Malcolm Cox

Have you ever heard someone talk eloquently, even entertainingly and not had the first idea what their point was? You are not alone. Sometimes I’ve finished a lesson and not know my point. It happens to us all, but it never happened to Jesus, nor God’s prophets.  Today we investigate the significance of every lesson having a ‘Big Idea’. The inspiration for our material comes from the second chapter of Haddon Robinson‘s magnificent book ‘Biblical Preaching’. The central point here is that Scripture contains so much truth that to simplify lay it out to the hearer will overwhelm them. We do not make a nutritious meal by taking everything in our fridge and combining it into one dish. Everything in that fridge might be healthy and tasty, but piling all the ingredients into one pot will obliterate the unique flavours and textures, creating a bland meal. The illustration has its limitations, but the point is that lessons, like meals, are more palatable when care is taken in selecting the ingredients. In this case,

What is Jesus an empath? I was speaking on Hebrews four recently, and it struck me that the NIV translates one of the qualities about Jesus being that he can empathise with us. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV11-GK) (NRSV translates ‘empathise’ as ‘sympathise’) Is there much of a difference? There are technical differences, but I'm not sure whether the Greek makes those. Instead, for the writer to the Hebrews is getting across is the Jesus gets us, understands us, feels us. We see this so often in the gospels when the person he is speaking to is treated as if they are the only pers

Question: When you are flagging, what lifts your spirit? It depends on the voice in your head. What voice did Jesus have in his head? “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11) “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”” (Matthew 17:5 NIV11) Other voices tried to get inside his head –- the devil (in the desert, a more opportune time), the Pharisees, his mother and brothers, the Sadducees, Scribes, the teachers of the law, even his own disciples with their selfish ambitions and doubts. I think this is one of the reasons he often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. He had to get those voices out of his head to be able to hear his father's voice. Because he prioritised this, he was able to live securely in the love of God, and successfully in submission to God's will for his life. Was this easy for him? No. “Du

The first time I read Haddon Robinson‘s book it thrilled me. It is not a novel with a stimulating plot. Nor is it poetry of sublime imagination. Instead it is an eminently practical book about Biblical preaching. But it is more than that. I am reading it again (for the fourth or fifth time), because it is one of the required reading texts for the current Homiletics Module in AIM UK&Ireland. Given that I am guiding students through the module, it seems only right to refresh my memory of its content. In doing so I have become freshly inspired by it and decided to produce a series of Teaching Tips episodes based on the chapters of the book. We will not cover everything in each chapter, but pull out some points on which to focus. These episodes should not be a substitute for reading this wonderful book in its entirety. Indeed, perhaps the overriding motivation for making these recordings is to persuade you to read the book. One other point should be made. This is not a book only for those who preach on Sund

Two weekends ago, I spent a memorable time with some dear old friends—friends I hadn't seen for several decades. The occasion was a reunion of my fellow music students who graduated with me from the University of Birmingham 40 years ago. We reconvened in Birmingham for a weekend filled with walking, talking, eating, and sharing stories. We reminisced about the good old days, told tall tales, corrected each other's fading memories, and, most importantly, we reconnected.  The experience left me feeling thoroughly refreshed and deeply reflective. This weekend, while bringing back a flood of happy memories, also brought me face-to-face with some less-than-positive aspects of my past. My time at university was a mix of highs and lows. I acquired valuable musical skills, made lasting friendships, and, perhaps most importantly, met my wife, Penny—an earthly blessing I cherish above all others.  However, I also carried a heavy load of regrets. Some were related to my lack of dedication to my studies, some to unheal

What does Ephesians tell us about Christian maturity? Read Ephesians before watching the class — or at least skim the book. 1. How might maturity be understood as the ability to deal with uncertainty? 2. How can maturity protect the community from splits and schisms? 3. In what sense might maturity help us negotiate fear?  4. If you had to relate three traits of a mature church, what would they be? Scriptures referenced: - Psalm 68 https://www.thamesvalley.church/ Admin@thamesvalley.church  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.

Today’s Teaching Tip is a shameless plug to join me and my friends for a day of happy homiletics.  On Saturday, the 16th of September, I will be having fun learning how to move from text through context into content and application. Our format will include teaching, discussion, Q&A and small-group work. The event will be in person and online simultaneously. We start at 10 am and finish at 3 pm with lunch provided. Our venue is the West Watford Free Church, Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 6NU. We are offering this module half price and will work with anybody with financial challenges to make sure that they can participate.  Please join us if you can. Whether you are a staff church member, a leader of a small group, or someone who might share a talk about the Lord's supper or conduct a family devotional, this module is for you.  Learn how to be confident that you may be what Paul called Timothy to be, someone who “does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV1

Perhaps it is inevitable, but our granddaughter’s arrival gave me a refreshed perspective on one of my favourite descriptions of God. Let me set the scene.  Two days had passed since our granddaughter, Talaya, came into this world, and I was about to meet her for the first time. I confess I was tingling as I stood outside the hospital ward, waiting for my chance to hold her. I knew that this moment would change my life.  I entered the room and was greeted by the sight of our precious two-day-old Talaya. She was tiny, her eyes still adjusting to the world around her. My daughter and son-in-law offered Talaya to me and I gingerly picked her up.  Automatically, without thought, I began to hum a traditional nursery rhyme to her. Talaya's tiny eyelids grew heavy. She settled into my arms and fell asleep. It was magical.  In that moment, I couldn't help but recall a passage from Zephaniah: "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no lo

What does Ephesians tell us about Christian unity?  Read Ephesians before watching the class — or at least skim the book. 1. How might we use our gifts to nurture the unity that God has created? 2. What is the place of honesty in unity? 3. How might we navigate the causes of disunity in our communities? https://www.thamesvalley.church/ Admin@thamesvalley.church  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

Do you have a framework to help you with the practical side of your preaching and teaching? In today's short tip, I offer you one from of old. It comes from a book given to me by my friend Harry Hardy, written by a church of Christ minister over 100 years ago. Do you think it is still relevant? The book is Christian ministry by Joseph Rotherham and contains the following framework taken from Dr. Stalker’s “The preacher and his models”. “Begin low; Proceed slow; Rise higher; Take fire; When most impressed Be self-possessed; To spirit add form; Sit down in a storm." Note: No framework is meant to be a formula or employed rigidly. If you do make use of this framework, be sure to be flexible. What frameworks do you have in mind already? Please share them here so that we can learn from one another. 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 suggesti

Would you like to freshen up your approach to prayer? I want to share something I have developed that has done just that. It’s a three-step prayer framework I’ve been experimenting with for the last few weeks. Those three steps are 1. Security, 2. Submission, 3. Supplication. We conclude the series this week by putting it all together. First, however, a point of clarification. Point of clarification As I did in the first episode, I should mention that this framework is not meant to be a formula. Nor do I consider it superior to any other framework. It is simply one of many.  Security; Submission; Supplication I have used this framework every day for the last several weeks. It does not cover the totality of my prayers. I have also enjoyed some set prayers from a prayer book connected to Lindisfarne, a Church of England prayer app, and other extemporaneous times of praying. However, I have discovered that using the same framework day after day has deepened my understanding of the connection between security,

The link you need is: https://www.aimukandireland.com Email: courses@aimukandireland.com Homiletics You might well ask, “What on earth is homiletics, and why does it matter?” Homiletics comes from a Greek word meaning to converse, or talk with someone. In the Christian context, it refers to preparing and presenting God’s Word to other people. “Ah, you mean sermons.” Well, it includes sermons, but much more. Whenever we talk about the Scriptures with fellow humans we are being homiletical. All of us do this in different ways, including welcoming people to a church service, sharing thoughts about the Lord's supper, preaching a sermon or teaching a lesson, doing a family devotional, teaching the children in children's ministry, doing a class for the youth ministry, and so on.  Knowing how to prepare well and how to present well are vital to healthy growth. Paul tells Timothy to, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the wor

Introduction  Do you ever wonder if your teaching is effective? Do you sometimes sense your preaching might not have the impact you had hoped? If so, you are like 99% of the speakers I know. The other 1% are deluded.  “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.” (Acts 14:1 NIV11) Today, we review the series and draw some general conclusions.  Point of clarification  It is not healthy to be paranoid about our effectiveness, nor can we ever measure it empirically. Still, there is a place for considering whether we have set ourselves and our listeners up for success. We have been exploring how to be ‘effective’ — not just skilled or accurate — in these episodes.  The Plan  Our material has been based on an article you can find here: https://www.douglasjacoby.com/the-ten-commandments-of-teaching-by-brian-fontaine/  We have explored the following ‘commandments’:  1st Commandment: Know thy content, b

Would you like to freshen up your approach to prayer? I want to share something I have developed that has done just that. It’s a three-step prayer framework I’ve been experimenting with for the last four weeks. Those three steps are 1. Security, 2. Submission, 3. Supplication. In the previous two weeks we have explored security and submission. We continue this week with supplication. First, however, a point of clarification. Point of clarification Supplication is a fancy word for ‘request’. The point is not the length of the list or the total amount of words — “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matthew 6:7 NIV11) We are not talking about offering God our shopping list of requests, but we are talking about telling him what we need and what we perceive other people need. With these thoughts in mind, let’s consider the example of Jesus. Supplication: Supplication is meaningful because it is built on security with God and sub

10th Commandment: Tests aren’t just for students. Introduction Do you ever wonder if your teaching is effective? Do you sometimes sense your preaching might not have the impact you had hoped? If so, you are like 99% of the speakers I know. The other 1% are deluded.  “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.” (Acts 14:1 NIV11) Point of Clarification Teaching and preaching are dynamic skills that require continuous refinement. We are never done learning. It takes humility for a student to learn, and it should take no less humility on the part of us who teach and preach for us to improve in our effectiveness. To place yourself in a position of learning can be a little scary. Don't let that put you off from discovering how to grow. Your security in God is what matters, not what your students think of you.  12 Tips for teachers to grow 1. Self-Reflection: Set aside time regularly to reflect on your

Introduction Unity is always a vital topic, but even more so now than usual.  The church continues to spread, expand and develop. This is all good but it means we must pay more careful attention to our unity.  These lessons will discuss attitudes and actions that can strengthen our unity. Today's lesson is focussed on examining one example of how Jesus built unity, and one example of how the early church built unity.  - - -  1.  Jesus Prays for unity “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22–23 NIV11) - Jesus in the Father is the model for us Teaches on unity ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” (John 13:34–35) How did Jesus maintain unity? Example “They ca

Would you like to freshen up your prayer life? I want to share something I have developed that has done just that. It’s a three-step prayer framework I’ve been experimenting with for the last three weeks. Those three steps are 1. Security, 2. Submission, 3. Supplication. Last week we discussed security. This week we continue with submission. First, however, a point of clarification. Point of clarification Submission is, for some people, a troubling word. It carries connotations of oppression, abuse and control. Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline states, “Revolutionary submission commands us to live in submission to human authority until it becomes destructive.” Demands for submission to human authority can be destructive, but when God calls us to submit to his will, he invites us into a constructive life. If you fear full submission to God, you are a normal human. Don’t worry. Just invest in what we talked about last week. Security in God’s love is the antidote to anxiety over submitting to

Introduction Do you ever wonder if your teaching is effective? Do you sometimes sense your preaching might not have the impact you had hoped? If so, you are like 99% of the speakers I know. The other 1% are deluded. “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.” (Acts 14:1 NIV11) Point of clarification We are limited in knowing how much our listeners learned. God does not give us miraculous insight into the mind and heart of each person who hears our teaching. We must trust that the Holy Spirit is at work. Our humility is tested in this. We are not in control. However, there are things we can do which will give people the best possible opportunity to learn. Three Tips 1. Ask Questions. You may have noticed that this tip comes up in several of the commandments. It is a crucial technique for helping people learn. It allows them to reflect on what they have heard and put it into their own words. Jesus d

You have found a teaching class for the Thames Valley churches of Christ. This week we take one of Douglas Jacoby's lessons and add some questions to facilitate personal and group reflection on the message of the challenging book of Jude. 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

Would you like to freshen up your approach to prayer? I want to share something I have developed that has done just that. It’s a three-step prayer framework I’ve been experimenting with for the last two weeks. Those three steps are 1. Security, 2. Submission, 3. Supplication. We start this week with security. First, however, a point of clarification. Point of clarification Dangers exist regarding frameworks. What may start as a refreshing framework can descend into formulaic dryness. Frameworks exist in the Scriptures. Examples include the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6.9-13, some of Paul’s prayers in his Epistles (1 Thessalonians 5.23-24), praying through Psalms, or that majestic hymn about Jesus (Philippians 2.6-11). All of these can be used as frameworks. But none of them should be seen as something to be repeated rote as if in the very act of repetition something spiritual magically happens. It is with that clarification in mind I offer this framework. Security: Finding Strength in God’s Presence Before