Sunday, January 26 Traditions worship service.
We re-enter our series on the With-God Life this Sunday as we begin this section on The People of God in Community engaging with the genre of literature in scripture known as Letters. Paul’s Letter to the Romans is a remarkable treatise explaining what we call the GOSPEL–the good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This letter has had a wide ranging impact on Christian history, including the Protestant Reformation’s doctrine of justification by faith. Its influence upon John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement is also evident throughout his writings, most famously in this journal entry:
“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” (Works, “Journals,” May 24, 1738, para. 14)
As we approach this letter through the lens of spiritual formation we’ll focus on Paul’s desire to encourage and guide the community life of early Christians living in the city of Rome. Try reading Romans yourself! And join us for worship this Sunday 9am Contemporary Service in the CLC or 11am in the Sanctuary!
Romans 1:1-12
Romans 12