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

Walking By the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26
Tim Nay

Part of The Spirit of God

May 18, 2025

MIRRORING 
GAME

Galatians 5:16-26 (NLT) the Spirit:

5:16 Guides 
5:17 Gives 
5:18 Directs 
5:22 Produces 
5:25 Leads

Understanding HOW the Holy Spirit speaks 
is CRUCIAL to the life of a Jesus follower! 

16 “But I say, WALK by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are LED by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” —Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV) 

25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:25 (ESV) 

1. My life is NOT MINE, but God’s. 

19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” —1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV) 

2. I am to be UNDER the INFLUENCE of the Holy Spirit’s leading. 

18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” —Ephesians 5:18 18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” —Ephesians 5:18 

3. I BETTER understand the Holy Spirit when I LEARN the WORD of God. 

12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12 

17 “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” —Ephesians 6:17-18 

105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” —Psalm 119:105 

15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” —Colossians 3:15 

4. I must SLOW down to DISCERN the Holy Spirit’s leading. 

5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” —2 Corinthians 10:5 

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” —I Kings 19:11-13 

TAKEAWAY: Do what you KNOW God has been asking you to do - TODAY. 

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26
Mike Maglish

Part of The Spirit of God

May 11, 2025

Please submit Holy Spirit questions to info@mylifespringchurch.org

22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;” —Galatians 5:22–23 

7 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” —Galatians 6:7–8 

Fruit is what we RECEIVE from what we PLANT. 

16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” —Galatians 5:16–17 

15 “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” —Romans 7:15–20
There is a WAR between our FLESH and the SPIRIT. 

18 “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” —Galatians 5:18–21 

The SPIRIT transcends the LAW. 

22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” —Galatians 5:22–23 

There is NO LAW against the FRUIT that comes from the SPIRIT. 

24 “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” —Galatians 5:24 

We will REAP what we SOW. 

22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;” —Galatians 5:22–23 

1 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” —1 Corinthians 13:1–3 

Takeaway: Live by the SPIRIT and reap the FRUIT. 

How do I receive the Holy Spirit?

Various scriptures

Part of The Spirit of God

May 4, 2025

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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” —Ephesians 1:13–14 

22 “and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” —2 Corinthians 1:22 

16 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” —Romans 8:16–17 

The Holy Spirit is a SEAL of our SALVATION and INHERITANCE. 

16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” —John 14:16–17 

19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” —1 Corinthians 6:19–20 

The Holy Spirit is given to BELIEVERS by GOD. 

1 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” —Acts 2:1–4 

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” —Acts 2:37–38 

41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” —Acts 2:41 

We RECEIVE the Holy Spirit through BELIEF, REPENTANCE, and BAPTISM. 

—Acts 8:14-17 

WHY DID THEY NOT HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT? 
1) They were Samaritans 
2) Demonstrates God’s approval and using the disciples 
3) We don’t know (See John 3:8, Deut 29:29) 

1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. —Acts 19:1-6 

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN - Repentance and preparation for the Messiah 
BAPTISM INTO JESUS - Forgiveness of Sin 

Baptism is not a WORK. Baptism is SURRENDER and NEW LIFE in Christ. 

Takeaway: You can not EARN the Holy Spirit. You RECEIVE the Holy Spirit through NEW LIFE in CHRIST. 

Who is the Holy Spirit?

John 14:15-24
Tim Nay

Part of The Spirit of God

April 27, 2025

1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” —Genesis 1:1-2 

 —Genesis 1:26 

Who is the Holy Spirit? 
• He is GOD. He is JESUS. He is SPIRIT. 
• He works TOGETHER with God and Jesus. 
• He CANNOT be fully understood. 
• He is ORDERLY, INTENTIONAL, surprising and SPONTANEOUS. 

In the OLD Testament, the Holy Spirit came UPON people for specific TASKS or purposes. 

 —Judges 14:5-6 

 —Numbers 11:16-17 

—Numbers 11:24-25 

In the NEW Testament, the Holy Spirit DWELLS INSIDE believers. 

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 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. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” —John 14:15-26 

What is the Role of the Holy Spirit? 
• To be a HELPER (John 14:15-20) 
• To live WITHIN obedient believers (John 14:23) 
• To TEACH and REMIND (John 14:25-26) 

 —John 16:5-11 

What is the Role of the Holy Spirit? 
• To be a Helper (John 14:15-20) 
• To live within obedient believers (John 14:23) 
• To teach and remind (John 14:25-26) 
• To CONVICT the World (John 16:5-11) 4 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.” —1 Corinthians 12:4 
11 “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” —I Corinthians 12:11 

What is the Role of the Holy Spirit? 
• To be a Helper (John 14:15-20) 
• To live within obedient believers (John 14:23) 
• To teach and remind (John 14:25-26) 
• To convict the World (John 16:5-11) 
• To DISTRIBUTE gifts (I Corinthians 12:4; 12:11)26 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26 

What is the Role of the Holy Spirit? 
• To be a Helper (John 14:15-20) 
• To live within obedient believers (John 14:23) 
• To teach and remind (John 14:25-26) 
• To convict the World (John 16:5-11) 
• To distribute gifts (I Corinthians 12:4; 12:11) 
• To INTERCEDE for us (Romans 8:26) 
• To give us BOLDNESS (2 Tim. 1:7) 
• To declare what TRUTH is. (1 John 5:6-8)> 

4 “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Je

Easter
Tim Nay

April 20, 2025

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 



“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 

RELIGIOUS 
• Godly worldview 
• Supernatural & Bible 
• Dedicated to organized religion 
• Holiness - highest quality 
• Accountable 
• Tightly wound

NON-RELIGIOUS 
• Secular worldview 
• Reason & science 
• Avoid organized religion 
• Being a good person - highest quality 
• Independent 
• Relaxed & easy going 

Being UNCOMFORTABLE with being categorized in a CERTAIN group is good. 

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” —John 3:1-2 

Being RELIGIOUS can still feel EMPTY. 

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” —John 3:3 

Being BORN again is for the RELIGIOUS and non-religious. 

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” —John 3:4-5 

6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” —John 3:6-8 

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” —Romans 14:17 

Being DEDICATED or INDIFFERENT to religion, NEITHER leads to a life of righteousness, peace, and joy. 

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 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.” —John 3:9-16 

Being born again means LETTING God’s LIGHT shine on your DARKNESS. 

 —Galatians 5:19-21 

38 “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 
39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.” —John 19:38-39 

TAKEAWAY: Today is the day of SALVATION for the religious AND non-religious. 

The Followers Journey: Parent 1 Cor 4:15-17, Ephesians 4:11-16
Mike Maglish

Part of The Follower's Journey

April 13, 2025

15 “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” —1 CORINTHIANS 4:15-17 

CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRTUAL PARENTS: 
• Coach mindset - intentional, strategic 
• Think multiplication through addition 
• Self-feeding 
• Mission-minded 
• Team-minded 
• Dependable 
• Spirit-filled 
• Aware of false teaching 
• Encouraging 

Parents FEED themselves and OTHERS. 

HABITS OF SPIRITUAL PARENTS: 
• Daily Bible study 
• Pursue biblical teaching regularly 
• Fills their head with Christ-edifying music 
• Active in a Life Group 
• Surrounded with OTHER spiritual parents 
• Find someone to disciple 

Parents FIND someone to DISCIPLE. 

PHRASES OF PARENTS: 
• “This guy at work asked me to explain the Bible to him. We will be starting during the lunch hour Tuesday. Pray for 
me.” 
• “We get to baptize someone from our small group tonight. When is the next Starting Point class? 
I want to get her plugged in ministry somewhere.” 
• “Our small group is going on a mission trip, and I have given each person a different responsibility.” 
• “I realize disciples happens at home, too. Will you hold me accountable to spend time discipling my kids?” 
• “I have a person in my small group who is passionate about children. Can you have the children’s ministry people call me?” 
• “I understand you’re having a rough go leading in your ministry. Would you like some feedback?” 

Parents take INITIATIVE on behalf of OTHERS. 

NEEDS OF PARENTS (COACH): 
• A team 
• An invitation 
• A game plan 
• Opportunity to assess, train, and release disciples 
• Encouragement 

11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” —EPHESIANS 4:11-16 

SCRIPTURES ABOUT CHURCH LEADERS: 
• 1 Timothy 3 
• 1 Timothy 5:17 
• Hebrews 13:7,17 
• Acts 20:28 
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12 
• Titus 1:5-9 

CALL TO ACTION: 
• Pray 
• Listen 
• Assess but don’t judge 
• Be available 
• Take on a disciple 
• Release others to ministry 

TAKEAWAY: Parents RAISE UP individuals to REPRODUCE mature believers. 

The Followers Journey: Young Adult

Mark 9:14-28
Mike Maglish

Part of The Follower's Journey

April 6, 2025

Douglas Bader 

DEVELOPMENT 
• Has energy and ability 
• May have an unrealistic sense of ability 
• Understands ownership/stewardship 
• Desires purpose 
• Lives beliefs 
• Sees things as black and white 
• Can get in over their heads 
• May have to learn the hard way 

17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” —Mark 9:17-29 

DISCIPLESHIP: 
• Desires to serve others for the glory of God 
• Willing to lead 
• Takes ownership of their own faith 
• Begins to understand biblical stewardship 
• Feels responsible for how others respond to the Gospel 
• Black and white about how things SHOULD happen in the church 
• Still life/faith lessons to learn and shape them 
• Susceptible to attacks that lead to discouragement, cynicism, and isolation 

SPIRITUAL NEEDS: 
• Help finding an appropriate ministry to serve in. 
• A spiritual parent who will debrief with them about ministry experiences 
• Ongoing relationships with other believers that offer encouragement/accountability 
• Help establishing healthy boundaries 
• Guidance regarding appropriate expectations of the people they will serve 
• Assistance in identifying their gifts 
• Help navigating complex ministry situations 
• Someone to not talk AT them but to help them process 
• Prayer 

CALL TO ACTION: 
1) Be bold 
2) Step out in faith 
3) Serve 
4) Lead 
5) Stay humble 
6) Seek wisdom 
7) Invest in others (YOU MAY BE THEIR PARENT) 

29 So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” —Matthew 14:29-31 

TAKEAWAY - Jesus chose YOUNG ADULTS as his APOSTLES. They became CHURCH FATHERS. 

The Follower's Journey: Child Stage

Luke 2:52
Tim Nay

Part of The Follower's Journey

March 30, 2025

40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God 
was upon him. —LUKE 2:40 

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. —LUKE 2:52 

11 “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” —1 CORINTHIANS 13:11 

PHRASES from the PHASES - CHILD: 
“I do not feel the lessons are spiritually feeding ME enough.” 
“No one cares about ME.” 
“I wonder if the lead pastor is going to acknowledge ME today.” 
“The songs do not minister to ME.” 
“Why can’t people follow Jesus seriously, like ME?” 
“They were rude to ME on purpose.” 

A spiritual parent for CONNECTION, CORRECTION, and constant ENCOURAGEMENT. 

Connection to other BELIEVERS. 

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, —ACTS 2:46 

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT 

Correction from biblical MISUNDERSTANDINGS and MISDIRECTED enthusiasm. 

26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. —ACTS 18:26 

8 “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” —1 CORINTHIANS 13:8-11 

CONSTANT encouragement from OTHERS. 

CONSTANT… 
Encouragement to FEED themselves spiritually. 
Encouragement to keep their eyes on JESUS. 
Encouragement to learn their GIFTEDNESS. 

TAKEAWAY: What step do you need to take to be closer CONNECTED with OTHERS? 

The Follower's Journey: Infant stage2 Corinthians 5:17

Tim Nay

Part of The Follower's Journey

March 23, 2025

What did you expect?

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” —John 3:3-5 

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.” —2 Corinthians 5:17-19 

Phrases from the Stages - INFANT: 
- “I believe in Jesus, but my church is the mountains.” 
- “I’m a follower of Jesus but I don’t need to be close to people.” 
- “My ministry is my work, I don’t have time for church.” 
- _____ 

7 “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 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 2:7-8 

Needs of an Infant: 
- A spiritual parent to provide protection and care. 
- New habits, new identity, and new expectations. 

1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” —Romans 12:1-2 

NEW HABITS 

NEW IDENTITY 

NEW EXPECTATIONS 

22 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” —Lamentations 3:22-23 

10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” —Ephesians 6:10-12 

TAKEAWAY: What part of the infancy stage do we need to focus on to move toward spiritual maturity? 

The Follower's Journey: Unbeliever
Mike Maglish

Part of The Follower's Journey

March 16, 2025

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. —Ephesians 2:1-3 

Without Christ we are ____ in our ____. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” —Matthew 4:19 

A disciple is one who ____ Jesus, is being ____ by Jesus, and is on ____ for Jesus. 

Following Jesus is ____. 

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. —Romans 3:23-25 

All have sinned: No one is exempt. Everyone is guilty. 
Justified: We are NOT GUILTY 
Grace: Getting something we do not deserve 
Redemption: Ransom, release 
Propitiation: Wrath paid for 

Following Jesus is ____. 

Jesus is called Savior 157 times in the New Testament. 
σωτήρ - Savior, Deliverer 

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. —Matthew 1:21 

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. —1 John 4:14 

31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. —Acts 5:31 

Following Jesus is ____. 

Jesus is called LORD over 700 times in the New Testament 
κύριος - Lord, Master, Owner 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2: 9-11 

32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. —Acts 5:32 

Takeaway: God is not ____ the world. He is ____ us. 

How to Strengthen the Church

3 John
Mike Maglish

Part of ABIDE1, 2, 3 John

March 9, 2025

“11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” —3 John 11 

We are commanded to imitate good. 

“1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 
Support and Opposition 
5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” —3 John 1-8 

We strengthen the church when we are: 
1) For Truth (Vs 1, 3, 4, 8) 
2) Faithful to the GOSPEL (Vs 5) 
3) Generous & Hospitable (Vs 5, 8) 

“9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.” —3 John 9-10 

φιλοπρωτεύω - Desire to be first, loves to have highest rank/position 
Found 1 time in Scripture 
πρωτεύω - Have First Place. Be Supreme. (Colossians 1:18) 
Found 1 time in Scripture 

“18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” —Colossians 1:18 

All sin is a result of pride. 

Diotrephes 
- suppressed the truth 
- did not acknowledge authority 
- talked wicked nonsense (Gossip/Slander) 
- refused to be hospitable 
- tried to kick out faithful Christians 

“9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” —Luke 18:9-14 

PRIDEFUL LEADERS 
- Are False Teachers (1 John 4:1-6) 
- Display Selfish Ambition (1 Peter 5:1-4) 
- Do not respect authority (1 Tim 3, Titus 1) 
- State Unjust Accusations (Mt 18:15-20) 
- Create Division (Ephesians 4:3) 

Takeaway: A humble, submissive, servant builds the church. 

Tension of Truth and Love

2 John
Tim Nay

Part of ABIDE

1, 2, 3 John

March 2, 2025

“1 The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” —2 JOHN 1-3 

Main thought: Walk in truth and love. 

“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.” —2 John 4 

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” —2 John 7-11 

We walk in truth when we do not believe false teachings about Jesus. 

“31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —John 8:31-32 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” —John 1:14 

Importance of the incarnation of Jesus: 
-Reveals God to us 
-Gives us an example to follow 
-Broke the curse of the Law 
-Atoned for our sins 
-Became our advocate 

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” —Philippians 4:8 

“11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[a] and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” —Ephesians 4:11-15 

“5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” —2 John 5-6 

We walk in love when we allow Jesus to shape our everyday life. 

John 11:32-37 

“Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” —2 John 12 

Four main types of communication: 
-Text message 
-Email 
-Phone call 
-Face to face 

Takeaway: What is one way I will love ____ without COMPROMISING truth this week? 

Confident Life in Jesus

1 John 5:1-21
Tim Nay

Part of ABIDE

1, 2, 3 John

February 23, 2025

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? —I John 5:1-5
We can be confident we belong to God. 

We can love others because God loved us first. 

We can have victory over evil. 

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. —I John 4:4 

19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. —I John 3:19-20 

6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. —I John 5:6-12 
We can be assured we have eternal life. 

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. —I John 5:13-14 

We can know God hears our prayers. 

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. —1 John 5:20-21 

We know enough about God to share our life with Him. 

TAKEAWAY: Every Christian can live a bold, confident life in Jesus. 

I belong to God. 
I am going to Heaven. 
I have victory over evil. 
I will love others before they love me. 
I am confident God hears my prayers. 
I can walk with God.

LOVE casts out FEAR

1 John 4:7-21
Mike Maglish

Part of ABIDE

1, 2, 3 John

February 16, 2025

“Do Not Be Afraid” 

Stated 110 times in Scripture. 

God told JOSHUA to not be afraid.

“fear not, for I am with you;” - Isaiah 41:10 

The angels told MARY to not be afraid.

“And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” - Luke 1:30

Jesus told his DISCIPLES to not be afraid.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid..” - John 14:27

Ask: If I could do ANYTHING without FEAR, what would it be?

“17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” - 1 John 4:17-18

There is NO FEAR of punishment in PERFECTED love.

Jesus calls God FATHER 165 times.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” - Luke 23:46

“10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” - 1 John 4:10-12

“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: Live COURAGEOUSLY by EMBRACING God’s Love.

Show It

1 John 3:11-24
Mike Maglish

Part of ABIDE

1, 2, 3 John

February 9, 2025

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” 
― Dr. Seuss

Eros 
• The feeling of love, or emotional love 
• The desire to be near someone 
• The passionate, exciting feeling that comes from being in the right circumstances 
• Acceptable and good in marriage

We NEED a healthy UNDERSTANDING of love. 

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. —1 John 3:11–15 

Love = Life 
Hate = Death

. —Matthew 5:21–26 

“The effects of feeling hatred over a period of time can have devastating effects on your mind and body. Feelings of rage and hatred build up in the mind, body and soul, affecting the body’s organs and natural processes and breeding further negative emotions.” (PsycheMatters Centre) 

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. —1 John 3:16–18 

Love is ACTION. 

Agape 
• The highest form of love, reserved for God’s love for humankind 
• A choice or decision to love someone or something 
• Unconditional, sacrificial, and pure love 
• Demonstrated through actions 
• The love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross by sacrificing his life

The Good Samaritan 
Luke 10:25-37 

Love is SACRIFICE. 

. —1 Corinthians 13:1–13 

Love is ETERNAL. 

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. —1 John 3:19–24 

30 As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. 32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. 33 When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them. —Ezekiel 33:30–33 

Takeaway: To LOVE is the way of GOD. 

Practice Righteousness 

John 3:1-10
Tim Nay

Part of ABIDE

1, 2, 3 John

February 2, 2025

Practice what is right. 

We are righteous children of God. 

“3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” —1 John 3:1-2 

Live up to what we’ve been called. 

“3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” —1 John 3:3-6 
“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” —1 John 3:10 

Definition of PRACTICE: 
noun = “the actual application or use of an idea, or belief” 

Definition of PRACTICE: 
noun = “the actual application or use of an idea, or belief” 
verb = “an exercise done repeatedly in order to improve one’s proficiency. 

“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” —1 John 3:10 

“4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.” —1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

“7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” —1 John 3:7-9 

Practice learning and listening to Jesus daily. 

“38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” —Luke 10:38-42 

Takeaway: Practice what is right. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:1-2 

Abide for a Confident Faith
1 John 2:18-29
Tim Nay

Part of ABIDE1, 2, 3 John

January 26, 2025

Abiding in the correct Jesus gives us confidence in our faith. 

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. —1 John 2:18-20 (ESV) 

We have an anointing by the Holy Spirit. 

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. —1 John 2:19 (ESV) 

Dangers from Gnosticism 
1. Ascetic Lifestyle - denial of anything of the flesh - nothing pleasurable. 
2. Permissive Lifestyle - deny nothing since flesh doesn’t effect the spirit 

21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. —1 John 2:21-25 (ESV) 

We already know the Truth. 

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. —Colossian 2:8-10 (ESV) 

Abide = to stay, to continue in, to remain, to tarry (stay longer than intended) 

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. —1 John 2:26-27 (ESV) 

We are being taught and led by the Holy Spirit. 

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. —Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) 

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. —1 John 2:28-29 

Abiding in the correct Jesus gives us confidence in our faith. 

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. —1 John 2:6

How Can I Grow?
1 John 2:7-17
Mike Maglish

Part of ABIDE
1, 2, 3 John

January 17, 2025

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death” 
Albert Einstein 

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Jn 2:7–10). (2016). Crossway Bibles.34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 13:34–35). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

Things Christians are known for

Judgmental 

Hypocritical 

Honesty

Compassion 

Generosity 

Understanding

Friendliness

Piousness 

Ignorance

We can GROW in LOVE for each other 

10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Jn 2:9–10). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

STUMBLE - σκάνδαλον (skandalon)

If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 11:9–10). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

How do we FALL from hating?

Gossip 
Cheat/Swindle 
Lie 
Underhanded 
Push Agenda 
Not Willing to Help 
Turn a blind eye 
Sin 
Cause another to sin 

We STUMBLE LESS when we LOVE MORE

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Jn 2:12–14). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

Little Children (new Christians) 

Sins are forgiven (Vs 12) 

Because you know the Father (Vs 13) 

Young Men - Workers/Fighters

Overcome the evil one (Vs 13) 

You are strong and the Word of God abides in you (vs 14) 

Fathers (Long Time Christian )

Because you know him who is from the beginning (Vs 13) 

Because you know him who is from the beginning (Vs 14) 

Takeaway: FIND where you are and DETERMINE God’s next steps for you