In this zoom Bible study Mr. Smith goes through the first 21 verses of John 3, in part using some new material from the home office. He focuses on two expressions used in verse 3 where Jesus said to Nicodemus "I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." First "seeing the kingdom" has the two meanings of understanding what we must do to enter it and secondly literally entering the kingdom. The term "born again" or "born from above" has the two meanings of receiving God's spirit at baptism that allows us to grow in God's way, and also the literal meaning of being born of the spirit when we enter the kingdom at the return of Christ.

Gary Smith

United Church of God Pastor

Gary Smith was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but spent most of his youth in the Pasadena, California area. He graduated from Ambassador College in 1976 and he and his wife, Liz, moved to Peoria, Illinois. For the next six years he worked as a nursing home administrator in Illinois, Ohio, and Texas.
In 1982, he and Liz began to serve in the full-time ministry. Since that time, they have served in a number of congregations in the Midwest.
Gary and Liz now pastor in Houston, Texas near their two children and grandson.