Malcolm Cox

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard
Today we look at chapter 7 of the book which is titled “Redemption through the word of God”.
We are the intercessors, connected with God and with the world. How do we get there? An additional birth by the word of God Birth through the spirit and the word of God“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23 NIV11) Washed in the word of God The amazing extent of the dirtWe often don't notice how much...

“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” “When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the discip...

Father’s Day 2022, Luke 15

1. What hurt the father about the younger son’s behaviour?
A. Community shame 
B. Wish the Father was dead 
C. Harm he would get into 

2. What hurt the father about the older son’s behaviour? 
A. Community shame 
B. Ingratitude, acting as if the father was not generous
““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. “Woe to you...

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard
Today we look at Chapter 6: The word of God and the rule of God
    - Astonishing faith in the power of words         - Centurion, “say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (Luke 7:7 NIV11)         - "Most of what we think we see as the struggle of faith is really the struggle to act as if we had faith but in fact we do not." 118

Do we trust the ‘word’ of God? “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be...

Introduction: Attitude is more important than education. We need integrity.
Ezra “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10 NIV11)
Always learning Time  Resources - how much money have you spent on commentaries and Bible dictionaries compared to your television package? Devoted to observance Study to practice, more than to teach  Monday sermon prep because need to live it between then and Sunday Devoted to teaching Not intellectual pursuit  Teach what your study of God’s word has inspired you to practi...

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ

Our special International Sunday service was marked with singing and praying in different languages as well as some fun involving food colouring, blowup globes and empty pill casings.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBo...

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard
Today we look at Chapter 5: The still small voice and its rivals, 86
“A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD...

Introduction:
- A never-solved challenge from the first century till now
- In our family of churches unity was simple
- Now it is much more complex

1. The Significance (of Unity)
Jesus - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34–35 NIV11)
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—...

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.””
(1 Peter 1:22–25 NIV11)

QUESTION: What is the difference between love and deep love?

“Our church is not the grou...

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard

Today we look at Chapter 4.
Our communicating Cosmos How do we know whether the voice we are hearing from God or not? The limits of signs Jesus could not be forced into doing ‘religious stunts’. Even something directly done by God does not necessarily convince, Luke 16:31. ““He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”” (Luke 16:31 NIV11)  ‘If a man (says Jesus) cannot be humane with the Old Testament in his hand and Lazaru...

I enjoy finding connections between the Old and New Covenants. Today I want to try one out on you. You can tell me if I am seeing something that is not there, or whether it is legitimate.
Fellowship is under pressure
    * COVID
        * 2 years of our lives have been spent largely not in one another’s company
        * Allows for reduced vulnerability
        * We are truly viscerally vulnerable when together in a way that is not mirrored online. 
        * One of the beauties of in-person fellowship is the inability of the fellowshipers to control their fellowship. Someone will interrupt, someone wi...

The latest in my occasional series as I process my feelings and thinking since the death of my mother last year. Today I reflect on why I visit the grave. The reason? Of course it’s love. Obvious? I guess so. But meaningful and refreshing.

Remember, “Weeping may remain for a night, but joy cometh in the morning“ Psalm 30

Apologies for the wind noise by the way, but I didn’t have my fancy microphone with me.

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard

Today we look at Chapter 3.

Never alone
    * Loneliness a great curse
        * Loneliness is "the leprosy of the modern world." 45
    * Rom 8:35-39 God's great commitment to us never being alone
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors thr...

The song: Jesus is gonna fix it – Matt Genese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAy0RR4D0YA

The book: Christian Worship and Technological Change: Susan J. White

Media Saturation
* How is media influencing our congregational worship, teaching and preaching?
* Competing ‘authorities’ have multiplied in advertising and compete for our trust.
* What is ‘good’, ‘healthy’, ‘effective’?
* Broadcast services have led to greater predictability in worship. Standardisation is what viewers like – a formula that works for them and they know to expect and trust.
* Megachurches have much in common: ‘strong authoritarian leadership, a predicta...

Mike Desouza was our visiting speaker today. He spoke movingly on the significance of God's remembering of us.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmc...

Hearing from God
Two weeks ago we considered the topic of what it means to develop a ‘conversational relationship with God’. How is that going for you? Is it something you cherish, find confusing - or even a little scary?! Below I pen a few more thoughts - based on, “Hearing God” by Dallas Willard.
God is not looking for robots Your relationship with God is yours. It is unique. Our relationship with God as it develops is meant to be characterised by a deep and meaningful love. It is more a way of being with him than talking...

In this sermon for the Watford Church of Christ we asked the question as to why God gave us so many letters. Having explored that, we go on to investigate the reason why evangelism is hardly mentioned in the epistles.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org). 

If you’d like a copy of my fr...

It seems pretty much given these days that when we preach and teach we should use images. There's been a lot of talk over the last few years about visual learners. We know the impact that an arresting image can have. 
As a simple illustration, and if you're listening to the podcast you'll have to use your imagination, let me make a statement, followed by an image. You tell me which one has the most significant effect on you.
First the statement: "the man was shocked" 
Now I will put the image on screen: ……..
So, which had mo...

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard

Recently God has made me listen more as a result of losing my voice after an allergic reaction to something I ate.

Today we look at Chapter 1.

- 1. A paradox about hearing God
- Learning to hear God's voice makes us more than someone who has knowledge.17

- The ongoing conversation
 - He references Adam & Eve, Enoch and Moses as examples of people with an ongoing conversation with God. However, I'm not sure that is precisely true. That might be a...

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ

In preparation for today’s lesson I re-read the Dallas Willard book “Hearing God: developing a conversational relationship with God".

As with all of Willard’s books, it is about much more than the actual title or theme. It's really about what it means to know Christ and to live for him in this world. He sets up the book by noting that God wants a friendship with us. He references the Scriptures below. Take some time to read them and, as you do so, ask yourself what they a...

Today a response to a question from a friend, which was promoted by a previous teaching tip on ‘personal fruitfulness’.

“I had a question. In the NT and especially Paul’s letters. There’s little emphasis on Evangelism. However we see the Lord added to their number. Firstly, I wanted to ask why you think there was no emphasis? Secondly, what were they doing then that allowed that growth to happen?”

This also struck me as a young Christian. I remember a teaching weekend on Philippians and how little there was about evangelism and how much there was ab...

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard

Last two weeks have struck a chord with you and me. Therefore I decided to re-read the book “Hearing God: developing a conversational relationship with God" this week. Made notes and decided to do a multipart series - one for each chapter of the book.
As with all of Willard’s themed books, it is about much more than the actual title or theme in the title. In truth, it's really about what it means to know Christ and to live for him in this world.
Toda...

In this second sermon in a series about why we sing when we are gathered on a Sunday, we look at the passage in Colossians 3.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website...

Tuesday Teaching Tips | Episode 257 | “The Connection between the Spirit, Unity and Singing” Part 3

Why do we sing?

We have been answering the question, "Why do we sing?”. In the last two Teaching Tips I made some comments on Eph 5:18-21 and Col 3:16. Today let’s explore a few more thoughts on singing based in 1 Corinthians 14.

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built u...

Why do we sing?

There is not a great deal of instruction in the New Testament about church singing. But what the Scriptures lack in volume they make up for in depth. This week and next week we will take a look at two of the key passages about congregational singing.

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father fo...

Last week's quiet time coaching episode struck a chord with several people. Amongst those was my friend from Denver, Matt Anjilivelil. He sent me a copy of a study he has put together to help people to learn how to hear God.
He makes the point that God spoke to his people in the Bible. For example, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Mary, Jesus and Paul.  Even if we may not hear God in the same way they did, it is clear that God loves to communicate with his people. The rest of h...

Why do we sing?
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Col 3:16
Background The church in Colossae was made up of house churches of around 30-50 people (Philemon 1:2). Many ‘gods’ were worshipped in this part of Asia Minor and the Apostle Paul is concerned about syncretism (in this context the blending together of Christian and Pagan worship).  Therefore he centres the letter on the sufficiency of Christ and his unique nature. R...

It was a privilege to have my friend Christopher speak for us on Sunday. He and his son were visiting from Uppsalla.

He speaks from the heart about freedom - based on that wonderful passage in Galatians.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org). 

If you’d like a copy of my free...

“How to hear God’s voice in troubled times“ Pete Greig, Premier Christianity magazine, April 2022
“Each one of us has been born with an extra ordinary superpower: an innate ability to hear the voice of God.” 49 
“…it’s amazing that God who speaks in such powerful ways would listen to us, but generally he doesn’t seem to speak in an audible voice. What does it mean?” 49
Jesus assumes that we will be able to hear him, John 10:27.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never pe...

Why do we sing?

There is not a great deal of instruction in the New Testament about church singing. But what the Scriptures lack in volume they make up for in depth. This week and next week we will take a look at two of the key passages about congregational singing.

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father fo...

The men of the Watford church met last night. Part of our time was spent singing together. No instruments, nothing fancy, just singing songs we love. 
As we were leaving one of the men said to me that he had got out of habit singing in his personal devotional times with God. I suddenly realised the same thing had happened to me. Singing in my times of quiet with God has been important to me over the years, but recently I have neglected this valuable aid to connecting with God.
What part does singing have in your devotional t...

A sermon for the Watford Church of Christ.

We have reached the end of our road to the resurrection. We spent some time today thinking about the meaning of the resurrection. Why did he rise? Why does he still live? 

The key aspects of our exploration are his ability to help us and his commitment to love us.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your ques...

Today we are building on the previous Teaching Tip: Tuesday Teaching Tips | Episode 253 | “What kind of participation are you aiming for?”
‘Lack of participation is a growing concern among pastors and worship leaders. Passivity is a problem. It doesn't have to do with any particular style of worship. We simply fail to design and lead services that invite and even require the engagement of our people.’ Constance Cherry, The Worship Architect
Perhaps you don't think you have a problem. But have you gone and sat at the back? What measure are you using to assess whether people are truly pa...

Based on the article “Jesus, Hope of the World” by Rachael Newham in Premier Christianity Magasine, April 2022
The beginning of the good news about the resurrection begins with tears and confusion.
“Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Mk 16:3,  “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” Mk 16:8
“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. “ Jn 20:11 “The root of our joy as Christians, begins with grief.”
In John‘s account crying is emphasised John 20:11–18.  “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept...

In this class on the meaning of the resurrection we look at evidences for the resurrection, the implications of Jesus’ eternal life for us, and what we learn from the way Jesus engaged with people who witnessed his resurrected body.

The ‘Nazareth inscription’ contains the following decree from Caesar: “Let no one remove them [bodies] for any reason. If not, however [i.e., if anyone does so], capital punishment on the charge of tomb robbery I will to take place.”

Some of the key texts:
 • Heb 7:23-28
 • Rom 8:31-37 
 • 1Tim. 6:11-12
 • Rom. 6:4 

Question
1...

We have arrived at the penultimate destination on our road to the resurrection. We look at the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. We note his courage, dignity, faith, trust, love and hope.

Next week we complete our journey as we rejoice and reflect on the meaning of the resurrection.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailt...

Craig Douglas Erickson: “Liturgical participation and the renewal of the church”

“Christian worship is by its very nature participator re-worship… Because all Christians are priests.” 231

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Pet 2.9

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Rom 12:1

Are al...

Something that has struck me this year in the run-up to Easter more than ever is the way in which Jesus is so restrained.

– Silent before the high priests
– Silent before Pilate
– Silent as the soldiers mocked him and were violent towards him
– Mostly silent on the cross in six hours
– Why didn’t he answer?
– He is calm, dignified and courageous – in contrast with the religious leaders, and even Peter.
– Silence is not an admission of guilt, but settled surrender
– Roman law presumed the guilt of those who refused to defend themselves

Notes on the class
“A lion’s story should always end with a kill, but the narrative has warned us that it is the lion who will die.” My atonement series can be found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJOhHa_2t9jDzIj68ID3lX6BnCXRxdy6p 
The Greek verb paradidomi, to ‘hand over’ to someone else, is used by Jesus of himself in the second and third Passion predictions (9.31; 10.33), and for the fate of his disciples in the three apocalyptic warnings (13.9, 11, 12). Now it is used about Jesus no less than ten times (14.10, 11, 18, 21, 41, 42, 44; 15.1, 10, 15).
To most people in the ancient...

Today I answer another question from a friend. In summary, his question centres on whether it is appropriate to use the teaching about bearing fruit in John 15 to encourage an expectation of what is called "personal fruitfulness".

I share some thoughts about the nature of the mission, our particular historical emphases in the International churches of Christ, and the downplaying of the personal element by the apostle Paul (1 Cor 1:14). We also look at Old Testament context (Is 5:1-7) 

Fruit bearing is not a test, but a by-product of abiding.  It’s not ‘produce or die’, but ‘abide and...