Malcolm Cox

Do you enjoy silence? Is it scary? Is it enticing? Do you run towards it, or away from it? What part does it play in a healthy prayer life?

I offer four tips to make the most of the spiritual discipline of silence.

This is part 1 of a four-part series looking at some of the Greek words used to describe teaching and preaching.

We begin with Kerusso.

Here are the references to its use in the NT: Matt 3:1; 4:17, 23; 9:35; 10:7, 27; 11:1; 24:14; 26:13; Mark 1:4, 7, 14, 38–39, 45; 3:14; 5:20; 6:12; 7:36; 13:10; 14:9; 16:15, 20; Luke 3:3; 4:18–19, 44; 8:1, 39; 9:2; 12:3; 24:47; Acts 8:5; 9:20; 10:37, 42; 15:21; 19:13; 20:25; 28:31; Rom 2:21; 10:8, 14–15; 1 Cor 1:23; 9:27; 15:11–12; 2 Cor 1:19; 4:5; 11:4; Gal 2:2; 5:11; Phil 1:15; Col 1:23; 1 Th 2:9; 1 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 4:2; 1 Pet 3:19; Rev 5:2

I have seven habits of a herald for us to consider:

1. Knows he is sent

2. Knows to whom he is sent

3. Knows his message

4. Knows the authority is with the one who sent him

5. Knows to be humble

6. Knows to be bold

7. Knows the response is not his responsibility

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 listening. Have a terrific Tuesday, and a wonderful week.

God bless,

Malcolm

The final step is to teach the congregation. Why should we speak to the congregation about which ‘trends’ we consider to be acceptable?

Why do we have 150 Psalms? Why is there such a big poetry book in the Bible? Why did God think we needed this resource? How can the Psalms help our prayers? We will delve into this topic today.

Is the word ‘preaching’ the wrong word? We have some challenges with that word, or idea.

I have three tips for us to overcome the stigma associated with 'preaching' and 'sermons':

1. Style

2. Substance

3. Spirituality

Notes:

Rom. 14:10 "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat."

“When you speak of heaven, let your face light up... When you speak of hell well then, your everyday face will do.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"Preaching with Humanity", Stevenson and Wright

"I Believe in Preaching", John Stott

Reflections on Corporate Worship for services in Watford and Lower Earley. What to do with the song, "Above All"?

Someone asked me recently what the purpose was in praying. Why do we pray? What is it for? It's a good question. Not only is prayer inherently confusing, but it's also uniquely mysterious.

 

We pray and are not answered. We pray and find an answer. We pray and don't like the answer. We pray and like the answer.

 

Abram, Moses, David, Job, Daniel, Nehemiah, Jesus and Paul all prayed. Their prayers overlap in intent but vary wildly in content and focus. What are we to make of all this?

The way we think about preaching matters. I offer some thoughts on preaching definitions. What are yours?

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

Here are the preaching quotes mentioned in the episode:

John Ruskin: “30 minutes the raise the dead in”

Packer: “Preaching is incarnational communication from God, prophetic, persuasive and powerful - that is, power-full.”

Brookes: “Truth through personality”

Sweazey: “Truth through personality in the midst of personalities”

Manning: “Preaching is a manifestation of the Incarnate Word from the Written Word by the spoken word.”

Fosdick: “drenching the congregation in one’s life’s blood”

Carson: “Preaching is not speaking about truth before the congregation, but speaking truth to the congregation.”

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

What's the best way to help children enjoy times of corporate worship?

Leave your ideas as comments, and pass the link on to anyone who might benefit.

I share here a different format to the service we had at the Watford church of Christ - "Chaos" Sunday!