Malcolm Cox

Introduction
Before we can talk about change, we have to ask a question. Do we believe we can change? Do you believe you can change?

1. God is the change-agent
“…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV)

We are in an ongoing, life-long process of change. The glory we grow into is from the Lord, the Spirit. Spiritual change is challenging, but it is not all about us. God empowers the change, our part is to cooperate with him. If we fully accept that God is the change-agent, then we will have no difficulty believing that we can change.

So, God changes us, but what is the goal?

2. Change goal
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV)

Is the goal transformation? Yes, but, what is the key element that makes that goal possible? What are we aiming at?

“…the goal of Christian spiritual formation is intimate, loving connection and relationship with the Trinity." The outcome of that is transformation.

This understanding is important because if we aim too hard at transformation will become a slave to our growth and change hopes. In other words transformation could become an idol. Instead, we understand that the goal is a deep  relationship with God, and we anticipate transformation, growth and change.

So, the goal is God, but how does this happen?

3. Jesus the transformer
Jesus was skilled and powerful at helping people be transformed.  Take Peter.....from indisciplined mouth to effective preacher/teacher.

Woman at the well. One encounter took her from shame-ridden outcast to greatest evangelist of her community.

Zacchaeus - corrupt thief to generous benefactor.

James & John - sons of thunder, restless, selfish ambition, harsh. Later, James was first disciple martyr, and John became the Apostle of love.

What happened? They all encountered Jesus in a way that freed them from remaining stuck where they were, as they were. That same hope for change is available today.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8.36

Valuing spiritual formation takes this promise seriously. We can learn to love and live well.

"I dream of a day when spiritual formation has so saturated all who follow hard after Jesus that they become known to all as experts in how to live well. How to love a spouse well. How to raise children well. How to study well. How to face adversity well. How to run business and financial institutions well. How to form community life well. How to reach out to those on the margins well. And even how to die well." Richard Foster

For reflection
* In which area of spiritual growth do you sense God prompting you, and how can you cooperate with him?
* How can you make sure your goal is a deep relationship with God, not the change that comes from him?
* What does it mean to you that Jesus has come to set you free? Is it more than sin? If so, what does that look like?

Next time we will go on to look at another aspect of change, focusing on how our relationship with Jesus is the key.

Your brother, Malcolm

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, or practical? Could you 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, and leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mark 1.14-15
“Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

• What are some of the implications of the arrival of the Kingdom for you and me?

1. Gospel Mission

Luke 4.43
“But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.””

2. Gospel Life

• In John's gospel the word ‘kingdom’ is used less than the other gospels. Instead he uses the word ‘life’ (‘zoe’ in Greek) as a rough equivalent.

John 17.3
““This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Teaching Tip 362 | “Plain Speaking - five things that can spoil an otherwise good sermon” | Malcolm Cox 


Introduction

Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. 



As a delicious dish can be ruined by one lousy ingredient, so a good lesson can be spoiled by small distractions. What might seem a minor detail to you as a speaker may appear majorly problematic to your hearers. Bercot offers us five issues to consider. 

Mispronunciation. The odd word here or there is no big deal. However, if it is crucial to your topic it is a big deal. Mispronouncing an important word destroys your credibility and leads to significant distraction. Imagine a doctor mispronouncing the name of your medical condition. How would you feel?

Poor Posture and Distracting Movements.  Stand and move in a manner appropriate to your context. Some church contexts suit more movement than others. How people are seated, the sight lines and amplification system will have an impact. In general, refrain from pacing ‘continually back and forth, like a zoo animal in its cage’ (92), but also from being too stiff like an army sentry. 

Inappropriate Dress and Slovenly Appearance.  Bend your preferences to the culture of the place where you will be speaking. You are not the focus; God is. You are up there to serve. Anything out of place—a suit where people wear jeans, or jeans where people wear suits—will distract your audience from the message. 

Using ‘Word Whiskers’.  These are words of phrases also known as ‘fillers’. We want to avoid, “um”, “OK”, “you see”, “y’know” — especially when liberally sprinkled throughout a talk without meaningful purpose. The best way to work on this is to record yourself and write down such fillers. The best way to cut them out is to speak more slowly and pause, rather than ‘fill’ with a ’word whisker’.

Going Over Your Allotted Time. In almost 40 years of preaching, I have never—not once—annoyed my listeners by being too short. The opposite is not the case. More on this in the next episode. 

What are your thoughts on the five issues Bercot addresses? What other problems have we missed? 


Conclusion

Next time, we will go on to look at landing your plane on time.


Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so.


Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching.


Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life.


Contact us here with enquiries: [email protected]  


The website can be found here: https://aimukandireland.com  


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, or 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, and leave a review. 


Remember to keep calm, and carry on teaching.


God bless, Malcolm

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 518 | New Creation Series — Part 10 | “New Creation - New Learning” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction 

A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and learning. 

Learning to Learn 

I was very impatient when learning to drive. I wanted to take as few lessons as possible. Partly because I wanted to drive without somebody else in the car (in my space!), and partly because I was an impoverished student at the time. After I passed my test I enjoyed driving solo. However, I had no conception of how much more there still was to learn about driving. The first evidence of that was when I ran out of petrol on the M20 while driving my then girlfriend to Dover Castle (Penny eventually forgave me!).

To follow Jesus is to take on the identity of a life-long learner. However much we learn about him this side of glory, we have only touched the edge of all that we could learn. A disciple - the word mathetes means student - is someone who grows more and more into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor 3.18). Our current church theme is ‘a new creation’ (2 Cor 5.17), and part of being a new creation is learning all of what that means. How does this happen and why is it important?

1. The right goal

What is the goal of the Christian life? The goal is not to get to heaven. That might sound strange, so let me explain. The goal is to know God. Last Sunday I saw an advertising board alongside the M25 which asked the question, “Where will you spend eternity?”. I appreciate that someone is trying to help people make a decision to seek God, but it's the wrong question. The right question is, "Who will you spend eternity with?” God is about relationship, not destination.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

2. The right person

Therefore, we want to learn about God so that we can be love and enjoy him. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”

How do we do this? By learning as much as possible about our hero, Jesus. 

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

A passionate desire to know Jesus is what motivated the Apostle Paul to write,

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:10-14 NIV11)

Paul most certainly wanted to be ‘in heaven’, but it's because of who will be there. What is your goal as a Christian, as a disciple? Is it to stay in God's good books? Is it hoping that he will keep you  healthy and all the people you care about will be saved? Or is it to be like Jesus and spend eternity with him? Our goal has a big influence on our learning because it shapes what kind of learning we embrace or reject.

3. The right attitude

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Phil 4.11-12

Was Jesus discontent while on this earth? Not at all — unless you count the discontent he felt about the spiritual pride of some of the Pharisees!  Jesus exhibited remarkable contentment despite being tired, hungry, thirsty and homeless (Luke 9.58). Paul learned a similar Christ-like contentment. How? Through being hungry and in need. 

To learn Christ-likeness means having the right attitude when we experience uncomfortable and confusing times in life. Illness, war, financial and work difficulties, emotional and mental health disturbances, relationship bumps and other challenges are all learning opportunities. How do you know what is God trying to teach you? Look for the pain-points in your life. Those are probably your learning locations. When these times come, the question to ask ourselves is how Jesus would think about the matter, and how he might support us. Then, keep your spiritual eyes open as to what you learn.

4. The right result

I use the word ‘result’ cautiously, because learning about Jesus and growing into his likeness is not a science, nor something we can reduce to a formula — i.e. specific inputs = specific outputs. Relationships are not like that. However, when we have the right goal (person) and attitude, learning and growth will surely occur. 

Archie’s sermon today comes from the epistle to the Hebrews. In that letter the writer comments on their lack of learning, 

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12 NIV11)

They could have learned to be teachers like Jesus—he was a teacher—but they did not. We do not know why, but we can be sure it was not for good reasons! They needed to re-learn the basics. Let’s never be like that. It is unnecessary, unfortunate and unrighteous. 

For reflection

Your brother, Malcolm

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, or practical? Could you 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, and leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Matthew 6.26
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Life makes us question whether God cares

1. Jesus Needed God's Care

Luke 3.21-22
“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.””

Luke 9.34-36
“While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.”

Wilderness angels Mark 1.13
“and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”

Gethsemane angel Luke 22.43
“An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Point: If Jesus needed it...

2. Jesus Showed us God Cares
QUESTION: How did Jesus show people God cares?

Matthew 10.26-31
““So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Point: God has gone out of his way to let us know he cares. Jesus shows us that sometimes God caring does not mean our lives are easy. Gethsemane! He understands us.
 
Conclusion
1 Peter 5.6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Convinced God cares?

His Eye Is On the Sparrow (1905) SM Mrs. C. D. Martin
1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, 
Why should my heart be lonely and long for Heav'n and home, 
When Jesus is my portion? 
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

2. "Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear, 
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears: 
Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see: 
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; 
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
    
3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever doubts arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, 
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me.
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

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

Teaching Tip 361 | “Plain Speaking - Speak With an Interesting and Clear Voice” | Malcolm Cox 


Introduction

Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. 



It is crucial to know what we are talking about and present it with confidence and conviction.  However, what difference does the quality of our voice make? Bercot makes this observation:


“In daily conversation, we seem naturally to know how to make our voice pleasant and interesting. We rarely speak in a monotone when talking to friends. but somehow when we’re in front of a congregation we forget to do what comes naturally. That’s why every speaker needs to consciously speak with modulation.” 85


What does this look like?

Modulation. We’re talking about variety in pitch, volume, tone and emphasis. Read one of the parables. Can you imagine Jesus sharing it with no variation in his voice? A monotone? I hardly think so. Where do you think he might have placed emphasis—speaking louder, more softly or slowly? Take the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18. I’m pretty sure he relayed the Pharisee’s prayer at high volume (“‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’” (Luke 18:11-12 NIV11), and the tax collector’s at low volume (“‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” (Luke 18:13 NIV11)

Volume, Tempo, and Pausing.  Can you be heard by everyone in the room? Look at the back as you start speaking and take note if it looks as if they are straining to hear you. The bigger the group and the larger the room, the slower we need to speak. Sound tends to get garbled the further it travels. Pauses help your audience ‘breathe’ as they listen. A small gap here and there in your lesson will help them to grasp your point. Use dramatic pauses sparingly but meaningfully.  See the example of Jesus in Mark 3:1-6 and imagine the effect of the silence.

Enunciation.  I vividly remember the person who preached on the text, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4 NIV11) His accent was strong. It sounded like he was saying, “Blessed are those who moan”. Once would not have been too bothersome, but it was the main phrase of the lesson and repeated multiple times. The congregation did not know whether to ask him to speak more clearly, try to ignore it, or laugh. It was embarrassing, distracting and avoidable. 

What are your thoughts on cultivating an interesting and clear voice? 


Conclusion

Next time, we will go on to look at five things that can spoil an otherwise good sermon.


Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so.


Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching.


Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life.


Contact us here with enquiries: [email protected]  


The website can be found here: https://aimukandireland.com  


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, or 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, and leave a review. 


Remember to keep calm, and carry on teaching.


God bless, Malcolm

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 517 | New Creation Series — Part 9 | “New Creation - New Spirit” | Malcolm Cox 
 
Introduction: Reflecting on Our view of the Spirit 

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 11:19 NIV11)

Ezekiel made this remarkable prophecy many centuries before the time of Jesus. On the day of Pentecost, Peter sees a connection between these prophecies, the words of Joel and what is taking place in his time: 

‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17 NIV11) 

Transformed people who look like Jesus don't develop out of sheer willpower. They grow because God's Spirit is in them and at work. We might start in the right place, but where are we right now? 

“Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” Galatians 3.3 

Here is your question for the week - who is doing the work to make you more like Jesus? You, or the Spirit? 

1. Aren’t I supposed to work for Jesus?

Isn't discipleship hard work? Jesus was often hungry and thirsty, as were his disciples. Am I saying following Jesus is a piece of cake?

Not at all. Loving people the way Jesus did is demanding. Cooperating with Jesus for our spiritual growth requires conscious self-sacrifice. However, the point here is where our confidence lies.

Paul put it well when writing to the Philippians. If you're talking about talent, skills and gifts, Paul had them to the max. But those, he understood, were all matters of the flesh, not the Spirit.

“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” Philippians 3.3-6
 
He put no confidence in the flesh because it has no divine power to change him. 
 

1. Is the Spirit at the core of my Christian life?

Jesus said it was better for us that he went away so that the Spirit could come.
 
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16.7

Let's face it Paul was a very busy man. He worked hard. However, in his 14 letters, he references the Spirit 160 times. Seems like it was a big deal to him. Where does transformation come from? Where is the power? It is in the Lord who is the Spirit:

“…we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV11)
 

1. Signs we may not be in tune with the Spirit

For reflection

God is working for our good (Romans 8.28) and doing so through the Spirit:

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NIV11)

Timothy Keller writes about this passage saying:

"Prayer is the way to experience a powerful confidence that God is handling our lives well, that our bad things will turn out for good, our good things cannot be taken from us, and the best things are yet to come.” Prayer, 73
 

Your brother, Malcolm

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, or practical? Could you 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, and leave a review.
 
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
 
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Teaching Tip 360 | “Plain Speaking - Speak With Life” | Malcolm Cox 


Introduction

Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. 



What does it mean to ‘speak with life’? Well, does your lesson have ‘life’ in it? Does it contain a spark? If so, it will fly from your mouth to your listener’s heart and set it aflame. What does life look like in a speaker? Enthusiasm.  Bercot shares three healthy expressions of enthusiasm in a preacher.

Gestures. Our bodies naturally move when we are excited about something and talking about it with a friend. As such, we should not really concern ourselves too deliberately as to our gestures. A lack of movement is likely a sign that we lack enthusiasm for our subject. No artificial use of gestures will fix that. However, pay attention to distracting movement (watching yourself on camera will reveal any problems in that area), and consider any points in your lesson that would be helpfully highlighted by movement.

Confidence. Arrogance and confidence are poles apart. I’m guessing you wouldn’t be engaging with this material if you were arrogant anyway, therefore let’s focus on confidence. The right kind of confidence comes from good preparation, making your main point a personal conviction, avoiding hypocrisy, and trusting that God is with you—working through his Word by the power of the Spirit.

Conviction.  Speak your mind. Jesus was gentle, merciful, and kind, but he was clear. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t be like the preacher who “almost said something.” Bear in mind that conviction can come across as overbearing, pompous, and harsh. Ask someone you consider safe as to how you come across when sharing your convictions. 

What are your thoughts on speaking with life? 


Conclusion

Next time, we will go on to explore how to speak with an interesting and clear voice’.


Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so.


Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching.


Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life.


Contact us here with enquiries: [email protected]  


The website can be found here: https://aimukandireland.com  


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, or 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, and leave a review. 


Remember to keep calm, and carry on teaching.


God bless, Malcolm