Malcolm Cox

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY OF A BIBLICAL TEXT

This is the second 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’. 

Focus Questions 

8. reader identification  With whom in the text do I identify? Why have I made that choice? 

9. form What is the form (or genre) of this passage? Is it a song? Letter? Law? Epic? Parable? Saying? 

10. function What is the function of this passage in terms of the entire work? 

11. structure How could the structure be sketched? Does it build to a climax? Does it have separate parts? 

12. style What is distinctive about the author's style? Are there distinctive phrases or key words? 

13. power Who has money? Power? Who is poor? Powerless? 

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. 

Psalm 27:9 “Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Saviour.”

God is ‘helper’ and ‘Saviour’. His nature is clear to David. What is helping you at the moment to develop a clear and balanced view of the nature of God? What have you discovered recently?

The implication here is that prayer can make a difference as to whether God turns us away and whether he will treat us according to His anger. Stephen states that “…God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars.” (Acts 7:42) 

Might this happen to us? We have an extraordinary promise:

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And 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 3:16–18 NIV11)

When we turn to him, he turns to us. As the hymn puts it:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

(https://youtu.be/F2tKVqZZiI4)

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. How does coming into my blessings (relationship with me) work? vv 10-13 

A. Israel needed reminding that they did not make themselves holy

B. God chose them, redeemed them, stuck with them through ups and downs 

C. How did God first make you aware that the blessing of being a relationship with him was possible? 

2. What has been your experience of my holiness? vv14-19a 

A. You did not respect it. 

B. I brought/allowed you trouble, but you ignored it to pursue your own priorities 

C.What influences/tempts us to forget to respect God’s holiness? 

3. What does your future look like now you have repented? vv19b 

A. Currently no better than before! 

B. But the future is promised to be better. 

C. What does trusting God look like, here in Watford, practically, today? 

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 

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’. 

Focus Questions 

1. character Who are the main characters? What are they like? How can they be described? 

2. plot What happens in this text? Why does it happen? pen? What is the sequence of events? 

3. context How does context affect the meaning here? What happened before this section? After? 

4. conflict What is the main conflict here? What caused it? 

5. resolution What is needed for resolution? Who must do it? Or, if conflict is resolved, will resolution last? 

6. author What can be said about the human author or writer? Why was it written? 

7. audience For whom is it written? What effect was intended? 

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

“What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us…. Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.” A. W. Tozer

Matthew 6:9-13 - “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.

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. 

“My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8)

It is his heart that is seeking God, not just his mouth. He is not relying on his use of words. Words can be cheap, but when they are matched by the heart we pray with an authenticity that moves God’s heart.

The implication is that David is reminding God that He has invited David (and all humankind) to seek Him, therefore David is only doing what God wants him to do.  In that spirit he is expecting a reply to his prayers. What does he want? 

“To “see the face” is to gain acceptance to one’s presence (Gen 32:20; Esther 1:14; Acts 20:25). The face of Moses, because he had been in the presence (before the face) of God, shone (Ex 34:29; 2 Cor 3:7). The devout live as if in the presence of God, obeying his command “Seek my face” (Ps 27:8). The believer’s current understanding of God is as “in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1 Cor 13:12 RSV; cf. 2 Cor 10:1; 1 Thess 2:17; 3:10; 2 Jn 12; 3 Jn 14).” IVP Biblical Imagery

What are the lessons from this verse? 

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

Next week we will proceed to the eighth 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

“HAPPY HARVEST!” | Lev 23:33-43

1. Sukkot: Lev 23:33ff (Soocoat)

2. Jesus, Jn 7:37-39 

A. Water from Siloam

B. Light of the world, Jn 8:12 

C. Vision 

3. Transformation 

A. Transformation was Jesus’ vision 

B. How is our transformation going? 

C. Decisions 

Conclusion, Jn 19:31-37 

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

I am preparing a teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches. We will go through the first epistle to the Thessalonians starting in January 2023. 

One of the first steps I took was to do a word analysis of the book. In my Accordance Bible software I searched for repeated words. I found 89 verses with 1944 total words and 895 different forms of words.

The clear and unambiguous focus was God and people. In other words, the God and his relationships as well as the relationship between his people. 

Here are the most repeated words:

* God - 35; God's - 7

* Lord - 22; Lord's - 2

* Jesus - 16; Son - 1

* sisters - 15; brothers - 13

* Christ - 10

Then the following:

- Faith - 8

- Love - 8; loved - 3

- Gospel - 6

What of our ‘epistles’, lessons, podcasts, and the like? What are the most repeated words? And why? Have you done an analysis of your most recent lesson? Why not count the most repeated words and see what you find.

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

Chapter 2:20-23

1. God inspires flawed leaders, 2.20-23

    * Despite mistakes, sins and weakness 

        1. Grandfather (King Jehoiachin, taken to Babylon in the first exile in 597 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar; 2 Kings 24:10-17) ) 

        2. Exile (name = ‘descendant of Babel’); Not a great name and not a great heritage!

        3. 15 years of failure

    * But…God: “I will make…take…have chosen

    * “The LORD Almighty” will see to it that the glory will be greater

    * Paul’s example, Phil 3:13-14. 

        * “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.”

        1. Forget guilt and pride, sins and victories. 

            1. Mindfulness helps reduce rumination and regrets about the past…But how?.…“Instead of going over and over past events, regrets and disappointments, we can observe the first thought and watch it come and go out of awareness.  As we operate from what is sometimes called “the observer self”, we can step back from unhelpful rumination which can very quickly draw our mood into a low and depressed state.” Introducing Christian Mindfulness, Richard H H Johnston (Location 257)

        2. Press on to win Christ - all of him, as much of him as you can get, both in sufferings and resurrections.

            1. “It’s rare to meet people who have the Ambition to be hated and mistreated like Christ or the prophets. It’s rare to find someone whose Ambition is to suffer and die like the apostles. Location 1799, Until Unity, Francis Chan

Points (from the series) for Reflection and Discussion

* To what extent are we teaching about God? Jesus, Father, Spirit. “The LORD Almighty” - used a total of 14 times: Hag. 1:2, 5, 7, 9, 14; 2:4, 6–9, 11, 23.

* Do we really believe the future will be better than the past, and allow it to be different? What is that different vision where you are?

* If you are a ‘Zerubbabel’ leader of some kind, will you allow God to enthuse you? What guilt or pride of the past do you need to process, and what will help you to maintain a zeal to press on to the goal-marker?

* In comparing yourself to Haggai, where are you strong and where are you weak? 

    * Pointing the people of God to God

    * Sustaining the people of God in their work for God

    * Deepening the convictions of the people of God

    * Inspiring flawed leaders of the people of God

Haggai spoke for 15 weeks and left a legacy that lasts to this day. Let us speak of God with conviction, love and honesty so that the glory will be greater.

What would you like teaching on in 2023?

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 sermon for the Thames Valley churches of Christ. 

We survey Israel's 'Harvest Festival' (Lev 23) and the ways in which Jesus fulfilled its message (Jn 7).

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