An audio lesson or sermon from various contributors
Episodes
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Class 2: Why do we sing?
We have been answering the question, "Why do we sing?”. In the last class 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 of their hearts are laid bare”, and then they would, “fall down and worship God,
exclaiming, “God is really among you!”” 1 Cor 14:25
Much preaching and teaching focuses on the Corinthians’ abuse of prophecy and tongue
speaking. Not much is said about their singing. It is true that we only have a short mention of
this in verse 26. However, I think it's instructional and helpful for us to reflect on.
Even those of who don’t like to sing (at least in public) like to be amongst singing, toe hear it
1. Choosing songs was a Congregational responsibility
Paul does not rebuke them for tongue-speaking, bringing a revelation, prophecy or a word of
instruction. Neither does he rebuke them for bringing “a hymn”. Who was bringing these
hymns? It is the same people who might also have a revelation of a prophecy.
It looks rather as if they did not have a worship team. At least not in the way we understand it.
Perhaps no one chose the songs for that Sunday in advance. Instead, the members
contemplated what God was teaching them and showing them during the week and brought
songs to the rest of the congregation so that they could sing them together. Perhaps they were
hymns they already knew, perhaps they were hymns they made up.
We cannot know the details for sure, and some of this may be cultural and not fully appropriate
to our situation. However what I take from this is that the congregation didn't delegate the
responsibility for singing to musical specialists. Remember, he does not say ‘each of you
worship leaders has a hymn’, he says ‘each of you has a hymn' indicating that he is talking to all
the members.
2. The Congregation Came to the Gathering Thinking About Songs and Singing
It's clear that the congregation sang as a body, and that each member was aware that they
potentially had something to contribute. It may not be that every member brought a hymn
regularly, but it was a normal part of the church culture that various people would bring hymns. If
they were going to do that, it means that they didn't start thinking about singing on Sunday
morning. They were thinking about hymns during the week.
Imagine if, from Monday to Saturday, you gave time to thinking about the songs we might sing
on Sunday. What might happen? Perhaps it would help us to be more fully engaged with the
singing when we gather on Sunday morning. What could help us with this?
One way is to incorporate songs into our personal devotional times during the week. You could
listen to songs, sing them yourself, or read the words of a song and pray through them. That's
rather like praying through a Psalm isn't it? In doing so we will connect our hearts to God and
find ways of expressing our love for him in song.
In their book “Sing!” Keith and Kristyn Getty say this,
“Worship isn’t primarily about music, techniques, songs or methodologies. It’s about our hearts.
It’s about what and who we love more than anything.”
If we connect our hearts with God in song during the rest of the week I am certain it will enhance
the expression of our joy when we sing on Sunday.
Ideas and Questions for Reflection
1. Someone said, “Your voice may not be of professional standard, but it is of confessional
standard.” What does that mean to you?
2. God cares that you sing, but he does not care how well you sing. How does that shape the
way you think about singing?
3. The Gettys also say, “Christian singing begins with the heart, not on the lips.” What does that
mean for you?
God bless, Malcolm
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Class 1: Why do we sing?
Do you like to sing?
Singing is universal across cultures
But we all sing - even if only when no one can hear!
We sing when we gather for congregational worship. Why?
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. These two classes will
take a look at the three key passages about congregational singing. This week - why we
sing Eph 5 & Col 3.
“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 and decides to add an instruction to
sing because it's a good thing to do. But, are these instructions connected with a bigger
picture? I believe they are. Much bigger, much more profound.
Ephesus
The Spirit and the Temple
What connection do you think exists between the Spirit and singing? Let’s explore the
connection between Spirit, Temple, the Body of Christ and singing. Paul wants the
Ephesians to understand the significance of their calling to be a temple, Ephesians 2:21-
22. The physical temple was where God revealed his glory on Earth. Jesus re-identifies
the temple as his body, John 2:19–21. His body is the place on Earth where God’s glory
was manifested. That was an extraordinary statement which shocked his hearers.
Perhaps even more shockingly the glory of God which was in Jerusalem, then in Jesus
(or more accurately manifested in that building, then in that body), is now in the church.
Specifically, it is the church made up of both Jew and Gentile. The two groups together
(which encompasses all of humanity) have been made one by Christ, Ephesians 2:14–
16, and are now joined together as a temple, Ephesians 2:19-22. That temple deserves
to be honoured and kept pure. Hence his commands to avoid drunkenness and the like,
and instead to be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit of God filled the temple, was fully in
Jesus, and now wishes to fill the entirety of God’s people both Jew and Gentile. God
makes the ‘two’ into one. When we sing we manifest this - a spirit-unity made audible
and visible.
Four instructions
"be filled" (plerousthe) is the command which is expressed in the following ways:
* Speaking (lalountes) to one another in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs
* Singing (adontes) and making music (psallontes) in your hearts
* Giving thanks (eucharistountes) to the Lord
* Submitting (hypotassomenoi) to one another
How are we to obey the command to be filled with the Spirit? By speaking to one another
in song, singing, giving thanks and submitting to one another.
Why the connection with singing? Does it have something to do with engendering unity
between the disparate Jews and Gentiles? We bond together by singing and we sing
because we are bonded together in Christ. How will our two congregations be bonded in
the Spirit? By obeying the command that to be filled with God’s Spirit - and part of that is
singing together. That’s not too onerous a command, is it!?
Colossians
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. 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 message that centres on Christ. In other words
their fellowship must derive its purpose and strength from him. The Scriptures help the
community to centre themselves on Christ. For the message to “dwell richly” means it is
‘in their midst’. It is not a ‘thing’ to be dissected, grasped, conceptualised, taught or
simply understood, but to be a dynamic experience. See use of same word for ‘richly’ in
1 Tim 6:17; Titus 3:6; 2 Peter 1:11.
Paul is urging them to let Christ be centred among them so that he makes a difference to
the way they live - vv12-15: compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, bearing,
forgiving, loving to unity, peaceable, thankful.
The command is to dwell richly (in Christ), so how does singing fit? It is not that we dwell
by teaching, admonishing and singing. It is that we decide to dwell with Christ as central,
and then we will sing as a result. The “as you” in the NIV is not the best translation. A
more accurate reading is to see the singing as the channel through which the
centralising of Christ could be expressed.
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing
one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in
your hearts to God.” NASB
Psalm - psalmos
NT: Luke 20:42; 24:44; Acts 1:20; 13:33; 1 Cor 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16. It looks like
Paul was not talking about Psalms in a technical sense.
Philo & Josephus (first century Jewish writers) saw Psalms in the category of ‘religious
song’.
Hymn
As a noun this is found only in Ephesians & Colossians. As a verb it is in Matt 26:30 (ref
to Psalm); Mk 14:26; Act 16:25; Heb 2:12 (Ps 22:22). Jesus and his disciples were
‘hymning”.
Songs
This word appears with the qualifier ‘spiritual’ each time (Rev 5:9; Rev 14:3; 15:3).
Perhaps these songs were written by the congregation, or made up on the spot. All the
terms above are not sealed categories, but may express emphases.
Singing in your hearts to God
Singing directly to God is added to the previous instruction to teach one another through
music. We worship God and we instruct one another.
With gratitude
This Greek word would normally be translated ‘grace’. Thus the phrase could be "in the
grace [of God]” or perhaps, “by the grace [of God]. In that case it would be reminding the
Colossians of the grace in which they stand and which inspires the singing to come from
the heart.
Summary
1. Vertical and horizontal directions: Singing is for one another and for God
2. Teaching the faith to one another can and must be done through music
3. Church music should be primarily verbal: The message is more important than the
media
4. Christological focus: How much of Christ is in view in our songs?
5. Active participation: Worship is something we do, not something done to us or for us.
6. Rich variety of songs: We need a variety of the old, the new and, especially, the local.
7. Sincerity and devotion: We worship because of who I am, because of who God is, and
because of what's in my heart as a result.
8. Understanding God's Grace: As much we teach about music and singing, we must not
neglect the teaching about the grace of God.
Ideas and Questions for Reflection
1. Read the books of Ephesians and Colossians and reflect on why Paul thinks singing is
so important for the Church.
2. What do you think it means for you to ‘teach and admonish’ in song?
3. How can you ‘centre’ your life on Christ in such a way that it inspires you to sing of
God’s grace?
4. Is there anything that inhibits you from singing with all your heart when we are
together? If so, what can you do about it?
5. What does it mean to you that the congregation is now the temple?
Next time, 1 Corinthians 14:26
God bless, Malcolm
Friday May 13, 2022
Friday May 13, 2022
In this two-part class series Douglas Jacoby introduces us to the world of the Psalms, and then
takes us through some of the highlights from his small but powerful book on the Psalms called
“Thrive!”
If you would like to get your own copy, have a look at the following links.
Kindle: https://www.ipibooks.com/products/thrive-using-psalms-to-help-you-flourish-kindle
epub: https://www.ipibooks.com/collections/all/products/thrive-using-psalms-to-help-you-flourish-
apple-epub-android
Book: https://www.ipibooks.com/collections/all/products/thrive
Monday May 02, 2022
Monday May 02, 2022
In this two-part class series Douglas Jacoby introduces us to the world of the Psalms, and then
takes us through some of the highlights from his small but powerful book on the Psalms called
“Thrive!”
If you would like to get your own copy, have a look at the following links.
Kindle: https://www.ipibooks.com/products/thrive-using-psalms-to-help-you-flourish-kindle
epub: https://www.ipibooks.com/collections/all/products/thrive-using-psalms-to-help-you-flourish-
apple-epub-android
Book: https://www.ipibooks.com/collections/all/products/thrive
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Resurrection Class Outline
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?
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
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 (Deut. 21.22–23; see also 1 Cor. 1.23).
⁃
⁃ In 14.62 all three titles come together: the High Priest asks Jesus directly, ‘Are you
Christ’ (picking up 1.1 and 8.29), ‘the Son of the Blessed One?’ (implying the title ‘Son of
God’ used by the demons and the voice in 1.11 and 9.7; as only a human being, the
High Priest still avoids the direct form). Jesus responds with a direct ‘I am’ (echoing the
divine name of Exodus 3.14), but then returns to Son of Man, not for riddling humble
self-affirmation, but for the glorious figure of Daniel 7.13. The High Priest’s reaction of
tearing his clothes emphasises how stupendous a claim has been made.
⁃
⁃ “Like an infinitely wise military strategist, God knew how to get His enemies to use
their self-inflicted blindness against themselves and thus to use their self-chosen evil to
his advantage. He wisely let evil implode in on itself, as it were, and thereby freed
creation and humanity from evil’s oppression”, Nature of Atonement”, 37
⁃
⁃ Heb. 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their
humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of
death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by
their fear of death.
⁃
⁃ “...Jesus died as our substitute and bore our sin and guilt by voluntarily experiencing
the full force of the rebel kingdom we have allowed to reign on earth.” 43
⁃
⁃ Definition: “The Father, because of His love for human beings, sent His son (who
offered himself willingly and gladly) to satisfy God’s justice, so that Christ took the place
of sinners. The punishment and penalty we deserved was laid on Jesus Christ instead of
us, so that in the cross both God’s holiness and love are manifested.” p67
⁃
⁃ "by means of a tree, we were made debtors to God. Likewise, by means of a tree,
we can obtain the remission of a debt. Irenaeus circa 180 Eusebius
⁃
⁃ Col. 2:14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood
against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
⁃
⁃ “The atonement means that the relationship between humans and God is restored
(healed). The central piece in this restoration is that God, through the Servant who
personally takes on all our iniquities, grants forgiveness of sins....The punishment for our
sins, which was often meted out in terms of suffering, sickness and calamity, has also
been taken on by that Servant. His absorption of both the sin and its punishment is the
means to our healing and restoration, by grace bringing us shalom or well-being in all its
richness.” The Nature of the Atonement”, p130
⁃
⁃ 1Cor. 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
⁃
⁃ ‐"In place of Isaac the just, a ram appeared for slaughter, in order that Isaac might
be liberated from his bonds. The slaughter of this animal redeemed Isaac from death. In
like manner, the Lord, being slain, saved us. Being bound, he loosed us. Being
sacrificed, he redeemed us." Melito circa 170
Conclusion
⁃ Throughout the gospel, especially in the middle section on discipleship and in the
apocalyptic warnings of chapter 13, there have been hints that this is the fate of the
church. Those who believe that following the way of the crucified one is a bed of roses
have forgotten about thorns, says Mark. Yes, Jesus is the Son of God, powerful and
mighty in his cosmic struggle, and that is not to be forgotten; but there was no last-
minute miraculous escape for him – and those who follow should expect no less.
⁃
⁃ Please send responses to malcolm@malcolmcox.org
⁃
⁃ Next week we will explore the meaning of the resurrection.
⁃
⁃ God bless, Malcolm
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
We were asked to provide a spiritual perspective on what is going on in Ukraine at the moment.
How do we handle our anxieties and what do we pray about?
Tim reminds us that God is sovereign, he has a plan somewhere in this, and that he cannot be
opposed. He shares from Matthew 2:13-15 to show that a wicked ruler like Herod was ultimately
thwarted by God.
Shevvy offers reassurance in our uncertainty by bringing us 1 Peter 5:7 and Philippians 4:6-7,
reminding us that God cares about us and is able to give us a deep peace beyond human
understanding.
I share some personal thoughts and some teaching about war and pacifism. Additional notes are
attached for those who wish to look into this more fully.
Ten Peacemaking Practises: Stassen & Gushee, https://goodfaithmedia.org/revisiting-the-10-
practices-of-just-peacemaking-theory/
1. Support non-violent direct action
2. Take independent initiatives to reduce threat
3. Use cooperative conflict resolution
4. Acknowledge responsibility for conflict and injustice; seek repentance and forgiveness
5. Promote democratic, human rights & religious liberty
6. Foster just & sustainable economic development
7. Work with emerging cooperative forces in the international system
8. Strengthen United Nations & other international organisations
9. Reduce offensive weapons and weapons trade
10. Encourage grassroots peacemaking groups and voluntary organisations
Augustine's just war conditions
1. Just cause
2. Last resort
3. Lawful public authority
4. Reasonable hope of victory
5. Balance towards potential good
6. Right conduct and means
Bonhoeffer - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvooTf8NEU5TiKytmCgWYKOnkkmfQ-_TP
Are all or any types of war legitimate for a Christian to participate in? See “Slavery, sabbath, war
and women", Willard Swartley
Here is the (current) link for donations to the Ukrainian crisis appeal:
https://www.hopeworldwide.org.uk/ukraine-relief/ - choose "Ukraine Refugee Crisis" from the
drop-down options.
- Douglas Jacoby Podcasts on war and pacifism.
- https://www.douglasjacoby.com/?s=pacifism
- https://www.douglasjacoby.com/new-the-douglas-jacoby-podcast/
- http://playpodca.st/douglasjacoby
“Now inquiry is made about the point of whether a believer may enter into military service. The
question is also asked whether those in the military may be admitted into the faith... A man cannot
give his allegiance to two masters – God and Caesar.... How will a Christian man participate in
war? ...For the Lord has taken the sword away. It is also true that soldiers came to John [the
Baptist] and received instructions for their conduct. It is true also that the centurion believed.
Nevertheless, the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, disarmed every soldier. Tertullian (c. 200,
W), 3.73.
Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More Than 700 Topics Discussed by
the Early Church Fathers. David Bercot,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1565633571/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_YKJJPCRHVP9V6P72GN9D
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
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Saturday Feb 26, 2022
Saturday Feb 26, 2022
Join us as we continue to delve into the gospel of Mark with Malcolm Cox.