An audio lesson or sermon from various contributors
Episodes
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
In this recording for the Thames Valley churches of Christ I offer a four-stage tool for groups of Christians to evaluate the way in which God has been working in the last 12 months.
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 Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
In these three classes on spiritual leadership, we look to the example of Joshua. His situation and that of the Israelites bears many parallels with our context coming out of lockdown.
In this second class on leadership, Roger Packham gives us the benefit of his research into resilience.
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 Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Bonus Class - The Spirit Unites Disciples Because We Pray Together
Main Point For Today: The Spirit unites us when we pray together
33vv in Acts on prayer
Let’s look at some of the ways the early church prayed…
Praying for wisdom and guidance: Decisions & Comissioning
Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
Acts 6:6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 13:3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders a for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Praying for help and strength: Crisis/Trouble
Acts 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
Acts 12:12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Acts 27:29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.
Praying for healing/salvation: For Other People
Acts 8:15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
Acts 9:40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
Acts 28:8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
Praying as a habit/priority
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 6:4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
Acts 10:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
Acts 16:16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Praying as a sign of community and love
Acts 20:36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
Acts 21:5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.
People praying to meet us
Acts 9:11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
Acts 10:2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
What areas of prayer focus are going on in your group, and which ones are missing?
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 Nov 02, 2021
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
Class 5 – The Spirit Unites Disciples Because We Join Together in Spiritual Formation Practices
Intro
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6 NIV11)
Main Point For Today: The Spirit unites us when we participate in spiritual formation practices
To quote John Mark Hicks, “Disciples, united in prayer, are united in the Spirit. The practice of prayer (as well as other disciplines) is rooted in the work of the Spirit. The Spirit is present to listen and speak in these moments.” p69
Many spiritual disciplines are available: fasting; silence; celebration; confession; Frugality; Fellowship;
- My booklet if you want it – sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.malcolmcox.org
- Two excellent books:
- “The spirit of the disciplines: Understanding how God changes lives”, Dallas Willard
- “Celebration of discipline: the path to spiritual growth”, Richard Foster –
- But today, we will focus on prayer
- The Spirit unites us when we pray together in defending our unity and helping one another
- “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 1:17–23 NIV11)
– Context – divisive, Spirit-less people, threat to unity
– Antidote to division – prayer together in Spirit
– Context – doubters, weak, threat to unity if they are neglected
– Antidote to weakness and doubts – pray together in the Spirit
- “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 1:17–23 NIV11)
- The Spirit unites us when we pray together for one another to be courageous in declaring the gospel
- “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:18–20 NIV11)
– Context – in prison, tongue-tied & afraid
– Antidote – ask a whole church to pray for you – united with Paul in his mission - Reminds us of this situation:
– “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:23–31 NIV11)
– Context – threats via persecution, could have divided them
– Antidote to fear – prayer to be in accord with Spirit’s agenda
- “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:18–20 NIV11)
- What does it look like to pray in the Spirit?
- No one definitive answer
- Here are some thoughts for us to chew on and discuss in our local groups. First some thoughts from other authors:
- “The Spirit is given as helper, and not least for the task of prayer (Rom. 8:26–27); but…in the Spirit means more than by the Spirit’s help. The Spirit is the atmosphere of Christians’ lives, and as they live in the Spirit grace will be given to watch and power to continue in prayer.” Foulkes, Francis. Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary. TNTC 10. IVP/Accordance electronic edition, version 2.8. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1989.
- “By the Spirit—Through the influence of the Holy Spirit.” Wesley, John. Wesley’s Notes on the Bible. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.4. Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 1997.
- “Barclay has: “Let the Spirit be the atmosphere in which you pray.”” Wood, A. Skevington. Ephesians. EBC 11. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein and J. D. Douglas. Accordance electronic edition, version 2.8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.
- “The writer is calling for prayer inspired, guided, and made effective through the Spirit. Those who are united in their access to the Father through the Spirit (2:18), who are built into God’s dwelling place in the Spirit (2:22), and who are being filled with the Spirit (5:18) can and should pray constantly in and through this Spirit.” Lincoln, Andrew T. Ephesians. WBC 42. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.6. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990.
- Praying in accordance with the Word of God and living according to God’s teachings
- Praying whilst in conscious dependence upon the Spirit, asking the Spirit for what we need – strength, courage, faith, wisdom….
- Praying whilst consciously mindful of Jesus, whose Spirit we have. What would he do, what would he think? Especially helpful when we are faced with circumstances which the Bible does not specifically and explicitly teach on. Looking for the Spirit inside to help us live as followers of Jesus in a way faithful to him, not only in the precise words he uttered, but also in the way he lived.
- Praying mindful of the Spirit that he would unite us, and praying for our unity in the Spirit. Praying together mindful that the Spirit is in me, and in you, and in all of us, and that he might truly unite us.
- Also important that when we are praying alone we remember that we are still praying ‘with’ our fellow-believers, as long as we are praying in the Spirit
- What is God calling you to be? Trusting, courageous, persevering, forgiving – when praying together about this we are strengthened us and we pray in a way the Spirit delights in.
- I have two questions for you:
- What does it look like for your local gathering to pray in the Spirit?
- Are there some other spiritual disciplines your local gathering could practice that would delight the Spirit?
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 19, 2021
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6 NIV11)
- The kingdom work of Jesus was done in the power of the Spirit
- To quote John Mark Hicks, “The Spirit anointed Jesus, led him into the wilderness, and empowered him for ministry in Luke 3-4." Telios, Volume 1, Number 2, p68
- What does this ministry of the kingdom of God look like? It involves "heralding the good news of the kingdom, exercising authority over the principalities and powers, and healing brokenness” ibid.
- Before we ask what this means for us, let's take a moment to consider whether this applies to you and me
- The kingdom work of the followers of Jesus is done in the power of the Spirit
- Jesus tells his followers to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19 NIV11)
- If Jesus did his work in the power of the Spirit, it would make no sense for him to expect us to continue his work without the same Spirit being available and necessary.
- We have the Spirit (Act 2:38–39)
- “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” (Romans 8:11 NIV11)
- The Apostle Paul claimed that he accomplished what he did for God, “by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God.” (Romans 15:19 NIV11)
- He reminds the Thessalonians that the, “gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” (1Thessalonians 1:5 NIV11)
- The work of Jesus was done in the power of the Spirit, our work is done in the power of the same Spirit. What does this mean and what does it look like?
- Let's take a moment to consider what kingdom work is? What is the ministry of Jesus? What is his mission. And what does ours look like?
- Our ministry and mission mirrors what Jesus did.
- Therefore, we must interpret what he did into our local congregational contexts.
3. What does this mean for our congregational communities?
- I have three questions for us:
- What does it look like for your local gathering to herald the good news of the kingdom by the power of the Spirit?
- What does it look like for your local gathering to exercise authority over the principalities and powers by the power of the Spirit?
- What does it look like for your local gathering to heal brokenness by the power of the Spirit?
- Spiritual formation practices: The way the Spirit unifies us as we pray in the Spirit
- Send me any comments or questions
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
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
In these three classes on spiritual leadership, we look to the example of Joshua. His situation and that of the Israelites bears many parallels with our context coming out of lockdown.
Today we focus on two aspects of spiritual growth and health as leaders.
First by recognising that the wilderness is where God shows up, revealing himself to us and refining us.
Secondly by taking inspiration from the example of the apostle Paul.
Handout here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-Z39wgWlLb7q3dBF2aYP9F6AVk4cOuAX&authuser=mccx%40mac.com&usp=drive_fs
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 Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Class 3 - The Spirit Unites Disciples by Liturgy
Five Ways The Holy Spirit Unites Disciples of Christ
Class 3 - The Spirit Unites Disciples Because He is Present When We Gather to Worship
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6 NIV11) - Last week - transformation: we “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2Corinthians 3:17–18 NIV11)
Main Point For Today: The Spirit unites us by being present when we gather to worship and working in us and for us in that collective worship
- What is ‘liturgy’?
- "Liturgy came to designate the church’s official (or unofficial) public and corporate ritual of worship, including the Eucharist (or Communion), baptism and other sacred acts. Certain ecclesiastical traditions (such as Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican) follow a set pattern of worship (the liturgy), whereas many Protestant churches prefer a less structured style. This gives rise to the distinction sometimes made between “liturgical” and “nonliturgical” churches." Grenz, Stanley J., David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, eds. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.3. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
- Our unity is improved and developed and deepened as we worship together with and in the Spirit. The Spirit is the one who enables this.
1. We worship in and by the Spirit
- “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”” (John 4.24 NIV11)
- “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve (worship) God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.” (Philippians 3.3–4 NIV11)
- “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)
2. The Spirit is present when we worship
- “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 NIV11)
- “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4.31 NIV11)
- “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8.26 NIV11)
3. Church services are Spirit events
- We don't have to do things exactly the same way (not like some fixed liturgy), but what we do when we pray, take the Lord supper, sing together, fellowship and learn from God’s word, are all spirit enabled activities.
- Because the spirit is in each one of us, and the spirit is relational, connecting all of us.
- This is true in an individual congregation, but it must also be true congregation to congregation across the globe and time.
- We gather before the throne - together
The gathering is more important than the form.
Questions
1. In what way does it help your unity with fellow-believers to know that we worship in and by the Spirit?
2. In what way could you enhance a recognition that the Spirit is present and enabling your worship when you gather?
3. What is your part in enabling the Spirit to work in and through your collective worship?
Summary
- The Spirit unites us by being present in our times of collective worship, and making them effective in bringing us the joy of the spirit and bringing God the glory he deserves.
- “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2Corinthians 13.14 NIV11)
Next time
- Practising the Kingdom of God: The way the Spirit unifies us as we minister to others
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
Friday Sep 17, 2021
Friday Sep 17, 2021
Media Description: Class 2 - The Spirit Unites Disciples Through Transformation
Five Ways The Holy Spirit Unites Disciples of Christ
Class 2 - The Spirit Unites Disciples Because He Transforms Us Into Greater and Greater Christ-likeness
Intro
- Teleios: “Recentring” - John Mark Hicks
- What unifies us? Visibly? The Spirit.
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6 NIV11)
- last week - confession: “…no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV11)
- 3 more classes after this one
Main Point For Today: The Spirit unites us by transforming us more into Christ-likeness
- As you and I become more Christlike, we get closer to Jesus, and therefore each other.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2Corinthians 3:17–18 NIV11)
- Our unity is improved and developed and deepened as we all become more like Jesus. The Spirit is the one who enables this.
- Freedom in Christ means transformation.
- If we have this connection it’s like Paul is saying, “You cannot not be transformed.”!
- All by the love and power of the Spirit….
"It is the triumph of the grace and power of God reproducing through the Spirit the beauty of Christ in lives which are outwardly decaying and disintegrating through their connection with the world which is ‘passing away’. Only the grace of God is kind enough and the power of God strong enough to achieve this transformation in our broken and darkened lives." Barnett, Paul W. The Message of 2 Corinthians. The Bible Speaks Today. Edited by John R. W. Stott. Accordance electronic edition, version 1.3. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
What is the result?
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” (1Thessalonians 4:3–8 NIV11)
- We are sanctified by the Spirit
- We live differently because we have the Spirit - not because we share same values, have church ‘standards’
- This produces fruit. Fruit that shows:
““Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.” (Matthew 7:15–20 NIV11)
- Fruit is an indication of whether we are holding to correct ‘doctrine’.
- True for individuals
- True for congregations
- “Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit who indwells, empowers, and gifts us for new life in Christ…. Transformation is the goal of God's agenda” Hicks
- It is a Christ-likeness project
- We are transformed by the presence of the indwelling Spirit.
- When we bring God’s Spirit into communion with each other, it enhances the Spirit’s power to transform us personally and collectively.
- Having this same spiritual goal and the same experience of the Spirit’s power and work unites us in a way that simply having a common material goal never could.
The effect on us?
- Disturbing
- See the work of the Spirit on the church in Acts - growth through disturbance
What does this mean for our congregational communities?
- Dare to talk with one another about what we see the Spirit doing (trying to do) in us and one another
- Have spiritual conversations along the lines of, “I see the Spirit doing……in you.” “What can you see the Spirit doing in me?”
- “How can I support the work of the Spirit in you?”
- “What is the Spirit doing in our congregation?”
- “In what way is the Spirit growing us to produce which fruits, as a congregation?”
Questions
- In what way does it help your unity with fellow-believers to know that you are all being transformed by the Spirit towards greater Christ-likeness?
- What helps your transformation into Christ-likeness by the Spirit?
- What is your part in supporting others as they journey into greater Christ-likeness by the Spirit?
Summary
- The Spirit unites us by our mutual transformation into Christ-likeness
Next time
- Liturgy: The way the Spirit unifies us in our worship
- Send me any comments or questions
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 07, 2021
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
Class 1 - The Spirit Unites Disciples Because He Enabled Our Confession that Jesus is Lord
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6 NIV11)
Main Point For Today: The Spirit unites us by our mutual confession that Jesus is Lord
“I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV11)
- He is thinking back to something we all did - in heart and with mouth:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9–10 NIV11)
- “This is an orienting, entering confession.” Hicks. We said it, meant it as a seal on our repentance and a precursor to baptism.
- This is covenental language - fundamentally changing our status with God
“…you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV11)
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV11)
- You and me, all those in your family group, are unified by the Spirit because we we all baptised by him and we have all drunk of him.
- This unity is a reality because the Spirit is present - not because we said some words a few years ago.
- We have new life because of the Spirit, and we live the confession that Jesus is Lord day by day because of the Spirit who provides us with that life, that strength, that power.
- As you talk to your brother or sister in Christ, you are talking to somebody who has been fundamentally, miraculously changed by the Spirit who enabled them to not only say "Jesus is Lord", but empowers them to live that declaration.
- And this is corporate. Paul is writing to a church (a church riven by division) to remind them on what their unity is based. or rather, on whom it is based. Our relationship with God is never just “Jesus and me”.
What does this mean for our congregational communities?
- When I am with my brother or sister in Christ, I am with somebody who shares the most fundamental bond possible which is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
- If this person has been enabled by the Spirit to say Jesus is Lord, then my default attitude to that person must be to love them and trust them, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
- We love, trust and forgive one another not because they perform right, nor that we might earn God’s approval (“Look God, I’m loving a difficult Christian!”), but because we take delight in working within the presence of God in accord with his heart/will, and because our happy obedience to God’s desires will find it’s home in the heart of our fellow-disciple who has the Spirit in them (Rom 8.9).
- Can you imagine a wedding where one said, “I promise…….” and the other did not? A marriage has hope not because two people are good enough for each other, but because they both covenanted their love to each other.
- Our Christian communities have hope for ever-deepening love not because we are in the same church, believe the same beliefs, share the same values, but because we, by the Spirit, have been enabled to say, “Jesus is LORD”.
- Therefore, to reject a brother or sister in Christ is reject the Spirit of God!
Questions
1. In what way does it help your unity with fellow-believers to know that you have both / all confessed “Jesus is Lord” by the Spirit?
2. What does it mean to you to ‘drink’ the Spirit?
3. How can this understanding of the Spirit bringing unity help you to grow deeper in your love of the other members of your group?
Next time
- Transformation: The way the Spirit unifies us in our transformation into Christ-likeness
- Send me any comments or questions
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? 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
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Chris Birtles concludes his series looking at the gospel of Matthew and in particular how Jesus fulfils the calling given to Israel. This has significant implications for the way that we view Jesus, our discipleship, and the old covenant law.
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.
“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm