Malcolm Cox

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

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 on http://www.coach.me.

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

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“What amazes you?"

* The possibility of the amazing is what keeps us looking forward

* The possibility of the amazing is what keeps us optimistic

* The possibility of the amazing is what keeps us faithful

* People who lose the possibility of the amazing lose the life for which they were designed

What helps and what gets in the way?

Some ideas from this passage…..Acts 8:9–25

Question: What is amazing in this passage?

1\. Philip’s courage

2\. John’s change, Luke 9:51–56

3.Stephen’s changes

4\. Apostles’ calmness and imperturbability

Question: What stops us being amazed & amazing others about God?

* When all said and done, it is not a what, but a who is amazing.

* And one is more amazing that all others.

* And he has inspired more amazing things than anyone who has ever lived.

* Jesus is the most amazing person who ever lived

“The people were amazed at his teaching, … and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.” (Mark 1:22; 6:2; 7:37; 10:26; 11:18 NIV11)

How do we get the strength/courage? Matt 28.20

From presence and spirit of Jesus.

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

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. 

Thanks again for watching. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

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“The kingdom of heaven is like….” (Matt 13.24; 31, 33, 44, 45, 45, 47, 18.23; 20.1; 22.2)

“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”

1\. “Your kingdom come”

a. Present with Jesus

“..if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:28 NIV11)

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)

“Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matthew 21:31 NIV11)

Date:

b. Coming soon

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28 NIV11)

‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.” (Luke 11:2 NIV11)

Date:

c. Coming in the future

““Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of  the world.” (Matthew 25:34)

“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.” (Luke 13:28)

Date:

2\. The character of the kingdom

Question: “What does this parable tell you about the character of the kingdom? It’s values, it’s nature, it’s priorities?”

Parables: Matthew 13:24–30; 31–32; 33; 44; 45–46; 47–50; 18:23–35; 22:1–14; 24:51–25:13; 14–30; :31–46; Luke 18:15–17

Response

Hebrews 6:5; Galatians 1:4; Romans 12:1–2

Thank you for watching this video. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org.

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

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

Thanks again for watching. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

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Welcome to my interview with worship leader Mwamba Bennett. She is part of the worship team in the Birmingham church of Christ. We discuss the strengths of the team, her own personal motivations in worship and much more.

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].

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

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What is the connection between the kingdom of the heavens, peace and joy?

I'm teaching a three-part series on the kingdom for the Thames Valley churches of Christ. There's no way I will do it justice, but I do hope to make it more relevant to myself and the congregation. One of the kingdom verses which has given me the most pause to think and pray is Romans 14:17-18.

Here is Tom Wright's translation:

"God’s kingdom, you see, isn’t about food and drink, but about justice, peace, and joy in the holy spirit. Anyone who serves the Messiah like this pleases God and deserves respect from other people." (Romans 14:17–18)

Compare that translation with the NIV:

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.” (Romans 14:17–18 NIV11)

Finally, take a look at this translation by Dallas Willard:

"The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking [whether you do it in one way or in another] but is inner rightness and peace and joy sustained by the Holy Spirit. For those serving Christ in this way are well-pleasing to God and approved by men.

The key phrase here for me, is "inner rightness". Far be it from me to criticise the NIV or Tom Wright, and I'm sure the translations are correct, but the Willard version emphasises the personal connection with Jesus. It is this personal connection which ensures our ability to experience the peace and joy of the Messiah. It is he who gives us peace (John 14:27) and joy (John 15:11). Why are we confident of this personal connection? Because Jesus promised, "I will be with you" Matthew 28:20\. Since we have the spirit of Christ, we can enjoy the fruits of that spirit (Rom 8.9; Gal 5.22).

As Willard says, "..the kingdom of the heavens, from the practical point of view in which we all must live, is simply our experience of Jesus's continual interaction with us in history and throughout the days, hours, and moments of our earthly existence." (The Divine Conspiracy)

Would you like more joy and peace? Practice becoming more aware of the presence of Jesus. That is why we pray, and engage with spiritual disciplines. Not to make us "better", but to make us more aware and thus more connected with the source of peace and joy. And the benefit? Why do we need to question the benefits of more peace and joy! But, we should also be aware that the fuller our experience of the peace and joy of the spirit, the more it will set us apart in this world as people who have something others need. Those with spiritual hunger will sit up and take notice.

The kingdom has many facets. But perhaps, practically, the most fundamental is the opportunity to avail ourselves of a supernatural peace and joy for which we were always designed.

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.

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

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

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

“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8:1–8 NIV11)

“God places the best things in life on the other side of terror”

Question: What examples of courage do you see in this passage?

Joy’s significance

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10 NIV1)

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” (Matthew 28:8 NIV11)

God is joyful; Jesus is full of joy; the Holy Spirit provides joy…

“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Luke 10:21 NIV11)

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 14:17 NIV11)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” (Galatians 5:22 NIV11)

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thess 1:6)

Therefore makes sense to pursue joy. How?

Questions

Where does courage comes from? Matthew 28.20.

What would living faithfully courageously look like in your life?

Where do you need more joy?

Three steps to faith-fuelled courage and joyful living:

* Jesus

* Open

* "Yes"

People filled with joy attract others

A church filled with joy attracts others

“God places the best things in life on the other side of terror”

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

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“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (Matthew 4:23 NIV11)

What is the Gospel? Matthew 4:23.  If Jesus talked about kingdom, so should we, and we should think about it.

1\. What does the OT reveal?

Daniel 2:44

Daniel 7:13–14

Matt 28:17–20

2\. What did Jesus say?

Mark 1:14–15

Luke 4:43

Dynamic  

Luke 11:19–20

Focus

Character: Matthew 13:24

Imminence: Luke 9:27, Luke 9:61–62

3\. What does it mean?

Theories

Purely personally internal 

Future

The hour of a person’s decision

Mythical symbol

Present with / in Jesus

Kingdom present functioning as precursor to coming perfected kingdom     

Acts 1:6

“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”

4\. When is it coming?

Luke 19:11

Luke 17:20–21

Matthew 12:28

Luke 1:32–33

5\. How can I participate?

John 3:5

6\. What should be my response?

Enjoy the abundant (eternal) life now

Receive kingdom / receive eternal life

Matthew 19:16

Matthew 19:23

John 5:24

Through death of self

Luke 18:17

Luke 9:23

Not self-centred denial

But, Christ-centred denial

Leading to eternal impact

Matthew 24:14

Message

Mission

Motive

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

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

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

Thanks again for watching. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

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The website I refer to in the podcast is [Resound Worship](https://www.resoundworship.org/).

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]](mailto:[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](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](https://dqzrr9k4bjpzk.cloudfront.net/images/9167082/379662794.jpg)", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

If you are watching the video you will notice that I am not my usual place to record today’s quiet time coaching episode. That’s because I felt called, drawn even, to go back to a place where I prayed regularly five years ago. I have just finished my prayer time there and wanted to share the experience with you.

Where did I go? I went to a viewpoint overlooking the Harrow area of north-west London. You can see all of North West and West London from this place. It’s a wonderful view. I used to come up here regularly to pray. Sometimes early in the morning, sometimes late at night when the lights were shining and the stars were twinkling.

Behind the car park for the viewpoint are some woods. The area is called Grimsdyke. I came here to pray 3, 4 or five times a week between 2000 and 2013\. It became the most important prayer place for me during that time. I came up here with my dog in the sunshine, the rain, snow and whatever else the weather threw at us and we walked, and I prayed.

It’s five years since I was last here. It was so helpful today to reflect on all the lessons God has taught me the last five years. To realise that his disciplining hand has always been for my good. To celebrate his grace to me. My soul is refreshed.

Is there somewhere significant to you, that you could go back to and pray? Somewhere you haven’t been for a while. Perhaps a place where you used to worship, the location of your baptism into Christ, a regular former prayer spot or something similar?

I’m so glad I came here today. I am refreshed and ready for my Monday (I’m recording this on a Monday) and my week.

Have you returned to be refreshed? I would love to know your experiences. Please leave a comment wherever you read or see or hear these recordings. Please leave it publicly because we learn best when the learn in community. If you know someone who might benefit from these thoughts, please pass the link on to them. If you’re listening to the podcast, please leave us a review. If you’re watching the video, please hit the like button and the subscribe button and then you will be notified when new recordings go online.

I pray that between now and the next time we see each other you will find great refreshment from being reminded what God has done in the last year, or five or ten of your life.

God bless, Malcolm

PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

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