Malcolm Cox

Teleios: “Recentring” - John Mark Hicks

“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)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2Corinthians 3:17–18 NIV11)

What is the result?

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” (1Thessalonians 4:3–8 NIV11)

““Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.” (Matthew 7:15–20 NIV11)

The effect on 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/). 

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“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 continue our series in the gospel of Mark by looking at the significance of forgiveness, faith and friends. Perhaps we need a hole in our lives so that Jesus can make us whole.

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 a new series on the gospel of Mark, we look at the early ministry of Jesus. We begin in chapter 1 and focus on his inspirational relationship with God as the basis for his love, power and authority.

This is a sermon preached for the Watford Church of Christ.

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 take a look at Psalm 46 and a precious promises of God and he is always available with the strength we need.

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 I enjoyed the very great privilege of travelling to Tallinn in Estonia to attend a teaching conference. The details of getting there were somewhat stressful because of Covid-19. But it was well worth the effort.

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

My own lesson on Colossians 2 is up on my site here: https://youtu.be/bY2lGBNK0Dg

Time will not allow a detailed report here, but I will say that it was a thrill to be there. I was inspired by what is going on in continental Europe as well as continental Africa regarding developing a teaching ministry. There was an atmosphere of soberness, but hope. The fellowship was deep, warm and meaningful.

Our hosts went out of their way to make us welcome. It can't be easy organising a conference whilst Covid is still with us.

It seems to me that in our fellowship of churches one of the most adventurous aspects of our development is in the area of teaching. I departed with a lighter heart and the one with which I arrived. Apart from the fact that we heard wonderful lessons about God, I got a renewed vision for the maturing impact of good quality teaching for young and old alike. The main practical conviction I came back with was to make sure that we get the UK and Ireland Athens Institute of ministry program going as soon as possible. The plan is January, so please pray it becomes a reality.

“We live in Christ” – Colossians 2

“Five Ways The Holy Spirit Unites Disciples of Christ” | Class 1 – Confession

Joy in the mourning: episode 16

TVCOC Gift for poor 2021

“A new thing”, Episode 14. “We’re back together again” Post-COVID church

“Tallinn Teaching Conference” | Report 2021 | Tuesday Teaching Tips: Episode 233

“A new thing”, Episode 13. Live-streaming and Precautions | Post-COVID church

“Jesus and the law in Matthew” | Class 4 | Chris Birtles

Working on plans (together with Andy Boakye and Douglas Jacoby) for a UK & Ireland teaching programme based on the Athens Institute of Ministry. We hope to 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. First class is linked above.

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

God bless, Malcolm

Class 1 - The Spirit Unites Disciples Because He Enabled Our Confession that Jesus is Lord

“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)

Main Point For Today: The Spirit unites us by our mutual confession that Jesus is Lord

“I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV11)

- He is thinking back to something we all did - in heart and with mouth:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9–10 NIV11)

- “This is an orienting, entering confession.” Hicks. We said it, meant it as a seal on our repentance and a precursor to baptism.

- This is covenental language - fundamentally changing our status with God

“…you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV11)

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV11)

- You and me, all those in your family group, are unified by the Spirit because we we all baptised by him and we have all drunk of him. 

- This unity is a reality because the Spirit is present - not because we said some words a few years ago.

- We have new life because of the Spirit, and we live the confession that Jesus is Lord day by day because of the Spirit who provides us with that life, that strength, that power.

- As you talk to your brother or sister in Christ, you are talking to somebody who has been fundamentally, miraculously changed by the Spirit who enabled them to not only say "Jesus is Lord", but empowers them to live that declaration.

- And this is corporate. Paul is writing to a church (a church riven by division) to remind them on what their unity is based. or rather, on whom it is based.  Our relationship with God is never just “Jesus and me”.

What does this mean for our congregational communities?

- When I am with my brother or sister in Christ, I am with somebody who shares the most fundamental bond possible which is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. 

- If this person has been enabled by the Spirit to say Jesus is Lord, then my default attitude to that person must be to love them and trust them, giving them the benefit of the doubt.

- We love, trust and forgive one another not because they perform right, nor that we might earn God’s approval (“Look God, I’m loving a difficult Christian!”), but because we take delight in working within the presence of God in accord with his heart/will, and because our happy obedience to God’s desires will find it’s home in the heart of our fellow-disciple who has the Spirit in them (Rom 8.9).

- Can you imagine a wedding where one said, “I promise…….” and the other did not? A marriage has hope not because two people are good enough for each other, but because they both covenanted their love to each other. 

- Our Christian communities have hope for ever-deepening love not because we are in the same church, believe the same beliefs, share the same values, but because we, by the Spirit, have been enabled to say, “Jesus is LORD”.

- Therefore, to reject a brother or sister in Christ is reject the Spirit of God!

Questions

1. In what way does it help your unity with fellow-believers to know that you have both / all confessed “Jesus is Lord” by the Spirit?

2. What does it mean to you to ‘drink’ the Spirit?

3. How can this understanding of the Spirit bringing unity help you to grow deeper in your love of the other members of your group?

Next time

- Transformation: The way the Spirit unifies us in our transformation into Christ-likeness

- Send me any comments or questions

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? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

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

God bless, Malcolm

Today I reflect on the way in which we celebrated my mother’s birthday, it being the first since she died.

These podcasts are my way of thinking through my own feelings and thoughts after the death of my mother earlier this year.

Please remember, that although mourning may remain for a night, joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30. 

God bless, Malcolm

A brief report on a truly inspirational conference held in Tallinn, Estonia last week. It was my privilege to not only attend but to teach there. You can find all the lessons at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/c/KristlikVabakogudus/

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

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/). 

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

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

God bless, Malcolm

This week's newsletter is late. I have a good excuse. My daughter got married last week. Now, some of you are thinking, "I thought she got married two years ago". In one sense yes, in another no. We had a big spectacular wonderful ceremony and banquet two years ago that was just like a wedding. But because of some technical complications, they were not able to complete the legal part of the process.

They had planned to go through with the legal ceremony last year, but you know what happened (lockdown!). Instead, on the same date as the ceremony two years ago, they went through the legal ceremony in the beautiful city of Bath. The picture you see is the celebration meal afterwards which we all enjoyed – for a very long time!

It reminded me that even in the midst of trials (health issues, uncertainty regarding Covid-19 and many other things) it's important to take the time to celebrate whenever you can. When Paul wrote to the church in Colossae he had a vision for them that they would be "overflowing with thankfulness".

That thankfulness had nothing to do with circumstances. After all, Paul was writing about overflowing with thankfulness whilst in prison.

Today's newsletter will need to be a little shorter because of how much time the wedding took out last week, and also the fact that I'm off to Estonia on Thursday for the conference mentioned below.

In the meantime, I hope you find reasons to celebrate.

“Continue in him” | Quiet Time Coaching Episode 298 | Colossians 2v6

“Jesus and the Law in Matthew” | Class 1 | Chris Birtles

“Hollow or Filled?” | Colossians 2:8-12

“Joy in the mourning“: episode 15

QTC Episode 299 | “Fullness and Growth” | Col 2:9-10

“Jesus and the law in Matthew” | Class 2 | Chris Birtles

“Jesus and the law in Matthew” | Class 3 | Chris Birtles

“God made you alive” | Col 2vv13-15 | Malcolm Cox

“A new thing” Episode 12 | The need to re-gel | Post-COVID church

God bless, Malcolm

 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2.13–15 NIV11)

What does it mean that God made us alive with Christ? We take a look at this and joy of knowing that we can live our lives with a clear conscience.

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