Malcolm Cox

Hearing from God

Two weeks ago we considered the topic of what it means to develop a ‘conversational relationship with God’. How is that going for you? Is it something you cherish, find confusing - or even a little scary?! Below I pen a few more thoughts - based on, “Hearing God” by Dallas Willard.

Your relationship with God is yours. It is unique. Our relationship with God as it develops is meant to be characterised by a deep and meaningful love. It is more a way of being with him than talking to him and hearing from him as such. In that way it is similar to any mature human relationship that has stood the test of time. A relationship with God most certainly is not about getting the latest information or commands, but instead getting to know God so that you understand his wishes - even if he is not telling you exactly what to do.

God is not harsh. He takes no joy in judging even the ‘wicked, lazy servant’ of Mat 25:26. What kind of relationship does God hope for with us? Our calling is to be God's friends and fellow workers: 2 Chron 20:7 - ‘Abraham your friend’; John 15:13-15 - ‘You are my friends’; 1 Cor 3:9 - ‘we are co-workers in God’s service’. It is communion with God which enables communication

The people in the Bible who enjoyed hearing from God were as human as you and I - even the great heroes. Do you believe that?  

Jesus also shared our humanity and understands our need for a living relationship with our Father.

As Willard said, ”Our humanity will not by itself prevent us from knowing and interacting with God just as they did." p35

If we are to develop the same kind of relationship with God as our Scripture heroes we must assume our experience would have been the same as theirs if we had been there. That is a faith thing. Study the Bible to understand how those people had the experiences they did. Be faithful to the text and use your imagination. 

Is it arrogant to think that you and I could have the same experiences as Moses or Elisha? Part of God’s greatness is that he is able to communicate with any person in any way at any time he chooses. Hearing from God does not make us more important than anyone else. We are already as important as we need to be. Massively important. It looks rather as if God spoke to Moses all the time, but he was humble, Numbers 12:3. If we need help with humility it is quite likely God will help us!

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 this sermon for the Watford Church of Christ we asked the question as to why God gave us so many letters. Having explored that, we go on to investigate the reason why evangelism is hardly mentioned in the epistles.

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

It seems pretty much given these days that when we preach and teach we should use images. There's been a lot of talk over the last few years about visual learners. We know the impact that an arresting image can have. 

As a simple illustration, and if you're listening to the podcast you'll have to use your imagination, let me make a statement, followed by an image. You tell me which one has the most significant effect on you.

First the statement: "the man was shocked" 

Now I will put the image on screen: ……..

So, which had more impact on you?

What is the relevance here for our preaching and teaching? Well, yesterday as part of my Masters in Theological Studies I was reading this book, “The hidden power of electronic culture" by Shane Hipps. In it he makes the point that since the invention of photography the use of images in communication has come to dominate communication to the downgrading of the significance of written and spoken communication. Is this a good thing, a bad thing, or is it neutral?

He writes, “We may be in danger of undoing some of the most valuable aspects of modernity's influence on Christian faith, such as our dependence on the medium of Scripture or the development of leaders who are well-versed in our sacred texts.” 77-78 

I like the Bible Project and similar resources. But, are we allowing them to replace our own devotion to the text? It might be easier to watch a video, but the question is, what is it making harder?

In particular, the subtle influence of image over word might be shaping the kinds of biblical texts we feel comfortable preaching, and those our congregations like to hear from. Consider, for a moment, Luther.

Luther preferred the gospel of John and Paul’s writings. He loved the printed word and the abstract teaching of doctrines about Jesus. However, the modern age prefers the Synoptics because they tell the story of Jesus. Hipps says, “Images are simply not well-suited to convey [Paul’s] abstract, rational prose.” 79 

Last year I preached a series on Colossians, and I remember thinking at the time that it was hard  finding images to illustrate points from the lessons.  If I am only teaching topics, doctrines and ideas which can be easily represented by images, what other topics, doctrines and ideas am I avoiding? 

Let’s consider the example of Jesus. Granted, he had no access to photographs or other modern visual media. However, he used materials to enhance his teaching: 

If Jesus used such techniques, it seems reasonable to utilise media to enhance the message. However, in preaching and teaching we must aim to keep the Scriptures more prominent because they contain the message in a way that images cannot. The teachings of Jesus had the impact they did, and were remembered without significant use of imagery. Therefore, images can be useful, but plainly are not necessary.

It is not either-or, is it? People may have a preference for the written over the visual or the visual over the written, but they should not be seen in opposition to each other because they have different capacities and therefore different purposes.

How much do you use images in your teaching and preaching? What guidelines do you have to ensure you use them well? Are you concerned, as I am, that we might be avoiding some parts of Scripture simply because they are hard to illustrate visually? 

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

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God; Dallas Willard

Recently God has made me listen more as a result of losing my voice after an allergic reaction to something I ate.

Today we look at Chapter 1.

- 1. A paradox about hearing God

- Learning to hear God's voice makes us more than someone who has knowledge.17

- The ongoing conversation

 - He references Adam & Eve, Enoch and Moses as examples of people with an ongoing conversation with God. However, I'm not sure that is precisely true. That might be an over literal understanding of Enoch's relationship with God. In any case, we have very little detail. 

- The UFO syndrome

 - We might sound a bit wacky if we start talking about hearing God.

 - "Why is it", comedian Lily Tomlin asks, "that when we speak to God we are said to be praying but when God speaks to us we are said to be schizophrenic?"

Is. 58:9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 

- Abiding include conversing

 - Jesus makes his home with his followers, John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” 

 - "The Spirit who inhabits us is not mute, restricting himself to an occasional nudge, a hot flash, a brilliant image or a case of goosebumps." 22

 - How can we abide unless there is communication?

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Heb. 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

Heb. 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 

Matt. 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

- One-to-one with God

 - God cares for his sheep individually, Psalm 23

 - "The biblical record always presents the relationship between God and the believer as more like a friendship or family tie than like merely one person is arranging to take care of the needs of another." 23

- The paradox

 - Direct communication with God is in Christian history and in Scripture. Yet it is almost a taboo topic amongst Christians.

- First steps toward a solution

 - If we believe in personal communication we must not neglect this area

- Three general problems

 - 1. Gods communications come to us in many forms

 - 2. We may have the wrong motives

 - 3. We misconceive the very nature of our heavenly Father and of his intent for us. God is not our buddy

 - "The development of character, rather than direction in this, that, and the other matter, must be the primary purpose of the father. He will guide us, but he won't override us. That fact should make us use with caution the method of sitting down with a pencil and a blank sheet of paper and write down the instructions dictated by God for the day."

- A conversational relationship

 - We are looking for a mature relationship.

 - We follow because we know his voice, When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. Jn 10:4

Next week we will go on to look at chapter 2 of the book which is titled “Guidelines for hearing from 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

Recently God has made me listen more as a result of losing my voice after an allergic reaction to something I ate.

Today we look at Chapter 1.

- 1. A paradox about hearing God

- Learning to hear God's voice makes us more than someone who has knowledge.17

- The ongoing conversation

        - He references Adam & Eve, Enoch and Moses as examples of people with an ongoing conversation with God. However, I'm not sure that is precisely true. That might be an over literal understanding of Enoch's relationship with God. In any case, we have very little detail. 

- The UFO syndrome

   - We might sound a bit wacky if we start talking about hearing God.

   - "Why is it", comedian Lily Tomlin asks, "that when we speak to God we are said to be praying but when God speaks to us we are said to be schizophrenic?"

Is. 58:9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 

- Abiding include conversing

        - Jesus makes his home with his followers, John 14:23  “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” 

        - How can we abide unless there is communication?

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Heb. 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

Heb. 13:6   So we say with confidence,  “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 

Matt. 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

- One-to-one with God

        - God cares for his sheep individually, Psalm 23

- The paradox

        - Direct communication with God is in Christian history and in Scripture. Yet it is almost a taboo topic amongst Christians.

- First steps toward a solution

        - If we believe in personal communication we must not neglect this area

- Three general problems

            - 1. Gods communications come to us in many forms

            - 2. We may have the wrong motives

            - 3. We misconceive the very nature of our heavenly Father and of his intent for us. God is not our buddy

- A conversational relationship

        - We are looking for a mature relationship.

        - We follow because we know his voice,  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. Jn 10:4

Next week we will go on to look at chapter 2 of the book which is titled “Guidelines for hearing from 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

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ

In preparation for today’s lesson I re-read the Dallas Willard book “Hearing God: developing a conversational relationship with God".

As with all of Willard’s books, it is about much more than the actual title or theme. It's really about what it means to know Christ and to live for him in this world. He sets up the book by noting that God wants a friendship with us. He references the Scriptures below. Take some time to read them and, as you do so, ask yourself what they are telling you about God's desire for the kind of relationship he wants to have with you.

Ex. 29:43-46 “…there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.”

Ex. 33:11 “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.”

Psa. 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me 

all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Is. 41:8  “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend…”

John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Heb. 13:5-6 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”” 

Take some time to meditate on one or more of these Scriptures. How does it make you feel knowing that God wants this for you? The fact that it is God's desire for you to have a conversational relationship with him is more important than what we want. Hearing God is more about his heart than our techniques. It's about relationship. Part of that is about hearing God. Our goal is not to ‘hear’ from God as such. Our goal must be to understand and learn what it means to be in a conversational relationship with God and to enjoy hearing from him in whatever way he decides is best.

Is this important? Willard says this, "Today there is a desperate need for large numbers of people throughout our various social groupings who are competent and confident in their own practice of life in Christ and in hearing his voice." 12

I agree. The world does not need diffident, insecure and unconfident Christians. What kind of God would that reveal to the world? No, the world needs confident Christians. That confidence must be in God, and not tainted by religious arrogance. That is why hearing from God is fundamentally about our submission and not our worthiness. That submission is something we will look at in the lesson today.

“So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”” 1 Sam 3:9-10

The word ‘listening’ is the Hebrew word שָׁמַע, or, šāmaꜥ meaning to hear, listen and obey. The intention to obey is contained within the listening action. Listening to obey is one way we tune in to God’s wavelength. It is how we find the sound of his voice. Every Sunday our guitarists tune their instruments to the piano. It takes active listening to match the pitch of the guitar to that of the piano. Passive listening will not do it. In his book, “Letters by a Modern Mystic”, Frank Laubach says this about his progress to being a good God-listener:

“I feel like one who has had his violin out of tune with the orchestra and at last is in harmony with the music of the universe."

Ideas and Questions for Reflection 

1. In what ways do you think God might ‘speak’ to you?

2. How do you feel about developing a conversational relationship with God?

3. What part does submission play in developing that kind of relationship with 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? Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. 

God bless, Malcolm

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ

In preparation for today’s lesson I re-read the Dallas Willard book “Hearing God: developing a conversational relationship with God".

As with all of Willard’s books, it is about much more than the actual title or theme. It's really about what it means to know Christ and to live for him in this world. He sets up the book by noting that God wants a friendship with us. He references the Scriptures below. Take some time to read them and, as you do so, ask yourself what they are telling you about God's desire for the kind of relationship he wants to have with you.

Ex. 29:43-46 “…there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.”

Ex. 33:11 “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.”

Psa. 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me 

all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Is. 41:8  “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend…”

John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Heb. 13:5-6 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”” 

Take some time to meditate on one or more of these Scriptures. How does it make you feel knowing that God wants this for you? The fact that it is God's desire for you to have a conversational relationship with him is more important than what we want. Hearing God is more about his heart than our techniques. It's about relationship. Part of that is about hearing God. Our goal is not to ‘hear’ from God as such. Our goal must be to understand and learn what it means to be in a conversational relationship with God and to enjoy hearing from him in whatever way he decides is best.

Is this important? Willard says this, "Today there is a desperate need for large numbers of people throughout our various social groupings who are competent and confident in their own practice of life in Christ and in hearing his voice." 12

I agree. The world does not need diffident, insecure and unconfident Christians. What kind of God would that reveal to the world? No, the world needs confident Christians. That confidence must be in God, and not tainted by religious arrogance. That is why hearing from God is fundamentally about our submission and not our worthiness. That submission is something we will look at in the lesson today.

“So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”” 1 Sam 3:9-10

The word ‘listening’ is the Hebrew word שָׁמַע, or, šāmaꜥ meaning to hear, listen and obey. The intention to obey is contained within the listening action. Listening to obey is one way we tune in to God’s wavelength. It is how we find the sound of his voice. Every Sunday our guitarists tune their instruments to the piano. It takes active listening to match the pitch of the guitar to that of the piano. Passive listening will not do it. In his book, “Letters by a Modern Mystic”, Frank Laubach says this about his progress to being a good God-listener:

“I feel like one who has had his violin out of tune with the orchestra and at last is in harmony with the music of the universe."

Ideas and Questions for Reflection 

1. In what ways do you think God might ‘speak’ to you?

2. How do you feel about developing a conversational relationship with God?

3. What part does submission play in developing that kind of relationship with 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? Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. 

God bless, Malcolm

Today a response to a question from a friend, which was promoted by a previous teaching tip on ‘personal fruitfulness’.

“I had a question. In the NT and especially Paul’s letters. There’s little emphasis on Evangelism. However we see the Lord added to their number. Firstly, I wanted to ask why you think there was no emphasis? Secondly, what were they doing then that allowed that growth to happen?”

This also struck me as a young Christian. I remember a teaching weekend on Philippians and how little there was about evangelism and how much there was about Christ, love, peace, unity.

How did they have an impact? They stood out!

1. In their DNA

Acts 8:4: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

2. Not participating in pagan worship due to idolatry:

“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.” Rev 2:14

Some meat from sacrifice sold in marketplace. Not a problem, 1 Corinthians 10:23-30.

Meat from sacrifice consumed in a religious context. A problem. Acts 15:29; 21:25; 1 Cor 8:1, 4, 7, 10; 10:19, 28; Rev 2:14, 20.

Although on occasion these meals might have served a more social and political purpose than a religious one, any food eaten in a temple or in a building connected with the Temple would even in theory be a religious event. As such, one was eating with the so-called gods. Not something a Christian could do.

3. Jn 13:34-35 – love & joy

Seen as incestuous by critics.

“We practice sharing in our banquets, which are not only modest, but also sober. For we do not indulge in entertainments, nor do we prolong our feasts with wine. Rather, we temper our joyousness with seriousness, with chaste discourse, and with bodies even more chaste.” Mark Minucius Felix around 200 A.D.

Hospitality plays a significant part in this – may be harder work than ‘inviting’ people. Imagine Jew & Gentile, slave and master eating together.

4. Cared about others’ poor

The pagan emperor, Julian the Apostate, wrote to a pagan priest: “when it came about that the poor were neglected and overlooked by the [pagan] priests, then I think the impious Galilaeans [i.e., Christians] observed this fact and devoted themselves to philanthropy.” “[They] support not only their poor, but ours as well, all men see that our people lack aid from us.”

Consider also that the Jesus movement can be characterised as “setting the oppressed free”. “What if evangelism was inviting others to join this movement and church work was organizing local efforts to keep the movement moving?” Reconstructing the Gospel, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

5. Confident & courageous: they knew what they believed, they had a personal relationship with God

“Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

Courageous: despite persecution from both Jews and pagans

“Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:29

A lifestyle and community like the above requires maturity. We need good Bible teaching, a strong community, and a vital walk with God.

Fundamentally our challenge may not be that we do not understand evangelism, but whether we understand the mission.

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

Last two weeks have struck a chord with you and me. Therefore I decided to re-read the book “Hearing God: developing a conversational relationship with God" this week. Made notes and decided to do a multipart series - one for each chapter of the book.

As with all of Willard’s themed books, it is about much more than the actual title or theme in the title. In truth, it's really about what it means to know Christ and to live for him in this world.

Today we look at the introduction, or technically the preface.

He sets up the book by noting that God wants an intimate friendship with us. He references the following Scriptures: Exodus 29:43-46; 33:11; Psalm 23; Isaiah 41:8; John 15:14; Hebrews 13:5-6. He could have chosen many more. Let me read some of these to us today. As I do so, ask yourself what is telling you about God's desire for the kind of relationship he wants to have with you and me.

Ex. 29:43-46 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Ex. 33:11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Psa. 23:1    The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk 

through the darkest valley, 

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me 

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me 

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Is. 41:8 “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,

John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

Heb. 13:5-6 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 

Take some time to meditate on one or more of these Scriptures. How does it make you feel knowing that God wants this for you? The fact that it is God's desire do you have a conversational relationship with us is more important than what we want. Hearing God is more about his heart than our techniques. It's about relationship. Part of that is about hearing God. Establishing this at the beginning of this series is important. Our goal is not to ‘hear’ from God as such, our goal must be to understand and learn what it means to be in a conversational relationship with God and to enjoy hearing from him in whatever way he decides is best.

Is this important? Willard says this, "Today there is a desperate need for large numbers of people throughout our various social groupings who are competent and confident in their own practice of life in Christ and in hearing his voice." 12

I agree. The world does not need diffident, insecure and unconfident Christians. What kind of God does that reveal to the world? No, the world needs confident Christians. That confidence must be in God, and not tainted by religious arrogance. That is why hearing from God is about our submission and not our worthiness. More on that as we proceed. 

Next week we will go on to look at chapter 1 of the book which is titled “A paradox about hearing 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

In this second sermon in a series about why we sing when we are gathered on a Sunday, we look at the passage in Colossians 3.

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