Malcolm Cox

1. Paul the ideal representative of Jesus - a regenerate life

v3: Snake: symbol of evil. Eden. Snake tried to kill Paul - a 'risen' man. Symbolic of the message of resurrection post-baptism (shipwreck)?

v5: Shook off the snake - Jesus shook off death's curse

snake and sea (two evils) have no effect on Paul.

This new life is powerful

v9: So many parallels with Jesus. see Luke 4:38-41

“Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.” (Luke 4:38–41 NIV11)

vv15-16: Paul escorted like an Emperor arriving victorious

“The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” (Acts 28:15–16 NIV11)

Fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus that the Gospel will go to the ends of the earth

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8 NIV11)

v17: Opposed by the very people who should have been helping him

‘he’ - end of ‘we’ section. Is it significant? Had Luke left, or was he putting the spotlight more on Paul.

‘I’ is the first word in Paul’s sentence. This is a personal apologia. But not self-focussed. Only to get a hearing.

v23: All about the Gospel

‘witnessed to them’ - he was not interested in defending himself, but taking the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

vv25-27: Stubborn Jews

Is 6 used by Jesus - recorded in all four Gospels - and with the same result

So like Jesus - but human and weak

Undignified landing on Malta

‘Encouraged’ by the people who came to greet him

Chained to a soldier

Did not decide most of his itinerary, route or timing

Unable to persuade all the Jewish leaders who came to see him

What is discipleship?

Walking in the power of a Christ-given new life

Our discipleship goal? Remind people of Jesus.

2. The Gospel is unhindered

All we say about Paul is true and important, but the most important thing is to demonstrate that nothing can hinder the Gospel

v31: Literally: “Proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered.”

Last word is ‘unhindered’ - only time used in NT

Acts ends with no resolution to Paul’s personal problems, but instead on the real point of the narrative, the continued strength and spread of the gospel.  The focus must remain on the gospel and not on the personal.

What hindrances do you think Paul and the early church had to contend with?

What are some of ours?

Job - Gospel still unhindered

Health - Gospel still unhindered

Children - Gospel still unhindered

All areas for the Gospel - perhaps the main area for the Gospel. Are we aware of how God can do this? The opportunities he is giving us? If you are there, that’s where the Gospel is. 

What is the essential nature of those hindrances?

Temporary; Human;

“All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” Philippians 4:22

Probably written from Rome

What is our vision for an unhindered gospel in 2023?

Conclusion

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Is. 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

We are unworthy to take this message, to live this life - but we are made ‘worthy’ because we have been touched

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

Is the goal of relevancy necessary, helpful, or a curse?

Today I offer some thoughts on sermons and relevancy prompted by the book, “The Givenness of Things”, by Marilynne Robinson.

“My tradition places great importance on the sermon, and I go in hopes of hearing something that acknowledges this deep old human intuition, this sense of the sacred. Often I don’t hear any such thing, but sometimes, more remarkably, I do. A good sermon is a pure, rare, strangely unworldly gift.” 141

The Western environment in which I live over-elevates the solving of mystery which leads to an impoverishment of our spirits. I am glad the mystery of what causes pneumonia has been solved. But in our preaching God is someone more to be described than explained. 

“My church is across the street from a university, where good souls teach with all sincerity – the factually true, insofar as this can really be known; the history of nations, insofar as this can be faithfully reported; the qualities of an art, insofar as they can be put into words. But to speak in one’s own person and voice to others who listen from the thick of their endlessly various situations, about what truly are or ought to be matters of life and death, this is a singular thing. For this we come to church.” 146

What do the scientific and historical facts point to? What do the artistic qualities reach for and reflect? It is of this that we speak. Matters of life and death. 

“Day-old journalism is used for wrapping fish. But hymnals and Bibles are costly and durable.” 150

The challenge for speakers is to be relevant without being captured by the need to be relevant. Jesus spoke of contemporary issues connected to his audience: “those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?” (Luke 13:4 NIV11)

But, was his goal relevance? The parables describe the Kingdom, but do not explain it - at least not in every detail. They do not answer every question, but stimulate questions. 

Perhaps we could look at it like this. We use relevance to demonstrate that God understands and cares. His wisdom, revealed in Christ and the Scriptures is helpful in the here and now. But, the demonstration of relevance is not our goal. Our goal is to reveal the one who is beyond relevance. The one who can never be fully explained, but who can be worshipped, adored, loved. 

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. 

Keep calm and carry on teaching.

God bless, Malcolm

Registration is open: https://www.aimukandireland.com/course/church-history

Why church history?

    - "For years I kept a cartoon on my study door. Students who stopped to read it often stepped into my office smiling. It encouraged easy conversation. It was a Peanuts strip. Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally, is writing a theme for school titled “Church History.” Charlie, who is at her side, notices her introduction: “When writing about church history, we have to go back to the very beginning. Our pastor was born in 1930.” Charlie can only roll his eyes toward the ceiling." Shelley, Bruce L.. Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition (p. 1). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition. 

    - 1. We can avoid repeating mistakes

    - 2. We can learn from the wisdom of the past

    - 3. We can get a vision for the future

WHEN: 3rd December

WHERE: On-line or in person in Reading

WHO: Douglas Jacoby: Andy Boakye; Myself

More on the content in next informational video

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

Handout Class 4 | “Finding the Father’s Face” Series | Watford Men 2022



Matthew 6:9-13 ““This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven - Father-God is nearby - hallowed be your name, - Father-God is holy - your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.- Father-God is powerful, He is King of Kings and cannot be thwarted - Give us today our daily bread - Father-God is caring

Our Father God is caring

    - He provides - Psalm 23

    - “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV11)

    - Care about our bodies

        - “…in the 1850s the average American slept 9.5 hours a night. By 1950 that number dropped to eight hours a night. Today the average American sleeps under seven hours a night.” Smith, James Bryan. The Good and Beautiful God (p. 33). John Murray Press.

        - In what ways do we take care of our bodies?

    - Care about our emotional/mental health

        - In what ways do we take care of our emotional and mental health?

    - Care about our spiritual health

        - In what ways do we take care of our spiritual state?

Discussion about God

    1. If Father God is caring, what does this mean?

    2. If Father God is caring, how can we be more aware of this reality?

    3. If Father God is caring, how can we enjoy his care?

Discussion about us as fathers

    1. What does it mean to be ‘caring’ for our children?

    2. How can we help our children be more aware that we care?

    3. What can we do so that our children enjoy our care for them?

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

Today we continue with a series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm. 

Now, on to today's verse. 

“Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.” (Psalm 27:12 NIV11)

The prayer progresses (from vv7-12) through:

i. Addressing God

ii. Reminding God that seeking Him is His idea

iii. A plea for acceptance

iv. An appeal to the divine nature of His love

v. A request for guidance and strength

vi A desire for protection in a specific situation

Does anything feel worse that false accusations made publicly and with some semblance of credibility? 

We have a spiritual accuser: “..the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” (Revelation 12:10 NIV11)

David’s treatment is mirrored in that of Jesus, Matt 26.59; Mk 15.24, 29, 34; Lk 23.18, 25. Jesus endured such treatment without losing his trust in his Father. He had confidence in God’s goodness just as David did - which we will see in the next two verses. 

“The key is to trust what He says and to doubt the accuser's accusations of our unworthiness. When we do this we give up attempts to make us feel good about ourselves.” Lucado, Grace

After someone was baptised in 4th century Jerusalem they anointed the forehead (lose the shame of Adam), ears (to hear divine mysteries), nose (to become aroma of Christ), and chest (arm against the devil). Bradshaw, Early Christian Worship. It’s an unnecessary, but meaningfully symbolic way of reinforcing the truth that our shame is removed.

In hris book Shame Interrupted, Edward T. Welch says, “Listen for the love, hate the shame, and have no tolerance for resignation. That’s the plan.”

With God this is possible. 

What are the lessons from this verse? 

We will conclude today’s podcast with the song I wrote using the words of Psalm 27 verse 4.

Next week we will proceed to the next verse of the Psalm. In the meantime, 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

1. Inherited Flaws

A. ‘Son of Shealtiel’

B. You are someone’s son/daughter

2. Circumstantial Flaws

A. Zerubbabel 

B. You are influenced by society, this world and people around you 

3. Created Flaws 

A. “I will take you” 

B. You are responsible for your decisions 

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7–10 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

VALUE THE DISCIPLINE OF SHORT LESSONS

1. Shorter is not always better: 

    - “And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.” (Luke 3:18 NIV11)

    - “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”” (Acts 2:40 NIV11)

    - “He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,”(Acts 20:2 NIV11)

    - No formula

2. But speakers should master the art of speaking long, medium, short

3. My Format

    - Context

    - Verse

    - Main point

    - Illustration

    - Application

4. Leave them wanting more

5. My experience

    - Hard

    - Practice the timing

    - People asked me about the next one - were looking forward to it

    - Could repeat back to me the main point

6. Conclusion

    - Fill the heart/mind, not the time

    - Most of the parables are short

    - Experiment: how short can you go and still be meaningful?

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. 

Keep calm and carry on teaching.

God bless, Malcolm

Today we continue with a series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm. 

Now, on to today's verse. 

“Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.” (Psalm 27:11 NIV11)

The path is revealed by God, but it still our choice whether to walk it. The contrast is between the way of sin/death and the way of obedience/life. These exhaust our available options. 

“The path of life (Ps 16:11; Prov 2:19; 5:6; 10:17; 15:24) corresponds with the path of integrity (Ps 27:11), the path of uprightness (Prov 2:13), the path of justice (Prov 2:8; 17:23; Isa 26:8; 40:14), the path of righteousness (Prov 8:20). Conversely, one is to spurn the path of evil (Ps 119:101) for it is a false path (119:104, 128). To follow the path of truth and life is to follow God’s own path (25:4, 10; 44:18 [H 19]; 119:115, where the word is a synonym for God’s Torah; Isa 2:3).” p161 Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. 

Pressure causes warping and hardening depending on the materials used. If we are strong in the Lord the pressure will confirm us in the right direction. If we are weak, the pressure may cause our faith to weaken. 

What are the lessons from this verse? 

We will conclude today’s podcast with the song I wrote using the words of Psalm 27 verse 4.

Next week we will proceed to the next verse of the Psalm. In the meantime, 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

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY OF A BIBLICAL TEXT

This is the first of three teaching tips on how to dig into a text from a literary perspective.  What is the literal , or narrative, perspective?

"The basic method by which we are to study biblical narratives is simple: we are asked to __read__ them!  Most of us have grown up with the Gospels or Old Testament history as isolated stories. We have seldom sat down and simply read them through to catch the drama and power of the stories as they fit together to form a holistic panorama. [[Literary]] critics have developed techniques that will aid us greatly to perform a 'close reading' of the text and to note such features as plot and character tension, point of view, dialogue, narrative time and settings, all of which will enable the reader to detect the flow of the text and therefore the see the hand of God as he has inspired the biblical author to develop his story." Osborne, Grant R., 'The Hermeneutical Spiral'

These tips are taken from Marlene Kropf’s book, ‘Preparing Sunday Dinner: A Collaborative Approach to Worship and Preaching’ (pp. 417-418). You will find similar questions in Clare Miller’s book, ‘The Simple Guide to Better Biblical Exegesis’. 

PART 3

Focus Questions 

14. patterns  Are there unusual patterns? (For example, three times of questioning? Two acts that fail? Four journeys)?

15. Connections  Do any of the above connect with similar things elsewhere in the Bible?

16. Translations  How do you several English versions compare? What does the original Greek or Hebrew say?

17. Parallels  Do parallel accounts differ (for example between the gospels, or Samuel, kings, and chronicles)?

18. Puzzles  What is surprising or does not fit? What questions do I take to the commentaries?

19. Emotions  Do I like this text? Do I not like it? Why? With what feelings am I left?

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. 

Keep calm and carry on teaching.

God bless, Malcolm

Today we continue with a series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm. 

Now, on to today's verse. 

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10 NIV11)

Even the strongest human love fails sometimes. God is different. We can count on Him to never give up on us, always hear our prayers and attend to our needs.

David had a personal faith/relationship with God - “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 NIV11

It was not always corporate Israel that God saw as His ‘son’, but individuals as well. Something made clearer in the New Testament.

“But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.”

(Isaiah 63:16 NIV11)

““Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

(Isaiah 49:15 NIV11)

Jesus is ‘forsaken’ on the cross by his father, so that we can be accepted as his children.

What are the lessons from this verse? 

We will conclude today’s podcast with the song I wrote using the words of Psalm 27 verse 4.

Next week we will proceed to the next verse of the Psalm. In the meantime, 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