Malcolm Cox

This week I answer a question from my friend Chen. He is wondering what light Acts 6 sheds on the issue of serving where we are not gifted.

1. Churches always have problems

Internal – 5.1ff; External 5:17ff; Internal 6:1ff; External 6:8ff

Luke is telling Theophilus, and the Spirit is reminding us that church is messy, but God is at work in it all.

2. Healthy leaders know their limitations

Looks like the Apostle had overseen this need up to now, Acts 4:35

Now understand it is beyond them

Given the cultural tensions, they may not be the right people to ‘solve’ the issue – they are all Jewish, of course

3. Leaders look for solutions

Apostles do not indulge in shaming or blaming

They set the parameters: full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom

They involve the people

4. A Spirit-led church will prioritise those with the need

The ‘whole group’ (v5), i.e. Jews and Greeks chose the people

The men chosen all had Greek names

Love and humility is in action

5. Problems need the right kind of person, not the person with the right gifts

“Like Samson, you might be extraordinarily gifted. But if you don’t develop the character to support your gifts, they will actually become destructive to you. Your shadow mission will win out and your gifts will crush you.” Overcoming Your Shadow Mission, John Ortberg, p50

Nothing said here about their previous experience, gifts, talents, qualifications

“evidently refer to guidance by the Holy Spirit and skill in administration and business” Longenecker, Richard N. Acts. EBC

But, can we be sure of this? Nothing in the text is explicit

Conclusions

– The text is sparing in detail. We must be careful regarding the conclusions we draw.

– The men may have been the ones trusted to plan a solution for the problem, rather than do the work. They have the ‘responsibility’ delegated to them, not the detail. Were they gifted at running the first Christian food bank? We do not know.

– The fact that Stephen and Philip appear later (Acts 7 & 8, 21) as preachers/evangelists indicates they were not stuck in one role

– Gifts are meant to be exercised, Romans 12:3-8

– But, that does not mean we cannot serve effectively in an area in which we are not gifted

– Of course, that is different from being shoe-horned into serving into something necessitated by a narrow church culture

– Serving where we are not gifted can be helpful when it:

– Develops Christian character – serving in humility and love

– Enables us to connect with people in different life circumstances to ourselves

– Is temporary – before we do damage to ourselves or others

– In a local congregational context the questions we want to ask are:

– How much of disaster is it if a need goes unmet? How essential is it to the well-being of church members, the congregation and our impact on the world?

– How injurious would it be to someone if we asked them to serve in an area not within their gifts?

– In what way might someone, or a group grow in Christlikeness by serving even though it is not within their gifts to do so?

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/).

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

God bless, Malcolm

Why do I take personal spiritual retreats? Today is a brief reflection on the most recent of my retreats taken in the beautiful county of Hampshire.

I spent three nights away in a tiny hut walking, praying, reading, thinking, reflecting and planning. I used the book of Haggai as the focus of my study and allowed it to form the theme of my retreat. My main prayer scripture from the book was, ““so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured,” says the LORD.” (Haggai 1:8 NIV11). This was one of my best ever retreats. I came back with only a few insights, but they were profound.

Have you taken a personal spiritual retreat? If so, what are your top tips? If you haven't, what's stopping you? Would you like to correspond that I might help you figure out ways to make it work?

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

This week I respond to a message from Selena…

Hello Brother Malcolm,

I was just reading Romans chapter 16 NIV. It’s missing verse 24 . Do you think this is on purpose or a misprint?

Kindly,

YLSIC, Selena

“At this point, as RSV margin says, ‘Other ancient authorities insert verse 24, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.’ The western text, which lacked the doxology (verses 25–27), brought the letter to an end with this benediction (omitting that in verse 20b). The Byzantine text (followed by the Received Text and AV) took over the western benediction here as well as the earlier one in verse 20b.A few witnesses (codices P 33 104 365 436, with the Syriac Peshitta and Armenian versions, and Ambrosiaster’s Latin text) put this benediction after the doxology (as verse 28) and not before it (as verse 24). In its present position the benediction should not be too readily dismissed as unauthentic; if the dox-ology is not original (either absolutely or in its position at the end of chapter 16), the benediction forms a very fitting conclusion to the letter.”

Tyndale CommentarySimilar issues can be found with the ending of Mark, in John 8:1-11 and Acts 8:27. The verses are not ‘missing’, it is unlikely they were there in the first place. However, they do not contradict anything else the Scriptures teach.

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 8 of the book which is titled “Recognising the voice of God”.

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice….

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:2–4, 14, 27 NIV11

Voice recognition in nature

The three lights

Ask yourself which passages from the Bible might apply to your circumstances and then pray and reflect.

Three factors in the voice

The Spirit of God's voice

Infallibility

Four aspects

Next week we will go on to look at chapter 9 of the book which is titled “A life more than guidance”

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

Jesus

“They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.” (Matthew 22:16 NIV11)

- Teaching despite how people respond

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 7 of the book which is titled “Redemption through the word of God”.

 "… In the progress of God's redemptive work communication advances into communion and communion into union." 

Our goal is not to have faith in Christ, but to have the kind of faith in God that Christ had.

We still have two 'lives' while in this world. Which one we live into or out of all depend on where we place our focus. 

Desire that God’s revealed word shall be true for us

Next week we will go on to look at chapter 8 of the book which is titled “Recognising the voice of 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]](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

“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” “When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.” (Acts 18:24–28 NIV11)

- Fervour and vigour are not about volume

- Humility to learn more

- You don’t have to know everything (!), but you do need to be an active on-going student

- “Perhaps it’s not theology we’re missing, but rather theological integrity. Many have the knowledge but lack the courage to admit the discrepancy between what we know and how we live.” Forgotten God, Francis Chan

- ‘help’ - adjusted his teaching to their needs. Not about ‘pleasing’ them, but responding. i.e. his agenda was subject to theirs

    - Not ‘helping’ himself

    - Discernment 

    - Praying about what to teach

    - Asking others what to teach

- Sign up for AIM: https://www.aimukandireland.com/courses 

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

Father’s Day 2022, Luke 15

1. What hurt the father about the younger son’s behaviour?

A. Community shame 

B. Wish the Father was dead 

C. Harm he would get into 

2. What hurt the father about the older son’s behaviour? 

A. Community shame 

B. Ingratitude, acting as if the father was not generous

““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)

 

3. What do we learn about the heart of the father? 

A. Love expressed in... 

B. Loves both sons 

C. Father used 11 times

Conclusion 

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1–2 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]](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 6: The word of God and the rule of God

    - Astonishing faith in the power of words

        - Centurion, “say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (Luke 7:7 NIV11)

        - "Most of what we think we see as the struggle of faith is really the struggle to act as if we had faith but in fact we do not." 118

    - Creation by words: 

    - Words in the kingdom of God, 129

        - The King’s words have power. Luke 7:7

        - "What we see here is trust based upon experiential knowledge of the power in the words spoken by authorised individuals." 129

        - When we struggle to believe that God acts in such a way, and that he might answer our prayers in such a way, it is because we do not fully understand his authority.

    - Prayers, actions and words, 133

        - How do we see this power in our lives?

        - Peter did the same thing in Acts 3:6.

        - The point is not to come to the conclusion that we can make anything happen, that is God's task, but, "the extent of our obligation is to be honestly willing and eager to be made able." 136

        - The Christians faith is not superstition.  The power is not in the words or the rituals. Name it and claim it is like that. 

Do you believe your words have ‘power’?

What kind of power?

If so, what give them their ‘authority’?

Next week we will go on to look at chapter 7 of the book which is titled “Redemption through the word of 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]](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

Introduction:

Attitude is more important than education. We need integrity.

“For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10 NIV11)

https://www.aimukandireland.com/courses 

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