Welcome to www.richardandtheword.com There is a little bit of symbolism behind the picture of Moses carrying the tablets of stone.  To find out more click here. My name is Richard Allen and I live in the West of Ireland. I have been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for a long number of years. While at college in the 1970s and later in the establishment of an Independent church in Northern Ireland and more recently as a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church in the West I have, I hope, learned a little from the Word of God. Preaching the gospel has been likened to ‘one beggar telling another where to find food’! Well, I am the beggar telling you what is on the menu. Over the years I have accumulated a large number of Bible Study and Sermon notes. It seems a pity just to have them stored in a book or on a disc. Recently I was reminded of Christ’s command to go ‘into the entire world and preach’. Well I can’t just pack up and go! Through the wonders of modern communications, however, my words can travel! I trust that you will hear not my words but Gods. These notes and studies are not meant to be exhaustive or complete. Nor can I guarantee their theological correctness. It is my prayer that they might encourage you to read the Word yourself, think about it and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and show you how relevant it is to life in the opening years of the twenty first century. It is my prayer that you will be able to use them and your bible to come to a better understanding of the eternal Word of God: And not just a better understanding, but also a realisation of how to apply this Word to your own life in your own circumstances. In many instances I am simply connecting verses related to the same theme. My thoughts are simple ones. I believe the truths of the bible are fairly simple. Otherwise, only the intelligent and educated could understand the bible. Gods’ word is for us all, educated and uneducated, simple and complex. I am one of the simpler ones. If you are not a believer it is my prayer that you will become one, because that is Gods will for you, 2 Peter 3:9. If you are a believer it is my prayer that you will fulfil what is Gods will for you, 1 Thess. 4:3. You see, Gods Word is for everyone! In these studies I refer to the Revised Standard Version translation of the bible. I do so because it is the one with which I am familiar. The translation that you use may be slightly different; the vocabulary differing but the meaning remaining the same. Questions! 1. If you discovered that what you believe is wrong would you change your beliefs? 2. If you know that you are wrong what has to happen before you change your beliefs? 3. If you change your beliefs what is the worst thing that can happen? The answers that you give to these questions could determine what you will do with the rest of your life and where you will spend eternity! Some of the studies are topical, some serial and some consecutive in a book of the bible. It is my plan, DV, that each page [and each study will be no more than one page and some less than one] will remain on the site for a number of weeks and then be replaced. Hopefully I will be able to have at least five or six there at any one time. The bible references are printed in bold type and I will not always give the actual quotation. It is important that we all learn our way round the bible, read not just the verses referred to but also those before and after and get an idea of the context in which it is written and remember the words and where the are to be found. A tall order! I do not use a bible commentary! Commentaries can be confusing. I do use a dictionary! Dictionaries usually clarify. Enough of introductions! Spend a few minutes with your bible and some of these notes, ask the Holy Spirit to help you and off you go! Any comments you may have about this site are welcome and will be appreciated. I won’t, however, enter into debate! Thank you in anticipation, Richard.