Malcolm Cox

In this class we explore the way Jesus models the new creation life. He is interruptible for the sake of those who need his help. Matthew 20.

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

A New Creation, 2 Co 5.17
Introduction
Lessons from 'a new thing’ - Isaiah 43.19
Abraham: The promises of God (doing things his way) create a legacy far exceeding anything we can achieve by our own efforts
Rahab: When you get an inkling of God's movements, follow along and fit in, even though it might mean you lose your house!
Elijah: Get refreshed by God - don't give up
Daniel: Impact in a culture opposed to your faith
Esther: Don't underestimate the impact one person can have (with support)
Nehemiah: Blessed are those who mourn
Peter: Jesus has vision for flawed followers 
Samaritan woman: Jesus transforms our future
2 Cor 5.16-17 - what does this mean? Also Galatians 6.15

1. God Recreates Creation, Rev 21:1-5
A. God has a master-plan
Creation-Fall-Covenant-Law-Messiah-New Covenant-New 'Law' (new command, 'but I say')-New Creation (new people)-New Heaven and Earth

B. God has an inspiring vision
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Revelation 21:1)
“And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”” (Revelation 21:5)

2. Jesus Models the New Creation
Living the kingdom life - modelling it to us (inspiration to us)

A. New teaching, (Mark 1:27; Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44)
‘But I tell you…’

B. New command (John 13:34-35)
‘Love one another as….’

C. New relationships (John 15.15)
Friendship with Jesus and abba God - joyful obedience
With people - marginalised, hurting
Illustration: Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper, Mark 14.3-9
Being a new creation means being inappropriate in this creation
An inappropriate location - leper’s house
An inappropriate person - woman present
An inappropriate extravagance - alabaster, expensive perfume
An inappropriate gesture - shattered
An inappropriate identification - High Priest (like Aaron), King (like David), Prophet (like Elisha)

3. We are a New Creation
A. New relationships
With God as Father
With the lost as ambassadors
OC - lepers to priest. Jesus reverses this. Takes cleanness to the leper.
OC - go to temple in Jerusalem to seek God. Jesus reverses this. Takes ‘temple’ and presence of God to lepers and others.
With one another as family
We go ‘to’ people
We go to those who need us
We pay a high ‘cost’

B. New life,
The ‘full’ life, John 10.10 - this is discipleship, a life lived after Jesus
AIM programme — “Spiritual Life”
Our access is the death of Jesus, (Romans 6:1-11)

Conclusion
Call to explore the theme of 'a new creation', leading to 'a new thing'
Link to Lord's Supper - Prayer

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

AIM UK & Ireland Spiritual Life Module

“The spiritual life is not a life of laws and precepts but a life of participation, affection and love, a life mingled and mixing with God.” William Law

Description

The Bible places far more emphasis on who we are inside than how we behave or appear to others. We have all seen too many people we know fall, not rebounding but remaining fallen, due to a weak walk with the Lord–while others continue to go forward to do great things despite formidable obstacles. 

Are you looking to strengthen your relationship with God and deepen your understanding of Christian spirituality? Look no further than the AIM Spiritual Life Course, an in-person and online course designed to enhance and guide your spiritual journey. The course covers character, sexual issues, financial responsibility, spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, meditation, scripture, devotional reading, and so much more—the secret of mirroring Christ’s character: the inner spiritual life.

Teachers include Douglas Jacoby, Andy Boakye and Malcolm Cox. At the live session on 23 March we will cover the crucial topics of growing through suffering (Andy Boakye), discipleship as the door to life to the full (Malcolm Cox) and the joys of personal spiritual growth (Douglas Jacoby). Additionally, you will have access to specialised teaching from many others on-line after the event.

Join our worldwide community of learners and experience the transformative power of Christian spirituality.

More Information

Details

Location: West Watford Free church, Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 6NU
Date & Time: Saturday 23rd March 2024, 9:30AM – 2.45PM
Registration & Payment: https://tvcoc.churchsuite.com/donate/fund/usz20xvr
Cost: £20 for the day; £75 for the entire module
Refreshments: Light lunch, hot and cold drinks
Transport: Nearest stations — Watford Junction (35 mins walk), Watford High Street (30 mins walk), Watford Metropolitan Line (20 mins walk).
Parking: Free parking onsite and adjoining roads

If you have any questions please drop me a line.

God bless, Malcolm

 Teaching Tip 353 | “Plain Speaking - organising and sculpturing your material” | Malcolm Cox


Introduction

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

“If you want to be an effective speaker, you have to organise your material. Otherwise, your listeners won't be able to follow where you're going... If it isn't organised it will…sound to the congregation as if you're just rambling.” 52

Two steps are necessary according to Bercot:

Organise your material into three parts: An introduction, a middle and an end. 

Review your material and divide into main points and minor points that support the main ones: Throw away anything that is not relevant. It's what writers call, "killing your darlings". Can you insert ‘therefore’, or, ‘and’ between your points and it make sense? The diamond shape can be a useful model.

Bercot uses the illustration of making a sculpture. At the beginning a sculptor has a block of material and his or her job is to cut away everything that is not necessary to the final form. 

Conclusion
Next time we will go on to speak about introductions and conclusions

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

Next week: rousing introductions and conclusions

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 509 | New Creation Series — Part 1 | “Jesus is the Firstborn” | Malcolm Cox


Introduction

A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this new series on the topic of ‘A new creation’ following our previous focus on ‘A new thing’.  We are moving from the Old Testament to the New and exploring what it means that there is a new creation. Our key text is: 


“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)


How did this new creation come into being? 


“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1:15-18 NRSV)


What does this mean?


“…Jesus is the firstborn of new creation. When the Son became flesh, the Word joined himself to creation and united God with creation. The incarnation means God secured the eternal existence of creation because the Son is forever human and thus forever shares our creaturehood as our elder brother. Moreover, the Son transformed human existence—and thus creation’s as well—through death when he was raised as the firstborn from the dead. His resurrection is the beginning of new creation, and the body of Jesus is part of the new creation just as our own resurrected bodies will participate in new creation. Creation is important because it will be made new in the resurrection, which includes not only our bodies but the dwelling place of God as well, the new heaven and new earth.” Hicks, John Mark; Valentine, Bobby; Wilson, Mark. Embracing Creation: God's Forgotten Mission. Leafwood Publishers. Kindle Edition. 


For Reflection

If Jesus is the firstborn of a new creation that exists now, what does that mean for your relationship with him? The fact that his resurrection from death unites the realm of the heavenlies and our earthly existence must have a profound effect on our prayers. What comes to you as you reflect on this reality?


Why not take some time today to ask God to help you understand what it means for your relationship with him that there is a new creation?


Conclusion

Until next time, take care, and God bless. 


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.


"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 

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

• John Mark Hicks, Bobby Valentine, and Mark Wilson: Embracing Creation

 Andrew Agerbak was our visiting speaker on the 3rd of March. He shared five points from the life of Joseph illustrating the way in which his faith enabled him to continue to grow and be open to God doing a new thing in his life.

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 352 | “Plain Speaking - Illustrations make a sermon memorable” | Malcolm Cox


Introduction

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



Illustrations are important for three reasons according to Bercot:

They help your listeners to understand - they gave your listeners an ‘a-ha!’ moment. 

They engage your listeners - it's like adding flavouring to a meal. Chilli, salt, pepper…..

They aid your hearers to remember what you said - illustrations linger long in the memory after the facts have been forgotten and link the facts back to your mind. I still remember illustrations I heard used nearly 40 years ago. DA, 84/85 -Rom 12.1, living sacrifice - “The trouble with living sacrifices is that they tend to squirm off the altar.”

Did Jesus use illustrations? Did he ever! He employed illustrations from contemporary events, nature, story (parable), kinetic aids such as small children and much more. 


One final tip: Illustrations from books and contemporary news sources are fine, but the best illustrations are almost always personal.


Conclusion

Which of the illustrations that Jesus used do you connect with the most?

Why do you think illustrations are so powerful?

Do you find the use of illustrations easy or hard, and why?


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


Next week: organising and sculpturing your material


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 508 | New Thing Series — Part 63 | “A New Creation” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction

A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'


Today we wrap up this series by reviewing the topic of a new thing and looking forward.


In this series we have explored God doing a new thing in the lives of Abraham, Esther, Daniel, Elijah & Elisha, Nehemiah, Peter and the Samaritan woman. We could have picked scores of other men and women in both testaments. Despite all the problems, sins and failings, God always has something new in store for us.


"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23


The story of God with his people is the story of new beginnings, new life, and new creation.


"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17


As a result, we live in a new way.


Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."


For Reflection

How lucky we are to have a new life. This life comes to us through our experience of renewal in baptism. As somebody said, “Baptism is a new creation bath with old creation water.”* as we wrap up the series may I ask you what God revealed regarding any new thing he has in mind for you? And, let us set our sights forward to further discover what it means to live a new life as a new creation. 


Why not take some time today to ask God to solidify any new convictions about him doing a new thing in your life? And, ask him to help you grow into all that it means to be a new creation?


Conclusion

I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 


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.


"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 

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

• John Mark Hicks, Bobby Valentine, and Mark Wilson: Embracing Creation

Introduction

A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'


We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of the Samaritan woman. Today we explore her impact.


“Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” They left the city and were on their way to him.” (John 4:28-30 NRSV)


“Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.”” (John 4:39-42 NRSV)

For Reflection

She goes back to the city where people know her, and know her past. These are the people who might well be those who shame her. She references the fact that Jesus knows what she has done and has talked to her about it. These are the very events which must have caused her embarrassment, and probably are the reason she is at the well alone. She has lost all her inhibitions — preferring her sin to be public so that other people would be motivated to meet Jesus. Her testimony takes her to the crowds. The crowds take her at her word and make their way to Jesus. After spending time with Jesus, they develop their own convictions.


Why not take some time today to pray through your testimony, and ask God to show you someone you can share it with?

Conclusion

I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.


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.


"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 506 | New Thing Series — Part 61 | “The Samaritan Woman’s Past” | Malcolm Cox


Introduction

A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'


We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of the Samaritan woman. Today we explore her past. 


“Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet.” (John 4:16-20 NRSV)


The Samaritan Woman’s Past

For Reflection

Jesus goes from spiritual to confrontational. He is not afraid of things getting uncomfortable as he moves the conversation to the personal arena. We do not know the circumstances behind her marital mess. How much of it is to do with her, and how much is of it is to do with the men is unknown. What is clear is that there must be a great deal of pain in her life. And, we notice that Jesus is not condemning. She is talking to Jesus, and moving in the direction of having a new start in life. But, Jesus knows that for the new to renew her, the past must be surfaced. Do you have any sin, regrets, pain or trauma that you've kept hidden away in the dark? Could it be that which is preventing God doing a new thing? 


Why not take some time today to ask God to help you surface anything that needs bringing into the light so that it can be transformed and you can enjoy a new thing?


Conclusion

I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 


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.


"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 

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