The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

By The Watford Church of ChristReligion & Spirituality
Download on the App Store

The Watford Church of Christ Podcast episodes

  • "Does God Care?” - Matt 10:26-31 | 28Apr24 | Malcolm Cox

    Matthew 6.26

    “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
    Life makes us question whether God cares

    1. Jesus Needed God's Care 

    Luke 3.21-22

    “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.””

    Luke 9.34-36

    “While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.”

    Wilderness angels Mark 1.13

    “and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”

    Gethsemane angel Luke 22.43

    “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Point: If Jesus needed it...

    2. Jesus Showed us God Cares 

    QUESTION: How did Jesus show people God cares?

    Matthew 10.26-31

    ““So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

    Point: God has gone out of his way to let us know he cares. Jesus shows us that sometimes God caring does not mean our lives are easy. Gethsemane! He understands us.

      
    Conclusion
    1 Peter 5.6-7
    “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
    Convinced God cares?

    His Eye Is On the Sparrow (1905) SM Mrs. C. D. Martin

    1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, 
    Why should my heart be lonely and long for Heav'n and home, 
    When Jesus is my portion? 
    My constant Friend is He:
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me:
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
    I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,
    For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

    2. "Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear, 

    And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears: 
    Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see: 
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; 
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
    I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,
    For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
        
     3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever doubts arise,
    When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, 
    I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me;
    His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me.
    I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,
    For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

    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
  • "Finding Hope in God” | 21Apr24 | Charl Olivier

    Charl speaks honestly about the confusions of the Christian life and how we can find hope in God.

     

    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

    32 min
  • "Anxiety and the power of an indestructible life” | 14Apr24 | Sean St Jean

    Sean St. Jean brought us a deeply moving and assuring lesson based on:

    Matthew 6.27

    ““And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”

    As he said, "Life is fragile. Anxiety is inevitable. Worry is not."

    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

    39 min
  • "A New Creation - WHY?!" - 07Apr24 - Stefan Wolmarans

    Stefan gives us the reasons behind why it's important that we are a new creation.


    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
  • "New Creation - New Smell” | 31Mar24 | Malcolm Cox

    Introduction

    QUESTION: Smell, touch, hearing, sight, taste - which sense is most important to you and why?

    1. Death Smells Bad 

    A. Lazarus, Jesus

    “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.”” (John 11:39 NIV11)

    Spices needed: 

    “Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.” (John 19:39-40 NIV11)

    Death smells bad!

    B. Living death?

    QUESTION: What do we use to distract us from the things we fear?

    2. Resurrection Life Smells Good

    A. Jesus

    “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.” (Mark 16:1-2)

    “[John] bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.” (John 20:3-8 NIV11)

    3. Our New Lives Smell Good

    “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NIV11)

    A. To the world

    We smell like Jesus
    How maintain?

    B. Consciously learning from him

    How to smell more like Jesus
    Take these as Bible study and prayer focus ideas:
    1. Attitude - Philippians 2.5
    2. Ready - Luke 12.35
    3. Obedient - John 14.23-24
    4. Merciful - Hebrews 2:17
    5. Amazing - Matthew 8:27

    Conclusion

    Lord’s Supper
    No fear of death

    “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 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

    23 min
  • "Two Worlds Collide” | Matthew 21.1-11 | Palm Sunday | Paul Smith

    Paul Smith was our visiting speaker in Watford for Palm Sunday. He gave a fascinating insight into the triumphal entry to Jerusalem made by Jesus the week before he died.

    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

    18 min
  • "New Creation - New Sight” | Matthew 20.29-34 | 17Mar24 | Malcolm Cox

    A New Creation, Matthew 20.29-37 —  New Sight

    Introduction

    What is the question?
    Who does God accept?
    Rich law-keepers?
    Ethnic Israel?
    Leaders?
    Associates?
    What is revealed? About God? About Jesus? About following Jesus?

    “As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.”  Matt 20.29-34

    Ch20 overview and themes

    1-16: parable of the labourers -- the last shall be first and the first shall be last
    17-19: prediction of his death and resurrection 
    20-23: Mother of James and John requests special treatment (one of very few women to get it wrong)
    24-28: Teaching on servanthood
    29-34: Jesus heals two blind men

    Why this matters to us....

    1. Why Jesus Stops, vv29-37

    Question: What is happening?
    Someone asks
    He sees/hears
    He came for this reason
    His compassion - desire to help

    2. Who Jesus Stops For

    Question: What are we meant to notice?
    The blind - some end up seeing
    The blind - some do not end up seeing

    3. What we learn about Jesus

    Question: What do we learn about Jesus?
    He is interruptible - for you, for us
    He hears the cries of the needy - out there and in here.
    He is moved, by our needs - that feeling in the gut….

    Conclusion

    Who are we?
    Blindly blind?
    Grumblers; Selfishly ambitious; Jealous; Restrictors; Blind?
    Are we the grumblers if people get into heaven we don’t think deserve to get there?
    Are we the mother of Zebedee who wants special treatment from Jesus for those we love?
    Are we the disciples angry because someone might be ‘greater’ than them?
    Are we the crowd who’s discipleship is restricting who has access to Jesus?
    Seeing blind?
    People who seek Jesus’ help despite opposition and embarrassment

    Jesus

    Interruptible
    Attentive
    Generous
    Compassionate
    Are we Jesus - interruptible, generous, attentive, compassionate?
    On Monday - will you be interruptible for the sake of people feeling the compassion of Jesus?

    Lord's Supper

    “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” (Luke 14:13 NRSV)
    The Lord’s Supper is that kind of banquet
    Anger at sin (not sinners) led to Jesus' courageous compassionate sacrifice
    Easter is on the horizon
    Let's stop right now to remember and honour Jesus stopping for 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/). 

    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
  • "A New Creation” | 10Mar24 | Malcolm Cox

    A New Creation, 2 Co 5.17

    Introduction
    Lessons from 'a new thing’ - Isaiah 43.19
    Abraham: The promises of God (doing things his way) create a legacy far exceeding anything we can achieve by our own efforts
    Rahab: When you get an inkling of God's movements, follow along and fit in, even though it might mean you lose your house!
    Elijah: Get refreshed by God - don't give up
    Daniel: Impact in a culture opposed to your faith
    Esther: Don't underestimate the impact one person can have (with support)
    Nehemiah: Blessed are those who mourn
    Peter: Jesus has vision for flawed followers 
    Samaritan woman: Jesus transforms our future
    2 Cor 5.16-17 - what does this mean? Also Galatians 6.15

    1. God Recreates Creation, Rev 21:1-5

    A. God has a master-plan
    Creation-Fall-Covenant-Law-Messiah-New Covenant-New 'Law' (new command, 'but I say')-New Creation (new people)-New Heaven and Earth

    B. God has an inspiring vision

    “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Revelation 21:1)
    “And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”” (Revelation 21:5)

    2. Jesus Models the New Creation

    Living the kingdom life - modelling it to us (inspiration to us)

    A. New teaching, (Mark 1:27; Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44)

    ‘But I tell you…’

    B. New command (John 13:34-35)

    ‘Love one another as….’

    C. New relationships (John 15.15)

    Friendship with Jesus and abba God - joyful obedience
    With people - marginalised, hurting
    Illustration: Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper, Mark 14.3-9
    Being a new creation means being inappropriate in this creation
    An inappropriate location - leper’s house
    An inappropriate person - woman present
    An inappropriate extravagance - alabaster, expensive perfume
    An inappropriate gesture - shattered
    An inappropriate identification - High Priest (like Aaron), King (like David), Prophet (like Elisha)

    3. We are a New Creation

    A. New relationships
    With God as Father
    With the lost as ambassadors
    OC - lepers to priest. Jesus reverses this. Takes cleanness to the leper.
    OC - go to temple in Jerusalem to seek God. Jesus reverses this. Takes ‘temple’ and presence of God to lepers and others.
    With one another as family
    We go ‘to’ people
    We go to those who need us
    We pay a high ‘cost’

    B. New life,

    The ‘full’ life, John 10.10 - this is discipleship, a life lived after Jesus
    AIM programme — “Spiritual Life”
    Our access is the death of Jesus, (Romans 6:1-11)

    Conclusion

    Call to explore the theme of 'a new creation', leading to 'a new thing'
    Link to Lord's Supper - Prayer

    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
  • SPIRITUAL LIFE – AIM UK & IRELAND, 23RD MARCH 2024

    AIM UK & Ireland Spiritual Life Module

    “The spiritual life is not a life of laws and precepts but a life of participation, affection and love, a life mingled and mixing with God.” William Law


    Description

    The Bible places far more emphasis on who we are inside than how we behave or appear to others. We have all seen too many people we know fall, not rebounding but remaining fallen, due to a weak walk with the Lord–while others continue to go forward to do great things despite formidable obstacles.

    Are you looking to strengthen your relationship with God and deepen your understanding of Christian spirituality? Look no further than the AIM Spiritual Life Course, an in-person and online course designed to enhance and guide your spiritual journey. The course covers character, sexual issues, financial responsibility, spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, meditation, scripture, devotional reading, and so much more—the secret of mirroring Christ’s character: the inner spiritual life.

    Teachers include Douglas Jacoby, Andy Boakye and Malcolm Cox. At the live session on 23 March we will cover the crucial topics of growing through suffering (Andy Boakye), discipleship as the door to life to the full (Malcolm Cox) and the joys of personal spiritual growth (Douglas Jacoby). Additionally, you will have access to specialised teaching from many others on-line after the event.

    Join our worldwide community of learners and experience the transformative power of Christian spirituality.

    More Information

    AIM UK & Ireland site: https://aimukandireland.com/

    Spiritual Life Module description: https://aimukandireland.com/enrol/index.php?id=13
    Details

    Location: West Watford Free church, Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 6NU

    Date & Time: Saturday 23rd March 2024, 9:30AM – 2.45PM
    Registration & Payment: https://tvcoc.churchsuite.com/donate/fund/usz20xvr
    Cost: £20 for the day; £75 for the entire module
    Refreshments: Light lunch, hot and cold drinks
    Transport: Nearest stations — Watford Junction (35 mins walk), Watford High Street (30 mins walk), Watford Metropolitan Line (20 mins walk).
    Parking: Free parking onsite and adjoining roads

    If you have any questions please drop me a line.

    God bless, Malcolm

    5 min

About The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

From the publisher's feed

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!