Malcolm Cox

The men of the Watford church met last night. Part of our time was spent singing together. No instruments, nothing fancy, just singing songs we love.  As we were leaving one of the men said to me that he had got out of habit singing in his personal devotional times with God. I suddenly realised the same thing had happened to me. Singing in my times of quiet with God has been important to me over the years, but recently I have neglected this valuable aid to connecting with God. What part does singing have in your devotional times? It does at least two things. It changes our perspective, and reaffirms our identity. “Body and spirit are inseparable: when we sing with full voice our attitude changes. When body attitude combines with deepest beliefs, singers are taken out of themselves into a heightened awareness of God, beauty, faith, and one another.” p87  Brian Wren Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000)Perspective Singing about our faith

A sermon for the Watford Church of Christ. We have reached the end of our road to the resurrection. We spent some time today thinking about the meaning of the resurrection. Why did he rise? Why does he still live?  The key aspects of our exploration are his ability to help us and his commitment to love 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: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  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 are building on the previous Teaching Tip: Tuesday Teaching Tips | Episode 253 | “What kind of participation are you aiming for?” ‘Lack of participation is a growing concern among pastors and worship leaders. Passivity is a problem. It doesn't have to do with any particular style of worship. We simply fail to design and lead services that invite and even require the engagement of our people.’ Constance Cherry, The Worship Architect Perhaps you don't think you have a problem. But have you gone and sat at the back? What measure are you using to assess whether people are truly participating in your teaching and preaching? ‘The large crowd listened to him with delight.’ Mark 12:37 Acts 19:8  ‘Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.’ What we want:  Engagement Activity Involvement Tuning in  Joining in  Taking part  Giving of self Transformation  What we experience: Passivity Boredom Disconnection Performance audience

Based on the article “Jesus, Hope of the World” by Rachael Newham in Premier Christianity Magasine, April 2022 The beginning of the good news about the resurrection begins with tears and confusion. “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Mk 16:3,  “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” Mk 16:8 “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. “ Jn 20:11 “The root of our joy as Christians, begins with grief.” In John‘s account crying is emphasised John 20:11–18.  “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”  “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Wo

In this class on the meaning of the resurrection we look at evidences for the resurrection, the implications of Jesus’ eternal life for us, and what we learn from the way Jesus engaged with people who witnessed his resurrected body. The ‘Nazareth inscription’ contains the following decree from Caesar: “Let no one remove them [bodies] for any reason. If not, however [i.e., if anyone does so], capital punishment on the charge of tomb robbery I will to take place.” Some of the key texts:  • Heb 7:23-28  • Rom 8:31-37   • 1Tim. 6:11-12  • Rom. 6:4  Question 1. For you, what is the most convincing piece of evidence for the resurrection? 2. What does the resurrection mean for you in your daily life? 3. In what way does the resurrection have an impact on your devotional life? 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: [m

We have arrived at the penultimate destination on our road to the resurrection. We look at the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. We note his courage, dignity, faith, trust, love and hope. Next week we complete our journey as we rejoice and reflect on the meaning of the resurrection. 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: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  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

Craig Douglas Erickson: “Liturgical participation and the renewal of the church” “Christian worship is by its very nature participator re-worship… Because all Christians are priests.” 231 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Pet 2.9 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Rom 12:1 Are all the worshippers worshiping? How do we know? Trust Holy Spirit Inhabits:  You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Rom 8:9 Active:  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,

Something that has struck me this year in the run-up to Easter more than ever is the way in which Jesus is so restrained. – Silent before the high priests – Silent before Pilate – Silent as the soldiers mocked him and were violent towards him – Mostly silent on the cross in six hours – Why didn’t he answer? – He is calm, dignified and courageous – in contrast with the religious leaders, and even Peter. – Silence is not an admission of guilt, but settled surrender – Roman law presumed the guilt of those who refused to defend themselves “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matthew 26:52-54 Ten Thousand Angels 1. They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where he prayed They led him through the streets in shame They spat upon the Saviour

Notes on the class “A lion’s story should always end with a kill, but the narrative has warned us that it is the lion who will die.” My atonement series can be found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJOhHa_2t9jDzIj68ID3lX6BnCXRxdy6p  The Greek verb paradidomi, to ‘hand over’ to someone else, is used by Jesus of himself in the second and third Passion predictions (9.31; 10.33), and for the fate of his disciples in the three apocalyptic warnings (13.9, 11, 12). Now it is used about Jesus no less than ten times (14.10, 11, 18, 21, 41, 42, 44; 15.1, 10, 15). To most people in the ancient world, the attempt to see meaning in the death of a crucified criminal would have been pointless. Crucifixion was completely forbidden for Roman citizens, and only used for slaves and aliens; to anyone educated in the Greek philosophical tradition of divine detachment from the world, it would have been utter foolishness to seek theological profit from this death, while to a Jew anyone hanged on a tree was cursed (

Today I answer another question from a friend. In summary, his question centres on whether it is appropriate to use the teaching about bearing fruit in John 15 to encourage an expectation of what is called "personal fruitfulness". I share some thoughts about the nature of the mission, our particular historical emphases in the International churches of Christ, and the downplaying of the personal element by the apostle Paul (1 Cor 1:14). We also look at Old Testament context (Is 5:1-7)  Fruit bearing is not a test, but a by-product of abiding.  It’s not ‘produce or die’, but ‘abide and produce’, it is not a demand, but a promise.  Love for Jesus and one another is at the core of the discourse from John 13 to 17 (Jn 15:12; Jn 13:34-35)   "If we are to ask what fruitbearing signifies, the broad answer of Bultmann is adequate: “every demonstration of vitality of faith, to which, according to vv 9–17, reciprocal love above all belongs”; we may add, in the light of v 16, “to which also effective mission in bringin

We continue on the road to the Resurrection. 1. The Silence of Jesus Amazes Pilate, vv2-5 A. v2 King? “You? You must be kidding!” The key question for High Priests The key question for Pilate The key question for humankind The key question for you and me QUESTION: What kind of king is Jesus? B. v3 Many accusations C. vv4-5 QUESTION: Why didn’t he answer? Calm, dignified, courageous. In contrast with the religious leaders, and even Peter. Silence not admission of guilt, but settled surrender Amazed Roman law presumed the guilt of those who refused to defend themselves No faith 2. The Shouts of the Crowd Manipulate Pilate, vv6-15a A. v8-11 self-interest Jealousy/Envy ‘phthonos’, ‘the heart burns’, ‘the stomach is hot.’ QUESTION: What are they jealous of?  B. v12-15a “what crime?” - knows innocent call to crucify - “he is a robber; Caesar is our king” Are you following the crowd? 1 Peter 4:1-5 3. The Strength of Jesus Defies the Soldiers’ Mockery, vv15b-20a A. v17-19 “Ancient images of crowns frequently

As we continue on our road to the resurrection, we stop off to look at the two trials of Jesus and Peter. 1. The Garden, vv43-51 A. Darkness B. Betrayal by your bestie C. Abandonment 2. The House of the High Priest - Jesus’ Trial, vv53-65 4 A. ‘illegal’ trial B. Silence and acknowledgment of identity C. Physical abuse 3. The Courtyard of the House of the High Priest - Peter’s Trial, vv66-72 A. Legitimate ‘trial’ B. Loud protestations and denial of identity C. Avoidance of consequences 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: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  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 revi

"So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great." Nehemiah 8:16-17 Sometimes the best way to recapture our joy is to go back to scenes of joy in the past. This week I had a delightful experience of recapturing gratitude for something that happened 37 years ago.  What helps you to recapture your spiritual joy? 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: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  If y

Today I answer a question from a friend. “I have a hard time believing that God deserted Jesus when he was on the cross. It seems to contradict Gods very nature. The main reason people say he left Jesus is because of the phrase “my God my God why have you forsaken me “ from Psalms 22. But no one believes that God forsook David, so why do we assume he forsook Jesus?” Let me bring you the views of Jürgen Moltmann. He claimed that if we really believe that Christ was human and God and that God exists in a trinity of persons, then Jesus’ ‘suffering’ for sins was NOT just the ‘human’ Jesus suffering; rather, in Jesus’s suffering, the second person of the Trinity, God was also suffering! Thus, God chooses NOT to be aloof from human suffering but rather really takes it on himself. Moltmann would say, if you are really trinitarian, you must believe this. His views received praise and cries of heresy. Consider also Ex 10:21-22 where darkness descending is a sign of God’s judgment upon those who reject God. (See Amo

The experience of my recent recognition as a Teacher left me glowing with an unexpected strength. Where did that come from? What might the lessons be for our times of quiet with God? We take a look at the experience of Jesus's affirmation by God in Mark 1:9-11 and speculate about whether that was what gave him the strength for his subsequent activity. One of the reasons for a daily time of quiet with God is to be refreshed in our acceptance of God’s affirmation. 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: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  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 gladn

It is important a teacher is not too focused on the mechanics of theology or presentation. “Whoever, then, thinks that he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but puts such an interpretation upon them as does not tend to build up this twofold love of God and our neighbour, does not yet understand them as he ought.” Augustine, Book One, Ch 36, “On Christian Doctrine, in Four Books”What is your way of checking your teaching classes and sermons evidence the love of God and the love of neighbour? Accuracy is desirable, but it is not the ultimate goal. Being an engaging presenter is highly desirable, but it is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to communicate, as accurately and engaging as possible, the love of God for us, and how that might inspire us to love him, our fellow Congregational friends, and the world out there. 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, tec

I enjoyed my birthday this year. Mostly because of nice kind messages from many people from various sources. My spirits were lifted. People spent time, energy, money on helping me feel loved, and expressing their gratitude.  Why can't every day be like my birthday?  God loves me more passionately than any of the people who contacted me or gave me gifts.  Daily - no matter what is going on, even if no one remembers me, he does!  “I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Gen 9:15-16 He forgets my sins, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jer 31.34, but remembers his love for me. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.  Do you have a question abo

“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.” Acts 18:24 Helpful teachers are familiar with the whole Bible. What is your plan to get more Bible into your life? Mine is to read Steve’s new translation of the NT. He says: "Why do I call this translation the King Jesus Translation? The primary theme of the ministry of Jesus was “the Kingdom.” The gospels tell the story of King Jesus entering the world to establish, teach, grow, explain, and bring people into—his Kingdom. The word Christ (Christos in the Greek) means “Messiah” or “Anointed One.” Another way of saying that is—King. Jesus is King. King Jesus. Why another translation of the New Testament? There certainly are plenty of great translations available in English. I offer this translation because I’ve always enjoyed reading different translations of the Bible. I find that when I read a new and unfamiliar translation, words and ideas jump off the page and gra

1. Jesus prepares his disciples for hospitality, vv13-16 Special occasions are often marked with special meals Jesus is not a victim. He is in control, the master The disciples lived by faith not by site Roasting the lamb and providing unleavened biscuits, bitter herbs, sauce, water, and wine. The room itself would require special furnishings (such as couches and lamps). Application When you follow Jesus, you get more than you bargained for. When you invite Jesus into your life, you invite his friends, and not only that, but all the other people he loved to hang out with that we don’t. 2. Jesus prepares his disciples for understanding, vv22-26 This meal explains what happens the next day.   As the Passover is symbolic, so are these actions of Jesus. All meals in this culture were to establish or perpetuate a relationship.  The way Jesus uses the bread and wine (“this is my person) make it clear that “to partake of the bread meant to join oneself to Jesus and his fate.” The cup is always connected with suffe

We were asked to provide a spiritual perspective on what is going on in Ukraine at the moment. How do we handle our anxieties and what do we pray about? Tim reminds us that God is sovereign, he has a plan somewhere in this, and that he cannot be opposed. He shares from Matthew 2:13-15 to show that a wicked ruler like Herod was ultimately thwarted by God. Shevvy offers reassurance in our uncertainty by bringing us 1 Peter 5:7 and Philippians 4:6-7, reminding us that God cares about us and is able to give us a deep peace beyond human understanding. I share some personal thoughts and some teaching about war and pacifism. Additional notes are attached for those who wish to look into this more fully. Ten Peacemaking Practises: Stassen & Gushee, https://goodfaithmedia.org/revisiting-the-10-practices-of-just-peacemaking-theory/  1. Support non-violent direct action 2. Take independent initiatives to reduce threat 3. Use cooperative conflict resolution 4. Acknowledge responsibility for conflict and injustice;