Malcolm Cox

"If petition is prayer at its simplest, and intercession is prayer at its most powerful, contemplation is prayer at its deepest and most personally transformational." Greig, Pete. How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People (p. 121). John Murray Press. Kindle Edition.

• We make requests in prayer, we talk to God about our needs, all that is good. But, does it change us? Does it assist in making us more Christlike? Certainly it seems to be part of the package, but isn't there more?

"Richard Foster describes it as ‘a loving attentiveness to God’ in which ‘talk recedes into the background, and feeling comes to the foreground’." (p. 122)

• In essence, contemplative prayer Is about enjoying the presence of Christ, rather than doing anything with it.

"Contemplation is stargazing rather than astronomy, listening to jazz rather than hearing a talk." (p. 122)

• Do the Scriptures support this concept? Yes they do:

"Contemplation begins with meditation – fixing your thoughts on a picture, an object, or most frequently on a phrase from the Bible." (p. 125)

"Prayer is no longer something I’m ‘doing’, but something I’m being in the presence of God." (p. 126)

• We experience acceptance, the pleasure of God in being with us, and a palpable sense of security.

"Perfect prayer is not to know that you are praying." (p. 127)

• This is not where we live all day every day, but it is a window into what the next life might be something like. The constant absorption and enjoyment of communion with God.

Time for a reflection. Are you convinced yet that this matters? For some of us it might seem as natural as a dog taking to water. The others I suspect it seems like a foreign language. It's time for a longer quote from the book:

" Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can: your soul is crying out for a deeper encounter with Christ and, if your faith is to thrive for years to come, if it is to survive the coming seasons of darkness and pain, if you are to know and be known by Jesus in a richer, more fulfilling way, if you are to continue to engage with him when words no longer have meaning, if you are to become the loving person he wants you to be and to see the world the way he sees it, you must make space in your busy life for regular meditation, contemplation and communion with God. (pp. 127-128)

• Many of us bemoan the fact we don't feel that we or people around us in our churches are growing as much as they could. Is at least part of the answer that we are not spending enough time consciously in the presence of God? Could contemplative prayer be one of the keys to this lock?

"..when we meditate regularly on God’s goodness, and saturate our consciousness in his love, we become like him." (p. 128)

The more we see Christ in prayer, the more we see him everywhere we go and in everyone we meet. The whole of life becomes an invitation to worship. (p. 129)

• If you want to see the world changed by the love of Christ, perhaps we might put more effort not into direct evangelism, or even social action, but, first, contemplative prayer. If God can change the way we see the world, it may be that true that we are changed enough for the world to see God through us.

He himself is my contemplation. He is my delight. Him for His own sake I seek above me. From Him Himself I feed within me. He is the field in which I labour. He is my cause. He is my effect. He is my beginning. He is my end. He is for me eternity. (p. 131)

• Questions for discussion:

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

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,

This week, let's have a look at a book I've just finished called, "The heart of communication: how to really connect with an audience".

The author is Rob Parsons, formerly director at "Executive Chairman of Care for the Family, a charity committed to strengthening family life and helping others who are hurting due to family breakdown."

I'm going to be sparing in my comments here about the details of the book and why I read it. The reason for being brief here is because I will be using the book as the basis for the next series of Tuesday Teaching Tips beginning next Tuesday, 24th November 2020. If you want the detail, you can tune in to those when they come out week by week.

One of the reasons I picked up the book was because Rob Parsons has spoken extensively not only in a Christian context but also in the other side of his life - the business world.

I am aware of the fact that my approach to speaking can be blinkered. If I do not learn from the wider gamut of speaking contexts I fear I may miss concepts and techniques which might help me connect better with those to whom I speak.

Rob Parsons is entirely correct when he suggests that the heart of communication is our ability to connect. We are not simply people who share information, we are those who wish to connect with the deeper needs of those who listen to us.

Book Structure

You will see from the chapter list below, that our author nicely combines practicality with the motivation and deeper meaning of our attempts to communicate.

1 Find One Thing That Can Make a Difference

2 Your Talk: Credibility, Content and Soul

3 Remember You Are Talking to Ordinary People

4 How to Really Connect with an Audience

5 Discover the Power of Stories

6 Trade Length for Effectiveness

7 Create a Sense of Intimacy

8 Notes or No Notes?

9 Minimise Distractions

10 PowerPoint Pros and Cons

11 Sound Matters

12 Optimise the Seating

13 Learn to Handle Your Critics

14 The Music, a Little Humility and the Hardest Task of All – Ending!

As I mentioned earlier, I shall be recording a series of Teaching Tips based on his book starting next week. Tune in to those if you'd like to know more.

I think it's a terrific little book. Deep but not complex. Packed with useful stuff but not long. I recommend it to any and everyone involved in public speaking.

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

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,

5 Lesser-Known Public Speaking Rules Every Young Professional Needs To Know - Part 5

Intro

"Existing literature on the art of public speaking is extensive: ranging from preparation and confidence to body language and tonality, the list of ‘golden rules’ is abundant — but mechanical. The following five rules are lesser-known approaches to public speaking and will insert dynamism, nuance, and distinction to your communication toolbox." Forbes Magasine: Ali Shahbaz

5. Remember the 95% rule

Conclusion

Question: "What will you deliberately leave out of your next lesson?"

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

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,

Music: Purpose by Jonny Easton; https://youtube.com/channel/UCHJVYelCXpsV8P4EVWBgj0A Creative Commons Attribution license; Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-purpose; Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/TT2PftKt1P4

The competency of leadership is a prominent theme at the moment. Not only it's competency, but it's less defineable qualities. The election in the United States, the handling of the COVID–19 crisis in the UK, and many other topics have highlighted leadership as a conversation thread.

At the risk of oversimplifying, it seems to me we tend to empathise either with leaders who lean more to kindness and compassion, or decisiveness and strength. I suspect much has to do with which strength makes us feel more secure.

It's often noted that Jesus came, “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NRSV). He was not a grace person, nor a truth person. He was a fully grace and fully truth person. He did not so much have a balance, as a perfect blend of the fullness of both. And yet, what about the God of the Old Testament? It's common for to think of the old covenant God as being primarily truth, and only secondarily, if at all, grace.

My devotional times this week have been taken from Psalm 91. I've been struck there by the blend of both kindness andstrength. Here it is in full:

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.    

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”     

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.    

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.     

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.     

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.     

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.    

If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.     

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.    

You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.    

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.     

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.    

With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”” (Psalm 91:1–16 NIV11)

Can you see the references to kindness and strength?

Here's an idea…read through the Psalm meditatively noting the words and phrases which connects with the kindness, compassion and gentleness of God, then, the words and phrases which connect with the strength and truth of God.

Look at the list you come up with and what it tells you about the nature of God. You will see that when Jesus came on the scene full of grace and truth it was not something new. It was just that it was enfleshed in a way that had never been seen physically before.

I hope and pray for myself and for you that we may fully embrace the kindness and strength of God this week.

If you'd like to pray for me I'd be very grateful. Here are some of my plans that you could include.

Until the next time, 

God bless, Malcolm

15 November 2020

Hands of Jesus

QUESTION: Name some of the things he touched

Christ has no body now, but yours. 

No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. 

Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks with compassion into the world. 

Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. 

Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.

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 am in my third year of participating in the Renovare book club. The first book in this season's set of four is "How to pray" by Pete Greig.

He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled … ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ (Mark 14:33–34)

• Tough times of prayer and tough prayer topics are made more bearable when accompanied by friends. Don't isolate yourself when you're going through difficult times of prayer. If Jesus needed his friends around him, so do you and I.

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly. (Luke 22:44)

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd, many of my friends gave me reading recommendations. The book I want to talk about today is one of those.

Why this book?

I picked this book amongst the many recommended partly because it's about the British black experience. I am also reading a book called "Reconstructing the Gospel: Finding freedom from slaveholder religion" by Jonathan Wilson-Hartsgrove. It is a fascinating and deeply moving book about the consequences of slavery in United States. I will record a review of that book in due course.

Understanding the black American perspective is helpful, but I felt the need for a British perspective on the British experience. Hence I prioritised Ben Lindsay's book.

What Is the book about?

In Ben's own words from the introduction:

"Christians should be both angry about racial discrimination, particularly in the UK Church, and courageous in wanting to change the situation. I’m hopeful that the UK Church can truly represent the glorious picture painted in Revelation 7.9, where ‘every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages’ will worship Jesus. For that to happen, the UK Church will need to examine itself; it will need ‘to move into the river of the black experience’. We need to open the discussion and start talking about the black experience within a church context. The Church has been silent for too long on the issue of racism. We need to talk about race." Lindsay, Ben; Lindsay, Ben. We Need To Talk About Race (p. 21). SPCK. Kindle Edition.

The book contains helpful teaching about experience, history and scripture. All of this is valuable, and I will go on to speak about it more in a moment, but perhaps the most significant aspect of the book is the fact that it courageously addresses an issue which is so poorly understood by people like myself.

An overview of the book

In most of these recordings I take us through a book step-by-step. However, with this one, I would prefer to talk about it's overall effect on me. Because, whilst I learn some very interesting and helpful specific lessons regarding scripture, history and experience, my main reason for picking up the book was to enter a world somewhat alien to myself.

Ben's writing does this for me. I will never fully grasp the black British experience, but I can listen. Reading is a form of listening. Listening with the opportunity to reflect and change.

In today's recording I will include some quotes from the book and more extended thoughts. As far as this blog is concerned I will restrict myself to Giving you these key points which stood out to me from the book.

The book has had a profound effect on the way that I think about race. To be honest, in many ways, I'm still processing it. What does it mean for me? What does it mean for my local congregation? What does it mean with the way I engage with people from a different race in my church, but also in my community?

I hope my behaviour will grow in Christ-likeness in these areas, and I expect that what I'm learning now is but the beginnings of a lifetime of learning. I pray and hope my heart and mind will remain open.

I conclude with one more quote from Ben:

"As Christians, we are to model the sacrificial, inclusive, impartial, humble approach of Jesus and be intentional in crossing the racial divides in our communities." page 151

Your thoughts...please?

Have you read this book? Have you read other books on race and Christianity? I'd be grateful if you could recommend more books to me, but also why do you think they are significant.

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.

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

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,

Intro

"Existing literature on the art of public speaking is extensive: ranging from preparation and confidence to body language and tonality, the list of ‘golden rules’ is abundant — but mechanical. The following five rules are lesser-known approaches to public speaking and will insert dynamism, nuance, and distinction to your communication toolbox." Forbes Magasine: Ali Shahbaz

4. Be confidently vulnerable

Conclusion

Question: "What personal information can you disclose in your next lesson which will help your point have more impact - in a healthy way?"

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

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,

Music: Purpose by Jonny Easton; https://youtube.com/channel/UCHJVYelCXpsV8P4EVWBgj0A Creative Commons Attribution license; Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-purpose; Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/TT2PftKt1P4 

Remembrance Sunday 2020

Sermon for the Watford church of Christ

Introduction

1. Remember What God Has Already Done

QUESTION: Earliest meaningful memory? Often not first, but connected to strong emotion

2. Remember Who Inspired the Heroes of Faith

QUESTION: What helps us to REGULARLY remember Jesus?

Conclusion

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

Trump or Biden? As I write it's not clear who has won. Whoever prevails may find victory a poisoned chalice. Don't worry, no politics here, but the events have made me reflect on the nature of ambition. Am I as pure-hearted in my ambitions as I would like to think? Are you?

Christians face a tricky but creative dilemma. We are magnificent - and - we are deeply flawed. How do we handle this dichotomy? Psalm 8 might help.

David begins by reflecting on God's glory as evidenced in his creation, “LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1). 

He asks a very relevant question,

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3–4)

Why should we consider ourselves worthy of God's attention when we have made such a mess of all that he so gloriously created? And yet, the Psalmist goes on to say, “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour.” (Psalm 8:5)

Us? Us who damage the planet and oppress the poor and marginalised? We are crowned with glory and honour? Why would God do this? What role could God possibly give us on this earth considering our indisputable lack of suitability for any significant responsibility?

“You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.” (Psalm 8:6–8)

We are rulers! Surely God has got that wrong. I'm not fit to be a ruler. I doubt you are either. And yet God chooses to make it so, and, indeed, the Psalmist celebrates the fact, “LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9 NIV11)

God is majestic in his creative powers, and he is majestic in his trust in imperfect human beings. You and I are magnificent and messed up. God knows this. He exercises great patience and extraordinary grace in allowing us to 'rule' his creation. We have significance and we have responsibility. God realties to us as beings he can trust. 

As Pete Greig said in his Lectio 365 devotional recently, "Psalm 8 is our protection against insignificance and arrogance." I would love to walk my discipleship as someone who is significant and humble. Meditative prayer on Psalm 8 looks like it could help. If we kneel we are fit to rule. Whether my leaders kneel or not, I can do so, and pray for them.

What helps you to blend healthy soberness of your limitations with celebratory acceptance of your magnificence?

If you'd like to pray for me I'd be very grateful. Here are some of my plans that you could include.

Until the next time, 

God bless, Malcolm