Reading passages from Romans in worship can be challenging—it can be tough to keep people engaged. I’ve found that the use of different voices can help people hear and understand a passage more clearly.
So here’s a two-voice setting of Romans 1 05 -1 5 7 , 2 01 1 1 4 A).
Readers’ Theatre
(Romans 1 05 -1 5
One: Moses writes of the righteousness that comes from the Law, saying:
Two: “Whoever complies with it will find life.”
One: But the righteousness that comes from faith says this instead:
Two: “Do not say in your heart:
‘Who will go up to heaven?’
(that is, to bring Christ down),
or ‘Who will go down to the depths?’
(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
One: Instead, it says:
Two: “The word is very near to you;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
One: It’s the very message of faith that we proclaim, because:
Two: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
One: For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God,
and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
As the scriptures tell us:
Two: “No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.”
One: Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect.
They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him.
For,
Two: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
One: But how can they call on him to save them
unless they believe in him?
And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?
And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
That is why the Scriptures say,
Two: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
