Malcolm Cox

Tuesday Teaching Tips | Episode 257 | “The Connection between the Spirit, Unity and Singing” Part 3

Why do we sing?

We have been answering the question, "Why do we sing?”. In the last two Teaching Tips I made some comments on Eph 5:18-21 and Col 3:16. Today let’s explore a few more thoughts on singing based in 1 Corinthians 14.

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26

Background

The church in Corinth had a lot of problems. They struggled with divisiveness, looseness regarding sin, attempts to put leaders on pedestals, drunkenness during communion, chaotic church services and, overall, a lack of love. 

As Paul gets towards the end of his letter he focuses on helping them to change the way they think about their church services.  He hopes that God will be glorified and visitors would have, “the secrets of their hearts are laid bare”, and then they would, “fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”” 1 Cor 14:25

Much preaching and teaching focuses on the Corinthians’ abuse of prophecy and tongue speaking. Not much is said about their singing. It is true that we only have a short mention of this in verse 26. However, I think it's instructional and helpful for us to reflect on.

1. Choosing songs was a Congregational responsibility

Paul does not rebuke them for tongue-speaking, bringing a revelation, prophecy or a word of instruction. Neither does he rebuke them for bringing “a hymn”.  Who was bringing these hymns? It is the same people who might also have a revelation of a prophecy. 

It looks rather as if they did not have a worship team. At least not in the way we understand it. Perhaps no one chose the songs for that Sunday in advance. Instead, the members contemplated what God was teaching them and showing them during the week and brought songs to the rest of the congregation so that they could sing them  together. Perhaps they were hymns they already knew, perhaps they were hymns they made up.

We cannot know the details for sure, and some of this may be cultural and not fully appropriate to our situation. However what I take from this is that the congregation didn't delegate the responsibility for singing to musical specialists. Remember, he does not say ‘each of you worship leaders has a hymn’, he says ‘each of you has a hymn' indicating that he is talking to all the members.

2. The Congregation Came to the Gathering Thinking About Songs and Singing

It's clear that the congregation sang as a body, and that each member was aware that they potentially had something to contribute. It may not be that every member brought a hymn regularly, but it was a normal part of the church culture that various people would bring hymns. If they were going to do that, it means that they didn't start thinking about singing on Sunday morning. They were thinking about hymns during the week.

Imagine if, from Monday to Saturday, you gave time to thinking about the songs we might sing on Sunday. What might happen? Perhaps it would help us to be more fully engaged with the singing when we gather on Sunday morning. What could help us with this? 

One way is to incorporate songs into our personal devotional times during the week. You could listen to songs, sing them yourself, or read the words of a song and pray through them. That's rather like praying through a Psalm isn't it? In doing so we will connect our hearts to God and find ways of expressing our love for him in song.

In their book “Sing!” Keith and Kristyn Getty say this,

“Worship isn’t primarily about music, techniques, songs or methodologies. It’s about our hearts. It’s about what and who we love more than anything.” 

If we connect our hearts with God in song during the rest of the week I am certain it will enhance the expression of our joy when we sing on Sunday.

Ideas and Questions for Reflection 

1. Someone said, “Your voice may not be of professional standard, but it is of confessional standard.” What does that mean to you?

2. God cares that you sing, but he does not care how well you sing. How does that shape the way you think about singing?

3. The Gettys also say, “Christian singing begins with the heart, not on the lips.” What does that mean for you?

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. 

God bless, Malcolm

Why do we sing?

There is not a great deal of instruction in the New Testament about church singing. But what the Scriptures lack in volume they make up for in depth. This week and next week we will take a look at two of the key passages about congregational singing.

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-21

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16

A Casual Comment?

At first glance these instructions to sing seem almost like a throw-away comment. It is as if Paul has heard that the churches don't like singing and decides to add an instruction to sing because it's a good thing to do. But, are these instructions connected with a bigger picture? I believe they are. Much bigger, much more profound.

Guthrie claims, ‘...this command can be seen as the culmination of the first five chapters.’ Resonant Witness: Conversations between Music and Theology. Kindle Edition. 

If you want to understand how this instruction to sing fits here and what relevance it has to our theology and practice as a congregation, you need to read the rest of Ephesians.

The Spirit and the Temple

The verse break in Ephesians 5:18-19 splits the reference to the Spirit from the next verse about singing. The result is to hide the connection between being filled with the Spirit and singing. What connection do you think exists between the Spirit and singing? Let’s explore the connection between Spirit, Temple, the Body of Christ and singing.

Paul wants the Ephesians to understand the significance of their calling to be a temple, Ephesians 2:21-22. The physical temple was where God revealed his glory on Earth. Jesus re-identifies the temple as his body, John 2:19–21. His body is the place on Earth where God’s glory was manifested. That was an extraordinary statement which shocked his hearers. Perhaps even more shockingly the glory of God which was in Jerusalem, then in Jesus (or more accurately manifested in that building, then in that body), is now in the church. 

Specifically, it is the church made up of both Jew and Gentile.  The two groups together (which encompasses all of humanity) have been made one by Christ, Ephesians 2:14–16, and are now joined together as a temple, Ephesians 2:19-22. 

That temple deserves to be honoured and kept pure. Hence his commands to avoid drunkenness and the like, and instead to be filled with the Spirit.  The Spirit of God filled the temple, was fully in Jesus, and now wishes to fill the entirety of God’s people both Jew and Gentile.

God makes the ‘two’ into one. To function as God intended, this temple (church) must be filled with the Spirit. What does this mean?

Four instructions

"be filled" (plerousthe) is the command which is expressed in the following ways: 

Speaking (lalountes) to one another in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs

Singing (adontes) and making music (psallontes) in your hearts

Giving thanks (eucharistountes) to the Lord

Submitting (hypotassomenoi) to one another

How are we to obey the command to be filled with the Spirit? By speaking to one another in song, singing, giving thanks and submitting to one another.

Why the connection with singing? Does it have something to do with engendering unity between the disparate Jews and Gentiles? We bond together by singing and we sing because we are bonded together in Christ. How will our two congregations be bonded in the Spirit? By obeying the command that to be filled with God’s Spirit - and part of that is singing together. That’s not too onerous a command, is it!? 

Ideas and Questions for Reflection 

Read the whole book of Ephesians and reflect on why Paul thinks singing is so important for the Church.

Is there anything that inhibits you from singing with all your heart when we are together? If so, what can you do about it?

What does it mean to you that the congregation is now the temple?

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

Last week's quiet time coaching episode struck a chord with several people. Amongst those was my friend from Denver, Matt Anjilivelil. He sent me a copy of a study he has put together to help people to learn how to hear God.

He makes the point that God spoke to his people in the Bible. For example, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Mary, Jesus and Paul.  Even if we may not hear God in the same way they did, it is clear that God loves to communicate with his people. The rest of his study is on the relevant page on my website. However, it set me to thinking about a couple of things. Let's take Samuel for example.

Perhaps we don’t hear because we are not listening to obey.

“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 Samuel 3:9-10

listening שָׁמַע   šāmaꜥ   1165x  Q to hear, listen, obey; N to be heard; P to summon, call together; H to proclaim, summon, make hear; from the base meaning of hearing come the extensions of understanding and obedience. → announce; hear; listen; obey; perceive; proclaim; understand.

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 to the piano in the venue we use for our Sunday services. It takes active listening to match the pitch of the guitar to that of the piano. Passive listening will not do it. 

I am currently reading the book, “Letters by a Modern Mystic” by Frank Laubach. He 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." (Frank Laubach, Letters by a Modern Mystic)

What do you find helpful to hear 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

The church in Colossae was made up of house churches of around 30-50 people (Philemon 1:2).

Many ‘gods’ were worshipped in this part of Asia Minor and the Apostle Paul is concerned about syncretism (in this context the blending together of Christian and Pagan worship).  Therefore he centres the letter on the sufficiency of Christ and his unique nature. Read the chapters that come before this one to get a feel for that.

Are the instructions about singing aimed at the individual or the congregational? The context is the “therefore” of v12 where he is addressing the Colossians as a body.  The list of positive exhortations is to the congregational community rather than the solo worshipper. 

What is the ‘message of Christ’? It is the message that centres on Christ. In other words their fellowship must derive its purpose and strength from him. The Scriptures help the community to centre themselves on Christ. For the message to “dwell richly” means it is ‘in their midst’. It is not a ‘thing’ to be dissected, grasped, conceptualised, taught or simply understood, but to be a dynamic experience. See use of same word for ‘richly’ in 1 Tim 6:17; Titus 3:6; 2 Peter 1:11. 

Paul is urging them to let Christ be centred among them so that he makes a difference to the way they live - vv12-15: compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, bearing, forgiving, loving to unity, peaceable, thankful.

The command is to dwell richly (in Christ), so how does singing fit? It is not that we dwell by teaching, admonishing and singing. It is that we decide to dwell with Christ as central, and then we will sing as a result. The “as you” in the NIV is not the best translation. A more accurate reading is to see the singing as the channel through which the centralising of Christ could be expressed. 

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” NASB

Teaching…admonishing: See Acts 20:31; 1 Cor 4:14; 1 Thess 5:12; 2 Thess 3:15; Titus 1:11

How to instruct with a hymn is not clear, but it  fits with 1 Cor 14:26.  

“When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”

However, if Paul emphasises teaching by singing it means he thought it important, and observed that it had been neglected (or done unhealthily) in Colossae.

Psalm - psalmos

NT: Luke 20:42; 24:44; Acts 1:20; 13:33; 1 Cor 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16. It looks like Paul was not talking about Psalms in a technical sense.

Philo & Josephus (first century Jewish writers) saw Psalms in the category of ‘religious song’.

As a noun this is found only in Ephesians & Colossians. As a verb it is in Matt 26:30 (ref to Psalm); Mk 14:26; Act 16:25; Heb 2:12 (Ps 22:22). Jesus and his disciples were ‘hymning”.

This word appears with the qualifier ‘spiritual’ each time (Rev 5:9; Rev 14:3; 15:3). Perhaps these songs were written by the congregation, or made up on the spot. All the terms above are not sealed categories, but may express emphases. 

Singing directly to God is added to the previous instruction to teach one another through music. We worship God and we instruct one another.

This Greek word would normally be translated ‘grace’. Thus the phrase could be "in the grace [of God]” or perhaps, “by the grace [of God]. In that case it would be reminding the Colossians of the grace in which they stand and which inspires the singing to come from the heart.

1. Vertical and horizontal directions: Singing is for one another and for God

2. Teaching the faith to one another can and must be done through music

3. Church music should be primarily verbal: The message is more important than the media

4. Christological focus: How much of Christ is in view in our songs?

5. Active participation: Worship is something we do, not something done to us or for us.

6. Rich variety of songs: We need a variety of the old, the new and, especially, the local. 

7. Sincerity and devotion: We worship because of who I am, because of who God is, and because of what's in my heart as a result.

8. Understanding God's Grace: As much we teach about music and singing, we must not neglect the teaching about the grace 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

It was a privilege to have my friend Christopher speak for us on Sunday. He and his son were visiting from Uppsalla.

He speaks from the heart about freedom - based on that wonderful passage in Galatians.

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 to hear God’s voice in troubled times“ Pete Greig, Premier Christianity magazine, April 2022

“Each one of us has been born with an extra ordinary superpower: an innate ability to hear the voice of God.” 49 

“…it’s amazing that God who speaks in such powerful ways would listen to us, but generally he doesn’t seem to speak in an audible voice. What does it mean?” 49

Jesus assumes that we will be able to hear him, John 10:27.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” John 10:27-30

“Learning to listen is one of the disciplines of the Christian life. It may be an innate ability, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be developed. Part of that is protecting ourselves from the things that get in the way of our ability to listen.” 51

Barriers include:

Five ways to hear God

Most of the literature written about listening to God has been written by introverts who are only 35% of the population, and that they “understandably advocate their own preference for quietness, stillness and solitude.“ And this might cause extroverts to think that they’re not very good at or don’t need to listen to God because they don’t fit in with the introverts’ experiences.

We can all listen and hear. What can you do to develop your listening capacity?

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

#prayer 

Why do we sing?

There is not a great deal of instruction in the New Testament about church singing. But what the Scriptures lack in volume they make up for in depth. This week and next week we will take a look at two of the key passages about congregational singing.

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-21

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16

A Casual Comment?

At first glance these instructions to sing seem almost like a throw-away comment. It is as if Paul has heard that the churches don't like singing and decides to add an instruction to sing because it's a good thing to do. But, are these instructions connected with a bigger picture? I believe they are. Much bigger, much more profound.

Guthrie claims, ‘...this command can be seen as the culmination of the first five chapters.’ Resonant Witness: Conversations between Music and Theology. Kindle Edition. 

If you want to understand how this instruction to sing fits here and what relevance it has to our theology and practice as a congregation, you need to read the rest of Ephesians.

The Spirit and the Temple

The verse break in Ephesians 5:18-19 splits the reference to the Spirit from the next verse about singing. The result is to hide the connection between being filled with the Spirit and singing. What connection do you think exists between the Spirit and singing? Let’s explore the connection between Spirit, Temple, the Body of Christ and singing.

Paul wants the Ephesians to understand the significance of their calling to be a temple, Ephesians 2:21-22. The physical temple was where God revealed his glory on Earth. Jesus re-identifies the temple as his body, John 2:19–21. His body is the place on Earth where God’s glory was manifested. That was an extraordinary statement which shocked his hearers. Perhaps even more shockingly the glory of God which was in Jerusalem, then in Jesus (or more accurately manifested in that building, then in that body), is now in the church. 

Specifically, it is the church made up of both Jew and Gentile.  The two groups together (which encompasses all of humanity) have been made one by Christ, Ephesians 2:14–16, and are now joined together as a temple, Ephesians 2:19-22. 

That temple deserves to be honoured and kept pure. Hence his commands to avoid drunkenness and the like, and instead to be filled with the Spirit.  The Spirit of God filled the temple, was fully in Jesus, and now wishes to fill the entirety of God’s people both Jew and Gentile.

God makes the ‘two’ into one. To function as God intended, this temple (church) must be filled with the Spirit. What does this mean?

Four instructions

"be filled" (plerousthe) is the command which is expressed in the following ways: 

* Speaking (lalountes) to one another in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs

* Singing (adontes) and making music (psallontes) in your hearts

* Giving thanks (eucharistountes) to the Lord

* Submitting (hypotassomenoi) to one another

How are we to obey the command to be filled with the Spirit? By speaking to one another in song, singing, giving thanks and submitting to one another.

Why the connection with singing? Does it have something to do with engendering unity between the disparate Jews and Gentiles? We bond together by singing and we sing because we are bonded together in Christ. How will our two congregations be bonded in the Spirit? By obeying the command that to be filled with God’s Spirit - and part of that is singing together. That’s not too onerous a command, is it!? 

Ideas and Questions for Reflection 

1. Read the whole book of Ephesians and reflect on why Paul thinks singing is so important for the Church.

2. Is there anything that inhibits you from singing with all your heart when we are together? If so, what can you do about it?

3. What does it mean to you that the congregation is now the temple?

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 men of the Watford church met last night. Part of our time was spent singing together. No instruments, nothing fancy, just singing songs we love. 

As we were leaving one of the men said to me that he had got out of habit singing in his personal devotional times with God. I suddenly realised the same thing had happened to me. Singing in my times of quiet with God has been important to me over the years, but recently I have neglected this valuable aid to connecting with God.

What part does singing have in your devotional times? It does at least two things. It changes our perspective, and reaffirms our identity.

“Body and spirit are inseparable: when we sing with full voice our attitude changes. When body attitude combines with deepest beliefs, singers are taken out of themselves into a heightened awareness of God, beauty, faith, and one another.” p87 

Brian Wren Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000)Perspective

Singing about our faith lifts us out of our current perspective into God’s perspective.

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you”

When we sing together we become ‘ourselves’ again. We recollect our true identity.

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

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,

No, not one! No, not one!

None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,

No, not one! No, not one!

CHORUS:

Jesus knows all about our struggles;

He will guide till the day is done;

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,

No, not one! No, not one!

This morning I sang “When I survey”. What did it do for me? It reminded me to keep my eyes on Jesus. It reminded me that Jesus’ love for me is fierce. He would even die to convince me that he loves me, and to make sure that I can share in his life.

“love so amazing so divine”

It reminded me that my only legitimate response to such love is to wholeheartedly give of myself to him, "demands my soul, my life, my all”  

What does it do for you? What else does it do apart from changing our perspective and reaffirming our identity?

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.

We have reached the end of our road to the resurrection. We spent some time today thinking about the meaning of the resurrection. Why did he rise? Why does he still live? 

The key aspects of our exploration are his ability to help us and his commitment to love 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

Today we are building on the previous Teaching Tip: Tuesday Teaching Tips | Episode 253 | “What kind of participation are you aiming for?”

‘Lack of participation is a growing concern among pastors and worship leaders. Passivity is a problem. It doesn't have to do with any particular style of worship. We simply fail to design and lead services that invite and even require the engagement of our people.’ Constance Cherry, The Worship Architect

Perhaps you don't think you have a problem. But have you gone and sat at the back? What measure are you using to assess whether people are truly participating in your teaching and preaching?

[worship] ‘is not a presentation or a performance from the front. For the body [of Christ] to function properly it requires that every member give themselves to worship.’ Andrew Maries, One Heart One Voice

Participation is not always manifested outwardly. Ultimately, it’s the testimony of a transformed life that matters.

Overall, I would suggest being less concerned about the immediate impact in the room, but more the medium to long-term impact of the formation of godliness and Christlike engagement with one another in the world. This is about the long-term, not about a short-term fix. We’re not looking to whack the knee and look for the reflex response.

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