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

  • ”The Greatest Hope” | John 1:14 | Malcolm Cox

    Now let’s discuss why Jesus came and what this means for us….

    Jn 1:14 - ‘enfleshing’ ‘dwelling’

    Question: What is the point of the incarnation?

    1. Show the church how to live

    “The pattern for the church is not the narrative descriptions in Acts, but the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus.” Hicks, Pattern
    Community, leadership, 

    2. Affirm goodness of creation 

    “The incarnation affirmed the goodness of creation, since God cannot participate in moral inferiority, much less something evil.” Embracing creation, 

    3. Reveal God as wanting to hear from us

    “Of course he would speak to us ordinary people. The Incarnation of Jesus proves that.” Willard, Hearing God

    Question: What advantages do we have since Jesus is still incarnate?

    Mediation. The Son was incarnate in order to become the "one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). 

    2. Grace: Glorified, he remains all that he was, with sympathy for strugglers undiminished. Heb 4:15-16. He is our helper. 

    3. Hope: we will be like he is. Divine and human. Col 3:4

    Questions for discussion:

    What stands out to you about the Mighty One’s ultimate reign? 
    What hope and comfort does it bring? 
    How do you desire to respond to 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]](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

    29 min
  • ”Unhindered!” | Acts 28:31 | Malcolm Cox

    1. Paul the ideal representative of Jesus - a regenerate life

    v3: Snake: symbol of evil. Eden. Snake tried to kill Paul - a 'risen' man. Symbolic of the message of resurrection post-baptism (shipwreck)?
    v5: Shook off the snake - Jesus shook off death's curse
    snake and sea (two evils) have no effect on Paul.
    This new life is powerful
    v9: So many parallels with Jesus. see Luke 4:38-41
    “Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.” (Luke 4:38–41 NIV11)
    vv15-16: Paul escorted like an Emperor arriving victorious
    “The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” (Acts 28:15–16 NIV11)
    Fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus that the Gospel will go to the ends of the earth
    “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8 NIV11)
    v17: Opposed by the very people who should have been helping him
    ‘he’ - end of ‘we’ section. Is it significant? Had Luke left, or was he putting the spotlight more on Paul.
    ‘I’ is the first word in Paul’s sentence. This is a personal apologia. But not self-focussed. Only to get a hearing.
    v23: All about the Gospel
    ‘witnessed to them’ - he was not interested in defending himself, but taking the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.
    vv25-27: Stubborn Jews
    Is 6 used by Jesus - recorded in all four Gospels - and with the same result
    So like Jesus - but human and weak
    Undignified landing on Malta
    ‘Encouraged’ by the people who came to greet him
    Chained to a soldier
    Did not decide most of his itinerary, route or timing
    Unable to persuade all the Jewish leaders who came to see him
    What is discipleship?
    Walking in the power of a Christ-given new life
    Our discipleship goal? Remind people of Jesus.

    2. The Gospel is unhindered

    All we say about Paul is true and important, but the most important thing is to demonstrate that nothing can hinder the Gospel
    v31: Literally: “Proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered.”
    Last word is ‘unhindered’ - only time used in NT
    Acts ends with no resolution to Paul’s personal problems, but instead on the real point of the narrative, the continued strength and spread of the gospel.  The focus must remain on the gospel and not on the personal.
    What hindrances do you think Paul and the early church had to contend with?
    What are some of ours?
    Job - Gospel still unhindered
    Health - Gospel still unhindered
    Children - Gospel still unhindered
    All areas for the Gospel - perhaps the main area for the Gospel. Are we aware of how God can do this? The opportunities he is giving us? If you are there, that’s where the Gospel is. 
    What is the essential nature of those hindrances?
    Temporary; Human;
    “All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” Philippians 4:22
    Probably written from Rome
    What is our vision for an unhindered gospel in 2023?

    Conclusion

    “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Is. 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
    We are unworthy to take this message, to live this life - but we are made ‘worthy’ because we have been touched

    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
  • Class 4 | Father-God is Caring | Finding the Father’s Face

    Handout Class 4 | “Finding the Father’s Face” Series | Watford Men 2022

    
    Matthew 6:9-13 ““This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven - Father-God is nearby - hallowed be your name, - Father-God is holy - your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.- Father-God is powerful, He is King of Kings and cannot be thwarted - Give us today our daily bread - Father-God is caring

    Our Father God is caring

        - He provides - Psalm 23
        - “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV11)
        - Care about our bodies
            - “…in the 1850s the average American slept 9.5 hours a night. By 1950 that number dropped to eight hours a night. Today the average American sleeps under seven hours a night.” Smith, James Bryan. The Good and Beautiful God (p. 33). John Murray Press.
            - In what ways do we take care of our bodies?
        - Care about our emotional/mental health
            - In what ways do we take care of our emotional and mental health?
        - Care about our spiritual health
            - In what ways do we take care of our spiritual state?

    Discussion about God

        1. If Father God is caring, what does this mean?
        2. If Father God is caring, how can we be more aware of this reality?
        3. If Father God is caring, how can we enjoy his care?

    Discussion about us as fathers

        1. What does it mean to be ‘caring’ for our children?
        2. How can we help our children be more aware that we care?
        3. What can we do so that our children enjoy our care for them?

    8 min
  • ”Fabulously Flawed” | Haggai Chapter 2vv20-23 | Malcolm Cox

    1. Inherited Flaws

    A. ‘Son of Shealtiel’
    B. You are someone’s son/daughter

    2. Circumstantial Flaws

    A. Zerubbabel 
    B. You are influenced by society, this world and people around you 

    3. Created Flaws 

    A. “I will take you” 
    B. You are responsible for your decisions 

    “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7–10 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

    30 min
  • ”Who is leading you?” | John 4:4-20 | Tunde Odediran

    Tunde takes us into the story of Jesus and the woman at the well.

    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

    45 min
  • ”Set Your Heart At Rest” | 1 John 3vv19-21 | Epistles of John Series | Stefan Wolmarans

    Stefan brought us the next in his series on 1 John.

    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

    42 min
  • ”Happy in the Gap?” | Haggai Chapter 2vv10-19 | ’The Glory will be Greater’ Series | Malcolm Cox

    1. How does coming into my blessings (relationship with me) work? vv 10-13 

    A. Israel needed reminding that they did not make themselves holy
    B. God chose them, redeemed them, stuck with them through ups and downs 
    C. How did God first make you aware that the blessing of being a relationship with him was possible? 

    2. What has been your experience of my holiness? vv14-19a 

    A. You did not respect it. 
    B. I brought/allowed you trouble, but you ignored it to pursue your own priorities 
    C.What influences/tempts us to forget to respect God’s holiness? 

    3. What does your future look like now you have repented? vv19b 

    A. Currently no better than before! 
    B. But the future is promised to be better. 
    C. What does trusting God look like, here in Watford, practically, today? 

    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

    28 min
  • Handout Class 3 | “Finding the Father’s Face” Series | Watford Men 2022

    Handout Class 3 | “Finding the Father’s Face” Series | Watford Men 2022

    “What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us…. Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.” A. W. Tozer

    Matthew 6:9-13 - “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Father-God is powerful. He is King of Kings and cannot be thwarted.

    Our Father God is Powerful

    Defining ‘powerful’. “When the Bible seeks to explain God’s holiness, it says that God is a “consuming fire”—a dangerous and terrible presence.” ‘The Possibility of Prayer’, John Starke
    “To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”…“For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.“…“..for our “God is a consuming fire.” Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29 
    Why does this matter? Isn't he already powerful? Why pray for that? 
    What does it do for us that his kingdom come and his will be done?
    Do we sense God’s powerful nature is a good thing or a bad thing - in the way it affects our relationship with Father God?
    Is there a way of understanding Father God’s power that can help us have a healthy, close personal relationship with him? ‘So terrifying and attractive, so immense and wonderful is God.’ ‘The Possibility of Prayer’, John Starke
    Discussion about God
    If Father God is powerful, what does this mean?
    If Father God is powerful, how can we be more aware of this reality?
    If Father God is powerful, how can we enjoy his power?
    Discussion about us as fathers
    What does it mean to be ‘powerful’ for our children?
    How can we help our children be more aware of our power?
    What can we do so that our children enjoy our power?
    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

    13 min
  • ”Happy Harvest!” | Malcolm Cox

    “HAPPY HARVEST!” | Lev 23:33-43

     

    1. Sukkot: Lev 23:33ff (Soocoat)


    2. Jesus, Jn 7:37-39 
    A. Water from Siloam
    B. Light of the world, Jn 8:12 
    C. Vision 


    3. Transformation 
    A. Transformation was Jesus’ vision 
    B. How is our transformation going? 
    C. Decisions 


    Conclusion, Jn 19:31-37 

    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

    34 min
  • ”Love with actions and in truth” | 1 John 3:16-18 | Epistles of John Series | Stefan Wolmarans

    Stefan continues his occasional series in the first epistle of John.

    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

    43 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!