a cure.” - Tim Keller 

WHAT WE LEARN 
• Until we admit our guilt, we’ll never reach for grace. 
• The Law strips away pride and self-justification. 
• It says to every human heart, “You don’t measure up — but Someone does.”

The PROMISE shows God’s PLAN 

15 “To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.” —Galatians 3:15-18 

Explanation 
Paul points back 430 years before the Law - To Abram (Septuagint Math) 

Explanation 
Paul points back 430 years before the Law - To Abram (Septuagint Math) 
God made a covenant that salvation would come through faith 
The Law didn’t cancel that; it simply came alongside it for a long time 
The Promise shows us that GRACE was God’s plan all along

“If God’s promise to Abraham was a signed contract, the Law was just a temporary regulation. It couldn’t alter the terms. The covenant still stands.” (Both and Jewish Contract Law) 

APPLICATION 
Our salvation doesn’t depend on our performance - It depends on God’s Promise. 
The Promise shows that God always intended to bless the world through one Offspring - Christ. 
Your standing before God rests on HIS faithfulness, not yours. 

Christ GIVES us STANDING 

16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ —Galatians 3:16 

22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe —Galatians 3:22 

Jesus is the true heir of the covenant (STANDING) 
Through faith, we are united with Him 
His standing becomes ours 
We’re not just forgiven; we’re declared righteous (FULL LEGAL STATUS) 

Takeaway: The Law Reveals GUILT, but Christ gives STANDING. 

Foolish, Bewitched and Cursed - Without the Cross

Galatians 3:1-14
Mike Maglish

Part of Galatians

October 5, 2025

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” —Galatians 3:1 

τίς ὑμᾶς ἐβάσκανεν 
tis hymas ebaskanen 
→ “Who has bewitched you?” 
• ἐβάσκανεν = “to cast an evil eye on, cast a spell, bewitch, deceive.” Paul uses a strong word implying spiritual deception or enchantment. 

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” —Galatians 3:1 

ἐσταυρωμένος = perfect passive participle of σταυρόω (stauroō) → “to crucify.” 
• Perfect tense = past action, present results. (Christ was crucified and remains so) 
• Passive voice = done to the subject (Jesus was crucified by others). 
• Participle = a verbal adjective, functioning almost like a title (“the Crucified One”).

We are BEWITCHED when we take our EYES off the CROSS 

2 “Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” —Galatians 3:2-3 

Two big words 
SPIRIT - Holy Spirit 
BEING PERFECTED - brought to completion 

 —2 Corinthians 3:5-6 

13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” —Ephesians 1:13 

FAITH in CHRIST brings COMPLETION 

4 “Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” —Galatians 3:4-9 

“Abraham hoped against hope, resting on the truth of God alone. His faith was imputed for righteousness; not because it merited righteousness, but because by believing, he confessed himself destitute of all righteousness, and sought it from God.” - John Calvin 

10 “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” —Galatians 3:10-12 

—Deuteronomy 27:26 

We are CURSED under the LAW 

13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” —Galatians 3:13-14 

 —Deuteronomy 21:22-23 

Jesus became a CURSE for US 

—Romans 8:3-4 

“He took the curse, and left the blessing. He drank the wormwood and left the honey. He was spit upon and we are kissed. He was mocked and we are applauded. He was robed in shame and we are robed in glory. He was condemned and we are justified.” - Charles Spurgeon 

Takeaway: Put your FAITH in the ONE who became CURSED so you may be BLESSED 

Justification by Law or Christ?

Galatians 2:15-21
Tim Nay

Part of Galatians

September 28, 2025

11 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.” —Galatians 2:11-12 

14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” —Galatians 2:14 

JUSTIFICATION = to declare righteous 

JUST - [as] - IF - I’D - [never sinned] 

15 “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” —Galatians 2:15-16 

It is IMPOSSIBLE to be JUSTIFIED by the Law. 

19 “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” —Romans 3:19-20 

The Law condemns both Jews and Gentiles. 

 —Romans 3:21-24 

A person believing they are saved by works…

• Cannot rest 
• Needs others approval and validation 
• Wonders if they have done enough 
• Wonders if they are enough 
• Never sure of their salvation 
• Has fear of others 
• Fears their faults will be found out 
• Judges others by outward appearance 
• Continually carries guilt and shame 
• Lacks fellowship with other people 
• Disputes and divides over non-essentials

17 “But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.” —Galatians 2:17-19 

We were not justified by Christ to return to justification by works. 

6 “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” —Romans 11:6 

G - God’s 
R - Riches 
A - At 
C - Christ’s 
E - Expense 

8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” —Ephesians 2:8-10 

TAKEAWAY: 
I no longer live, but Christ in me. 

Exposing a Hypocritical Gospel

Galatians 2:1-14
Tim Nay

Part of Galatians

September 21, 2025

1 “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” —Galatians 2:1-5 

By being aware of THREATS to the Gospel. 

4 “Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery” —Galatians 2:4 

1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” —Acts 15:1 

By learning to MANAGE conflict well. 

11 “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” —Acts 15:11 

 —Acts 15:2-11 

Managing conflict well involves: 
-HONEST face to face dialogue 

Managing conflict well involves: 
- HONEST face to face dialogue 
- Disagreement and DEBATE 
- Managed EMOTIONS 
- RESOLUTION 

19 “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.” —Acts 15:19-20 

Managing conflict well involves: 
- HONEST face to face dialogue 
- Disagreement and DEBATE 
- Managed EMOTIONS 
- RESOLUTION 
- HUMILITY to move PAST the conflict

By CONFRONTING behaviors not in step with how JESUS would live. 

11 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” —Galatians 2:11-141 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. —Matthew 23:1-3 

TAKEAWAY: How will I better REPRESENT Jesus this week?

When Man Corrupts Gospel

Galatians 1:11-24
Mike Maglish

Part of Galatians

September 14, 2025

 Galatians 1:11-12 
Acts 9:3–6 

Galatians 1:11–12 

Received (παρέλαβον, parelabon) — v. 12 
• A rabbinic word for receiving tradition from a teacher. 
• Paul says, “I didn’t receive the gospel like a tradition handed down.” 

The GOSPEL comes directly from JESUS

What is Man’s Gospel? 
1) Not divine, but man-made 
2) Based on works, not grace 
3) Coordinated with others 
4) Different than the Gospel of Jesus

“If the message of the cross is from man, it is just one more religion; if it is from God, it is the only way of salvation.” - John Stott, The Message of Galatians: Only One Way 

“The greatest enemy to the gospel is not persecution from without but distortion from within.” 
- John MacArthur, The Truth War 
The Gospel is PURE when man preaches WITHOUT personal bias 

OUR GOGGLES = OUR WORLDVIEW 

How may we preserve the Gospel? 
1) Acknowledge our goggles 
2) Take off our goggles as we study God’s Word 
3) Humbly approach the text 
4) Go where our study leads us 
5) Put our goggles back on 
6) Promote what we know to be true 
7) Stand against distortion 

Examples Of Man-Made Gospels Today 

The gospel of Self-Help 
• Message: “God just wants you to be the best version of yourself.” 
• Problem: Reduces Christianity to motivational therapy instead of redemption through Christ. 
 (Galatians 3:13) 

The gospel of Tolerance/Relativism 
• Message: “All paths lead to God; Jesus is just one way among many.” 
• Problem: Denies the exclusivity of Christ and empties the cross of its necessity. 

 (John 14:6)

The gospel of Moralism/Legalism 
• Message: “Be a good person, obey the rules, and God will accept you.” 
• Problem: Assumes salvation is earned by works, not received by grace. 

 (Mark 10:18) 

The gospel of Political Ideology 
• Message: “The kingdom of God comes through your party, your policies, your nation.” 
• Problem: The Kingdom of God comes only through the blood of Jesus. 

(Philippians 3:20) 

The gospel of Outward Image 
• Message: “As long as you look spiritual and keep up appearances, you’re fine.” 
• Problem: Elevates reputation and performance over inward transformation. 

 (Matthew 23:27-28) 

We must WATCH OUT for false Gospel 

 —Galatians 1:13-24 
Timetable (approximate) 
Scholars reconstruct a timeline using Galatians, Acts, and Paul’s letters: 
1. Conversion (c. AD 33–35) – On the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1–9). Paul emphasizes he did not “receive” the gospel from men (v. 12). 
2. Immediate aftermath – Preached briefly in Damascus (Acts 9:19–22). 
3. Arabia (unspecified period, maybe 1–3 years) – Paul says he went away to Arabia (v. 17). Likely a time of solitude, prayer, and revelation, not formal training. 
4. Return to Damascus – Continued ministry until opposition forced him to leave (Acts 9:23–25; 2 Cor. 11:32–33). 
5. First visit to Jerusalem (3 years after conversion) – Met Peter (Cephas) and James (v. 18–19). Stayed only 15 days, not long enough to be “taught” by them. 
6. Departure to Syria and Cilicia (Paul’s home region, including Tarsus) – v. 21. This period may have lasted close to 10 years, until Barnabas brought him to Antioch (Acts 11:25–26). 
7. Recognition by Judean churches – They only knew him by reputation: “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (v. 23). 
TAKEAWAY: COMMIT to the Gospel of Jesus - GRACE

Jesus Is Enough

Galatians 1:1-10
Mike Maglish

Part of Galatians

September 7, 2025

“The Judaizers’ heresy was not that they denied Christ, but that they insisted that you cannot be saved by Christ alone. You must add your works of the law to His work of the cross.” 
-John Stott (On Galatians) 

“The gospel is not advice to be followed; it is good news to be believed. The Judaizers had turned it back into advice - something we do - rather than something Christ has done.” 
-Tim Keller (Galatians For You) 

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, 
To the churches of Galatia: 
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. —Galatians 1:1-5 

Waste NO TIME contending for the GOSPEL 

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel —Galatians 1:6 

“So Quickly” 
-Acts 13-14 - Paul first preached in Galatia 47-48 AD. (Churches planted) 
-The writing of Galatians - Maybe 49 AD (1-2 years of planting those churches) 

 —Galatians 1:6 

Military word: The Greek verb metatithesthe was used for soldiers deserting their post or politicians switching allegiance. It carries the sting of betrayal, treason, or defection. It’s as if Paul is saying “You’re not just adjusting a doctrine. You’re defecting from your Commander.” 

We do not desert an IDEA. We desert the COMMANDER. 

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel —Galatians 1:6 

“Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves.” 
-J.I. Packer (Knowing God) 

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” 
-Tim Keller 

7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. —Galatians 1:7-9 

Greek word behind “accursed” 
• The word is ἀνάθεμα (anathema). 
• Originally it meant something devoted to God (set apart). 
• Over time, it came to mean something devoted to destruction because it was opposed to God. 
Think: in the Old Testament when something was “devoted to destruction” (like Jericho in Joshua 6) — it was under God’s judgment. 

It is DANGEROUS to CHANGE the Gospel of Grace 

Modern Day Parallels to Judaizing 

1) Legalism in the Church (Jesus + Church attendance + personal holiness) 
2) Cultural Christianity (Jesus + my culture + my political view + my worship style) 
3) Spiritual Scorekeeping (I read my Bible more, I homeschool, I give more) 
4) Adding Rules for Belonging (Dress like us, act like us, know our lingo, clean up your life) 
5) The Inner Judaizer (We KNOW the Gospel, but we still feel like we have to EARN it.) 

 —Colossians 2:9-14 

Takeaway 
God’s COVENANT is COMPLETE in CHRIST 

Fruit Comes Where the Spirit Leads

Acts 16:6–10
Derek Murphy

August 31, 2025

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about?” —Judges 6:13 NIV“6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” —Acts 16:6-10 NIV

Key Points from vv 6-10: 

Keep Moving: Paul was on the move, and God leads people in motion.

Wait When Needed: God sometimes blocks our plans—patience is part of obedience.

Release Control: True obedience means surrendering personal agendas.

Be Flexible: God may redirect our steps—be willing to shift your plan.

Step Immediately: When God calls, act without delay: “we got ready at once…”

Big Insight: Obedience doesn’t require a detailed plan, just a clear next step.

3 UNLIKELY CONVERSIONS

a. Lydia – The Seeker (vv. 11–15)

b. Slave Girl – The Oppressed (vv. 16–18)

c. The Jailer – The Skeptic (vv. 25–34)

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. —1 Corinthians 3:6-8 NIV“3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 1:3–6 NIV

Passing the Baton

Deuteronomy 31; Joshua 1:1-9
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

August 24, 2025

Deuteronomy 34:7-9 

Four Zones of Passing the Baton:

1. OBSERVATION zone 
   
   Exodus 24:13 
   
   

11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. —Exodus 33:11

• Observation Zone - Set the EXAMPLE. 
  
  1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” —I Corinthians 11:1 
• ACCELERATION zone 
  
   —Numbers 11:27-30 
• 
  
• Acceleration Zone - Share your LIFE 
  
  8 “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God BUT ALSO OUR OWN SELVES, because you had become very dear to us.” —1 Thessalonians 2:8 
• HANDOFF zone

18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.” —Numbers 27:18

22 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23 and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses. —Numbers 27:22-23 

 —Deuteronomy 31:2-6 

44 Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. —Deuteronomy 32:44 

3. Handoff Zone - Encourage others with OPPORTUNITIES for ministry. 

 —Exodus 17:8-13 

2 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,”

2 Timothy 2:2 ““and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

2 Timothy 4:2 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

4. RUNNING zone 

3 “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:3-9 

- God is WITH you. 
- Be strong and COURAGEOUS. 
- MEDITATE day and night on God’s WORD. 
- Do not FEAR. 
- God is WITH you. 

4. Running zone - Let them TAKE OWNERSHIP of ministry. 

TAKEAWAY: BEGIN passing on the baton of your FAITH and MINISTRY.

A Different Spirit

Numbers 13 & 14
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

August 17, 2025

Numbers 13:1-17 

THE STORY: 
• Twelve warriors INVESTIGATED the land. 

Numbers 13:17-20 
Spies Sent to Investigate the Promised Land: 
• Are the people strong or weak? 
• Are the people many or few? 
• Is the land (soil) good or bad? 
• Are the cities, camps or strongholds? 
• Is the land rich or poor? 
• Are there trees or no trees? 
• Bring some fruit of the land.

21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. 22 They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) —Numbers 13:21-22 

Numbers 13:25-29; 31-33 
Ten of Them Report: 
- It flows with milk and honey 
- People are too strong for us. 
- Cities are too fortified for us. 
- People are giants. 
- The land devours its inhabitants. 
- We are NOT able to go against these people.

THE STORY: 
• Twelve warriors investigated the land. 
• Ten saw DEFEAT. 

Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9 
Two of them report: 
- It’s an exceedingly good land. 
- God delights in us! 
- God will give it to us! 
- We are well able to overcome it! 
- Let’s go into Canaan at once!

THE STORY: 
• Twelve warriors investigated the land. 
• Ten saw defeat. 
• Two saw VICTORY. 

LESSONS 
What is POPULAR is NOT always RIGHT. 

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” —Matthew 7:13-14 

 —Hebrews 13:7 

1 “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” —Numbers 14:1-4 

LESSONS 
What is popular is not always right. 
On the road to God’s future, DO NOT look BACK.

Have the ‘DIFFERENT spirit’ Caleb had. 

 —Numbers 14:20-24 

29 “your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected.” —Numbers 14:29-31 

Have the ‘different spirit’ Caleb had.

• FEAR God and not MAN. 
  
  “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” ― Oswald Chambers 
  
  Have the ‘different spirit’ Caleb had.
• Fear God and not man.
• TRUST God will deliver on what He PROMISES.
• Be FULLY devoted to God.
• See OBSTACLES as OPPORTUNITIES. 
  
  TAKEAWAY: 
  Follow God WHOLE-heartedly, believing He is PERSONALLY involved in your life. 

God's Limitless Power

Numbers 11:16-30
Mike Maglish

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

August 10, 2025

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.” —Numbers 11:16–17 

13 “Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” —Numbers 11:13–15 

God ANSWERS our prayers when we are OVERWHELMED

(See Exodus 18, Acts 6) 

18 And say to the people, “Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.’ Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, ‘“’Why did we come out of Egypt?’” —Numbers 11:17–20 

God shows his POWER in EXCESS as discipline 

21 But Moses said, “The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!’ 22 Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, and be enough for them?” 23 And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.” —Numbers 11:21–23 

God CREATES and OWNS everything 

Psalm 24:1 

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, 
the cattle on a thousand hills. 
11 I know all the birds of the hills, 
and all that moves in the field is mine. 
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, 
for the world and its fullness are mine. —Psalm 50:10–12 

Colossians 1:16 

Deuteronomy 10:14–15 

24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. —Numbers 11:24–25 

God’s POWER is POURED OUT on us 

26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” 30 And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp. —Numbers 11:26–30 

More SPIRIT EMPOWERED leaders means MORE ministry potential 

TAKEAWAY - TRUST that God meets our LIMITS with His LIMITLESS power

How to Stop ComplainingNumbers 11:1-11
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & Wonders

Lessons from the Wilderness

August 3, 2025

1 And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. —Numbers 11:1-2 

Dangers of Complaining:

• Complaining is CONTAGIOUS. 

Dangers of Complaining:

• Complaining is contagious. 
• Complaining ignites God’s ANGER and JUDGMENT. 

“These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.” —Jude 16 

Dangers of Complaining:

• Complaining is contagious. 
• Complaining ignites God’s anger and judgment. 
• Complaining creates DIVISION. 

4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” —Numbers 11:4-6 

Dangers of Complaining:

• Complaining is contagious. 
• Complaining ignites God’s anger and judgment. 
• Complaining creates division. 
• Complaining brings DISCOURAGEMENT. 

10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. 11 Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to carry all these people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” —Numbers 11:10-15 

14 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” —Philippians 2:14-15 

How to Stop Complaining: 
1. Bring your complaints to God in PRAYER. 

6 “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” —Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message) 

How to Stop Complaining: 
1. Bring your complaints to God in prayer. 
2. REMEMBER God’s PROVISIONS in the past. 

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18 

How to Stop Complaining: 
1. Bring your complaints to God in prayer. 
2. Remember God’s provisions in the past. 
3. Learn to be CONTENT. 

TAKEAWAY: Understand complaining is SINFUL and does NOTHING to improve anything.

Rules in Relationship

Exodus 19 & 20
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

July 27, 2025

1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain. —Exodus 19:1-2 

31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. —Exodus 14:31 

Rules without Relationship = Rebellion 

Preparing Our Hearts for Rules in Relationships:

• Have a WILLINGNESS to obey/SUBMIT.

 —Exodus 19:3-6 

Preparing Our Hearts for Rules in Relationships:

• Have a willingness to obey/submit. 
• Be sensitive enough to LISTEN. 

9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” —Exodus 19:9 

Preparing Our Hearts for Rules in Relationships:

• Have a willingness to obey/submit. 
• Be sensitive enough to listen. 
• Do YOUR part to PREPARE and PROTECT. 

 —Exodus 19:10-14 

Consecration = “the separation of oneself from things that are unclean, specially anything that would contaminate one’s relationship with a perfect God.” 

9 “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” —I Corinthians 5:9-11 

Preparing Our Hearts for Rules in Relationships: 
• Have a willingness to obey/submit. 
• Be sensitive enough to listen. 
• Do your part to prepare and protect. 
• Be RESPECTFUL of God’s PRESENCE. 

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’ —Exodus 19:21-23 

Learning the Ten Commandments 
Memory by Numbers 
Exodus 20

What Rules Cannot Do: 
• Rules cannot fix ATTITUDE.

 —Amos 5:21-24 

8 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” —Matthew 15:8-9 

What Rules Cannot Do: 
• Rules cannot fix attitude. 
• Rules cannot be the SUBSTITUTE for HUMAN interaction. 

What Rules Cannot Do: 
• Rules cannot fix attitude. 
• Rules cannot be the substitute for human interaction. 
• Rules cannot KEEP people from SINNING. 

” —Colossians 2:20-23 

What Rules Cannot Do: 
• Rules cannot fix attitude 
• Rules cannot be the substitute for human interactions 
• Rules cannot keep people from sinning. 
• Rules cannot cover EVERY situation. 

WHY RULES? They are to be a BENEFIT to relationships. 

TAKEAWAY: The Law of God LEADS us to our NEED for a Savior. 

God's Blueprint for Church Leadership

Exodus 18
Mike Maglish

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

July 20, 2025

The SuperPastor Myth: 
• Preach like Charles Spurgeon 
• Counsel like Dr Phil 
• Lead like Steve Jobs 
• Fundraise like Dave Ramsey 
• Still show up to stack chairs 

6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” —Exodus 18:6 

“Here’s what I picture. Moses’ wife is frustrated that Moses has been working too much. So she went to her dad to complain.” - DeAnna Coburn 

 —Exodus 18:7 

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” —Exodus 18:13-23 

God NEVER called one person to DO IT ALONE 

21 “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” —Exodus 18:21 

QUALIFICATIONS 
• ABLE - Competent 
• FEAR GOD - Spiritually grounded 
• TRUSTWORTHY - Tested in integrity 
• HATE BRIBES - Financially ethical and impartial 

Leaders must be QUALIFIED for the TASK 

 —Acts 6:1-6 

QUALIFICATIONS 
• GOOD REPUTE - What others say about them 
• FULL OF THE SPIRIT - Empowered by God 
• WISE - Practical judgment, not just knowledge 

 —Acts 6:7 

Ministry is EFFECTIVE when qualified leaders are RELEASED 

1 Timothy 3:2–7 (Overseers) 
• Above reproach 
• Faithful to spouse 
• Self-controlled, respectable, hospitable 
• Able to teach 
• Not drunk, not violent, not greedy 
• Manages household well 
• Not a recent convert 
• Has a good reputation with outsiders

Titus 1:6–9 
• Not arrogant or quick-tempered 
• Lover of good, upright, holy, disciplined 
• Able to give sound instruction and rebuke error

 —2 Timothy 2:2 

MULTIPLE leaders are needed to FULFILL God’s Plan 

Takeaway: We will ACCOMPLISH much more TOGETHER than we will ALONE

Don’t Forget Your Job Description!

Matthew 28:18-20
Toney Salva

July 13, 2025

Who Are You Investing Your Life In?

The tool that God has chosen for us to make other disciples is LOVE

Is There A Welcome Mat At The Entrance Of My Heart?

Is There A Welcome Mat At The Entrance Of Your Home?

There are more people willing to hear the message of Jesus then there are people 
willing to share the message of Jesus.

Does God Provide?

Exodus 16-17
Mike Maglish

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

July 6, 2025

2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” —Ex 16:1–34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” —Ex 16:4–5

God RESPONDED to their grumbling with MANNA

18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. —Ex 16:18–21“This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’ ” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” 27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. —Ex 16:23–30

God expects OBEDIENCE in His PROVISION 

 —Ex 17:1–6

God does HIS PART and we TRUST HIM when we do ours

8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. —Ex 17:8–13

God will win BATTLES when we are FAITHFUL 

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” —Ex 17:14–16

We must PRAISE God when He PROVIDES

TAKEAWAY: When we are OBEDIENT, TRUST and GIVE THANKS we see God’s Provision 

When You Are in Need of a Miracle

Exodus 14
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

June 29, 2025

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. —Exodus 13:17-18 

1. God often gives us MORE than we can HANDLE. 

Exodus 14:10-12 

2. God has a MESSAGE for us as we face our trials. (Exodus 14:13-14) 

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” —Exodus 14:13-14 

Natural Human Response to Difficulties: 
• We are afraid 
• We run 
• We fight 
• We tell everyone

Be not AFRAID 

Be firmly PLANTED 

7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” —Psalm 20:7 

Be WATCHFUL 

22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.” —Exodus 14:22-25 

Be SILENT 

7 “a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” —Ecclesiastes 3:7 

When we are silent: 
• No complaining 
• We do not say dumb things 
• More ready to see what God may be doing (Psalm 46:10) 
• We acknowledge God sees the bigger picture 
• We have time to pray28 “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” —Proverbs 17:28 

“Because of the misuse of the spoken word, destinies have been derailed, disunity has replaced unity, nations are destroyed. Our very lives, both physical and spiritual, depend upon our ability and willingness to speak out at the proper moment. And by the same token silence can bring pain, destruction and the inevitable onslaught of sin. Or it can allow the time for God’s healing power to work in a life.” (When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up, by Dr. Michael D. Sedler, p. 16) 

TAKEAWAY: What are the most important words you need to HEAR today? Don’t be afraid, STAND firm, WATCH, or be QUIET? 

30 “Thus, the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.” —Exodus 14:30-31 

The Passover

Exodus 11
Mike Maglish

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

June 22, 2025

29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. —Exodus 12:29 

God is not a CRUEL JUDGE 

23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? —Ezekiel 18:23 

“God could have gone straight to the tenth plague, but He didn’t. He sent nine others first—not to torment Pharaoh, but to wake him up. The plagues were God’s megaphone to a deaf king. That’s grace.” - Tim Keller 

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.” —Exodus 1:22 

We can choose DEATH over SUBMISSION 

“The text presents Pharaoh as a responsible agent throughout. Even when God hardens his heart, Pharaoh is never portrayed as a passive victim but as an active participant in his own downfall.” (Terence Fretheim - Exodus, Interpretation Commentary) 

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” —John 3:16-17 

God is STILL patient 

Exodus 12:13: 
“When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you…” 
Exodus 12:14: 
“This day shall be for you a memorial… throughout your generations.” 

• A spotless lamb was killed 
• Blood was applied to the doorposts 
• Judgment passed over the households 
• Israel was freed from Egypt that night26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” —Matthew 26:26–29 

“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” —1 Corinthians 5:7 

Takeaway: God’s Judgment PASSES OVER all who RECEIVE the blood.

A Shapeable Heart

Exodus 7-11
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & Wonders

Lessons from the Wilderness

June 15, 2025

1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them.” —Exodus 1:1-6 

God wants ALL people to KNOW Him. 

Why God inflicted the Egyptians:

• Exodus 7:8 “The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD…” 
• Exodus 8:10 “So that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.” 
• Exodus 9:14 “So that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.” 
• Exodus 9:16 “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 
• Exodus 9:29 “so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s” 
• Exodus 10:2 “that you may know that I am the LORD.”

It’s IMPOSSIBLE to know God with a HARDENED heart. 

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” —Jeremiah 18:1-6 

Sometimes it takes many hard LESSONS to SOFTEN hearts. 

The Cycle of Breaking a Hardened Heart: 
• Resist God (Exodus 5:1-3) 
• Hardship in Life (Water to Blood; Frogs) 
• “I’m sorry” (Exodus 8:8) 
• Relief from Hardship (Exodus 8:10-14) 

The Cycle of Breaking a Hardened Heart: 
• Resist God (Exodus 8:15) 
• Hardship in Life (Gnats; Flies; Death of Livestock; Boils; Hail) 
• “I’m sinful” (Exodus 9:27-28) 
• Relief from Hardship (Exodus 9:29) 

The Cycle of Breaking a Hardened Heart: 
• Resist God (Exodus 9:34-35) 
• Hardship in Life (Locusts) 
• “Forgive me” (Exodus 10:16-17) 
• Humble Heart 

7 “If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.” —Jeremiah 18:7-10 

TAKEAWAY: PRACTICE having a shapeable heart by walking in HUMILITY. 

God Calls a Leader

Exodus 3-4
Mike Maglish

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

June 8, 2025

MOSES’S FIRST 40 YEARS:

• Was born to Levites (Priestly line) 
• Was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter when all the other babies were being killed (Ex 1:22, 2:10)
• Grew up and killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew at the age of 40 (Ex 2:15) 
  
  

 —Acts 7:20-29 

We are OUT OF STEP with God when we FORCE His plan 

MOSES NEXT 40 YEARS

• Fled to Midian (Ex 2:15) at the age of 40 (Acts 7:23) because Pharaoh wanted his head 
• Lived with Reuel (Jethro) and married his daughter (Ex 2:18) 
• By this time Pharaoh and everyone else who wanted him dead were gone (Ex 4:19-23)
• God’s people were being oppressed in slavery and God heard their prayers (Ex 2:23-25)
• Lived as a nomadic Shepherd until he was 80 (Ex 7:7, Acts 7:30 
  
   —Acts 7:29-34 
  
  God PREPARES the ones He USES 
  
  RAISED BY ROYALTY: 
  Moses grew up within the Egyptian court, receiving an education and likely mastering the arts, sciences, and customs of the royal family. This would have given him a unique perspective and understanding of Egyptian society. Also, he would have had a “behind the curtains” look at how things were done within government and, specifically, with Pharaoh. 
  
  Skills Moses learned as a shepherd: 
  • LEADERSHIP 
  • DISCIPLINE 
  • PATIENCE 
  • HUMILITY 
  • PROBLEM-SOLVING 
  
  Prominent Shepherds in the Bible: 
  • ABEL 
  • ABRAHAM 
  • JACOB 
  • JOSEPH 
  • MOSES 
  • DAVID 
  • AMOS 
  • JESUS (The Good Shepherd) 
  
  What we see as INCONSEQUENTIAL God sees as PREPARATION. 
  
   —Exodus 3:1-6 
  
  God calls leaders to FULFILL His PROMISES. 
  
  The Excuses of Moses: 
  • Who am I? (3:11) 
  • What shall I tell them? (3:12) 
  • They won’t believe me! (4:1) 
  • I am slow of speech and tongue (4:10) 
  • Someone else will do a better job (4:13) 
  
  We do NOT do ministry on our OWN POWER. 
  
  God’s primary mission for humanity is to restore His creation, bringing all people into a relationship with Him through faith and love, ultimately leading to the fulfillment of His kingdom. This is accomplished through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, which offer salvation and reconciliation with God. 
  
  17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. —2 Corinthians 5:17-21 
  
  19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:19-20 
  
  Takeaway: Godly Leaders UNDERSTAND it is GOD who works THROUGH us.

The Process Toward the Promise

Exodus 2:23-25
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & Wonders

Lessons from the Wilderness

June 1, 2025

24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” —Genesis 50:24 

PROMISE: 
God PROMISES us many GOOD things. 

God’s Promises: 
• To give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:1-9) 
• To work things out for good (Romans 8:28) 
• To forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9) 
• To give us eternal life (1 John 2:25) 
• To provide for us (Matthew 6:25-34) 

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. —Exodus 1:8-11 

13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. —Exodus 1:13-14 

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.” —Exodus 1:22 

PAIN: 
God NEVER promised us the PROCESS would be PAINLESS. 

23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. —Exodus 2:23-25 

PAIN: 
God hears, sees, and UNDERSTANDS what we are going through. 

13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.” —Genesis 15:13 

16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” —Exodus 3:16-17 

PLAN: 
Sometimes God USES pain to help us be READY for His promises. 

1 “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.” —Deuteronomy 8:1-4 

PROVISION: 
God is very AWARE of what we NEED and WHEN we need it. 

TAKEAWAY: View the PROCESS as the way God PREPARES us for His PROMISES.

Watch Your Manners

Ephesians 4:1-7
Tim Nay

Part of The Spirit of God

May 25, 2025

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. —John 14:23But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. —Galatians 5:16I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. —Ephesians 4:1-3There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. —Ephesians 4:4-7

The way in which we walk by the Spirit, matters.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. —Ephesians 4:1-3

We are to be humble, gentle, patient, and loving.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. —Romans 12:18There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. —Ephesians 4:4-7

We understand the Holy Spirit is not divided.

The Holy Spirit ministers individually.

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. —Romans 14:1-4

TAKEAWAY: Are my spiritual manners pleasing to God?

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. —Ephesians 5:2