Recorded in early October 2024, this is expected to be Dick's last formal talk, though he continues to speak penetratingly of biblical truths with the many scheduled visitors to his home. In this brief survey of Romans 8, he considers not only the deep comfort of the chapter, rooted in solid hope for the future, but also its realism concerning present experience in a 'groaning' creation.

'Reconciliation' is a commonly used term. From company accounts to human relationships, it brings matters to a satisfying close. But how is the word used in the Bible? In this short study of 2 Corinthians 5, Dick not only ponders the vast scale of divinely initiated reconciliation; he also points out its bold imperatives.

Matthew 28 exhibits a grand unity and simplicity. At the outset, there is a body in a tomb. At the end, we behold the Lord of glory with his great commission. It opens with the end of a story; it closes with the start of a story that never ends.

Matthew’s narration of the first Good Friday lasts 66 full verses, a measure of its significance. As he surveys the chapter, Dick reflects on the Passion of Christ recorded here. In what ways did Jesus suffer? From which quarters was that suffering inflicted, and why? And why are these questions so important?

What is the 'normal' life for the Christian in this world? What is its source? Its cause? Its sustenance? Its nature? And what does it look like? What expectations should the believer have of it? In these study notes on Romans 8:1-17, Dick sees one verse as being central to the whole passage.

As he ponders the momentous and liberating truths of Romans 5:9-11, Dick notes the depth and scope of salvation in Christ, its many dimensions. Paul's interweaving of different tenses and his heady repetition of the word 'now', point to a transcendent reality and pose a personal challenge.

Dick's latest introduction to Philippians centres on Chapter 4, verses 4-7, which he views as characteristic of the letter. The first exhortation of the passage is well-known; but is it not the second, more easily glossed over, that goes to the heart of the change Paul wants to see in the saints at Philippi?

Why bother with prayer? And how should it be done? Jesus' instruction is concise yet all-encompassing, embracing the eternal purposes of God, the daily needs of his wayward children and the reality of evil. It is an invitation to intimacy between the perfect father and the imperfect, but forgiven, child.

On several occasions in the gospels, Jesus restores sight to the blind. But in John's account of the healing of a man blind from birth, 41 verses are devoted to the story and the interactions within it. Here we find not only supernatural healing, but also spiritual darkness and naked hostility.