An audio lesson or sermon from various contributors
Episodes
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Acts 28:16-31
---
How can we maintain our passion for spreading the good news?
How can we notice opportunities God is giving us to spread the good news?
What could we do to capitalise on those opportunities?
---
How can we notice the opportunities God is giving us for spiritual growth?
What can we do to capitalise on those opportunities?
---
Introduction
- Could you use some inspiration?
- Looking at Biblical character in 'lockdown' circumstances
- Circumstances beyond our control - how react? In faith?
- House arrest - “When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” (Acts 28:16 NIV11)
- Two years - “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.” (Acts 28:30 NIV11)
- Last two weeks - spreading encouragement, and prayer; hospitality
- This week......
1. The word of God grows in lockdown
- Converted Onesimus: “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.” (Philemon 1:10 NIV11)
- God brought him to Paul - are we noticing who God is bringing to us
- Impact on the guards: Philippians 1:12–13; 4:22
- Unique opportunities given to us via lockdown
Discussion: "What creative ways could we use to spread the Word to more people?"
- Ideas:
- Blog
- Recorded testimonies
- Podcast
- Videos on youtube
- TikTok
- Send material to me if not sure what to do with it
---
2. Spiritual growth in lockdown
- Practicing what he preached: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3–5 NIV11)
- In what spiritual areas has God got your attention?
- Rejoicing in sufferings: “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” (Colossians 1:24 NIV11)
- “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:17–18 NIV11)
- Might be best opportunity for spiritual growth you've had in years!
- “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.“Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” (Hebrews 12:7–13 NIV11)
-Renovare Book Club
-Lectio 365 App
Discussion: "What is it about this time that is, or could be, a catalyst for your spiritual growth?"
---
Conclusion
Key scripture:
- “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7–10 NIV11)
Thursday Oct 22, 2020
Thursday Oct 22, 2020
You've found an upload from the Thames Valley churches of Christ.
If you'd like to know more go to www.tvcoc.org where you'll find news, information, resources and much more.
Wednesday Oct 21, 2020
Wednesday Oct 21, 2020
Inspiration from Biblical 'lockdown' people
Oct/Nov 2020 Teaching Series
Today's class is from Obi & Peju, and focusses on David.
Over the next few weeks we will also have classes for the Patels, Packhams and Olivers.
You've found an upload from the Thames Valley churches of Christ. If you'd like to know more go to www.tvcoc.org where you'll find news, information, resources and much more.
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Inspiration from Biblical 'lockdown' people
Oct/Nov 2020 Teaching Series
Class 1 : Paul in Lockdown - Acts 28:16-31
Introduction
- Series looking at Biblical characters in 'lockdown' circumstances
- Circumstances beyond our control - how react? In faith?
- House arrest - “When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” (Acts 28:16 NIV11)
- Two years - “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.” (Acts 28:30 NIV11)
1. Hospitality
- First meeting: Acts 28:17-20
- Second meeting: Acts 28:23-29
- What hospitality can you offer?
2. Love your housemates
- At one time or another Paul had many companions living with him:
- Timothy - Phm 1; Col 1:1; Php 1:1
- Epaphras - Col 4.12-13; Phm 1:23
- Onesimus and Tychicus - Col 4.7-9; Eph 6.21-22
- Marcus (John Mark) - Col 4:10
- Aristarchus - Paul's "fellow-prisoner" - Col 4:10
- Demas - Col 4:14
- Luke - Col 4.14
- Jesus (Justus) Col 4.11
- Epaphroditus - Phil 2:25-30; 4:18
- The way he expresses himself about these people, and they way they were a team together indicates that their enforced lockdown together strengthened their bonds rather than weakened them.
- What can you do to develop depth with those in your household?
3. Spreading the word
- Passion to communicate the gospel: Col 1.23-29; Eph 3:1-9
- Converted Onesimus: “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.” (Philemon 1:10 NIV11)
- Impact on the guards: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” (Philippians 1:12–13 NIV11); “All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” (Philippians 4:22 NIV11)
- Unique opportunities given to us via lockdown
4. Communication Expanded
- Letters written
- Philemon: Phm 1
- Colossians: Col 1:1-2
- Ephesians: Eph 1:1
- Philippians: Phil 1:1
- Use of social media and the internet - more people watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts
- Could you write a blog, record a podcast....?
5. Prayer
- Colossians 1:9–12
- Ephesians 1:15–21; 3:14–19
- Philippians 1:9–11
- More people praying now than before lockdown
- How might you be able to grow in your prayer life as a result?
6. His perspective
- Rejoicing in sufferings: Colossians 1:24; Philippians 2:17–18
- Magnified Christ: Philippians 1:20
- Practicing what he preached: Romans 5:3–5
- Might be best opportunity for spiritual growth you've had in years!
Conclusion
Key scripture:
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” (Philippians 1:12–14 NIV11)
Next week: next class in series - Patels, Abuchis, Olivers, Packhams
Sunday Oct 04, 2020
Sunday Oct 04, 2020
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Friday Sep 11, 2020
- “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8 NIV11)
- Note: This is how you should pray, not, this is what you should say.
- Looking back to beatitudes - “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 NIV11)
1. Forgive us our debts
- Jewish teaching regarded sins as “debts” before God; the same Aramaic word could be used for both.
- What are we praying for, when we pray asking for forgiveness?
- Personal honesty: “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8–10 NAS95)
- An act of faithful surrender
- “To confess your sins to God is not to tell him anything he doesn’t already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the bridge.” (Frederick Buechner)
- Corporate nature - our collective sins as Christendom? Local church? Not tackling injustices around us?
- “Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they sell the righteous for money and the needy for a pair of sandals.” (Amos 2:6 NAS95)
2. As we also have forgiven our debtors
- "The point lies not in the time-sequence, but, as vv. 14–15 will explain, in the insincerity of a prayer for forgiveness from an unforgiving disciple."
- “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14–15 NIV11)
- Some translations indicate that we have forgiven our debtors, but the Greek could mean something more like “as we herewith commit to forgiving our debtors”.
- It would be insincere to ask for forgiveness while at the same time holding on to bitterness towards someone else
- We need to desire other people to be forgiven as much as we hope for it ourselves
- We are not victims, we are healers - of ourselves and other people
- Jesus, as ever, is our example: “Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”” (Luke 23:34 NAS95)
- Don’t forget that there is more than enough grace
- “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20–21 NAS95)
- More grace than sin
- God delights to forgive
- A comfort to you and me
- And an inspiration to motivate our forgiveness of others
3. Lead us not into temptation
- “Keep us safe from ourselves” (Matthew 6:13 MESSAGE)
- Lead us not
- God does not tempt:
- "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;" James 1:13
- God does not tempt:
- A way of emphasising the opposite.
- Not so much lead us not into temptation, but, lead us away from temptation “into righteousness, into situations where, far from being tempted, we will be protected and therefore kept righteous.
- Temptation
- "Parallels with ancient Jewish prayers, and possibly the Aramaic wording behind this verse, suggest that the first line means: “Let us not sin when we are tested”—rather than “Let us not be tested” (cf. Matt 4:1; 26:41 in context; cf. Ps 141:3-4)."
- peirasmos is better ‘testing’.
- “Let us not be brought into temptation [i.e., by the devil].”
- If the word “temptation” can be taken to mean “trial or temptation that results in fall”, makes even more sense
- “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38 NAS
4. Deliver us from the evil one
- Deliver us
- Perhaps stress is on vulnerability of a disciple. We are dependent on God for help because we are weak.
- Just as we need to depend on God for physical needs (Mat 6:11), we need to remember to be actively dependent on him for spiritual victory and moral triumph.
- ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 NIV11)
- The evil one
- Or, from evil.
- Don’t forget that you are in enemy controlled territory
- "Enemy-occupied territory, that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” (C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity)
- “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV11)
- “Satan may be a vanquished foe whose demise is inevitable, but the aggression of his death-throes remains terrifying. ‘He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short’ (Rev. 12:12).” Pete Greig, "How to pray"
- “So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.” (James 4:7 MESSAGE)
- Doxology
- "The prayer is likely to have been originally given and used with the form of a concluding doxology (an essential element in most Jewish prayers) left free, probably as a congregational response. The form we now know (modelled on 1 Chr. 29:11–12?) gradually became standardised as a part of the prayer itself, probably during the second century.”
- “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11–12 NIV11)
- "The prayer is likely to have been originally given and used with the form of a concluding doxology (an essential element in most Jewish prayers) left free, probably as a congregational response. The form we now know (modelled on 1 Chr. 29:11–12?) gradually became standardised as a part of the prayer itself, probably during the second century.”
- Questions for discussion:
- What stands out to you from this verse?
- How might your prayer life grow because of what this verse teaches you about God, yourself and prayer?
- Suggestion: Pray these verses every day for a week
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
You've found an upload from the Thames Valley churches of Christ. If you'd like to know more go to www.tvcoc.org where you'll find news, information, resources and much more.
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
"This, then, is how you should pray"
Class 3: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Introduction
Last week’s class: “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Context of instruction
“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8 NIV11)
Note: This is how you should pray, not, this is what you should say.
"The three clauses of prayer for God’s glory are now balanced by three petitions for the disciples’ needs."
1. Give
What are we praying for, when we pray asking for our daily bread?
Looking to God for provision without anxiety
““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25 NIV11)
Trust that he wants and delights to give
Ask with relaxed posture, not anxious demand
2. Us Our
Not only my bread. Concern for needs of others.
Luther sees a social dimension to this prayer as well. For all to get daily bread, there must be a thriving economy, good employment, and adjust society. Therefore, to pray "give us all the people of our land-daily bread" is to pray against "wanton exploitation" in business, trade, and Labour, which "crushes the poor and deprives them of their daily bread.”
Luther goes on to warn those involved in the injustice that the church is praying against them!
3. Daily
espousios: today, tomorrow, coming day, the day at hand.
Perhaps an eschatological hint. The bread of life is here:
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 NIV11)
And is coming again.
(a) Just today - manna in the wilderness.
(b) Necessary for survival - need, not want. Contentment.
Workers paid daily. Might be only enough for that day’s bread. Not enough to save. Very precarious existence.
4. Bread
Making a point about necessities rather than luxuries?
Contentment.
“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8–9 NIV11)
The prayer is for our needs, not our greeds
Conclusion
Don’t forget everything you have is from God.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV11
He owes us nothing. Apparent security in our society tends to engender entitlement and/or ingratitude, there must be countered by active recognition of dependence on God’s generosity.
Questions for discussion:
What stands out to you from this verse?
How might your prayer life grow because of what this verse teaches you about God, yourself and prayer?
Suggestion: Pray this verse every day between now and the next class
Please contact me if you would like to share in the final class
Wednesday Aug 19, 2020
Wednesday Aug 19, 2020
"This, then, is how you should pray"
Class 2: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Introduction
- “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8 NIV11)
- Note: This is how you should pray, not, this is what you should say.
- Your Kingdom Come
- What are we praying for, when we pray asking for God’s kingdom to come?
As far as the experience of the disciples in Matthew 6 is concerned, the kingdom has come, is coming and will come
- The king is here, therefore the kingdom is here
- The evidence of it’s transformational power is still to come - the resurrection - “And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”” (Mark 9:1 NIV11)
- The ultimate kingdom reality is still to come. “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20 NAS95)
As far as we are concerned, the kingdom has come and will come
- The king reigns over us (fully) and through us the world (partially)
- The king will return to reign over all things
What are we praying for?
- Celebrating the current existence of the kingdom in its partial revelation through the King and his subjects
- Praying for the day when the kingdom will be all in all
- Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
- What are we praying for when we are asking for God’s heavenly will to be done on earth?
King Jesus - what was his life about?
“He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”” (Luke 4:16–21 NIV11)
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34 NIV11)
Courageous, loving action (grace and truth in action)
King Jesus’ followers - what are their lives to be about?
-
- ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
- Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3–10 NIV11)
Beatitudinal living evidencing the king and his kingdom. Being salt and light so that’s God’s kingdom can become more and more a reality.
-
-
- Personal application
- Corporate application
-
The church age - carrying forward the mission of God, to express the kingdom, reveal the kingdom and invite more and more people to enter it such that God’s mighty mission to heal the Edenic rift becomes an ever-growing reality. All that is damaged is healed. Hearts, spirits, justice, lives, relationships, environment…….
Summary:
“in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13 NIV11)
- We are spurred on to evangelism because the new world will contain multitudes from all the nations.
- We are spurred on to social action because the new world will be a place where righteousness dwells. Justice
- We are spurred on to love life. The references in Revelation and Isaiah to the wealth and the honour of the nations, teach us to be richly involved with all that is best in the arts and sciences.,
“The world has already been turned upside down - that's what Easter is all about. It isn't a matter of waiting until God does something different at the end of time. God has brought his future, his putting-the-world-to rights-future, into the present in Jesus of Nazareth, and he wants that future to be implicated more and more in the present. That's what we pray for every time we say the Lord's prayer “thy Kingdom come thy will be done on heaven on earth as it is in heaven.””
Conclusion
- Questions for discussion:
- What stands out to you from this verse?
- How might your prayer life grow because of what this verse teaches you about God, yourself and prayer?
- Suggestion: Pray this verse every day between now and the next class
- Please send me your questions
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
- "Opening address:
- Our Father in heaven
- Three clauses about God and his worship:
- May your name be held in reverence;
- May your kingdom come;
- May your will be done, as in heaven so also on the earth.
- Three petitions for our own needs:
- Give us today the bread we need for tomorrow.
- And forgive us our debts as we too have forgiven our debtors.
- And do not bring us into testing, but rescue us from the Evil One."
- Plan for prayer. Pattern on which to expand
- God’s glory - God’s rule - God’s will
- Our needs - daily provisions - forgiveness for us and others - protection.
- “Exalted and hallowed be his great name in the world which he created according to his will. May he let his kingdom rule in your lifetime and in your days and in the lifetime of the whole house of Israel, speedily and soon. Praised be his great name from eternity to eternity. And to this say: Amen.”
- “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8 NIV11)
- Note: This is how you should pray, not this is what you should pray.
1. Our Father
- Our
- Plural throughout. Meant to be pattern for group prayer, not just individual.
- We are joining all believers collectively every time we pray because we are spiritually connected.
- Father
- Not unheard of in Judaism, but very rare to address God as Father. Jesus did it all the time: Matthew 11:25; 26:39, 42; Mark 14:36; Luke 23:34; John 11:41; 12:27, 17:1, John 17:5, 11, 21, 24f).
- Reveals Jesus wants and expects same relationship he had with his father for his disciples.
- “Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”” (John 20:17 MESSAGE)
- Some passages shedding significant light on the importance of the relationship of Jesus with the Father: John 3; Romans 8; Ephesians 2:3; Rom 8:15; Galatians 4:6; John 20:17; 1 John 3:1; Hebrews 12:10; 12:4-11.
2. In heaven
- The heavenlies - plural
- Puts together familiarity (Father) with worship.
- We need blend of the transcendent and the intimate in our times of prayer.
3. Hallowed
- Make holy, treat as holy, reverence, to sanctify, to consider holy.
- “..although it is a prayer that God’s name be hallowed, and therefore presumably a request that God will hallow his own name, it is nevertheless a prayer which, when answered, means that we will hallow God’s name. In other words, Christ’s followers are asking their heavenly Father to act in such a way that they and an increasing number of others will reverence God, glorify him, consider him holy, and acknowledge him.” Carson, 72.
- Treat him as one to be respected
- We are not the centre of this picture - God is in the centre.
4. Be your name
- God himself as revealed to humankind (Deut. 28:58; Isa. 30:27). All of who he is.
- "“The name of the LORD,” …embodies the power of the Lord. His people find safety in that name (Prov. 18:10). The name of the Lord is to be praised (Ps. 7:17; 135:1; Joel 2:26), called upon (Gen. 12:8; Joel 2:32; Zeph. 3:9), exalted (Isa. 24:15), trusted (Ps. 20:7; Zeph. 3:12), or feared (Ps. 102:15; Isa. 59:19). To speak in the name of the Lord is to speak with his authority (Exod. 5:23; Deut. 18:20; Jer. 30:9).”
- Our prayer is that God be known for his glory and the transformation of the world
- Questions for discussion:
- What stands out to you from this verse?
- How might your prayer life grow because of what this verse teaches you about God, yourself and prayer?
- Suggestion: Pray this verse every day between now and the next class
- Could you send me a short video clip of your thoughts on these verses?
- Please send me any questions you have: malcolm@malcolmcox.org