Malcolm Cox

Today I share the value of taking some time to review the year. I'm doing two sabbath days around Christmas and the New Year in 2021. The first is to help me review the way in which God has been active in my life in the year just gone. And the second will be to ask God to give me discernment and wisdom about the things he wants me to focus on in the year coming.

What do you find helps you to review your spiritual year? Do you take 'sabbath' days? If you do, what do you find helpful in making them meaningful?

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 

1. Spirit at work, vv25-27

    - Working before Pentecost

    - Year past & year to come

    - Messy, but glorious

    - Much like 2021!

2. Salvation at work, vv29-32

    - "They are both living in a world of patient hope, where suffering has become a way of life. It now appears that God’s appointed redeemer will deal with this suffering by sharing it himself." Wright, N. T. Luke for Everyone.  4. Accordance electronic edition, version 2.3. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011.

    - Available to all

3. Sword at work, vv33-35

    - 'rhomphaia' denotes a large sword

    - Jesus came to serve us at a high cost

    - We imitate him

    - Is there a serving-focus God is presenting to you in 2022?

Conclusion

- Jesus will himself fall & rise

- Communion celebrates this

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 I reflect on the important of the little-known character of Simeon. A man accredited as righteous and devout. What does that mean? And, how might it help us prepare for the year ahead?

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

What lessons has God taught us in the online church COVID era? He is doing something new.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43,19 NIV11)

This new podcast series is my attempt to think through what we have learned, what we might retain and what we might do differently now that we are moving into meeting together physically again.

Today I discuss the challenges of balancing risk with responsibility. Should we meet and risk infection. Or not meet and risk weakening our spiritual wellbeing?

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 today's episode I share the impact of contemplating my impending first Christmas after my mother's death. There are reasons for gratitude and sadness. There are decisions to make regarding the Christmas chair.

These occasional, unedited podcasts are my way of processing my thoughts and feelings following the death of my mother earlier this year. If any of it is helpful to anyone else, I shall be glad.

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

As Christmas approaches we take a look at the experience of Joseph and his encounter with the angel.

Thank you for connecting with this material. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org. 

Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM at  the West Watford Free church, Tolpits Lane, WD18 6NU

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

In this final class for the Thames Valley Church of Christ in 2021, Tim and Shevvy look back on 2021 and forward to 2022. Shevvy gives us some of the good news of what God has been doing among us, and Tim points us forward using Acts 2:42 as a way of focusing our priorities for the year ahead. I share a few personal thoughts from Colossians and 1 Peter 5.

Thank you for connecting with us. You can find more episodes on our YouTube channel and podcast feed as well as the website: https://thamesvalley.church 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

Today we look at the way in which God choosing a despised group of people might be a inspiration to our own desire to spread the word about Jesus.

David was a shepherd: (2Sam 7:8), And looked after sheep at Bethlehem, 1 Samuel 17:15.  Jesus is, like David, a ruler born in Shepherd country.

"in both testaments shepherds symbolise those who care for God’s people, including the Lord himself (Ps 23:1; Isa 40:11; Jer 23:14; Heb 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:2). The shepherds of Luke 2 may, therefore, symbolize all the ordinary people who have joyfully received the gospel and have become in various ways pastors to others." Liefeld, Walter L. Luke. EBC 8. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein and J. D. Douglas. Accordance electronic edition, version 2.8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.

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 take a look at one of the most confusing, yet, also surprisingly practical chapters from the gospel of Mark.

I do my best to give an overview of the meaning of the abomination that causes desolation and the other extraordinary predictions of Jesus.

In the end, however, we must reckon with the warnings in this chapter.

“Watch out (5)… Do not be alarmed (7)… Be on your guard (9)… Do not worry (11)… stand firm (13)… Flee (14)… Pray (18)… Do not be deceived (21-22)… Be on your guard (23)… Be on your guard (33)… Be alert (33)… Watch (35)… Watch! (37).  

Can you answer these four questions?

1. What do we need to "watch out”/be on our guard for?

2. How can we stay alert without being anxious?

- ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 ESV)

    

- “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:20 ESV)

3. What helps us to stand firm when under attack?

- “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV11)

- “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” (Ephesians 6:14 NIV11)

- “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” (2Thess 2:15 NIV11)

4. What prevents us from being deceived?

- 1 Cor 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

- “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1John 1:8 ESV)

    

- “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 ESV)

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

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” (Matthew 1:22–23)

Today I reflect on the connection between Mark 13 and the beginning of Matthew's Gospel. How do we stay alert without being anxious? It all comes down to trusting that we are safe with Jesus. We consider his two 'names'. Jesus as rescuer and Jesus as God with 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