Malcolm Cox

In this sermon for the Watford Church of Christ Stefan Wolmarans explores the significance of Jesus as head of the church and what this means for unity within a congregation and between congregations.

“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 1:18 NRSV)

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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/). 

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

God bless, Malcolm

A meditation on Psalm 19

Last week we took a look at the first two verses of Psalm 24 — The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2 NIV11)

This week let's conduct a meditation on Psalm 19, another Psalm containing the theme of honouring creation and the God who made it.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.”
(Psalm 19:1-6 NIV11)

V1 What are the glories of God creation that you value?

Vv2-6 When you see nature in all its glory, how do you feel and what is your response to God?

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.

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

God bless, Malcolm

A teaching class for the Thames Valley churches of Christ.

Class 1 - Security: Finding Strength From Hearing the Father’s Voice

In this short series we will explore how our security in the Father enables our willing submission to him. The critical issue before us today is the way in which we hear Father’s voice. We may intellectually understand many things with our mind, but it is the voice in our head which so often controls our feelings and our behaviour. Which voice dominates in your head at the moment? Do you find it easy or hard to hear the Father's voice? Perhaps you even think it's rather weird to expect such a thing. However, let us consider the example of Jesus.

Can you imagine how he felt when he heard this on the occasion of his baptism,

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11). 

That incident was not the only time. Consider what happened on the mountain,

“Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”” (Mark 9:7 NIV11)

It is true that Jesus was unique, and that Scripture does not mandate that we hear the voice of the Father audibly. However, we do have the same kind of relationship with the Father that Jesus had.

We are authorised — nay — encouraged to trust in an identical quality of relationship with the Father that Jesus enjoyed, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”” (Romans 8:15 NIV11) And again, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.”” (Galatians 4:6 NIV11)

By the way, this should not be seen as an exclusively male issue. The word ‘son’ is important because in that culture it conveyed the idea of inheritance. In that day it was the male son who inherited from the father. It is this which we are meant to see in the father-son relationship between our heavenly Father and Jesus, not anything else.

The strength of his connection with the father enabled him to endure one of his darkest moments. Even then, he was able to use the more intimate form of address — ‘abba’. ““Abba , Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”” (Mark 14:36 NIV11)

Jesus lived a life of submission to the Father because he experienced the loving acceptance of his Father. We will live healthier lives of discipleship when we connect with that same love in our times of quiet with God.

Michael Lewis and his voice impact on my ability to pass a crucial piano exam.

Questions for reflection
- How do you honestly feel about the idea of listening for the Father's voice?
- What is it about example of Jesus which is relevant and attractive to you?
- If you want to hear more of the Father’s voice, how will that happen?

Next time we will go on to look at how Jesus’ security in the Father’s love enabled his willing submission to the Father’s will.

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

Tuesday Teaching Tip 331 | Biblical Preaching - Part 3 | Tools of the Trade | Malcolm Cox

Point to consider

When we talk about tools, we are not talking about engineering a sermon, nor producing a formula. My wife is a doctor, and once she described practising medicine as being part science and part art. She meant to convey that although the science needs to be robust, if that is your primary focus, it can obscure the person you are meant to be treating. Who wants to be treated by a Doctor who doesn't listen to you, fails to acknowledge your presence, and does not treat you as an individual? Similarly, no so-called technique for lesson preparation will work for all people in all contexts. Nor will one method work for one person all the time. Therefore, as we explore the tools we use and the ways in which we use them, let's do so with half an eye on how they may be utilised flexibly. Alternatively, those who approach preaching as ‘from the heart’ and pay lip service to exegesis are the equivalent to the Doctor who treats their patients according to folklore, feelings and fantasy. That’s not a Doctor I want looking after my health. Effective preaching and teaching is a blend of ‘art’ and ‘science’. In this episode we will focus on the latter more than the former, but both are necessary.

Chapter 3: Tools of the Trade

Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our current module is Homiletics (the preparation and delivery of lessons).

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

Introduction

QUESTION: Why is unity/connection/cooperation between churches important?
Why is it difficult?
How Jesus approach difference between his followers? What does that mean for us and other churches today?
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22–23 NIV11)
- - -
1.  Jesus
Question: Among people of faith, who did he condemn?

““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:13-15 NIV11)
Later examples: Judaisers

Question: Among people of faith, who did he correct?
Later examples: Apollos — Acts 18, Ephesian disciples — Acts 19

Example
““Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” Mark 9:38-41

Discussion: Why did the disciples want to stop them? What is Jesus seeing that they are missing?

Application
Notice their life, not just belief — means getting to know them well enough
Assume a good heart
Accept encouragement when it comes you way from believers
- - -

2. Our situation in Watford

Questions
What does this mean nationally and internationally?
What does this mean locally in Watford
What does this mean where we live?

Applications
Call a Christian you know. What is the Spirit teaching your church? Find something you/we can offer them.
Start a Bible group at work - in person or Zoom.
Host a Christian book club with Christian members of your family.
Have Christians who live in your neighbourhood over for dinner.

- - -

Conclusion
All about Jesus and his heart
Lord’s Supper - Eat at same table as sinners!
We will never know what we have to learn and what we have to offer unless we connect with people of Christian faith from other congregations
“Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”” (Mark 2:13-17 NIV11)

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 meditation on Psalm 24 

“The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”

(Psalm 24:1-2 NIV11) 

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. 

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

God bless, Malcolm 

Have you ever heard someone talk eloquently, even entertainingly and not had the first idea what their point was? You are not alone. Sometimes I’ve finished a lesson and not know my point. It happens to us all, but it never happened to Jesus, nor God’s prophets. 

Today we investigate the significance of every lesson having a ‘Big Idea’. The inspiration for our material comes from the second chapter of Haddon Robinson‘s magnificent book ‘Biblical Preaching’.

The central point here is that Scripture contains so much truth that to simplify lay it out to the hearer will overwhelm them. We do not make a nutritious meal by taking everything in our fridge and combining it into one dish. Everything in that fridge might be healthy and tasty, but piling all the ingredients into one pot will obliterate the unique flavours and textures, creating a bland meal. The illustration has its limitations, but the point is that lessons, like meals, are more palatable when care is taken in selecting the ingredients. In this case, we are determining the main element in a dish. Condiments may be added to the pulses, cheese, meat or vegetable which form the heart of the meal, but they are there to enhance the main event, not replace it.

Chapter 2: What’s the Big Idea?

1. The importance of a single idea: A bullet, not a shotgun. The parables are the supreme example in the teachings of Jesus. Sometimes they have more than one act — like the parable of the prodigal — but they have one point.
2. The definition of an idea: A sentence that contains the essential truth of a text. This is not the title of the lesson, nor the purpose of your lesson to your hearers, but it is the key point from an in the text. Now that you have this you can move on to ponder its meaning to your listeners. 
3. The formation of an idea: Look for all the truths and find what they point to. We need a question and an answer. In Luke 15 it might be, “Who does father God want at his heavenly banquet?”, “Father God wants the ‘sinner’ and the ‘righteous’ one at his heavenly banquet.”
4. Examples of forming an idea: Acts 2 — v36

Conclusion: Finding the big idea in a text is usually not a quick task. We must consider the passage, its co-text, context and genre. Bible dictionaries and commentaries will be needed. However, once that work is done, it is a relatively simple matter to structure a lesson, illustrate and apply the big idea to the group you will be speaking to

Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our most recent module is Homiletics (the preparation and delivery of lessons).

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

What is Jesus an empath? I was speaking on Hebrews four recently, and it struck me that the NIV translates one of the qualities about Jesus being that he can empathise with us.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV11-GK) (NRSV translates ‘empathise’ as ‘sympathise’)

Is there much of a difference? There are technical differences, but I'm not sure whether the Greek makes those. Instead, for the writer to the Hebrews is getting across is the Jesus gets us, understands us, feels us. We see this so often in the gospels when the person he is speaking to is treated as if they are the only person in the world. There is another verse in Hebrews which uses the same word.

“You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.” (Hebrews 10:34 NIV11)

Jesus suffers with us. He feels us. He does not simply understand. Nor is he detached from our suffering like a professional counsellor or consultant. He is right in there, alongside and experiencing our suffering. That makes all the difference to our prayers. One of the wonderful things this tells us about Jesus is that he has the courage to enter into our pain. As Bernie Brown puts it in her book I thought it was just me, ‘Empathy requires that we practice ordinary courage, compassion and connection.’ 

What is the essence of this sympathy/empathy? It is love. Thomas Oord in his book, The Science of Love defines love as “acting intentionally, in sympathetic response to others (including God), to promote overall well-being.”

Do you trust when you pray that as you bring your pain to Jesus he empathises, he sympathises, he stands together with you. He is never distracted when you pray. He is fully attentive, fully engaged, and fully available to you.

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

Question: When you are flagging, what lifts your spirit?

It depends on the voice in your head.
What voice did Jesus have in his head?

“And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11)

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”” (Matthew 17:5 NIV11)

Other voices tried to get inside his head –- the devil (in the desert, a more opportune time), the Pharisees, his mother and brothers, the Sadducees, Scribes, the teachers of the law, even his own disciples with their selfish ambitions and doubts.

I think this is one of the reasons he often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. He had to get those voices out of his head to be able to hear his father's voice.

Because he prioritised this, he was able to live securely in the love of God, and successfully in submission to God's will for his life.

Was this easy for him? No.

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV11)

He enjoyed an ‘abba’ relationship with his father, even in toughest moments: “Abba , Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36 NIV11)

We are authorised and encouraged to do the same, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”” (Romans 8:15 NIV11)

“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.”” (Galatians 4:6 NIV11)

We have the same promise of a close relationship with Father God.

Jesus understands how hard things can be, so we look to him as our inspiration,

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV11)

He empathises and helps.

Question: What help us to ‘hear’ God’s voice of affirmation?

Abba Father

Chorus
Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone
May my will forever be evermore Your own
Never let my heart grow cold never let me go
Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone

Dave Bilbrough; CCLI Song #38686

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

The first time I read Haddon Robinson‘s book it thrilled me. It is not a novel with a stimulating plot. Nor is it poetry of sublime imagination. Instead it is an eminently practical book about Biblical preaching. But it is more than that.

I am reading it again (for the fourth or fifth time), because it is one of the required reading texts for the current Homiletics Module in AIM UK&Ireland. Given that I am guiding students through the module, it seems only right to refresh my memory of its content. In doing so I have become freshly inspired by it and decided to produce a series of Teaching Tips episodes based on the chapters of the book. We will not cover everything in each chapter, but pull out some points on which to focus. These episodes should not be a substitute for reading this wonderful book in its entirety. Indeed, perhaps the overriding motivation for making these recordings is to persuade you to read the book.

One other point should be made. This is not a book only for those who preach on Sunday. The principles within it apply to preparing any presentation, whether on a Sunday, a midweek teaching class, a teaching day, a local group meeting in your home, a family devotional, preparing thoughts for the Lord’s supper and many other circumstances. In fact, I guarantee that studying and applying the principles in this book will improve your own personal Bible study and therefore your relationship with God.

Today we look at the first chapter.

Chapter 1: The case for expository preaching

The outline of the chapter with a few notes from myself is below, but we will not examine these in detail. Instead we will explore Haddon Robinson’s definition of expository preaching.

The devaluation of preaching: “So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”(Acts 6:2 NIV11)

The case for preaching: “That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.” (Romans 1:15 NIV11)

The need for expository preaching: Is it understood and applied well?

The definition of expository preaching: ‘Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.’ p5

The passage governs the sermon: An attitude more than a method. Not about accuracy as such, but about what governs our preaching. Are we submitting the text to our theology, or our theology to the text?

The expositor communicates a concept: The words of the text matter, but its meaning is the point.

The concept comes from the text: If we expect our hearers to listen to us, we must first listen to the Word.

The concept is applied to the expositor: We are first shaped by the lesson, then shape the lesson for others. The Spirit develops messengers, not messages.

The concept is applied to the hearers: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV11)

Conclusion: We preach expository sermons when…

We have studied a passage in its context, giving attention to its historical, grammatical, and literary setting;

We have in some way experienced, through the work of the Holy Spirit, the power of our study in our own lives;

And from this, we shape the sermon so that it communicates the central biblical content in a way that is meaningful to our hearers.

Haddon Robinson’s definition of expository preaching is set out here:

‘Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.’ p5

Mark 5:25-34

The concept: Faith that heals (saves)

The historical, grammatical, and literary context: Jairus’ daughter, the ‘Markan sandwich’, the miracles of Jesus, the themes emphasised in Mark, the location of the healing

Applied to the personality and experience of the preacher: What would it look like for me to trust in a faith that heals? What difference would it make to my week? What would people notice about me?

Applied to the hearers: What does faith that heals look like for my audience?

Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. 

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.

God bless, Malcolm