An audio lesson or sermon from various contributors
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Reflect, Renew, and Rejoice: A Spiritual Review of the Last 12 Months for Christians and Christian Groups
Introduction
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NRSV)
As the year draws to a close, it's the perfect time for us to conduct a spiritual review of the past 12 months. Reflecting on our personal and congregational spiritual journey can deepen our relationship with God, provide valuable insights, and help us discern to will of the Spirit for the future. In this class, we'll explore two ideas for conducting a spiritual review that will help you and your local group to grow in Christ.
Before we dig in to those three areas, we might take a moment to consider if this kind of reflection has Scriptural warrant. I believe it does. For example, Paul’s letters are tools of the Spirit to help the congregations he writes to reflect on their spirituality, what God has been teaching them, and their direction for the future. We see the same in the sermons to the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
As an example, take this passage in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5
“But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 NRSV)
We will not go into all the issues here, but we can see Paul asking the Thessalonians to reflect on their attitude to leaders and the weak, on their response when people harm them and their gratitude to God. It is with this perspective in mind that we will go on to examine two specific areas for review.
1. Embrace Gratitude: Counting Blessings and Lessons
Gratitude is a powerful spiritual practice that can transform our outlook on life. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are reminded to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus — “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 NRSV)
Consider David in the Psalms, where he expressed his gratitude for God's blessings even in the midst of challenges — “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5 NRSV)
Take time to discuss and write down all the ways you have seen God’s hand at work over the last 12 months. Do this for your personal life and for your group. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for all he has done, his support, and his loving presence through all the ups and downs.
Some examples relevant to me include the gift of a granddaughter, the arrival of TJ and Sonia Masilamani in Thames Valley and a young man called Nana getting baptised into Christ in the Watford church.
2. Honest Self-Reflection: Acknowledge Failures and Seek Forgiveness
Honest self-reflection is a crucial aspect of any spiritual review. In Psalm 139:23-24, David prays, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
One way to conduct an evaluation for yourself and your group is to discuss three crucial areas of the Christian life: Faith, hope and love. These key qualities are mentioned many times in the New Testament, and all three show up together in the passages below:
“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
“…remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”
(1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 5:8 NRSV)
You could discuss the following questions:
1. How is my/our faith (loyalty-trust in God)
2. How is my/our hope (in Christ)
3. How is my/our love (for God, one-another, the vulnerable and the lost)
Conclusion
We will talk about the future more next time, but after embracing gratitude and some honest self-reflection, we will be in a good place to set some spiritual areas of focus. Consider Paul’s heart. He had a consistent spiritual-growth-spirit. In Philippians 3:13-14, he writes, “Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
His desire was greater and greater Christlikeness as the years went by. Again, we will explore this further in the following class, but for now, why not pray about what God is revealing for you and your local group?
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
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
In this short series we have been exploring how security in the Father enables our willing submission to him and the difference that makes to our prayers. In the first episode we talked about the way in which we hear our Father’s voice. We considered the example of Jesus, and took inspiration from his ability to hear his Father’s voice in passages like: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11)
In the second episode we tackled the topic of submission. Although submission is challenging to practice, it is so much easier when we are convinced of our heavenly Father’s unconditional love for us. Jesus was the ultimate super-submissive son, setting us an example by wrestling in Gethsemane and going to the cross — not because he felt like it, but because it was the will of his Father. Jesus humbly surrendered to the Father’s plan, saying, “not as I will, but as you will.” His submission demonstrated the depth of His trust in God’s wisdom and divine purpose.
In the third episode we examined the purpose and meaning of supplication. When we are confident in God’s love and committed to submission to his will, we find our prayers transformed.
In this final episode we put it all together and reflect on what God has been teaching us.
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 used this framework every day for several months. It does not cover the totality of my prayers, but I have used it to a greater or lesser extent every day. I have also enjoyed 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, submission and supplication. Additionally, focusing on these three areas has reminded me of examples in Scripture of people enjoying security with God, the struggle to be submissive to the will of God, and the discipline to make requests by faith.
The surprise
Meditating in prayer on my security with God has led me into some times of wonderful praise. How can I ever thank God enough or praise him adequately for adopting me as his child despite my rebellion and weakness? Asking my heavenly father to help me want to be submissive has created a greater awareness of the struggle to be submissive throughout the day. It’s on my mind more. Now and again, I ask myself, “Am I being submissive to God’s will?” Sometimes the answer is not clear, but the question is still a healthy one. Bringing more requests to God has connected me more strongly to those I pray for and revealed to me ways in which I could be part of the answer to the prayers I am offering to God.
Conclusion
Awareness of God’s love for us is not something we should stress over. Father-God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit of with us at all times, but not necessarily noticed. That is not a sign of spiritual inadequacy. I am not always aware of my wife’s love while I am sitting at my laptop doing work, but her love for me comes back into focus at times. I live within the security of my wife’s love even though I am not thinking about it all the time. Similarly for us as Christians. Therefore, the question is not so much whether we are aware of Jesus at any particular moment, but whether we live generally within a sense of the security of his love for us, and whether we turn to him as a matter of habit when something comes up which is either worthy of praise or of prayer because it is difficult
Have you tried this framework? Have you persevered with it? What have you discovered?
Questions for reflection
- Why are security, submission and supplication a route to praise?
- What is the main lesson God has taught you in exploring this prayer framework?
- What will you explore further?
Next month we will have two classes on reviewing the year and preparing for next year.
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.
God bless, Malcolm
You've found an upload from the Thames Valley churches of Christ. Thank you for watching this video. If you'd like to know more go to www.thamesvalley.church where you'll find news, information, resources and much more.
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
When God Makes You Go ‘WOW!’, Psalm 65
Introduction
What makes you go, “WOW!”?
1. God yearns for our nearness, vv1-4
A. Answers prayer
B. Forgives our sins
C. Divan’s testimony
D. God wants us near, Matthew 11:28
Application:
2. God has the strength you don’t, vv5-8
A. Nature
B. Strength
The Universe is not stranger than we imagine. It is stranger than we can imagine. British biologist JBS Haldane
C. Power, 1 Corinthians 6:14
Application:
3. God provides more than we need, vv9-13
A. Abundance is never enough for human greed
B. God provides the resources for life
C. God provides the resources for the Christian life, John 7:37-39, John 10:10
Application:
Conclusion
Lord’s Supper: Luke 22.19
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
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Class 3 - Supplication: How to Convince God to hear Your Prayers
In this short series we are exploring how our security in the Father enables our willing submission to him and what difference that makes to our prayers. In the first episode we talked about the way in which we hear our Father’s voice. We considered the example of Jesus, and took inspiration from his ability to hear his Father’s voice in passages like: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11)
In the second episode we tackled the topic of submission. Although submission is challenging to practice, it is so much easier when we are convinced of our heavenly Father’s unconditional love for us. Jesus was the ultimate super-submissive son, setting us an example by wrestling in Gethsemane and going to the cross — not because he felt like it, but because it was the will of his Father. Jesus humbly surrendered to the Father’s plan, saying, “not as I will, but as you will.” His submission demonstrated the depth of His trust in God’s wisdom and divine purpose.
What does this mean for our own prayer-life? Today we will explore the meaning of this text:
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7-10 NRSV)
Point of clarification
You will notice that the NRSV translation uses the word ‘supplication’. What does that mean? The Greek word is ἱκετηρία, meaning ‘request’. We find it in other passages such as Philippians 4:6–7 and 1 Timothy 2:1. Supplication is a fancy word for ‘request’.
Could requesting things from God be dangerous? Might we stray into a selfish focus to our prayers? Could praying become the presentation of our shopping list to God? That is possible, but does not need to be the case. If we have first grasped our security in God and moved to a place of willing submission to his will we will be praying because we trust he cares and has our best interests at heart - whatever the outcome. We are talking about telling God what we need and what we perceive other people need. With these thoughts in mind, let’s consider the example of Jesus.
Jesus and Supplication
Supplication is meaningful because it is built on security with God and submission to God’s will. Jesus demonstrates this in his life as summarised by this verse, “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
(Hebrews 5:7 NRSV). Jesus knew God had the power to save him, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”(Matthew 26:53 NIV11), and trusted him even though it was not appropriate for the Father to supply those angels. How did Jesus manage this? Because his security with God was unshakeable and his submission to God was unbreakable. I believe the way his prayer was heard was in that God gave him the strength to endure his will for Jesus — to go to the cross.
Security and submission set us up magnificently to present our requests to God. Jesus taught his followers to expect answers to prayer, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”” (Matthew 21:22 NIV11) Paul encouraged us to tell God what we need, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”(Philippians 4:6 NIV11)
Conclusion
To state it again — the security and submission of Jesus made his supplications effective. Do you wonder why your prayers are not answered? Perhaps, only perhaps but it is worth reflecting on this, it is because you are lacking in submission to God’s will.
Questions for reflection
- Do you tell God what you need?
- Are you requesting his work in the lives of people you care about?
- What holds you back from making your supplications to God?
Next time we will wrap up the series and put it all together — security, submission and supplication.
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).
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
God bless, Malcolm
You've found an upload from the Thames Valley churches of Christ. Thank you for watching this video. If you'd like to know more go to www.thamesvalley.church where you'll find news, information, resources and much more.
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Class 2 - Submission: How to Find the Will to do God’s Will even When it is Not Your Will
In this short series we are exploring how our security in the Father enables our willing submission to him. Last time we talked about the way in which we hear Father’s voice. We considered the example of Jesus, and, I hope, took inspiration from his ability to hear his Father’s voice in passages like:
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11), and, “Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”” (Mark 9:7 NIV11)
The Trouble with Submission
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 oppressive 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 him. Trying to be submissive to God’s will for our lives without security in his love is, frankly, terrifying! But, with full assurance of his love for us, it is liberating.
We must reckon with our human nature — ‘The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.’ (Mark 14:38). We agree with Paul when he wrote, “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.” (Romans 12:1 NIV11). But, as someone said, the problem with living sacrifices is that they tend to squirm off the altar!
Surrendering Our Will to God’s Plan
To make sense of submission to the will of our Heavenly Father, we take our cue from Jesus, who said, “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38 NIV11). How did he feel about God’s will?
He delighted in it, ““My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34 NIV11),
Just because he delighted in it does not mean it was easy. Jesus’ prayer in the Gethsemane is a poignant example of submission to God’s will in challenging circumstances (Matthew 26:39). Despite the overwhelming weight of impending suffering, Jesus humbly surrendered to the Father’s plan, saying, “not as I will, but as you will.” His submission demonstrated the depth of His trust in God’s wisdom and divine purpose.
Conclusion
In Leadership or Servanthood? Hwa Yung writes — “Jesus in life, ministry, and mission lived in the full consciousness of his filial relationship with his Father and in the unfailing security of the Father’s love. This allowed him to go about life in a calm and cool manner, and gave him inner strength and fearlessness in the face of immense challenges and unrelenting opposition.” It makes no sense to pray, ‘your will be done’ (Matthew 6.10) and live in opposition to God’s will. How do we align our will with the will of the Father?
1. Be honest - in Gethsemane Jesus told his Father he did not want to do his will.
2. Pray long enough to process your feelings - in Gethsemane it took at least three hours for Jesus to get where he needed to be to fulfil God’s will
3. Pray the prayer of faith, even if you are not feeling it - in Gethsemane Jesus prayed “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39 NIV11) before he was fully there. As my friend Charl put it we need to pray, “Father, help me to will your will even though I don’t will it right now.”
4. Take the time to refresh your security in the Father, and you will find praying to live in submission to his will much more appealing than you might think.
Questions for reflection
- How do you honestly feel about the idea of living in full submission to the Father’s will? - What is it about example of Jesus which is relevant and attractive to you?
- If you want to grow in your willing submission to the Father, how will that happen?
Next time we will go on to look at how Jesus’ security in the Father’s love and his willing submission to the Father’s will made all the difference to his prayers.
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
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Class 1 - Security: Finding Strength From Hearing the Father’s Voice
In this short series we will explore how our security in the Father enables our willing submission to him. The critical issue before us today is the way in which we hear Father’s voice. We may intellectually understand many things with our mind, but it is the voice in our head which so often controls our feelings and our behaviour. Which voice dominates in your head at the moment? Do you find it easy or hard to hear the Father's voice? Perhaps you even think it's rather weird to expect such a thing. However, let us consider the example of Jesus.
Can you imagine how he felt when he heard this on the occasion of his baptism,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NIV11).
That incident was not the only time. Consider what happened on the mountain,
“Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”” (Mark 9:7 NIV11)
It is true that Jesus was unique, and that Scripture does not mandate that we hear the voice of the Father audibly. However, we do have the same kind of relationship with the Father that Jesus had.
We are authorised — nay — encouraged to trust in an identical quality of relationship with the Father that Jesus enjoyed, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”” (Romans 8:15 NIV11) And again, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.”” (Galatians 4:6 NIV11)
By the way, this should not be seen as an exclusively male issue. The word ‘son’ is important because in that culture it conveyed the idea of inheritance. In that day it was the male son who inherited from the father. It is this which we are meant to see in the father-son relationship between our heavenly Father and Jesus, not anything else.
The strength of his connection with the father enabled him to endure one of his darkest moments. Even then, he was able to use the more intimate form of address — ‘abba’. ““Abba , Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”” (Mark 14:36 NIV11)
Jesus lived a life of submission to the Father because he experienced the loving acceptance of his Father. We will live healthier lives of discipleship when we connect with that same love in our times of quiet with God.
Michael Lewis and his voice impact on my ability to pass a crucial piano exam.
Questions for reflection
- How do you honestly feel about the idea of listening for the Father's voice?
- What is it about example of Jesus which is relevant and attractive to you?
- If you want to hear more of the Father’s voice, how will that happen?
Next time we will go on to look at how Jesus’ security in the Father’s love enabled his willing submission to the Father’s will.
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
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
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
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
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?
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
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
Sunday Jul 30, 2023
Sunday Jul 30, 2023
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 wonderful little book of Philemon.
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