Malcolm Cox

Today we start a new series based on Psalm 27. I spoke on this Psalm’s theme, and especially verse 4, for the Watford church of Christ. We are part-way through a series based on the “one thing” phrases found in the Scriptures.

I am dedicating this series to my friend Akin who told me that Psalm 27 was his father’s favourite Psalm. 

I was so taken by the Psalm that I thought it would be worth taking the time to go deeper into the passage. We will take one verse at a time, week by week. We begin this week with a brief introduction, a reading of the Psalm and then I will share with you a short song I wrote using the words of verse 4. Music helps to embed words into our memories. I hope you will take the time to listen and learn this simple song. I believe it will enable the truth of God’s Word to find a permanent home in your soul. 

First a comment or two on the Psalm’s setting. It has similar themes as the previous Psalm and following one. These are primarily the challenges created by enemies, and delight in the Lord’s house.  You might benefit from reading the other Psalms in order to grasp more of David’s circumstances. All three Psalms may refer to the same situation in David’s life, which could have been his flight from Jerusalem as a result of his son Absalom’s coup (1 Samuel 15-18).

“Of David.

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

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 Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

(Psalm 27:0–14 NIV11)

Now let me share my song with you. 

Next week we will proceed to the first 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

Today we start a new series based on Psalm 27. I spoke on this Psalm’s theme, and especially verse 4, for the Watford church of Christ. We are part-way through a series based on the “one thing” phrases found in the Scriptures.

I am dedicating this series to my friend Akin who told me that Psalm 27 was his father’s favourite Psalm. 

I was so taken by the Psalm that I thought it would be worth taking the time to go deeper into the passage. We will take one verse at a time, week by week. We begin this week with a brief introduction, a reading of the Psalm and then I will share with you a short song I wrote using the words of verse 4. Music helps to embed words into our memories. I hope you will take the time to listen and learn this simple song. I believe it will enable the truth of God’s Word to find a permanent home in your soul. 

First a comment or two on the Psalm’s setting. It has similar themes as the previous Psalm and following one. These are primarily the challenges created by enemies, and delight in the Lord’s house.  You might benefit from reading the other Psalms in order to grasp more of David’s circumstances. All three Psalms may refer to the same situation in David’s life, which could have been his flight from Jerusalem as a result of his son Absalom’s coup (1 Samuel 15-18).

“Of David.

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

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 Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

(Psalm 27:0–14 NIV11)

Now let me share my song with you……. 

Next week we will proceed to the first 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

In the AIM UK&I community we have been discussing how we approach our study of a passage and prepare it for teaching or preaching.

Here is one technique I use. It involves mind mapping. It is the first or second step in my process. The other is well described by Mike Poole, one of our AIM students, “I really liked letting the Bible wash over me that we learned in the NTS course as I found that helpful in understanding the bigger picture.”

The third step is to study the passage with the aid of dictionaries, commentaries and similar resources.

This step is the ‘pulling-it-apart’ phase.

Let me demonstrate….. 

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) 

Keep calm and carry on teaching

God bless, Malcolm

Today we look at the epilogue of the book, “The way of the burning heart”.

“They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”” Luke 24:32

The material world shouts at us, but the spiritual world whispers at us. Scepticism regarding the reality of the spiritual is part of the landscape of our culture. It is vital that we do not give into this and become sceptical of God interacting with us in a personal manner. One of the questions we must resolve is whether we truly believe what the Bible records. Included in those records are examples of God speaking to his people 

As Willard puts it, “Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God." 222

Our next project is a 15 episode series based on Psalm 27. We will begin with a general introduction - and a song - next week.  

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

How do we make sure we teach in such a way as to build unity not weaken it?

“Thank you” to Tina Poole for your post in the AIM UK & Ireland forum as well as the comments from Geordan, Mike, Charlie, Madalena and Andy B. You have inspired me to make this recording.

https://www.aimukandireland.com/

First let us have a look at one of the classic unity passages, then I will offer a few tips.

Teaching, as well as unity, is Christ initiative, not ours. Therefore, we keep Christ at the centre and visible.

For a positive purpose. In other words we’re not trying to prove other people wrong so much as help people to be able to do right

While this all applies to the church universal, perhaps Paul had in mind the local Ephesian body. Most of the time when we teach it is to help the local body, those present, with only half an eye at most on anyone beyond the local group. If we build up the body in Christ we will build unity

Remember it is God’s unity (by the Spirit), not ours. Understand what unity is. In other words, not trying to make everybody think the same way about issues that are not core doctrines.

Maturity is the goal, not conformity. Maturity involves helping people to make their own decisions based on what they trust to be the meaning of Scripture as (hopefully) helpfully explained by you.

Good teaching inspires congregational members to speak Scripture truth to one another. Good teaching, over time, creates a more Christlike body.

(Ephesians 4:11–16 NIV11)

A sign of healthy teaching, over time, is that Congregational members participate in the work of the kingdom with their own motivation, not needing to be chased, or pressed into a mould designed for them by leaders.

1. Run new ideas past a few trusted advisors

2. Ask yourself – in what way will Christ he honoured by what and how I teach today, on this topic, from this passage?

3. Make it your aim to build up, not tear down. Build faith and hope. Will people leave you with greater hope in their hearts?

4. Always aim to accentuate the positive, rather than belabour a negative.

5. Teach to please God, not yourself, not the congregation.

6. Participatory learning may engender unity more than didactic teaching on its own.

7. Don’t make methodology a dividing point:

“many times huge divisions come between people who can sign the same doctrinal statement but can’t agree on the same methodology.” Francis Chan, Until Unity (p199).That will do for today. Much to be said on this topic, but I wonder what you think? What approaches to teaching engender unity, and which ones prevent it? What have you seen done that you might hope I and others would imitate?

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 look at chapter 9 of the book which is titled “A life more than guidance”.

The more we understand, the better our relationship with God will be

“The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven. When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’S favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’S command.” Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.”

“He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.” But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?” Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this.” Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.” “What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.””

(1 Samuel 13:5–23; 28:6–19 NIV11)

Deciding "on your own"

The perfect will of God

A formula for living with God's voice

Foundational steps:

Steps to hearing God

Next week we will go on to look at the epilogue of the book.

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. What is pressurising David?

When was King David under pressure?

David: Own son trying to kill him! 2 Samuel 15

B. What is pressurising us?

A. What is David hoping for?

B. What are our hopes for the summer?

A. Ask

Looking to God

Dwell

Married couple

Stream, not a pool

B. Seek…Seek…Gaze

Acting on own initiative

Study

Meditate

C. Beauty

What is ‘beautiful’ about God?

How does David ‘see’ God?

Only God can change us when we are under pressure

Only Jesus can give us what we hope for

How did Jesus handle the pressure – on the cross?

‘Father..my spirit’ – even to the end

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46 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

We took ourselves off to Cassiobury Park for an outdoor service. On an exceptionally hot day it seemed only appropriate to discuss the topic of thirst from John 4.

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

Victor shared his inspiring testimony with us 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

The annual outdoor service at Wellington Country Park was a delightfully hot day. I spoke on the topic of uncertainty. I also broke my wife's plant spray. 

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