Malcolm Cox

Introduction  A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’.  The whole premise of this series is that God is loving us into spiritual character growth. The inspiration for that spiritual character is Jesus. We are being transformed into his likeness.  2 Corinthians 3.18 “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”  How does this happen? A key aspect is following Jesus, living as a disciple. Following Jesus changes us, and those changes help us follow him. Today, some thoughts on the cost of not following Jesus.   Costs and Benefits  Jesus invited people to follow him. Some of those invitations sounded attractive. Can you think of some?  Followers will find life and light, never be thirsty, and become cared-for sheep. Some invitations were challenging. Again, can you think of some? Can you drink

You can find the sermon notes here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/?p=33620 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

Teaching Tip 369 | “Plain Speaking - preaching with power: prophetic preaching” | Malcolm Cox  Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  Bercot emphasises the conversational nature of speaking, but there is a place for the prophetic, by which he means those speakers who convey a sense of dramatic urgency. "Typically, their goal is to convict their hearers of sin and for the need of repentance. They don't want to make their listeners comfortable; they want to make them uncomfortable. They often seek to bring their listeners to a life-changing decision right there and then." 135 Bercot offers the following thoughts. No scowling Prayerfulness Giftedness What are your thoughts on the points Bercot raises?  Conclusion Next time, we will explore listeners' pet peeves. Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so. Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching. Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to

Introduction  A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome back to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, one model that may help us understand how God changes us. In previous episodes we have explored the nature of spiritual growth - that it is both practical and mystical. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Dallas Willard - something he called, "The golden triangle of spiritual growth". By the way, before we go on, both he and I would be appalled if the model came across as a formula. Centred in the mind of Christ   The mind is our centre. How we think shapes everything. We need to centre in the mind of Christ if we are to see transformation. That way we learn to see things the way Jesus sees them. We learn to see Father God the way he sees him, we learn to see ourselves the way he sees us, and we learn to see other people the way he sees them.  1 Corinthians 2.16  ““For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” Phili

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 525 | New Creation Series — Part 17 | “New Creation - New Change Part 7” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, some concluding thoughts on how God changes us. Many of us grapple with: “I want to change, but can I?” The answer is a resounding yes. Not only can you change, but you should also expect it. 1. Dissatisfaction is a sign of grace Think about what is it that you want to change in your spiritual life. How do you feel about it? Are you frustrated you are not 'already there'? Change takes time, often a long time, but the desire to change is a sign that God’s grace is already at work within you. This is a powerful reminder that you're not alone in this journey. 2. Follow the pain One profound piece of advice is to "follow the pain." No one changes until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change. This pain, though uncomfortable, is actually a gift. It’s a catalyst, driving

Teaching Tip 368 | “Plain Speaking - preparing an expository sermon” | Malcolm Cox  Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  Bercot focuses on topical sermons because "they are usually the easiest for beginning speakers". However, he has a helpful chapter on expository sermons. Bercot offers six steps. 1 paragraph Natural divisions Propositions Connections Main theme Illustrations What are your thoughts on the steps Bercot proposes?  Conclusion Next time, we will explore preaching with power. Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so. Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching. Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life. Contact us here with enquiries: courses@aimukandireland.com   The website can be found here: https://aimukandireland.com   Please add your comments on this week's top

Introduction  A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, some more thoughts on how God changes us.  This week we take a look at some practicals of spiritual growth put forward by Richard Foster. His bio can be found here, and many helpful articles here. His book, Celebration of Discipline changed my life.  Foster offers us a list of twelve spiritual disciplines as outlined in the picture below.  Foster's teachings offer a modern take on ancient practices, designed to help us grow closer to God. We'll not unpack the disciplines today (read the book!), but we will explore some key principles.  1. Spiritual Disciplines require self-discipline, but self-discipline is not what changes us  Richard Foster’s approach to spiritual disciplines isn’t about self-discipline. You see, self-discipline can only take us so far. It doesn't have the power to conquer habitual sin or bring about deep, lasting change. For that, we need something more profound – we need inner transfo

Introduction
 A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and change.  How do we change?
Last week we explored the nature of spiritual growth. That it is empowered by God, aimed at Christlikeness and enabled by Jesus. “[We]…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV) This week we will take the last point further and look at some key principles of spiritual change. Spiritual growth is: 1. Both practical and mystical Our main avenue for spiritual growth is to walk with Jesus as one of his followers - just like they did when Jesus was on this earth. On one level, simply saying 'yes' to Jesus' offer of friendship is all that is needed. As someone said, ‘Proximity makes disciples’. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that th

Teaching Tip 367 | “Plain Speaking - make your devotionals special” | Malcolm Cox  Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  "A good devotional…should immediately capture your listeners' interest and sharpen their appetite..." Bercot offers the following thoughts. Short A stimulus 1 point 1 illustration Immediate application This recording comes out after I'm will have done something like this at one of our services in Watford. I want to help the congregation - and especially the children - to engage with the theme of the service, which is a special emphasis on the Lord's supper. At the beginning of the service I will be talking about favourite meals and sharing one of mine. I also have an illustration involving a voucher for the "just eat" service. What are your thoughts on the techniques Bercot raises?  Conclusion Next time, we will explore preparing an expository sermon. Has today’s tip been worth two minu

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by James Bryan Smith. By the way, I heartily recommend his book, The Good and Beautiful God. You can also find helpful articles written by him on the Renovare site.  Smith's model is a variation on the model developed by Dallas Willard and Trevor Hudson in previous Quiet Time Coaching episodes.  We will focus on the key difference - 'Adopting the narratives of Jesus'. His key idea is that we have a narrative in our minds about how we are doing spiritually, who God is, how he views us, what he wants from us and how we grow. However, our narratives are not always accurate. Thus, it is critically important we allow the narratives of Jesus to shape our own.  "Our family, cultural and even religious narratives might have their roots in the kingdom of this world. As Christ-followers we

You can find more notes on this lesson here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/who-is-rich-luke-16-19-31-malcolm-cox-09-june-2024/  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

Teaching Tip 366 | “Plain Speaking - Reading Scriptures with Zest” | Malcolm Cox  Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  "...it's of utmost importance that when you read from the Bible, it enhances your sermon rather than detracts from it." 112 Bercot offers several tips. Five are below. Check your references Read an intelligible translation Repeat the Scripture reference Pause before reading Read with expression. For example, think of how different Matthew 5.3 sounds when we read it with meaning. What are your thoughts on the techniques Bercot raises?  Conclusion Next time, we will speak about the special place for devotionals. Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so. Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching. Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life. Contact us here with enqu

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Trevor Hudson. His model is a variation on the model developed by Dallas Willard we explored in QTC 521. See a picture of the model here. Hudson's take is very similar to Willard's. We will focus on the key difference - community. However, first a brief comment on what he calls the "Divine friendship with the Trinity". "Redeemed people are redeemed to God and to his community. God is Community, and so are his people. We need to recover a proper appreciation for the Trinitarian doctrine of God, and noting how it affects thinking about community." 'A Particular People -- Toward a faithful and effective Ecclesiology' -- Inagrace T. Dietterich Bear in mind that this model is no formula. In community with individuals Our closest relationships are the litmus test of our growth.

Introduction
 A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and change.  How do we change?
Before we can talk about change, we have to ask a question. Do we believe we can change? Do you believe you can change?
You might like to pause this recording and discuss this with your friends before going on. 1. God is the change-agent
“…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV) We are in an ongoing, life-long process of change. The glory we grow into is from the Lord, the Spirit. Spiritual change is challenging, but it is not all about us. God empowers the change, our part is to cooperate with him. If we fully accept that God is the change-agent, then we will have no difficulty believing that we can change. So, God changes us, but what is the goal? 2. Change goal
Is the goal transformation? Yes, but, what is the point of that tran

Introduction  Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  "Bloopers and memory lapses are no big deal...you can conquer the fear they've held over you."  Bercot offers the following advice.  Own Up If something minor goes wrong, don't draw attention to it. Otherwise the congregation will be unnecessarily distracted. Not so long ago I didn't have the page numbers printed on my sermon notes. I got the pages in a muddle. Rather than draw attention to the fact, I paused for a few moments to sort them out. I doubt anybody noticed. However, if it's obvious to everyone, acknowledge it. When you're having a conversation with a friend and your mind suddenly goes blank and you say, "I've completely forgotten what I was going to say next!", everyone laughs and no one thinks it's a big deal. If something like that happens when you are delivering a lesson, simply tell the congregation. Have a laugh together, and it will help your congregatio

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

Embracing the Lord's Supper as a Joyful and Communal Event Luke 15.23 “Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.” This is why we come here—to celebrate! Part of that celebration is what we call ‘the Lord's Supper’. Another part is prayer - what can we celebrate in prayer this morning? Let's pray together... Part 2: Let's have a feast and celebrate Hand out capsules at start Introduction Today, we will focus more deeply on the Lord's Supper / Communion. We will take more time over it after some teaching and discussion. QUESTION: What is the Lord's Supper? QUESTION: Why do we do it? What is it for? 1. What Did Jesus Do and Expect His Followers to Do, and Why? Luke 22.19-20 “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” ‘do this’ - what is the

Introduction  A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, one model that may help us understand how God changes us.  In previous episodes we have explored the nature of spiritual growth - that it is both practical and mystical. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Dallas Willard - something he called, "The golden triangle of spiritual growth".  By the way, before we go on, both he and I would be appalled if the model came across as a formula.  Centred in the mind of Christ   The mind is our centre. How we think shapes everything. We need to centre in the mind of Christ if we are to see transformation. That way we learn to see things the way Jesus sees them. 1 Corinthians 2.16  ““For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” Philippians 2.5  “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” The work of the Holy Spirit God's power is what transf

Teaching Tip 364 | “Plain Speaking - how to handle speaker’s fright” | Malcolm Cox  Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  An old survey claimed that people fear speaking in public more than they fear death. That claim has been debunked, but it resonates because talking in front of other people is one of the very most exposed places to be. We are vulnerable. What do we do when our insecurities take hold? In short, we do not attempt to overcome it, but to use it to our advantage. Bercot offers five steps. Pray about it. Talk to God about you feelings, ask him to be with you experientially in this next lesson, and trust his strength will be available (Nehemiah 2:4-5).  Focus on your listeners.  Do not follow the terrible advice to imagine your audience naked! That’s distracting in the extreme. Instead, remember they are your brothers and sisters, and they have turned up because they want to hear from you (at

Our annual international Sunday was a blast! Wonderful international food, singing in different languages and much more. As part of the service we heard Joshua tell us his testimony and Malcolm spoke on how we find freedom in the peace of Christ. 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