Malcolm Cox

Summary

* Gaining attention is the first goal of preaching

* Understanding is the second goal of preaching

* "Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand.” (Matthew 15:10 NIV11)

* Give people time to turn to the scripture

* Non-Christians might not know where to start

* Makes it look like what you are going to say about the passage is more important than the passage itself

How

* Mention scripture before you go there

* Pause while people find it

* Put the reference on screen

* Plan what to say while people are searching for the passage

Conclusion: Don’t empty the Word of its power!

What are your thoughts on the significance of this issue? Do you have any other ideas to help us avoid rushing to the reading?

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

Malcolm asked us to make Jesus our mentor for life. This life and the next.  

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

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Dave Eastman:

"When people come together on a Sunday morning, they have been beaten up by the world. As much as we might encourage them to come spiritually prepared, they are not necessarily in a spiritual state when they arrive. It is primarily the job of the worship team to take these people by the hand and walk them into the presence of God.”

* "Building Worship Flow"; Dave Eastman, 2014

* No point putting response before remembering to whom we are responding or why

* No point putting requests before remembering to whom we are making those requests

Practicals:

1\. Songs God-focussed. i.e. not about our response to Him, but who He is and what He has done

2\. Flow helps - when gaps between songs are minimised there is less opportunity for the world to intrude

3\. Worship leaders connected to God and communicating well with the congregation

4\. Pre-service devotional helps the team to be in the state of mind and heart into which we hope to lead the congregation

Key Principle: If we get God at the start we will have an open heart to what his purpose is with us.

Thank you for listening to this recording. You can find more recordings on the same topic here and on the YouTube Sunday Sample playlist.

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: www.malcolmcox.org.

Thanks again for listening.

God bless,

Malcolm

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

It was about 6:30 AM this morning. My customary prayer walk was taking me through Cassiobury Park and into the conservation area close to where I live. My mind and my prayers were centred on Psalm 130\. All was well.

Until a lady interrupted me with her declaration, "There's a deer drowning in the canal." That's when God started to teach me something about himself.

“Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.” (Psalms 119:175–176 NIV11)

The Psalmist wants to praise God. He has experienced God's life-sustaining teaching. Yet he is aware of his tendency to stray. Many other Psalms talk about seeking God. But I love this verse. It is a plea for God to seek his servant. 

And, of course, it reminded me of what Jesus said in Luke's gospel: 

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4 NIV11)

When you pray, do you reflect on the seeking nature of God? Could you meditate on Psalm 119 and Luke 15 in your next prayer time? What helps you to be grateful for the seeking Shepherd?

Please leave a comment here so that we can all learn from one another. We learn best when we learn in community.

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

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.

Do you have a question about personal spiritual growth? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day, and some wonderful quiet times.

God bless,

Malcolm

My first interview is with old friend Simon Dinning.  He hosts the podcast, "Prepared to answer".  You can find him there, or on his blog, or YouTube channel.  

The reason I chose to interview him was because, although he has a busy life, he carves out a little bit of time to record podcasts helping us answer common questions that people ask about the Christian faith. He is a man of conviction and compassion.  

I think you'll like this podcast, and I hope you will find this interview inspiring. I certainly came away reinvigorated.

Here is his work:

Link: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-m1TKgCwmmXuIxxC3-3ltg)

Link: [Blog](http://www.preparedtoanswer.wordpress.com/)

Link: [Podcast](https://anchor.fm/simon-dinning)

Thank you for listening to this recording. You can find more teaching tips here and on the on the YouTube teaching tips playlist. 

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: www.malcolmcox.org. 

Thanks again for listening. Have a terrific Tuesday, and a wonderful week.

God bless,

Malcolm

Malcolm spoke on the topic of curiosity. We explored some of the obstacles to curiosity such as guilt, regret, distraction, comfortability and jealousy by looking at what happened in Acts 5\. We also considered the advantages of curiosity, especially when it come to our purpose, mission and destiny.  

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

Today: the place for spontaneity as a worship leader

**New Testament**

* Evidence for spontaneity in worship, 1 Corinthians 14:25-26

* However, need for orderliness, 1 Corinthians 14:40

Erickson: “the spirit moves through spontaneity. The spirit also moves through form and structure. Obviously, for Paul both dimensions are vital to the dynamics of worship.”

Erickson: “...a balance between structure and freedom is easier to attain in theory than in practice. The tension between the two can become a source of discord within a congregation. The pastoral challenge is to maintain a creative balance amidst these two constantly shifting elements"

**Key Principle**: “Everything must be done so that the church may be built up” (1 Corinthians 14:26)

**Before you go spontaneous:**

* Discuss the place of spontaneity with leadership

* Agree on principles and practicals as a worship team

* Get feedback

**Enabling spontaneity:**

* Do not abandon structure - it enables freedom

* Give the service structure to your team as far in advance as possible

**Practicals**:

* Extend a song

* Add/change a song

* Read/quote a scripture

* Pray

* Say a few words

What else can you think of / have you seen?

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: 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

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Is it possible to be surrendered to God's will without feeling like a pawn?

I bring you a sixth look at the book by Richard Foster, "[Prayer: finding the heart's true home](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prayer-Finding-Hearts-True-Home-ebook/dp/B00713L1SO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529573185&sr=8-1&keywords=%22Prayer%3A+finding+the+heart%27s+true+home)". In the most recent chapter I've been reading, Richard talks about the significance of the prayer of relinquishment.

Richard quotes Andrew Murray, "..union with God’s will is union with God himself". That being the case, how can we afford not to pray the prayer of relinquishment? In other words, the prayer that says, “not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39 NIV11).

1\. The example of Jesus

“not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39 NIV11)

As Foster remarks, "To applaud the will of God, to do the will of God, even to fight for the will of God is not difficult . . . until it comes at cross-purposes with our will." p51

2\. The door to hope

Jesus is the ultimate example, but what about Abraham, Moses, David, Mary, Paul? They all struggled with God's will for their lives. But, when they came to a place of relinquishment, they discovered that God's will was better and more glorious than the choice they preferred.

When we struggle, and submit to God's will, and discover his wisdom, it gives us hope for the next struggle. Because there will be another struggle. It's how we grow. It's how God gets his will done. It's how God makes sure he gets the glory instead of us. But even though he gets the glory, we get plenty of joy.

3\. The soil for fruit

When we pray the prayer of relinquishment we are offering God fertile soil for him to bear fruit. That's why Jesus said,

"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24)

When we make ourselves available to God, he is able to produce the fruit of the Kingdom in us and through us. As Foster says,

"..we hold on so tightly to the good we know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know. God has to help us let go of our tiny vision in order to release the greater good he has in store for us." p55

"It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:19–20).

Do you have a prayer of relinquishment which needs to be prayed? In which areas in life right now do you sense a struggle? Have you prayed the prayer of relinquishment in those areas? How do you feel about praying such a prayer? What holds you back from doing so?

Please leave a comment here so that we can all learn from one another. We learn best when we learn in community.

I hope you have a wonderful week of fulfilling quiet times.

God bless, Malcolm

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

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

How can we avoid dull repetition or creative confusion when talking about the Lord's supper?

This is the fifth in a series looking at different views of the atonement as a way of broadening and deepening our appreciation for the cross. 

Today we study Paul's teaching on the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians 11 to help us understand the meaning of the communion. 

We explore some tips on how meaningful communions are constructed and on what they are best focussed.

Thank you for watching this video. You can find more teaching tips here and on the YouTube teaching tips playlist.

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].

Thanks again for watching. Have a terrific Tuesday, and a wonderful week.

God bless, 

Malcolm

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Are you jealous or curious? Guilty or curious? Is anything stopping you from living life with curiosity? What gets in the way of being curious about spiritual matters? We explore this topic with the help of an incident recorded in Acts chapter 5. 

You can find more videos on our YouTube channel. Our web site is www.watfordchurchofchrist.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 me questions or suggestions. 

Thanks again for watching. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

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