Malcolm Cox

Answer: Trust in the LORD

How and why…….

Question: what are their problems? 

They are in danger of being shaken - so are we. 

SPIRIT 

• “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Rom. 8:26–27 NIV11)

JESUS 

• “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Rom. 8:34 NIV11)

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: [email protected].

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.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox, 

"Psalms of Ascent Series", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 193, Psalm 129vv6-7

You have found a daily podcast based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).

They are designed to help our hearts and minds being a healthy place while the Covid 19 virus does its worst.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4 NIV11)

Each day we will meditate on a verse or two from these wonderful Psalms as we make our pilgrimage from confusion to hope, pain to peace, anxiety to joy.

"The uppermost roof on the common dwelling places in Israel would have been constructed of beams laid across the walls intertwined with reeds and grasses. The whole roof would then be plastered with mud to fill in the gaps and make them somewhat watertight. Any lingering seeds in the grass or mud might briefly sprout but would quickly die for lack of roots." Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.1. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

We too are like grass, Is 40:6-8, as against the word, 1 Pet 1:23ff..  So do our lives matter?  Yes - 1 Jn 2:17. But not in anxiety. Instead our call is to trust God for our needs, Matt 6:28-34.

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: [email protected].

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.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox, 

"Psalms of Ascent Series", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 193, Psalm 129vv6-7

You have found a daily podcast based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).

They are designed to help our hearts and minds being a healthy place while the Covid 19 virus does its worst.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4 NIV11)

Each day we will meditate on a verse or two from these wonderful Psalms as we make our pilgrimage from confusion to hope, pain to peace, anxiety to joy.

"The uppermost roof on the common dwelling places in Israel would have been constructed of beams laid across the walls intertwined with reeds and grasses. The whole roof would then be plastered with mud to fill in the gaps and make them somewhat watertight. Any lingering seeds in the grass or mud might briefly sprout but would quickly die for lack of roots." Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.1. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

We too are like grass, Is 40:6-8, as against the word, 1 Pet 1:23ff..  So do our lives matter?  Yes - 1 Jn 2:17. But not in anxiety. Instead our call is to trust God for our needs, Matt 6:28-34.

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: [email protected].

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.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox, 

There is only one thing to talk about this week. Yes, I've had a very productive week of recording podcasts (interview with Ian Mohlie to be published in the future), making a YouTube video about the Lord's Supper, and many more fun and meaningful things.

But.

There is only one thing I want to talk about, and that is a special three-part teaching and discussion series coming up the next three Saturdays in a row. Who is involved? Let me explain.

I love the friendships I share with Rob Payne, Andy Ezeilo, Andy Boakye, Chris Birtles and Simon Dinning. These men enrich me. They inspire me. All have a commitment to being the most effective they can be as they teach and preach God's word. We meet online every month or so. The Spirit moved us to design a set of three classes/discussions about what God might be teaching us through the current COVID-19 crisis.

Follow the link to the dedicated page on my website, and the Eventbrite registration page.  There you will find more information. We will be adding detail over the coming days, but you can register straightaway. We are not charging but we would be grateful for any donations to that wonderful charity Hope worldwide.

The approach we are taking is detailed on the pages mentioned above. Suffice it to say for the moment that our desire is to explore what this situation is teaching us about the nature and character of God, what this means for us now as we try to live out our lives as disciples of Christ, and what it might mean for the future of church services, modes of worship, methods of outreach and loving relationships.

In no sense are we planning to offer all the answers - simply some biblical perspectives that will help our discussions. Each session will feature roughly half an hour of teaching from two of the men and possibly some of their friends, and approximately half an hour of smaller group discussion.

We hope and pray that the meetings will be meaningful for members of our churches, the wider Christian community, and anyone interested in finding out a Christian perspective on these matters whether they are Christians themselves or not.The 

Thames Valley church are sponsoring the events together with HOPE worldwide.

The dates are 30th May, 6th June, 13th June, all beginning at 11 AM.

I do hope you can join us, and whether you can or not, please pass information on to anybody amongst your friends who you think might be interested. Indeed, ask them to pass on to their friends and so on!

God bless, Malcolm

There is only one thing to talk about this week. Yes, I've had a very productive week of recording podcasts (interview with Ian Mohlie to be published in the future), making a YouTube video about the Lord's Supper, and many more fun and meaningful things.

But.

There is only one thing I want to talk about, and that is a special three-part teaching and discussion series coming up the next three Saturdays in a row. Who is involved? Let me explain.

I love the friendships I share with Rob Payne, Andy Ezeilo, Andy Boakye, Chris Birtles and Simon Dinning. These men enrich me. They inspire me. All have a commitment to being the most effective they can be as they teach and preach God's word. We meet online every month or so. The Spirit moved us to design a set of three classes/discussions about what God might be teaching us through the current COVID-19 crisis.

Follow the link to the dedicated page on my website, and the Eventbrite registration page.  There you will find more information. We will be adding detail over the coming days, but you can register straightaway. We are not charging but we would be grateful for any donations to that wonderful charity Hope worldwide.

The approach we are taking is detailed on the pages mentioned above. Suffice it to say for the moment that our desire is to explore what this situation is teaching us about the nature and character of God, what this means for us now as we try to live out our lives as disciples of Christ, and what it might mean for the future of church services, modes of worship, methods of outreach and loving relationships.

In no sense are we planning to offer all the answers - simply some biblical perspectives that will help our discussions. Each session will feature roughly half an hour of teaching from two of the men and possibly some of their friends, and approximately half an hour of smaller group discussion.

We hope and pray that the meetings will be meaningful for members of our churches, the wider Christian community, and anyone interested in finding out a Christian perspective on these matters whether they are Christians themselves or not.The 

Thames Valley church are sponsoring the events together with HOPE worldwide.

The dates are 30th May, 6th June, 13th June, all beginning at 11 AM.

I do hope you can join us, and whether you can or not, please pass information on to anybody amongst your friends who you think might be interested. Indeed, ask them to pass on to their friends and so on!

God bless, Malcolm

"Psalms of Ascent Series", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 192, Psalm 129v5

You have found a daily podcast based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).

They are designed to help our hearts and minds being a healthy place while the Covid 19 virus does its worst.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4 NIV11)

Each day we will meditate on a verse or two from these wonderful Psalms as we make our pilgrimage from confusion to hope, pain to peace, anxiety to joy.

"And this is not a fictional reconstruction of history! Where is the imperial Egypt which enslaved Israel—or the Philistines, Assyrians or Babylonians?" New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. Edited by Carson, D. A, R. T France, J. A. Motyer, and Gordon J. Wenham. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.1. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994.  

For a Christian one could add Rome, all the prominent atheists of history, the Bible sceptics, Communism, etc.

The verbs in vv5-8 could be taken as prayer (what is being asked for), or prophecy (what is being foreseen).  

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: [email protected].

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.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox, 

"Psalms of Ascent Series", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 192, Psalm 129v5

You have found a daily podcast based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).

They are designed to help our hearts and minds being a healthy place while the Covid 19 virus does its worst.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4 NIV11)

Each day we will meditate on a verse or two from these wonderful Psalms as we make our pilgrimage from confusion to hope, pain to peace, anxiety to joy.

"And this is not a fictional reconstruction of history! Where is the imperial Egypt which enslaved Israel—or the Philistines, Assyrians or Babylonians?" New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. Edited by Carson, D. A, R. T France, J. A. Motyer, and Gordon J. Wenham. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.1. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994.  

For a Christian one could add Rome, all the prominent atheists of history, the Bible sceptics, Communism, etc.

The verbs in vv5-8 could be taken as prayer (what is being asked for), or prophecy (what is being foreseen).  

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: [email protected].

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.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox, 

Do you ever feel you’re not sure if you’ve got the balance right between the communion and the sermon? I have some ideas to help you think it through.

My contention is that a healthy worship event combines both sharing in the Word and sharing in the Lord’s Supper. 

In the history of Christendom, reflected also in present-day denominations, there tends to be a greater emphasis on either the Word or the Lord’s Supper. I grew up in a tradition (Anglican) which emphasised the Eucharist over the preaching. The former took the larger share of the service time. In the tradition I now inhabit (church of Christ) our emphasis has been more the sermon than the communion.

We have no instructions from Scripture about the balance. Neither the book of Acts nor the Epistles give us any timings for lengths of sermons or communion talks!

With these thoughts in mind, let’s explore some of Erickson's points and see what relevance they may have for us locally.

1. Those who share in the Lord’s supper participate in the totality of Christ. As he says, “...the sacrament is a grand recapitulation of God’s redemptive activity.” As the Christian year progresses it illuminates different aspects of who Jesus is (Christology). These different emphases at Easter, Christmas and the like throw a different light on the taking of communion.  Here are a couple of questions for you, “Do the topics of communion talks reflect the time of year and Christian season we are in? Or, are they pretty much the same all year round?”  One reason communion talks are, frankly, at times, boring is not because we are repeating the same action every week, but because we are not reflecting the content of the Christian year or the text used for preaching. The preaching and teaching of the Word can be in harmony with, and enhance the taking of communion and vice versa. 

2. Those who partake of the Holy Communion share in the totality of the church. Erickson says, “The Eucharist is a foretaste of the world that is to come. It is the messianic banquet, the eschatological feast.” When we take communion together with our local fellowship, we are in a very real yet mystical sense joining together with all those of faith gone before us, and those yet to come.  A couple more questions, “Do our communion talks reflect the communal nature of the Supper? Is there an overemphasis on individual reflection and experience? Are we missing the grand banquet vision?” Much as the Word is both personal and communal in it’s sharing as a congregation, so is the communion. Since the value in both are enhanced by sharing in them, why not keep them in balance?

3. Those who together celebrate the Eucharist intercede as a royal priesthood for the whole world.  In taking communion together we are celebrating the Lordship of Christ (Colossians 1:26; Ephesians 3:10-19).  Another question, “Are we overemphasising the local elements of participation in the Lord supper by members, and missing the grand vision of the world benefiting from the life that is in the risen Christ?” “In what way are we proclaiming 'the Lord’s death until he comes’ 1 Cor 11.26?" In participating in the Lord’s Supper we are reminding ourselves and proclaiming to the world that there is a risen Lord. In doing so, we are reminded that it is this living Lord we are bringing to the world once we leave our time of communing together. Again, both the Word and the Lord’s Supper help us to proclaim Christ. 

Erickson wonders whether competition exists between the powerful remembrance of Christ in the Lord’s Supper and the powerful proclamation of Christ in the preaching of the Word. His conclusion is, “..they are but two sides of the same coin: the proclamation of the one Word who is Jesus Christ.” I concur.

The value of holding these two elements of worship together lies in recognising that the preaching of the Word prevents the Lord’s Supper becoming something experiential without limitations. And the taking of the Lord's Supper helps prevent the preaching of the Word become a merely intellectual exercise. In this way the communion is “a more graphic and vivid representation of the Word. It closes the communication gap created by the inadequacy of the verbal medium to express the inexpressible mystery.”

It seems likely that most congregations will, on most occasions, tend to emphasise Word over communion or vice versa. The question for today, is where is your congregation? And, is there a need for adjustment?  How have you arrived at your balance? Is it serving the purpose of the Word and of the Lord's Supper? Is it serving your congregation and the world?

What are you doing where you are? I would be very interested in your opinions as to what I have written, and the rationale behind your local practice.

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

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

God bless, Malcolm

Do you ever feel you’re not sure if you’ve got the balance right between the communion and the sermon? I have some ideas to help you think it through.

My contention is that a healthy worship event combines both sharing in the Word and sharing in the Lord’s Supper. 

In the history of Christendom, reflected also in present-day denominations, there tends to be a greater emphasis on either the Word or the Lord’s Supper. I grew up in a tradition (Anglican) which emphasised the Eucharist over the preaching. The former took the larger share of the service time. In the tradition I now inhabit (church of Christ) our emphasis has been more the sermon than the communion.

We have no instructions from Scripture about the balance. Neither the book of Acts nor the Epistles give us any timings for lengths of sermons or communion talks!

With these thoughts in mind, let’s explore some of Erickson's points and see what relevance they may have for us locally.

1. Those who share in the Lord’s supper participate in the totality of Christ. As he says, “...the sacrament is a grand recapitulation of God’s redemptive activity.” As the Christian year progresses it illuminates different aspects of who Jesus is (Christology). These different emphases at Easter, Christmas and the like throw a different light on the taking of communion.  Here are a couple of questions for you, “Do the topics of communion talks reflect the time of year and Christian season we are in? Or, are they pretty much the same all year round?”  One reason communion talks are, frankly, at times, boring is not because we are repeating the same action every week, but because we are not reflecting the content of the Christian year or the text used for preaching. The preaching and teaching of the Word can be in harmony with, and enhance the taking of communion and vice versa. 

2. Those who partake of the Holy Communion share in the totality of the church. Erickson says, “The Eucharist is a foretaste of the world that is to come. It is the messianic banquet, the eschatological feast.” When we take communion together with our local fellowship, we are in a very real yet mystical sense joining together with all those of faith gone before us, and those yet to come.  A couple more questions, “Do our communion talks reflect the communal nature of the Supper? Is there an overemphasis on individual reflection and experience? Are we missing the grand banquet vision?” Much as the Word is both personal and communal in it’s sharing as a congregation, so is the communion. Since the value in both are enhanced by sharing in them, why not keep them in balance?

3. Those who together celebrate the Eucharist intercede as a royal priesthood for the whole world.  In taking communion together we are celebrating the Lordship of Christ (Colossians 1:26; Ephesians 3:10-19).  Another question, “Are we overemphasising the local elements of participation in the Lord supper by members, and missing the grand vision of the world benefiting from the life that is in the risen Christ?” “In what way are we proclaiming 'the Lord’s death until he comes’ 1 Cor 11.26?" In participating in the Lord’s Supper we are reminding ourselves and proclaiming to the world that there is a risen Lord. In doing so, we are reminded that it is this living Lord we are bringing to the world once we leave our time of communing together. Again, both the Word and the Lord’s Supper help us to proclaim Christ. 

Erickson wonders whether competition exists between the powerful remembrance of Christ in the Lord’s Supper and the powerful proclamation of Christ in the preaching of the Word. His conclusion is, “..they are but two sides of the same coin: the proclamation of the one Word who is Jesus Christ.” I concur.

The value of holding these two elements of worship together lies in recognising that the preaching of the Word prevents the Lord’s Supper becoming something experiential without limitations. And the taking of the Lord's Supper helps prevent the preaching of the Word become a merely intellectual exercise. In this way the communion is “a more graphic and vivid representation of the Word. It closes the communication gap created by the inadequacy of the verbal medium to express the inexpressible mystery.”

It seems likely that most congregations will, on most occasions, tend to emphasise Word over communion or vice versa. The question for today, is where is your congregation? And, is there a need for adjustment?  How have you arrived at your balance? Is it serving the purpose of the Word and of the Lord's Supper? Is it serving your congregation and the world?

What are you doing where you are? I would be very interested in your opinions as to what I have written, and the rationale behind your local practice.

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

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

God bless, Malcolm

"Psalms of Ascent Series", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 191, Psalm 129vv3-4

You have found a daily podcast based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134).

They are designed to help our hearts and minds being a healthy place while the Covid 19 virus does its worst.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4 NIV11)

Each day we will meditate on a verse or two from these wonderful Psalms as we make our pilgrimage from confusion to hope, pain to peace, anxiety to joy.

‘Righteous’ meaning right in his dealings with people - it is a relationship concept, not a moral stance.  Our perseverance depends more on God’s determined faithfulness to us, than on ours to Him. “Christian discipleship is a process of paying more and more attention to God’s righteousness and less and less attention to our own; finding the meaning of our lives not by probing our moods and motives and morals but by believing in God’s will and purposes; making a map of the faithfulness of God, not charting the rise and fall of our enthusiasms.” Peterson, 133.

The way God has treated us in the past gives us confidence for the future. Because of the heroes of Heb 11, we are able to take on board the call of Heb 12:1-3.  God’s righteousness is made manifest by his rescuing acts, Ex 3:15, Ex 6:6.  

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: [email protected].

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.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,