Malcolm Cox

We want full participation - what to do when we don’t get it?

This is the third episode in a mini-series looking at some suggestions. This week: What’s wrong with ritual?

Please leave a comment and pass the link on.

God bless,

Malcolm

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

Is there a place for tears in prayer? Is crying a sign of indisciplined emotions? Or is it a sign of spiritual health?

I bring you a fifth 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=1528973231&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+the+heart%27s+true)". In the most recent chapter I've been reading, Richard talks about the significance of the "Prayer of tears", or, 'Penthos'.

Thank you for listening to this recording. You can find more here and on the on the YouTube [playlist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVAP89C4cSk&list=PLssKYNRlLIE-dWKfSvtopFF_JYuAQr4Y5). 

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

Do you have a question about your relationship with God? 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](www.malcolmcox.org). 

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

God bless,

Malcolm

I have a passion to do my best to make sure that our congregation's members can take a meaningful communion every week. 

I believe we can avoid dull repetition and boredom. And the opposite problem of going off-topic in such of creativity. The answer, as usual, is to go deeper. 

I have taught on the atonement a few times, and found this to be tremendously helpful in my thinking about the communion. 

I share today about one of the models of the atonement - that called, "Healing".

Let me know what you think of this model. In what way is it helpful? How could this view of atonement be brought to life in a communion talk?  What scriptures, images, stories would give people sense of being healed, as they take bread and wine, that they are restored, reconciled, adopted into God’s family?

Please leave a comment in the comment box below. We learn best when we learn in community.

Please pass the link to this recording on to one other person so that they may benefit.

Click like, and subscribe you haven't already done so. If you have time, leave a review which will help us gain greater visibility for these recordings.

Thanks so much for listening. I hope you have a terrific Tuesday and a wonderful week.

God bless, Malcolm

Scriptures referenced or alluded to in this recording:

* Is 53.5, Mk 2.17, 1 Pet 2.24

* Luke 4.18-19

* Is 61.1

* Is 10.21, land 2 Chron 7.14, Joel 2.25, institutions Hos 6.6-7.1, health Ps 41.3-4, 8

* Ex 15.26

* Ex 15.26, Deut 7.12, 15,

* 1 Sam 5.6-12; 2 King 6.18-20

* Hos 5.13; 6.1-2

* Is 53.3-4

“The atonement means that the relationship between humans and God is restored (healed). The central piece in this restoration is that God, through the Servant who personally takes on all our iniquities, grants forgiveness of sins....The punishment for our sins, which was often meted out in terms of suffering, sickness and calamity, has also been taken on by that Servant. His absorption of both the sin and its punishment is the means to our healing and restoration, by grace bringing us shalom or well-being in all its richness.” The Nature of the Atonement”, p130

We want full participation - what to do when we don’t get it? 

Here is the second of our mini-series looking at some suggestions. This week: "Who’s who?" 

Please leave a comment and pass the link on.

God bless,

Malcolm

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

Psalms, worship, corporate worship, mccx, praise, CWM, distractions, preparation, feedback, Eriksson, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, music, musical audit, Malcolm Cox, malcolmcox.org, Watford, Watford church of Christ, singing, Soren Kierkegaard, theatre

Is there a place for tears in prayer? Is crying a sign of indisciplined emotions? Or is it a sign of spiritual health? 

I bring you a fourth look at the book by Richard Foster, "Prayer: finding the heart's true home". Richard talks about the significance of the "Prayer of tears", or, 'Penthos'.

Please leave a comment below and pass the link on.

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

God bless, Malcolm

God, Prayer, mccx, QTC, quiet times, malcolmcox.org, faith, prayer coaching, Watford, relationship with God, Jesus, God, Richard Foster, intimacy, Psalms, penthos, sermon on the mount, tears, weeping, crying, mourning, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Apostle Paul, Matthew, Luke, Hebrews, 2 Corinthians

I have a passion to do my best to make sure that our congregation's members can take a meaningful communion every week. I believe we can avoid dull repetition and boredom. And the opposite problem of going off-topic in such of creativity. The answer, as usual, is to go deeper. I have taught on the atonement a few times, and found this to be tremendously helpful in my thinking about the communion. 

I share today about one of the models of the atonement - that called, "Substitutionary".

Let me know what you think of this model. In what way is it helpful? How could this view of atonement be brought to life in a communion talk? What scriptures, images, stories would give people confidence, as they take bread and wine, that their sin-debt has been paid, that their guilt has been removed, that Jesus died in their place ?

Please leave a comment in the comment box below. We learn best when we learn in community.

Please pass the link to this recording on to one other person so that they may benefit.

Click like, and subscribe you haven't already done so. If you have time, leave a review which will help us gain greater visibility for these recordings.

Thanks so much for watching and listening. I hope you have a terrific Tuesday and a wonderful week.

God bless, Malcolm

Scriptures referenced or alluded to in this recording:

_2 Corinthians 5:21, Is 53, Rom 3.23-26, Rom 4.25, 1 Cor 5.21, 1 Jn 2.2, Rom 2.1, 5.16, 18, 6.23, Jn 3.36, cf Jn 3.18, Rom 2.5, 16, 2 Thess 1.5-10, Rom 2.6-11, Rev 20.11-15, Lev 16.21-22, Rom 3.21-26, Gal 3.10-14, Mt 20.28; Mk 14.36 (Is 51.17-22)_

_Teaching, preaching, lessons, mccx, malcolmcox.org, sermons, sermon preparation, Watford, communion, atonement, Lord's Supper, sin, forgiveness, Satan, evil, substitition, penal substitution, Anselm_

How can we help the nearby needy? We run through an overview of the Bible's teaching on helping the needy from the Old Testament to Jesus, to the early church, and the Apostle Paul.

A discussion followed (not recorded) based on three questions: 

i. Who are my nearby needy? Spiritual family 

ii. How can I help my nearby needy? 

iii. How can my family group help our nearby needy?

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. 

God bless,

Malcolm

God, tvcoc, Jesus, discipleship, Gospels, humility, love, faith, Poor, Needy, family, compassion, Gospel of Luke, Romans, 1 Timothy, Leviticus, Matthew, Galatians, Mark, HOPE Worldwide, neighbour

We want full participation - what to do when we don’t get it?

Here is the first in a mini-series looking at some suggestions. This week: assess the capabilities of your congregation.

Please share your ideas here by leaving a comment.

And please pass this on to one other person.

God bless, Malcolm

Psalms, worship, corporate worship, mccx, praise, CWM, distractions, preparation, feedback, Eriksson, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, music, musical audit, Malcolm Cox, malcolmcox.org, Watford, Watford church of Christ, singing

I bring you a third look at the book by Richard Foster, "Prayer: finding the heart's true home". 

Today, we examine the 'examen'. What does it take to know ourselves? How do we get deep without drowning in introspection? 

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' (Psa 139:23–24)

Thank you for listening to this podcast. Let me know what you think of this vision of God's heart for us. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

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 

God, Prayer, mccx, QTC, quiet times, malcolmcox.org, faith, prayer coaching, Watford, relationship with God, Jesus, God, balance, Richard Foster, intimacy, Psalms, examen, Luther, sermon on the mount, Lord's prayer, ten commandments

I have a passion to do my best to make sure that our congregation's members can take a meaningful communion every week. I believe we can avoid dull repetition and boredom. And the opposite problem of going off-topic in such of creativity. 

The answer, as usual, is to go deeper. 

I have taught on the atonement a few times, and found this to be tremendously helpful in my thinking about the communion. I share today about one of the models of the atonement - that called, "Christus Victor".

Let me know what you think of this model. In what way is it helpful? How might it assist you in preparing a talk about the communion? What scriptures, images, stories would give people confidence, as they take bread and wine, that they are set free, released and on the winning side?

Please leave a comment in the comment box below. We learn best when we learn in community.

Please pass the link to this recording on to one other person so that they may benefit.

Click like, and subscribe you haven't already done so. If you have time, leave a review which will help us gain greater visibility for these recordings.

Thanks so much for listening. I hope you have a terrific Tuesday and a wonderful week.

God bless, Malcolm

_Scriptures referenced:_

* John 12:31

* Jn 14.30, 16.11

* 1 Jn 5.19

* Act 10.38

* Romans 3:9

* Rom 6.6-12, 7.7-20, 23, 25

* Jn 12.31

* Col 2.15

* Lk 4.8, Eph 4.8

* Col 1.16, 20

* 1 Jn 3.8

* 1 John 3:8

* Heb 2.14-15

* 1 Cor 15.25

* Lk 11.21-22

* Jn 10.10

* 1 Pet 3.21-22