Romans 16: 1 – 27. There’s plenty that we can see in this final chapter that goes beyond it being just a list of names! Paul is still instructing us how to keep on “living the gospel” here. His list of names cuts across social divisions as he includes Jews, Gentiles, freed slaves and the […]
Romans 14:1 – 15:13 Romans 15:5-6 are key verses that enable us to understand this whole section. Paul calls those who are “living the gospel” to unity of life and worship. Where lifestyles or opinions differ, Paul brings it all back to unity in Christ. Where some are stronger and others are weaker, Paul brings […]
Romans 12: 9-21. Love is a dominant theme in a number of Paul’s letters. In Romans he gives attention to how we show love within the church, as well as beyond our church community. That begins with love for each other as we keep our “spiritual fervour serving the Lord”. The encouragement is for us […]
The familiarity of Christmas Carols will enable people to feel safe to draw closer to the truth of the living gospel message of Salvation, and “Christingle” will give an opportunity to consider how our living experience of the Lord touches the world around us. When the two come together, we offer an opportunity for people […]
Luke 1:26 – 2:20; Matthew 1:18 – 2:18 With hosts of angles, the principle characters, sheep, Magi and a little “helpful” direction from a Minister, the stage is set for a cute retelling of the whole story. Yet in the midst of the cuteness, God’s message of Salvation is still powerful. How are we living […]
Luke 1: 26 – 45. Like Zechariah, Mary had a question: “How can this be?”, again the word of the Lord gave an explanation. Mary was moved into a place of acceptance as she listened to the angel’s message. Her God-ordained circumstances, her living experience of the Lord’s activity in her life, would take her […]
Romans 11: 1-36 Paul sets out the difference between what we have now, and the future hope to come. Some were already secure in their relationship with God; others who had once rejected God were now having another think; others thought it was too late for them. Paul explains how God moves all people towards […]
Romans 9:1 to Romans 10:21 Paul’s sorrow in chapter 9 is about those who have rejected God, even though they already know that through Christ, He has chosen to call them His children. Then in chapter 10 Paul addresses the responsibility we all have of accepting God’s choice of us. He speaks from the heart as […]
Romans 6: 1-23. In this chapter Paul tackles the challenge we face when we make “life’s first cry” as a new Christian: shall we keep sinning on purpose so that we can know God’s grace all the more?” (vs. 1) No – Our lives have been transformed in Christ! We’ll be looking at that alongside the […]
Romans 1:14-17, 2:7, 3:21-22, 4:20. This might feel like a pause of our studies in Romans, but it’s more of a development of the themes we’ve looked at so far! As we hear from the BMS Action Team about the outworking for their faith, what can we learn from them about “living the gospel” ourselves?