Malcolm Cox

"Psalms of Ascent Series", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 147, Psalm 122v9 

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. 

“Prosperity” / Shalvah.  Root meaning is leisure - relaxed position of one at peace with God and confident of His provision and protection.  

Seeking the good of something that honours God is more important than personal fulfillment.  See Heb 12:22-24 for inspiring implications, & Heb 13:1-3 for immediate application.

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, 

Last night I joined my neighbours at the end of our drives clapping, cheering and banging pots for the brave people in the NHS saving so many lives.

My old university buddy, Peter Coates, went a significant step further.  Check out the link to a YouTube video of his performance. Penny tells me I should do something similar next week on our street. What do you think? And if so, what should I play or should we sing?

As ever, it's been a week of rapid learning. Evermore online technology to grasp hold of. And, something I been thinking about today, how can we capitalise on the extra visitors were coming to our online services in order to serve them with what they need. Might find this resource helpful.

Shortly after finishing this newsletter I shall be chatting to Christian Ray from Austin Texas and finding out about his resources for maximising evangelistic impact through online ministry. I'll let you know the fruits of that, but I'd be interested to know if you have some thoughts on this area.

My sermon this Sunday in Watford will be focused on these three  interdependent areas of the Christian life. Trust, self death and new life. I have been very taken with the book, "Life without lack" by Dallas Willard.  His exposition of the example set by Jesus of ultimate trust in his heavenly father, resulting in his self-death (both in the way he lived, and in the way he died), enabling the outpouring of God's love through the Spirit to his followers and the world is a compelling and inspiring narrative.

I'll be exploring how the Thursday to Sunday of the Passion week reveals Jesus bringing trust, death and life to its fullest expression. We will go from foot washing to the cross to the empty tomb. If you'd like to join us, please feel free to tune in on Sunday.

I wish you a very blessed and inspiring Easter weekend. 

As has been shouted at dawn from hilltops across the world for 2000 years, "Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!"

God bless, and stay safe, Malcolm

"Psalms of Ascent Series", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 146, Psalm 122v8 

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. 

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 145, Psalm 122v7 

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. 

References to God and peace in the NT: Luke 2:14, Acts 10:36, Rom. 1:7, Rom. 5:1; 14:17; 15:13, 33; 16:20; 1Cor. 1:3; 7:15; 14:33; 2Cor. 1:2; 13:11; Gal. 1:3; 6:16; Eph. 1:2; 6:23; Phil. 1:2; 4:7, 9; Col. 1:2; 1Th. 1:1; 5:23; 2Th. 1:2; 1Tim. 1:2; 2Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philem. 3; Heb. 13:20; 1Pet. 1:2; 2Pet. 1:2; 2John 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: [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 144, Psalm 122v6 

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. 

“Pray”  = Heb. “ask”.  The informal word more than the formal word for prayer.  In other words, it is an every day thing, not a special occasion thing.  Something to be woven into our everyday lives.  “It is the word Hebrews would use to ask for a second helping of bread if still hungry, or for directions if lost.” Peterson

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, 

Like many of us, I have been on the steep learning curve regarding online church services. Now that we are a few weeks in to this new virtual church world, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on lessons learned so far.

Lesson one: Christians our more flexible than we might think. What this new situation has revealed both in Watford and Thames Valley is a  gratitude for worship which means that people will gladly embrace whatever is available. I have also been impressed with the mercy shown by church members regarding mistakes made with new technology. Very patient.

Lesson two: Maximising bandwidth. It's worth asking people to upgrade their broadband if they can afford it. And it’s also important to ask those who are speaking or leading worship to plug into their network directly where at all possible rather than use Wi-Fi.

Lesson three: Audio trumps video. Keeping video turned on is preferable because physically seeing each other’s faces is a big help to making the fellowship feel as real as possible. However, wherever bandwidth is a challenge it’s more important to prioritise audio over video. In connection with that, it’s well worth speakers investing in upgraded microphones. The built-in microphones to laptops and web cams will do the job, but the larger the group, the more of a challenge it is to hear people clearly. Therefore, a simple USB microphone is to be preferred.

Lesson four: Speakers need training. Speaking into a camera is quite different to speaking into a congregation. Some of the lessons here are to look at the camera not the screen, avoid using bulky headphones if you can (rather distracting), where possible have a neutral background behind the speaker, and sit in front of a window to allow good natural light onto the face.

Lesson five: Collective singing is a challenge! We’ve tried a number of things. Embedding YouTube videos into slides, singing without instruments, someone singing whilst also playing guitar. Roger Packham has recorded some songs, Brian Craig has made his songs available as has a UK worship outfit called Resound worship. This is a developing space and we need keep an eye on it to make our musical worship as meaningful as possible. Some people are enjoying it, and some, frankly, are hating it and don’t find singing whilst muted meaningful. However others have a different experience. I would be very interested to know what your congregation of finding helpful.

Lesson six: The before and after space is important. We’ve taken to opening our meetings half-an-hour before they officially begin and  leaving them open for 15 to 30 minutes afterwards. I’ve been struck by how many people tune in early and stay on late to connect with each other and chat. Even though it is somewhat chaotic, it has brought significant benefits to our fellowship!

Lesson seven: The children can be involved and should be. Each week in Watford the person welcoming us has taken pains to include the children by asking them questions. Giving them things to do during the service like colouring seems to work well. Elsewhere I recorded an interview with Roelien who has pioneered leading a children’s ministry class before the church service begins.

Lesson eight: More visitors are attending. It’s been a delight, and frankly a bit of a surprise, to see how many extra people are tuning in. How we can maximise this for the kingdom is not yet clear to me, but it’s a wonderful thing to connect with new people.

Lesson nine: Preaching and teaching can be as effective online as in the flesh. This is a conviction all speakers need. The reason why this is possible is because the power is in the word of God not in ourselves. And, because preaching is “truth through personality”, and you are still a person (!). As long as your personality comes across, your preaching will be effective. What this does mean, however, in terms of adjustments, is that personal sharing and vulnerability are more significant online than even in the flesh. There is something less personal about online conversation, therefore bringing out the personal element deliberately is even more important. Storytelling as part of preaching and teaching also seems to be even more significant. Storytelling is engaging, helps people stay focused and concentrate when they have distractions all around them at home. In this regard, it is also the case that for most of us, lessons should be shorter online than in the flesh. It’s not that we can’t do long online lessons effectively, it’s just that there are many distractions for people where they are listening to or watching your lesson.

Things are moving fast, and much of what I’ve written here might not be relevant in a week or two from now. But it is useful to document lessons learned as I go along. I would really like to know yours.

To summarise, let me share with you some of the lessons for me thinking about the next week or two. 

I think that will do for this week, in addition to planning services and preparing lessons. I’ll let you know how those things go this time next week.

Which of the above points speak to you? What are you learning? Please share it because we are all learning at a very rapid rate, and it would be helpful to not have to reinvent the wheel!

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 143, Psalm 122v5 

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. 

"thrones for judgment. As the highest judicial authority in the land, the king periodically held audience to hear cases that were being appealed. A throne was set up precisely for this purpose, either in an audience hall in the palace complex or at the main gate of the city. In the excavations at Dan just such an area has been uncovered at the entrance to the gate, where the king would have sat on a canopied throne in order to pass judgment"

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.

In the place of worship we also find the thrones of judgment - “the decisive word by which God straightens things out and puts things right.”  Peterson, Obedience, 54.  

We live with reverence before God, 1 Pet 1.17, and we know that Jesus will bring justice, Acts 17:31. But we do not live with fear of judgment in the way the hard hearted Felix did, Act 24.25. This is judgement that sets right things in motion, not just pronounces fact.  In the act of worship through corporate prayer, songs and scripture we hear God’s Word putting things right, setting us back on the right path, propelling us towards love and good deeds.  Worship centres us on God’s word. 

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 142, Psalm 122v4 

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. 

“In worship all the different tribes functioned as a single people in harmonious relationship. In worship, though we have come from different places and out of various conditions, we are demonstrably after the same things, saying the same things, doing the same things. With all our differing levels of intelligence and wealth, background and language, rivalries and resentments, still in worship we are gathered into a single whole.  Outer quarrels and misunderstandings and differences pale into insignificance as the inner unity of what God builds in the act of worship is demonstrated.”  Peterson, Obedience, 52.  

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 141, Psalm 122v3 

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. 

All Jews went to Jerusalem at least three times a year for the major festivals. 

There they were reminded of who they were, and celebrated their calling from God.   

The story of God’s provision was recalled, and the people reminded that they ‘fit’ in this world, in life and together only under God.  

Verb for ‘compacted together’ is same as found in instructions for the tabernacle, Ex 26.11. 

This blueprint will become the ultimate reality, Rev 21:10ff. 

"This statement means that its walls were “solidly joined together” (HCSB). There were no gaps or weak spots that could be broken through by the enemy." Psalms III (Chapters 107–150). The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible. Accordance electronic edition, version 2.1. Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2016. 

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 140, Psalm 122v2

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. 

Literally, ‘Our feet have actually been standing within your gates!’ 

"Isaiah 26:1-4 teaches that amid life’s threats we live already, by faith, within the ‘strong city’ (Heb. 12:22; cf. Eph. 2:6). In this sense the pilgrim of old, still on his hazardous journey, could sing of feet already planted on Jerusalem’s pavements. ......They come to a place where, in principle, under God’s appointed king, everything is put to rights (5, judgment). They needed to pray because their Jerusalem was of this world. Ours is different (Heb. 11:10) but the call to joy, unity and prayer remains." 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.  

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,