Malcolm Cox

Isn't it fun being helpful? I had an unexpected last-minute request from my friends in Dublin to join their leadership team meeting on Friday night. I was more than happy to interrupt my work on the script of a new podcast  called, probably, "Malcolm's Masters Theocast". I had a delightful 20 minutes or so hanging out on zoom with my Irish brethren. I think, and hope, I was helpful. And it was a joy.

I am very excited about something some friends and I are putting on in November. I find myself inspired by the example of Apollos. Someone who knew the Bible well, and whose heart was to be helpful. Isn't that what all people who enjoy teaching the Bible once?

“When he [Apollos] arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.” (Acts 18:27 NIV11)

Do you have an interest in teaching God’s word? Would you like to be more helpful to your congregation and those seeking God?

If so, this November's teachers’ gathering could be for you.

Several of us from the UK were blessed to attend the recent ICOC teaching ministry conference in Estonia. Classes can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/c/KristlikVabakogudus.  The conference was hosted by the Tallinn church (Tallinna Kristlik Vabakogudus) and organised by a diverse group of people headed by Andy & Tammy Fleming.

We were inspired by the depth and practicality of the teaching. People like Andy and Tammy Fleming (Kiev), Valdur Koha (Boston), Mati Simm (Tallinn) Paul Smith (Johannesburg), Emmanuel Emeh (Lagos), Steve Kinnard (New York), Douglas Jacoby (Scotland), Brad and Laura King (Paris) and many others poured petrol on the fire of our teaching passion. Over 100 people attended in person with another 250 or more participating online from all over the world.

Those present at the Tallinn conference from the UK had breakfast together on the final morning. We shared our reflections. A common desire surfaced. We want to do our part in enabling ever-healthier teaching to flourish in the United Kingdom. We do not have all the answers. But we sensed that if we meet together to worship with open hearts and bibles perhaps the Spirit will guide us. Therefore, we offer this opportunity for like-minded men and women to gather. 

This event is open to anyone - men and women - who are interested in developing their ability to correctly teach and explain God’s word to others.  It is not limited to those currently engaged in teaching in their congregations but also to those who believe they could contribute to a healthy church environment using their gifts and knowledge of God’s word appropriately.

 

Venue: West Watford Free church building, Tolpits Lane, Watford, WD18 6NU.

Date: Saturday, the 27th of November from 10 am to 1 pm.

We will follow the sessions with a free light lunch for those who wish to stay and talk more. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Format:

- Videos on teaching topics will be sent out in advance to stimulate thinking as preparation for our time together

- The sessions will contain a mix of Bible teaching, table-based discussion and panel Q & A.

- We will pray and sing together

- Session 1: Why personal development as a teacher matters and the benefits of collaborating as teachers.

- Session 2: How we might feed our learning into the local church context.

- We will conclude by drawing threads together.

Registration is here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-be-a-helpful-teacher-a-conference-for-bible-teachers-tickets-190413390577  

Registration deadline: November 14th

- Will there be an option to attend online? We hope so. Leon Watkins is working on a plan. If it proves impossible we will record and upload as much as is relevant and appropriate.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email: [email protected]. 

God bless, Malcolm

On behalf of the organising group: myself, Chris Birtles, Andy Boakye, Andy Ezeilo, Douglas Jacoby and Rob Payne

God bless, Malcolm

 

“GET READY TO CROSS” LEADERSHIP SERIES | CLASS 1 – “I WILL BE WITH YOU” | MALCOLM COX

“THE CHANGING PICTURE OF JESUS”, MARK CHAPTER 6, MALCOLM COX

“HOW TO BE A HELPFUL TEACHER” - Teaching Tip 234

 

Some of my reading at the moment includes:

Does Theology Have a Method? An Interview with Paul Allen

The Living God: Systemic Theology: Volume One (Systematic Theology) by Thomas C. Oden

God bless, Malcolm

In these three classes on spiritual leadership, we look to the example of Joshua. His situation and that of the Israelites bears many parallels with our context coming out of lockdown.

Today we focus on two aspects of spiritual growth and health as leaders.

First by recognising that the wilderness is where God shows up, revealing himself to us and refining us.

Secondly by taking inspiration from the example of the apostle Paul.

Handout here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-Z39wgWlLb7q3dBF2aYP9F6AVk4cOuAX&authuser=mccx%40mac.com&usp=drive_fs

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 explore the way in which the identity of Jesus developed for his disciples.

 “Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.  Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.   Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” (Mark 6.45–52 NIV11)

How has your vision of Jesus changed? Is it still growing?

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

Welcome to today's Teaching Tip. We take a look at a new app I've been using called speechify: www.speechify.com. It's helping me to get truly soaked in the text I will be speaking on.

How do you soak yourself in the text so that by the time you speak on it it's almost become part of 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. 

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

God bless, Malcolm

It's confession time. In 2008 I had a consultation with an educational psychologist. She diagnosed me as dyslexic. I've ever talked about it publicly.

The background is that I was studying part-time at the London School of Theology and finding it tough going. It didn't make sense to me that I was reasonably intelligent, but finding it very challenging to process what I was learning and reproduce it in essay and exam form to a level I thought was commensurate with my abilities. The school put me in touch with an educational psychologist. We had an extended session together. She wrote a report, and it came back with a big word - "dyslexia" - on the front cover.

I was surprised...but also not surprised. It made sense - and it didn't. For example, I love reading. Always have. Easily get lost in a book. Was a better reader than my peers all through my school years, and read books well above my reading age. But spelling? What a challenge! My late mother would often lament the fact that during my primary school years the headteacher changed the way of teaching spelling from a traditional to a phonetic method. She blamed him for my poor spelling. I now realise the headteacher was carrying the can for my disability!

And then there's writing. I can write quite well, but it takes me an age. Writing, re-writing, and re-writing again. Going away from what I've written coming back and finding it needs rewriting all over again. So slow! It's astonishing that I managed to write a book (thank you to the editors at DPI who were so patient with me!) - and that it sold.

I discovered the diagnosis late on in my time at the London School of Theology, and it came too late to make a significant difference to my grades. And, having left that institution in 2009 I allowed the issue to fade into the background, since most the time I was not engaging with the same level of intellectually demanding material as when I was studying formally. However, in the build up to beginning my Masters, doing some preparatory reading, and during the induction week, I began to experience the familiar feelings of frustration, anger, and, frankly, despair.

I was reading paragraph after paragraph, chapter of the chapter of very interesting books, and finding it almost impossible to assimilate what I was reading. I remember the report, pulled it out and re-read it. Then it struck me like a hammer. I had never fully embraced the reality of my dyslexia. I had been living in denial. It struck me as strange that I've talked publicly about almost every struggle I've had wether to do with my emotional health, physical health, spiritual well-being or anything else. But not the dyslexia. Why not? I prayed about it and can to believe that it was because I felt ashamed.

Rationally this makes no sense. I understand and fully accept that I am weak, that it's OK to be weak, and it's OK for others to know that I am weak. However, for some reason, this particular issue was one I did not want to bring into the light. I imagine it's something to do with the high intelligence and achievement levels of my parents. And perhaps connected to the fact that I grew up in an era when dyslexia and matters like it were not sympathetically received.

Whatever the exact reasons, I have repudiated them. Hence, this newsletter article, and a new podcast to come in which I will chronicle my return to theological studies and my wrestling with the issues surrounding my dyslexia. I think I might call it "mastering dyslexia". If you have any ideas for a better name, please let me know. First episode will go out next week.

Since resolving that I am willing to confront my dyslexia head on, I've been doing a good amount of research. Many thanks to Caroline Bateman, a friend of mine who has an expertise in this area. There is a tremendous amount of helpful material online including from dyslexia charities and other professionals. I'm considering hiring a dyslexia coach for a while as I ease my way back into the challenging waters of theological study.

I am wondering whether any of my readers have experience of dyslexia and in particular tips and practical tools you have used to help you study.

For the time being I shall meditate on this verse: ““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”” (2Corinthians 12:9 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

Let's review what has gone up on the site and my YouTube channel recently......“A new thing” Episode 16 | The way to increase connection | Post-COVID church

“Faith, Fear and Reassurance” | Mark Chapter 5 | Malcolm Cox

“Five Ways The Holy Spirit Unites Disciples of Christ” || Class 3 || “Liturgy” || Malcolm Cox

“Lighting and Listening” | Mark Chapter 4 | Malcolm Cox

“What it means to have Jesus as your brother” | Mark Chapter 3 | Malcolm Cox

Some of the books I'm reading at the moment include:

God bless, Malcolm 

In this sermon for the Watford church of Christ we look at the Markan sandwich of the healing of the daughter of Jairus, and the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years. 

In particular, we find that our fears are no barrier to the power of Jesus if we act in faith. We find him to be full of reassurance despite our anxiety.

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

Class 3 - The Spirit Unites Disciples by Liturgy

Five Ways The Holy Spirit Unites Disciples of Christ

Class 3 - The Spirit Unites Disciples Because He is Present When We Gather to Worship

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6 NIV11)

- Last week - transformation: we “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2Corinthians 3:17–18 NIV11)

Main Point For Today: The Spirit unites us by being present when we gather to worship and working in us and for us in that collective worship

- What is ‘liturgy’?

    - "Liturgy came to designate the church’s official (or unofficial) public and corporate ritual of worship, including the Eucharist (or Communion), baptism and other sacred acts. Certain ecclesiastical traditions (such as Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican) follow a set pattern of worship (the liturgy), whereas many Protestant churches prefer a less structured style. This gives rise to the distinction sometimes made between “liturgical” and “nonliturgical” churches." Grenz, Stanley J., David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, eds. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.3. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

- Our unity is improved and developed and deepened as we worship together with and in the Spirit. The Spirit is the one who enables this.

1. We worship in and by the Spirit

    - “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”” (John 4.24 NIV11)

    

- “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve (worship) God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.” (Philippians 3.3–4 NIV11)

    - “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.”” (Galatians 4:6 NIV11)

2. The Spirit is present when we worship

    - “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 NIV11)

    - “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4.31 NIV11)

    - “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8.26 NIV11)

3. Church services are Spirit events

    - We don't have to do things exactly the same way (not like some fixed liturgy), but what we do when we pray, take the Lord supper, sing together, fellowship and learn from God’s word, are all spirit enabled activities.

    - Because the spirit is in each one of us, and the spirit is relational, connecting all of us.

    - This is true in an individual congregation, but it must also be true congregation to congregation across the globe and time.

    - We gather before the throne - together

The gathering is more important than the form.

Questions

1. In what way does it help your unity with fellow-believers to know that we worship in and by the Spirit?

2. In what way could you enhance a recognition that the Spirit is present and enabling your worship when you gather?

3. What is your part in enabling the Spirit to work in and through your collective worship?

Summary

- The Spirit unites us by being present in our times of collective worship, and making them effective in bringing us the joy of the spirit and bringing God the glory he deserves.

- “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2Corinthians 13.14 NIV11)

Next time

- Practising the Kingdom of God: The way the Spirit unifies us as we minister to others

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 fourth sermon from our series on the gospel of Mark, we take a look at what it means to bring the light of Jesus into this world, and carefully consider what we are hearing.

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 next in the series as we focus on Jesus in the gospel of Mark. 

This week we focus on the identity of Jesus and the community he is forming. What is his relationship with his family, and who are his family? Where did the teachers of the law fit in? Why is Jesus accused of being in league with the devil?

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

I walked into Penny's greenhouse the other day. Large flowers caught my attention. The bright red tomatoes called, saying, "Eat me!". Of course, I had to obey.

I almost missed the small pink flower in the photograph. I'm so glad I didn't, because it's complexity, delicacy and beauty exceeded anything in the greenhouse. How easy it is to miss something wonderful.

Such a very real danger presented itself to the people who heard Jesus. His family (Mark 3) his accusers (chapters 2, 3, 4 etc) and his disciples (chapter 4) all ran the risk of missing or misinterpreting the point of his teaching and presence. I'm fascinated by Mark's gospel at the moment. We are preaching through it in the Watford Church. The text for a couple of Sunday's time is Mark 4:21-25. 

“He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear." "Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”” (Mark 4.21–25 NIV11)

The light in the context of Mark 4 could be simply Jesus, but also his message, the good news of the Gospel and the heralding of the kingdom. Perhaps all of the above. 

The lamp is meant to be used in a ‘public’ way. To hide it would be nonsensical. Jesus could be responding to worries on behalf of his disciples that his ministry was stirring up too much opposition. The early church might also have felt this. But Jesus reminds them that he (light of the world) was brought into this dark world specifically to shed light on what is hidden (sin and what needs healing). On occasion, bringing the light of Jesus into this world, even into our own lives, causes disruption and controversy. The fear that is connected with change and conflict must be confronted by keeping our eyes on Jesus. That's why he challenged so many to have faith and not be afraid.

Where today is this light? Where is it hidden or concealed? Perhaps it is in you and me. Are we willing to bring the light of truth into the open? Our actions might not be welcomed, but why let the beauty of the Gospel remain hidden? Whilst courting controversy for its own sake is not healthy, neither is attempting to live a comfortable Christian life. 

Let's make this appeal of Paul a focus of prayer for you and me today:

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:19–20)

The gospel is the most beautiful gem in existence. It deserves and needs to be revealed.

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You can find all the Tallinn teaching conference classes here: https://www.youtube.com/c/KristlikVabakogudus 

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Working on plans (together with Andy Boakye and Douglas Jacoby) for a UK & Ireland teaching programme based on the Athens Institute of Ministry. We will launch in January 2022.

Working on a new five part series on the holy spirit, relationships and unity for the Thames Valley churches of Christ. Second class is linked above.

Trying to catch up with reading in advance of starting my Masters in theology next month.

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One last thing...... My friend Obi Abuchi has written a book. I think you'll like it:

God bless, Malcolm