Malcolm Cox

Tuesday Teaching Tips | Episode 257 | “The Connection between the Spirit, Unity and Singing” Part 3 Why do we sing? We have been answering the question, "Why do we sing?”. In the last two Teaching Tips I made some comments on Eph 5:18-21 and Col 3:16. Today let’s explore a few more thoughts on singing based in 1 Corinthians 14. “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 Background The church in Corinth had a lot of problems. They struggled with divisiveness, looseness regarding sin, attempts to put leaders on pedestals, drunkenness during communion, chaotic church services and, overall, a lack of love.  As Paul gets towards the end of his letter he focuses on helping them to change the way they think about their church services.  He hopes that God will be glorified and visitors would have, “the secrets o

Why do we sing? There is not a great deal of instruction in the New Testament about church singing. But what the Scriptures lack in volume they make up for in depth. This week and next week we will take a look at two of the key passages about congregational singing. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-21 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 A Casual Comment? At first glance these instructions to sing seem almost like a throw-away comment. It is as if Paul has heard that the churches don't like singing

Last week's quiet time coaching episode struck a chord with several people. Amongst those was my friend from Denver, Matt Anjilivelil. He sent me a copy of a study he has put together to help people to learn how to hear God. He makes the point that God spoke to his people in the Bible. For example, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Mary, Jesus and Paul.  Even if we may not hear God in the same way they did, it is clear that God loves to communicate with his people. The rest of his study is on the relevant page on my website. However, it set me to thinking about a couple of things. Let's take Samuel for example. Perhaps we don’t hear because we are not listening to obey. “So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.””

Why do we sing? “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Col 3:16 Background The church in Colossae was made up of house churches of around 30-50 people (Philemon 1:2). Many ‘gods’ were worshipped in this part of Asia Minor and the Apostle Paul is concerned about syncretism (in this context the blending together of Christian and Pagan worship).  Therefore he centres the letter on the sufficiency of Christ and his unique nature. Read the chapters that come before this one to get a feel for that. Congregation or Individual? Are the instructions about singing aimed at the individual or the congregational? The context is the “therefore” of v12 where he is addressing the Colossians as a body.  The list of positive exhortations is to the congregational community rather than the solo worshipper.  Dwell richly What is the ‘message of Christ’? It is the

It was a privilege to have my friend Christopher speak for us on Sunday. He and his son were visiting from Uppsalla. He speaks from the heart about freedom - based on that wonderful passage in Galatians. 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  

“How to hear God’s voice in troubled times“ Pete Greig, Premier Christianity magazine, April 2022 “Each one of us has been born with an extra ordinary superpower: an innate ability to hear the voice of God.” 49  “…it’s amazing that God who speaks in such powerful ways would listen to us, but generally he doesn’t seem to speak in an audible voice. What does it mean?” 49 Jesus assumes that we will be able to hear him, John 10:27. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” John 10:27-30 “Learning to listen is one of the disciplines of the Christian life. It may be an innate ability, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be developed. Part of that is protecting ourselves from the things that get in the way of our ability to listen.” 51 Barriers include:

Why do we sing? There is not a great deal of instruction in the New Testament about church singing. But what the Scriptures lack in volume they make up for in depth. This week and next week we will take a look at two of the key passages about congregational singing. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-21 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 A Casual Comment? At first glance these instructions to sing seem almost like a throw-away comment. It is as if Paul has heard that the churches don't like singing

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