Malcolm Cox

“How to enjoy Christmas as a Christian” Thoughts based on the ‘Sussex Carol’ v1 Merciful King On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring News of great joy, news of great mirth News of our merciful King's birth John 1.14; Rom 12.1; Eph 2.4-5; 1 Tim 1.16; Heb 2.17; 4.16; 1 Pet 1.3; 2.10 v2 Free from sin Then why should men on earth be so sad? Since our Redeemer made us glad Then why should men on earth be so sad? Since our Redeemer made us glad When from our sin he set us free All for to gain our liberty? Acts 13.39; Rom 6.7-22; Rom 8.2; Gal 5.13;  Heb 9.15; Rev 1.5 v3 Life and Health When sin departs before His grace Then life and health come in its place When sin departs before His grace Then life and health come in its place Angels and men with joy may sing All for to see the newborn King Matt 16.25; Mk 10.30;  John 1.4; 3.15; 4.14; 6.35; 10.10; Rom 5.17; 6.4; Heb 9.9/10.22 v4 Darkness to Light

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29 Summary: Use the words of Jesus to the church in Thyatira to help you assess 2022 and gain a vision for 2023 Introduction – v18 – Note the letter begins with an inspiring picture of Jesus. His opinion about us is what matters, not the opinions of others, nor our own feelings. We speakers are all about Jesus – not ourselves, but our conduct, thinking and attitude matter. – Some questions to ask ourselves personally: 1. What has gone well? v19 – They prioritise love and are growing – “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11) – What has gone well in your speaking this year? How have you grown? What do other people say? 2. What needs improvement? What is being tolerated? What sins are apparent? v20-21 – Jezebel: 1 Kings 16:31, 2 Kings 9:22. The adultery is likely metaphoric as in the OT, Jer 3, Ezek 16, Hos 2, but the immorality is also

We can only know the true nature of God as Father from the Scriptures. – The Lord’s Prayer teaches prayer, but it also teaches us how to relate to God as Father, and what he is like – This series is designed to help us – Understand our Father better through what is revealed in the Lord’s Prayer – Come to know him better & enjoy our Father-God – Be a more Father-God-like father to our children (if we have them) – Represent Father-God more accurately to the world and thus make him more attractive for people to get to know Introduction, 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; Give us today our daily bread.Father-God is caring; And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven debtors. Father-God is forgiving; lead us, not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one – Father-God is our protector. Our Father God

We can only know the true nature of God as Father from the Scriptures. The Lord’s Prayer teaches prayer, but it also teaches us how to relate to God as Father, and what he is like This series is designed to help us Understand our Father better through what is revealed in the Lord’s Prayer Come to know him better & enjoy our Father-God Be a more Father-God-like father to our children (if we have them) Represent Father-God more accurately to the world and thus make him more attractive for people to get to know Introduction, 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; Give us today our daily bread.Father-God is caring; And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven debtors. Father-God is forgiving Our Father God is forgiving: Which Scriptures come to mind that fit the following statements? Forgiveness is not e

Today we conclude our series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm.  Now, today verse we recapitulate the core verse of the Psalm.  “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NIV11) “One thing that all mature Christians agree on is the absolute beauty of God. They’ve experienced it! They’ve seen it and have been changed by it. They long for it, just like the writer of Psalm 27. “One thing I ask”—what is that one thing? To seek and to see the beauty of God. That’s not a bad summary of prayer. Starke, John. The Possibility of Prayer (p. 32). InterVarsity Press. O Worship The Lord In The Beauty Of Holiness Verse 1 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness Bow down before Him His glory proclaim With gold of obedience and incense of

Dr Douglas Jacoby is our visiting speaker from Scotland. He teaches us on the significance of the second advent when Jesus will come again. We continue the topic of the coming of the Christ next Sunday, the 11th of December. Please feel free to join us then or for our carol service on the 18th of December 10:30 in the morning. 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

Truth through personality “In the first place, I ask that men make no reference to my name; let them call themselves Christians, not Lutherans.“ Admonition Against Insurrection (1522) Martin Luther “by any consideration of body or soul you should never say: I am Lutheran, or Papist.” On Receiving Both Kinds in the Sacrament (1522) Martin Luther “Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”” (Exodus 4:10–12 NIV11-GK) “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.” (Acts 7:22 NIV11) Conclusion Be more than your speech, not less. Why not sign up for the church history module: https://www.aimukandireland.com/course/church

v18 - Note the letter begins with an inspiring picture of Jesus. His opinion about us is what matters, not the opinions of others, nor our own feelings.      - Some questions to ask ourselves personally and in our local groups:  1. What has gone well? v19              - “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11)           - Their love is not intellectual, but practical - Galatians 5:6; Acts 10:38. 2. What needs improvement? What is being tolerated? What sins are apparent? v20-21         - Jezebel: 1 Kings 16:31, 2 Kings 9:22.          - The baddest of all the bad girls in the Bible! 3. What will be the consequences if you do not pay attention to the things God has brought to your attention? vv22-24         - “I will kill her children with death”.         - Cannot hide behind Jezebel and blame her.         - ‘I will not impose’ - The lack of imposition of burdens

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

Today we continue with a series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm.  Now, on to today's verse.  “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14 NIV11) Reminder To Self David turns from addressing God to appealing to other people. His experience of God coming through for him gives him the conviction to extend the invitation to others. Or, perhaps, is he talking to himself? Is he saying, “I have spoken truth about trusting God, and I know I am tempted to take matters into my own hands, therefore I will remind myself to allow God to be sovereign and decide on the timing.” Waiting is hard According to James Bryan Smith in his book “The Good and Beautiful God” the average American, in their lifetime, spends, “six months sitting at traffic lights • eight months opening junk mail • one year searching through desk clutter • two years trying to call people w

I'm in the last stages of preparing for our church history module for AIM UK & Ireland coming this weekend. If you are watching this in time, please feel free to sign up for the classes on the 3rd of December. Even if you're too late for that, you can still sign up for the course and watch the classes online. https://www.aimukandireland.com/course/church-history What does church history have to do with teaching of preaching? Church History helps us separate pragmatism and tradition from core teachings, and thus helps unity and prevents unnecessary division. Let me offer one thought based on the book, “Renewing God’s People” by Holloway and Foster.  The churches of Christ have been traditionally non-instrumental. Churches have divided over the issue. Where did this come from? The lack of instruments in the movement was not initially a scriptural issue and was probably more to do with its frontier nature.  “The first recorded instance of an instrument used in worship among the Stone-Campbell churches w

Today we continue with a series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm.  Now, on to today's verse.  “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13 NIV11) David’s statement is literally, ‘I am still confident’. He has this confidence despite how things look, not because the problems are resolved.   “Confidence: Scripture shows that confidence in God will never lead to disappointment. Out of the fifty-three references in Scripture to confidence, approximately half refer to the ability to have confidence in the Lord or one’s standing before him. Time and time again those who trust in the Lord see victory; believers can know that there is certainty and security in Christ. As Proverbs 3:25–26 states, “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot

Registration is open: https://www.aimukandireland.com/course/church-history  Why church history? Renewing God's People: A Concise History of the Churches of Christ, Gary Holloway and Douglas A. Foster - 13 short chapters - "Studying church history also helps us experience how faithful Christians in the past struggled to follow God in their own context." 10 Restoration of unified church so the world can be won.     - Thomas Campbell: The church is one body because Christians are, “subjects of the same grace, objects of the same divine love, bought with the same price, and joint heirs of the same inheritance.“ 43     - “to Campbell, the purpose of restoring the ancient order was not to be legalistically correct, but to make the church to school of discipleship and devotion to Christ that it was intended to be.“ 74     - The authors would wish to see us as "neither an exclusive sect, not a denomination alongside others, but a movement in the churches, and in society to call all people back to God through Chris

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 “T

Is the goal of relevancy necessary, helpful, or a curse? Today I offer some thoughts on sermons and relevancy prompted by the book, “The Givenness of Things”, by Marilynne Robinson. We speak of the sacred “My tradition places great importance on the sermon, and I go in hopes of hearing something that acknowledges this deep old human intuition, this sense of the sacred. Often I don’t hear any such thing, but sometimes, more remarkably, I do. A good sermon is a pure, rare, strangely unworldly gift.” 141 The Western environment in which I live over-elevates the solving of mystery which leads to an impoverishment of our spirits. I am glad the mystery of what causes pneumonia has been solved. But in our preaching God is someone more to be described than explained.  We speak of life and death “My church is across the street from a university, where good souls teach with all sincerity – the factually true, insofar as this can really be known; the history of nations, insofar as this can be faithfully reported

Registration is open: https://www.aimukandireland.com/course/church-history Why church history?     - "For years I kept a cartoon on my study door. Students who stopped to read it often stepped into my office smiling. It encouraged easy conversation. It was a Peanuts strip. Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally, is writing a theme for school titled “Church History.” Charlie, who is at her side, notices her introduction: “When writing about church history, we have to go back to the very beginning. Our pastor was born in 1930.” Charlie can only roll his eyes toward the ceiling." Shelley, Bruce L.. Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition (p. 1). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.      - 1. We can avoid repeating mistakes     - 2. We can learn from the wisdom of the past     - 3. We can get a vision for the future WHEN: 3rd December WHERE: On-line or in person in Reading WHO: Douglas Jacoby: Andy Boakye; Myself More on the content in next informational video Please add your comments on this week

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 abou

Today we continue with a series based on Psalm 27. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend listening to the first episode which covers some background thoughts on the context of the Psalm.  Now, on to today's verse.  “Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.” (Psalm 27:12 NIV11) The prayer progresses (from vv7-12) through: i. Addressing God ii. Reminding God that seeking Him is His idea iii. A plea for acceptance iv. An appeal to the divine nature of His love v. A request for guidance and strength vi A desire for protection in a specific situation False…accusations Does anything feel worse that false accusations made publicly and with some semblance of credibility?  We have a spiritual accuser: “..the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” (Revelation 12:10 NIV11) David’s treatment is mirrored in that of Jesus, Matt 26.59; Mk 15.24, 29, 34; Lk 23.18, 25. Je

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: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disci

VALUE THE DISCIPLINE OF SHORT LESSONS 1. Shorter is not always better:      - “And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.” (Luke 3:18 NIV11)     - “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”” (Acts 2:40 NIV11)     - “He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,”(Acts 20:2 NIV11)     - No formula 2. But speakers should master the art of speaking long, medium, short 3. My Format     - Context     - Verse     - Main point     - Illustration     - Application 4. Leave them wanting more 5. My experience     - Hard     - Practice the timing     - People asked me about the next one - were looking forward to it     - Could repeat back to me the main point 6. Conclusion     - Fill the heart/mind, not the time     - Most of the parables are short     - Experiment: how short can you go and still be meaningful? Please add your commen