Listening to God with Pastor Richard

Read Romans 6:15-23 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 22-23 God says through St Paul But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: who or what we focus on and dedicate our lives to affects our lives now and into eternity being dedicated to God and His way of life leads to us being made holy by the actions of Jesus and given the gift of eternal life Some stuff to contemplate: How does Romans 6:15-23 affect how you see God, yourself, and how you see and will interact with others? What does Romans...

  Read Romans 6:1-14 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 8-11 God says through St Paul Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.    In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: That God's grace is not supposed to leading us taking this grace for granted and that we continue sinning Instead God's grace leads us to living a new and different life...focused on Jesus and the life He gives We are called to offer our enti...

Read Romans 5:12-21 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 20-21 God says through St Paul The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: Sin existed before the law Original Sin that began with Adam continues to affect us God's Grace is always stronger and more powerful than sin The gift of eternal life is secure because it is made possible by the actions of Jesus Some stuff to contemplate: How does Romans 5:12-21 affect how you see God, yourself, and how you see and will interact with others?...

  Read Romans 5:1-11 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 1-5 God says through St Paul Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: That our good and loving relationship with God has been made possible beca...

Read Romans 4:17-24 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 22-25 God says through St Paul This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”  The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,  but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: God's approach of working through faith rather the law to make us righteous is consistent Our righteousness is because of our belief in Jesus Jesus died for all our sins And it is because of the actions of Jesus we are made righteous Some stuff to contemplate: Ho...

  Read Romans 4:10-16 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 16 God says through St Paul Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. In this reading we are encouraged to see that: Being righteous is a gift given to us through faith in Jesus Christ God's promise to us are not dependent on the law but on our faith in Jesus Christ A life relying on the law leads to wrath, a life relying on our faith in Jesus leads to receiving God's promise of life Some stuff to contemplate: How does Romans 4:10-16 affect how you see God, yourself, and how you see and will inter...

  Read Romans 4:1-9 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 3, 6-8  God says through St Paul What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:    “Blessed are those     whose transgressions are forgiven,     whose sins are covered.     Blessed is the one     whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: Being righteous before God is not the result of our efforts Being righteous before God relies on us trusting and believing what God promises Being righteous before God r...

Read Romans 3:9-20 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 20 God says through St Paul Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: That everyone is equal and under the power of sin No one can be made righteous by following the law That the purpose of the law is to make us aware of our sin Some stuff to contemplate: How does Romans 3:9-20 affect how you see God, yourself, and how you see and will interact with others? What does Romans 3:9-20 call you to talk to God (pray) about?  (Thanksgiving, more insight, help, forgiveness...) What do you think is worthwhile sharing with someone from what God has...

Read Romans 3:1-8 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 3 and 4 God says through St Paul What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:  “So that you may be proved right when you speak   and prevail when you judge.”  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: That God is always faithful That we don't judge based on our faithfulness That God's forgiveness for us is not a reason to sin Some stuff to contemplate: How does Romans 3:1-8 affect how you see God, yourself, and how you see and will interact with others? What does Romans 3:1-8 call you to talk to God (pray) about?  (Thanksgiving, more insight, h...

Read Romans 2:17-29 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 28-29 God says through St Paul A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. In this reading we are encouraged to see that: True faith is one where Jesus has affected our heart... attitude, motives and intentions We should apply the law first to ourselves.  Being a God follower is something that affects our whole body and life What we say, what we do and our attitude should be affected by our faith in God.  Our actions can have a positive o...

Read Romans 2:8-16 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 8 and 16.God says through St Paul But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger....  This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. In this reading we are encouraged to see that: God is fair and judges everyone the same That when we are focussed on ourselves...this can lead to following evil, ignoring the law, sinning and being a focus of God's wrath God's wrath and judgement will occur at end times God's wrath will be placed on Jesus whose Gospel for us is that He bears our sin on the cross Some stuff to contemplate: How does Romans 2:8-16 affect how you se...

   Read Romans 2:1-7 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 3-4 God says through St Paul So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on others and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?  Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? In this reading we are encouraged to see that: God is patient, kind and endures our faults... God's aim and focus is for us to be in a long term relationship with him, turning back to him (repentance)  As we interact with others be influenced by how God interacts with us, because of our faith treat others in the same way God treats us Some stuff to contemplate:...

  Read Romans 1:18-32 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 18-20 God says through St Paul The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  In this reading we are encouraged to see that: Why we and all people need God's Gospel - we can't be righteous without God's actions through Jesus That without God's actions displayed by Jesus our destiny is eterna...

Read Romans 1:8-17 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 8-17 God says through St Paul For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” In this reading we are encouraged to see that: God's Gospel is for all people God's Gospel alone gives us a new life (salvation) our actions and work are possible because of God, including sharing His Gospel through others and their faith God also encourages us our righteousness always is dependent on the actions of Jesus...it is Jesus who...

Today we begin the book of Romans Read Romans 1:1-7 As you read consider -  What stood out for you in this reading? What is God saying about what He has done, is doing or will do? How does the actions of God affect you and live with others? What questions does the reading bring up for you? Pastor Richard's reflection In verses 5-6 God says Through Jesus Christ (that means God) we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles (that means all people) to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake . And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Because of the actions and life of Jesus Christ we: receive God's grace we are invited/called to take what we know of God, His message of forgiveness, love and salvation through Jesus to all people (that's apostleship) belong to God's family and this means the way we live is not something we strive to do to prove we are good enough for good, but rather we aim to live followi...

Listening to God with Pastor Richard is a regular interaction with God.... The aim is to reflect on what is God saying and doing, how does what God says and acts affect who you are, how we see others and interact with them. At times our interaction with God may lead to some instance response....other times it may lead to us pondering, thinking and questioning.....