The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

By The Watford Church of ChristReligion & Spirituality
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The Watford Church of Christ Podcast episodes

  • What Does Jesus Think About War?

    Introduction

    QUESTION: What do you think his answer would be?
    God’s people involved in war in OT
    God’s people not involved in war in NT
    What changed?

    Scriptures

    Violence from the start
    “Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.” (Genesis 4:8 NRSV)
    Vision
    OT - time when the lion will lie down the lamb; peace-bringer will come; peace between humans and God - “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them…. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25 NIV11)
    Jesus
    Matthew 5:9 (NIV):** "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
    “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44 NIV11)
    Matthew 26:52 (NIV):** "Put your sword back in its place,' Jesus said to him, 'for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

    Later NT

    Romans 12:18 (NIV):** "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
    2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV):** "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world."
    Ephesians 6:12 (NIV):** "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
    1 Peter 3:9 (NIV):** "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
    Revelation 21:4 (NIV):** "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

    Jesus can ‘use’ war to open up hearts, but he does not desire it

    Jesus wants peace, and we can be his peace-bringers

    Questions and Issues

    Is self-defence, or national defence the same as going to war?
    What would we say to the argument that there is a greater good when we resist evil?
    What would we say if we were Jewish?
    What would we say if we were Ukrainian?

    Conclusion

    What this means for us…..
    “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.” (1 Timothy 2:1-7 NIV11)
    Pray for authorities
    Live peaceful life
    Invite others into the peace we have

    Lord’s Supper

    Jesus gave himself to violence to spare us the violence we deserve

    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

    30 min
  • ”What would Jesus do with refugees?” | Malcolm Cox

    Introduction

    Not making any points about the rights and wrongs of the conflict
    What are we to do? What are we to learn?

    Scriptures

    How does God think about refugees? What does he feel towards them?

    OT:

    Deuteronomy 10:18-19 "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."
    Leviticus 19:33-34 — "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

    God thinks they need protecting and feels compassion.

    He wants his people to be the same.

    NT:

    Matthew 25:35-36 — "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
    Luke 10:25-37 — The Parable of the Good Samaritan
    Hebrews 13:1-2 — "Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."
    Jesus
    “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”” Matthew 2:13-15

    Jesus wants the vulnerable protected. He feels compassion towards them.

    More than that, he has empathy born of his own experience.
    He wants his followers to feel the same and act accordingly - with compassion.
    Is this easy?

    Thinking

    The fact that we feel powerless does not mean we are powerless to act.
    The fact we cannot change things beyond our control does not mean we cannot make a change somewhere to someone.
    God cares about refugees.
    We can make a difference
    He knows how refugees feel.
    Our acts are magnified by God’s Spirit

    What does this mean?

    God sees their situation. He is available to them.
    We see people’s situation. We can make ourselves available to people.
    One phone call. One prayer might make all the difference.

    Conclusion

    We are/were foreigners, Ephesians 2:11-22
    Now part of the kingdom because of Jesus

    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

    24 min
  • When God Makes Us Go ”WOW!” | Psalm 19 | Malcolm Cox

    When God Makes Us Go “Wow!”

    Psalm 24:1-2; Genesis 1:22, 28-30; Psalm 19; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1; Colossians 1:15-20

    Introduction

    State of creation. 
    Does God care?
    Ps 24:1-2 - belongs to him!
    Is it our problem?  Do we care?
    God blessed the earth (water creatures and birds), Gen 1:22
    God blessed us, Gen 1:28-30
    We have been gifted this earth, Gen 1:29ff
    To ‘rule’ it (1:28) - but like God rules - benevolently, for all


    1. Creation Exists to Speak God to the World, Ps 19
     v1 - what glories of God’s creation do you value? 
    vv2-6 - When you see nature in all its glory, how do you feel and what is your response to God? 
    Valuing creation is participating in God’s direct evangelism campaign

    vv7-9 In what ways have we ignored God’s precepts in our use of the world’s resources? 

    We have abused his gift: Destroying; Not caring; Nor renewing; Some unrecoverable 
    V12 - The Psalmist admits that he did not realise he was doing wrong. How does that apply to our generation? 
    Fossil fuels - not clear at start. Clear now; Since 1850s; Eunice Foote 
    v13 What might be ‘ruling over us’ that we need to change? 
    Consumer mindset; Exploitation masquerading as growth mindset; Did we learn anything from slow down of pandemic?
    v14 - The Psalm ends by reminding us that God is our Rock and our Redeemer. There is hope

    2. Followers of Jesus Care for Creation Because He Has a Vision of a Renewed Creation, Colossians 1:15-20

    God has a vision for his creation — natural world & the people 

    2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1 - ‘new’ = ‘renewed’ (neos/kainos). 

    How will this be achieved?  By Jesus. 
    Why does this matter now? Because we are called to help usher in this kingdom by the way we live.

    V15 — He is in charge of creation

    vv16-17 — He is creator & sustainer: Heb 1
    V18 — He is in charge of his church (family on earth)
    Vv19-20 — He is the restorer (reconciler) of all things, bringing peace and healing through his blood.
    Jesus is the re-creator. 
    Bringing the ultimate new creation, and starting it now through his newly recreated people – us! 
    We live in the already-but-not-yet. 
    The way we treat people and creation is a foreshadowing vision of what is coming. Jesus did this while here on earth, now he does it through his family. 
    We show people where we are going by how we live now. That is why we care about the vulnerable and the lost. 
    To follow Jesus is to honour him and that includes what he made and sustains and will renew

    Two reasons we care about creation:

    It is God’s evangelism campaign - in partnership with us

    Jesus is renewing it - in partnership with us

    Conclusion

    Lord’s Supper: 

    Jesus is renewing all things, including us & our world. 
    We are thankful, but do we bless creation in the same way we are blessed? 
    Let the world know that God is worthy of awe by preserving and healing his awe-inducing creation.
    We have peace with God because of Jesus
    Let us bring peace to the earth where we can
    “…making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

    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

    27 min
  • Complete Unity | Colossians 1:18 - Head and Body | Stefan Wolmarans

    In this sermon for the Watford Church of Christ Stefan Wolmarans explores the significance of Jesus as head of the church and what this means for unity within a congregation and between congregations.

    “He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1:18 NRSV) https://accordance.bible/link/read/NRSVS#Col._1:18

    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

    31 min
  • Complete Unity | ”Mark 9:38-41 -- Jesus and ’difference’” | Malcolm Cox

    Introduction

    QUESTION: Why is unity/connection/cooperation between churches important?

    Why is it difficult? 
    How Jesus approach difference between his followers? What does that mean for us and other churches today?
    “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22–23 NIV11)
    - - - 
    1.  Jesus
    Question: Among people of faith, who did he condemn? 

    ““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:13-15 NIV11)

    Later examples: Judaisers

    Question: Among people of faith, who did he correct?

    Later examples: Apollos — Acts 18, Ephesian disciples — Acts 19

    Example

    ““Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” Mark 9:38-41

    Discussion: Why did the disciples want to stop them? What is Jesus seeing that they are missing? 

    Application

    Notice their life, not just belief — means getting to know them well enough
    Assume a good heart
    Accept encouragement when it comes you way from believers
    - - - 

    2. Our situation in Watford

    Questions 

    What does this mean nationally and internationally?
    What does this mean locally in Watford
    What does this mean where we live?

    Applications

    Call a Christian you know. What is the Spirit teaching your church? Find something you/we can offer them. 
    Start a Bible group at work - in person or Zoom.
    Host a Christian book club with Christian members of your family.
    Have Christians who live in your neighbourhood over for dinner.

    - - - 

    Conclusion

    All about Jesus and his heart
    Lord’s Supper - Eat at same table as sinners!
    We will never know what we have to learn and what we have to offer unless we connect with people of Christian faith from other congregations
    “Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”” (Mark 2:13-17 NIV11)

    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

    37 min
  • Hearing the Father’s Voice | 17 September 2023 | Malcolm Cox

    Question: When you are flagging, what lifts your spirit?


    It depends on the voice in your head.
    What voice did Jesus have in his head?

    “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11)

    “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”” (Matthew 17:5 NIV11)

    Other voices tried to get inside his head –- the devil (in the desert, a more opportune time), the Pharisees, his mother and brothers, the Sadducees, Scribes, the teachers of the law, even his own disciples with their selfish ambitions and doubts.

    I think this is one of the reasons he often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. He had to get those voices out of his head to be able to hear his father's voice.

    Because he prioritised this, he was able to live securely in the love of God, and successfully in submission to God's will for his life.

    Was this easy for him? No.

    “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV11)

    He enjoyed an ‘abba’ relationship with his father, even in toughest moments: “Abba , Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36 NIV11)

    We are authorised and encouraged to do the same, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”” (Romans 8:15 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)

    We have the same promise of a close relationship with Father God.

    Jesus understands how hard things can be, so we look to him as our inspiration,

    “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
    (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV11)

    He empathises and helps.

    Question: What help us to ‘hear’ God’s voice of affirmation?

    Abba Father

    Chorus
    Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone
    May my will forever be evermore Your own
    Never let my heart grow cold never let me go
    Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone

    Dave Bilbrough; CCLI Song #38686

    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

    26 min
  • Complete Unity | ”Hands and feet, eyes and ears” 1 Cor 12 | Stefan Wolmarans

    Thank you for watching this video. You can find more videos on our YouTube channel. Our web site is www.watfordchurchofchrist.org. 

    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 watching. Have a super day.

    God bless,

    Malcolm

    41 min
  • Jonah 4 -- The Forgotten Chapter: Barry Lamb

    Barry Lamb was our visiting speaker on Sunday, the 27th of August. He explored the fascinating details of the fourth chapter of Jonah. A section of scripture criminally neglected. 

    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

     

    33 min
  • Complete Unity | ”Jesus and the early church” | Malcolm Cox

    Introduction

    Unity is always a vital topic, but even more so now than usual. 
    The church continues to spread, expand and develop. This is all good but it means we must pay more careful attention to our unity. 
    These lessons will discuss attitudes and actions that can strengthen our unity.
    Today's lesson is focussed on examining one example of how Jesus built unity, and one example of how the early church built unity. 

    - - - 

    1.  Jesus

    Prays for unity
    “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22–23 NIV11)
    - Jesus in the Father is the model for us

    Teaches on unity

    ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” (John 13:34–35)

    How did Jesus maintain unity?

    Example

    “They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”” (Mark 9:33–37)
    - See also vv 14,16
    The disciples react to Jesus attempting to help them be honest by going quiet.  No one has the conviction or purity of heart to confess on behalf of the group.

    - How did Jesus maintain unity?

    - Observant - was not looking at his phone while with his disciples!
    - Waited for the right time and place
    - Asked a question
    - Allowed silence
    - Taught with compassion
    Reminded them it was about him

    More work needed - Mark 10:35–45

    We are one chapter further on and they still need help. 
    Unity is never ‘finished'.
    Important we do not get tired of working to maintain unity.

    Application

    - Any tensions? 
    - Any ungodly attitudes or behaviour?
    - Unity is not maintained by harshness, nor by silence
    - Unity is maintained by listening, loving and talking

    - - - 

    2. The Early Church

    Example
    “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:1–7 NIV11)
    - Leadership listened
    - Involved everyone
    - Understood limitations
    - Discussion
    - Prayer

    - - - 

    Conclusion

    All about Jesus
    Tuning fork
    (Ephesians 2:11–22 NIV11)

    34 min
  • Psalm 73 | Andy and Sandra Ezeilo

    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

    38 min

About The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

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We are on a journey to that future life exploring the incredible plans God has for us on earth to love Him and to love others. Join us on this journey!