Malcolm Cox

My wife is a GP. Recently she passed on to me an article from one of the journals she reads, the British Journal of General practice, October 2018.

The title of the article is "neuroscientific narrative consulting: how to engage our patients."  It contains a fascinating scientific approach to helping patients both pay attention to and remember advice given to them during a consultation. The key element is that of telling stories.

This has significant relevance to our desire as preachers and teachers to help our listeners engage with our content and remember our points - as well as take action on them.  Listen to the podcast or watch the video to get more insight on these matters.

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.

God bless, Malcolm

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

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

Recently I revisited a book I read a few years ago. It's called "Worship Evangelism" by Sally Morganthaler.

In it she quotes Henri Nouwen: 

"It is not enough for the priests and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time. All of that is very valuable and important, but it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word and to taste fully God's infinite goodness?"

As Nouwen says, we who lead others into worship must taste what we are offering.  We do not have to be perfect, but at least tasting what we are sharing.  We are required to be a worshipper  before we can lead other worshippers. As Jesus said,

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”” (John 4:24 NIV11)

What helps you to prepare yourself spiritually to worship before you lead others in worship? I would love to know what helps you.

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: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

PPS: 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, Coach.me, coaching, coach me, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer,  Nouwen, Morgenthaler

I paid a visit to a local art exhibition at the invitation of my friend, Bill.  He was exhibiting four of his paintings. Very impressive. It made me reflect on the amazing gift some people have been given in the area of creating art. And, of course it made me reflect on God as the supreme artist.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV11)

Do we take enough time to notice and reflect on the beauty all around us? Perhaps if we did so, we would connect better with the God who is the most supremely talented artist. Why not take some time today to contemplate the beauty in creation?

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.

God bless, Malcolm

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx). 

PPS: 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, Coach.me, coaching, coach me, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, art, artist, Ecclesiastes

Nerves are the secret sauce in public speaking. They can be your friend, not your enemy. In this fourth of four episodes on the topic we look at how to handle nerves after the speaking is over.

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.

God bless, Malcolm

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

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

I shared the following devotional with the worship teams of the Watford Church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ recently.  I hope you find it helpful in preparing your heart and mind to leave others in corporate worship. If you use it with your group, please let me know how it is received.

 “ A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom. LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”

* THIS IS HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE WILL BE LEADING IN CORPORATE WORSHIP ARE FEELING

* But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

* WE TRUST THIS IS THE CASE - GOD IS OUR SHIELD

* I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.

* WE BELIEVE HE WILL RESPOND TO OUR WORSHIP TODAY

* I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

* AT PEACE BECAUSE OF GOD - NOT BECAUSE WE MAKE NO MISTAKES / PERFECTLY PREPARED

* Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance.

* ANTICIPATE GOD ANSWERING, HELPING

* May your blessing be on your people.” (Psalms 3:0–8 NIV11)

* DAVID WANTS ALL GOD’S PEOPLE BLESSED, NOT JUST HIM

* WE MUST WANT THE SAME THING

* ALL PEOPLE BLESSED, NOT JUST US HAVE A GREAT TIME AS A WORSHIP TEAM

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: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

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

We'd all like to have healthy spiritual habits. But how do we build them? And what we do if we feel guilty about the need for external support?

Encountering some dog walkers on my prayer walk this morning reminded me of how helpful it can be to have a friend when trying to establish healthy spiritual habits.

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.

God bless, Malcolm

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

PPS: 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, Coach.me, coaching, coach me, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer

Nerves are the secret sauce in public speaking. They can be your friend, not your enemy. In this third of four episodes on the topic we look at how to handle nerves in the actual act of speaking.

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.

God bless, Malcolm

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

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

Becoming a kingdom person

“The community or people ruled by God and with whom he dwells, to some extent reality now but to be fully consummated in the future”

* What is reality?

* Who is well-off or blessed?

* Who is a truly good person?

* How do you become a truly good person?

Matt 5.1-12

2…………….., Matt 7.13-14

2…………….., Matt 7.16-20

2…………….., Matt 7.24-27

1\. How kingdom people live

Brighter, Matt 5.13-16; Matt 7.1-5

Deeper, Matt 5.17-20ff

Sweeter, Matt 5.16; Matt 6:25ff

Higher, Matt 5.17; Psalm 1

2\. How kingdom people grow

Col 3.1-14; 2 Peter 1.1-11

Intentional cooperation with the Spirit through deliberate habit-forming choices empowered by the Spirit creating greater Christ-likeness in us over time

1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 1 Timothy 4:7; Luke 6:40

Conclusion

What is the area of greatest temptation towards un-kingdom like behaviour in your life at the moment?

Which spiritual discipline could help your training to form Christlike habits in that area?

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.

God bless, Malcolm

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

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

Last week in my interview with Mwamba Bennett she mentioned an occasion when they changed song during their church service.  As it happened, this coming Sunday gave me reason to do the same thing.

TJ  Was preaching on the opening verses of Isaiah chapter 6:

“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1–4 NIV11)

While he was speaking, the words of the song, “I see the LORD" came to mind:

I see the Lord

Seated on the throne exalted

And the train of His robe

Fills the temple with glory

And the whole earth is filled

And the whole earth is filled

And the whole earth is filled

With His gloryChorus

Holy holy holy holy

Holy is the Lord

Holy holy holy holy

Holy is the Lord of lord

It seemed right to me that we sing that song after the sermon instead of the one we had prepared.  In the attached recordings I share how we did that and why.

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: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).

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

Do you sing in your times with God?  Is it part of your relationship with him?  In today's podcast and video I reflect on an experience I had last night and connected with something that happened a little while ago in my local woods.

Thank you for listening to this recording. 

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. 

Thanks again for listening. 

God bless,

Malcolm 

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up [here](https://www.coach.me/mccx).