This passage might seem like little more than a list of names that we can skim over or skip altogether but there is more here than we might at first recognize. Though there are many things not revealed to us about most of these individuals, there are some things that we can know, and there are things for us to learn and take away. Perhaps chief among them is this that in Christ each one of us with our different histories and different stories has been swept up into Gods grand story of redemption and within that story, we each have a role to play.

This passage might seem like little more than a list of names that we can skim over or skip altogether but there is more here than we might at first recognize. Though there are many things not revealed to us about most of these individuals, there are some things that we can know, and there are things for us to learn and take away. Perhaps chief among them is this that in Christ each one of us with our different histories and different stories has been swept up into Gods grand story of redemption and within that story, we each have a role to play.

As Paul continues wrapping up his letter to the Romans, he speaks of his travel plans but there is more going on here than we might at first recognize. We see in what Paul writes here, what is true of those who are in Christ. We are deeply connected with one another, called to care for one another and urged to contend in prayer for one another. The Christian life is not a solitary exercise but a life together.

Here Paul begins to wrap up his letter to the Romans and in this section he affirms the believers in Rome while at the same time explaining to them the right he has to speak into their lives as he has. In all he writes what is abundantly clear is that Paul is not doing his own thing for his own purposes. Rather he is simply living out that to which Christ has called him and in everything. What is clear to us as readers is the Christ-centredness of Pauls life and ministry. Though some of the particulars will be different, we are each called into this same kind of life, fully centred upon Christ.

Here Paul begins to wrap up his letter to the Romans and in this section he affirms the believers in Rome while at the same time explaining to them the right he has to speak into their lives as he has. In all he writes what is abundantly clear is that Paul is not doing his own thing for his own purposes. Rather he is simply living out that to which Christ has called him and in everything. What is clear to us as readers is the Christ-centredness of Pauls life and ministry. Though some of the particulars will be different, we are each called into this same kind of life, fully centred upon Christ.

Too often time and familiarity dull our sense of wonder when it comes to what it is we are celebrating at Christmas. In this message we walk through several amazing truths asserted by John in a single verse early in his gospel. Without reference to Mary or Joseph, angels or shepherds, magi or gifts or a mad king, John leads us in reflection on the wonder of Christs coming! Listen and let John lead you to marvel at the amazing gift of Immanuel, God with us!

This story and song precede what we call the Christmas story but they play a vital role in preparing us for what is to come in the birth and ultimately life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through the Spirit, a priest named Zechariah sees something of what God is doing and he bursts into joyful praise. Through his story and song, we are beckoned into joyful praise with him. God has come to bring redemption!

Here Paul brings to conclusion his address of the situation of conflict in the Roman church between the weak and the strong. He does so by drawing their eyes up from the disputable matters that have their attention calling them instead to look and behold the glorious panorama of Gods redemptive work in the world. God through Christ is saving both Jew and Gentile so that they might together worship Him.

Here Paul continues addressing the issue of divisions in the church in Rome. What becomes clear is that, not only are we not to exercise our freedoms in a way that harms others spiritually. We are, in fact, called to use our strength for the spiritual benefit of others. And as we find strength to live this way from God through His Word, our lives together bring Him glory.