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Readings for Retreats

By Paul Beasley-Murray.

Our Chairman, the Revd Dr Paul Beasley-Murray, was privileged to be able to take a two week retreat during 2011. During that time, he relied on readings from the Revised Common Lectionary as the focus for scriptural reflection and meditation.

However, he wondered whether other Christian leaders might benefit from a different approach and, on his return,  came up with the following list of readings for a 14 day retreat.

We offer them to our wider audience with the encouragement to use and adapt them as you think fit. Different people will want to use them in different ways, and there is no need to feel that all five sets of readings are necessary to make a retreat worthwhile! 

Readings from Isaiah

1. Isaiah 40/1-11                  Comfort my people!
2. Isaiah 40.25-31                 Trust God
3. Isaiah 42.1-9                    The Lord’s Servant
4. Isaiah 43.1-7                    Your troubles will not overwhelm you
5. Isaiah 43.18-21                 God promises new things
6. Isaiah 49.1-7                     The Lord chose me to be his servant
7. Isaiah 50.4-11                   The obedience of the Lord’s servant
8. Isaiah 51.1-11                   God will wipe away all tears
9. Isaiah 52.7-10                   God’s messenger
10. Isaiah 52.13-53.12             The Suffering Servant
11. Isaiah 54.1-10                   God’s love for his people
12. Isaiah 55                          God’s gracious invitation
13. Isaiah 61.-3                      Good news to deliver
14. Isaiah 66.12-14                 God loves us as a mother

Readings from the Psalms

1. Psalm 1                            True happiness is found in God
2. Psalm 6                            The Lord hears my weeping
3. Psalm 23                          God is with me
4. Psalm 25                          Teach me your ways
5. Psalm 27                          God will make me secure
6. Psalm 30                          Joy comes in the morning
7. Psalm 32                          You are my hiding place
8. Psalm 34                          God saves those who have lost hope
9. Psalm 37.1-11                   Be patient and wait for the Lord
10. Psalm 42-43                      I will put my hope in God                       
11. Psalm 51                          Create a pure heart in me
12. Psalm 62                          Be confident in God
13. Psalm 121                         God never sleeps
14. Psalm 139                         God knows

Readings from the Gospel of Luke

1. Luke  4.1-13                      Jesus is tempted
2. Luke 4.16-30                     Jesus is rejected
3. Luke 5.1-11                      Jesus calls the first disciples
4. Luke 6.27-36                     Jesus calls us to love our enemies
5. Luke 8.4-8, 11-15               The parable of the sower
6. Luke 8.22-25                     Jesus calms a storm
7. Luke 9.21-27                     Jesus calls us to follow him
8. Luke 10.38-42                   One thing is needed
9. Luke 12.22-31                   Jesus calls us to trust God
10. Luke 15.1-7                       The good shepherd seeks the lost sheep
11. Luke 22.24-30                   Jesus teaches true greatness
12. Luke 22.39-46                   Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives
13. Luke 23.32-37                   Father, forgive
14. Luke 24.13-35                   Jesus draws alongside

Readings from 2 Corinthians

1. 2 Cor 1.3-11                      God helps us in all our troubles
2. 2 Cor 1.12-2.4                   Sincerity in ministry
3. 2 Cor 2.12-17                    God uses us
4. 2 Cor 3.1-6                       God makes us capable
5. 2 Cor 3.12-18                    God is at work in us by his Spirit
6. 2 Cor 4.1-6                       We are not discouraged
7. 2 Cor 4.7-13                      The supreme power belongs to God
8. 2 Cor 4.13-5.10                 Living by faith
9. 2 Cor 5.11-6.2                   We are ruled by the love of Christ
10. 2 Cor 6.3-13                      Knocked down, but not knocked out!
11. 2 Cor 7.2-16                      Encouragement and misunderstanding
12. 2 Cor 11.16-35                  Even apostles suffer
13. 2 Cor 12.1-10                    God’s grace is sufficient
14. 2 Cor 5.11-13                    A benediction

Other Readings

1. Matthew 5.3-12                  True happiness in God
2. Matthew 9.35-37                The compassion of Jesus
3. Matthew 11.26-30              Come to me
4. John 8.1-11                       Go and do not sin
5. John 12.20-26                   A grain of wheat dies
6. John 13.1-5, 12-17             Jesus has given an example
7. John 15.1-10                     Remain in me
8. John 21.15-17                   Feed my sheep
9. John 21.18-22                   Follow Jesus – not others
10. Acts 20.17-38                    Watch over yourselves
11. Romans 8.31-39                Nothing can separate us from God’s love
12. Philippians 3.12-14             Run towards the goal
13. 2 Timothy 4.1-5                 A pastoral charge
14. Hebrews 12.1-3                  Look to Jesus