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.

Paul evidently cherished the Philippian church, but all was not well there. What was wrong, and what remedies did Paul propose? Here, Dick examines the salient parts of the letter and shows that both the sicknesses and their cure are applicable to the church today.

In the Old Testament, Israel failed when put to the test in the desert. By contrast, Jesus withstood Satan's temptations. In this talk, Dick examines the strategies of the devil as he seeks to wrongfoot the Son of God. He demonstrates how those same devices are deployed today, to devastating effect.

What is the primary role of the Christian pastor? The question might yield a variety of different responses today. For the definitive answer, however, we need look no further than 2 Timothy. As Paul sends final instructions to his ‘child’, his own execution imminent, priorities are set forth with unequivocal lucidity.