Malcolm Cox

Are we learning from our compliments to help us continue to grow? I share an experience I had this last Sunday. Straight-talking “What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”” (John 7:36 NIV11) Questions “When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.” (Matthew 17:25–26 NIV11) 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.

Our friend Douglas Jacoby was the visiting Speaker on the 5th of March 2023. He spoke on the Lord's prayer from Matthew 6:9–13. We hope you find this recording to be a blessing. You can find more materials on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9Qa8D9zumJZdoAtARDUww) and website (https://watfordchurchofchrist.org). Most Sundays we gather at the West Watford Free church, 10:30AM.  The address is: Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 6NU You can contact us on: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com. 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 r

Why do we pray together with other Christians? This week, I recorded the first of two classes on praying together. We looked at the praying church and the expectation that Jesus had of his disciples praying together. You can find it here (https://youtu.be/20-iUjHSlMw) and here (https://audioboom.com/posts/8259191). So today, I ask, what prevents us from praying together more often? Is it pride, Satan, practical challenges, fear, or not knowing how…? This week I prayed with two members of my congregation over the phone. Unfortunately, they both live in places that make it difficult for us to physically meet to pray, but why should that be a barrier? Of course, it wasn't what they or I would prefer, but it was much better than not doing it. On both occasions, praying with Simon and Gbemi lifted my spirits. Part of the reason was that we were praying together and talking for a few minutes before we prayed, catching up, sharing our hearts, our needs and what was going on in our lives. I am reminded that before

Class 1: Praying Together Introduction In this class and the one to follow, we will examine what the Scriptures teach about praying together. Why not make this month of March one where you focus on praying with other believers? 1. The early church prayed together.     * “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.     * 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 1:14; 4:24 NIV11)     * “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (Acts 14:23 NIV11)     * “When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.” (Acts 20:36 NIV11)     * “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonours his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head un

Introduction I posted a poll on my Youtube channel. Here are the results:From what we can tell in New Testament times, church services did not have a uniform structure. However, they shared some characteristics.  Sing/Pray together (verbally expressed worship) Eat together (Lord’s Supper) Learn together (God’s Word) Fellowship together Many other things are legitimate in our congregational gatherings, such as announcements, testimonies, and more, but the four above seem like the essentials. If you disagree with me, that’s fine. Just let me know your thoughts. However, if I’m even close to the mark, a secondary question arises: “What is the best balance of these four elements?” Hence the question I posted on my YouTube channel. The traditions I grew up in put less emphasis on the lesson and fellowship and more on singing, prayer, and the Lord’s supper. I vividly remember one evensong service where an enthusiastic young curate spoke for 20 minutes. It was a scandal!  However, it doesn’t look like Paul’

A summary of my five main convictions on returning from the conference in Oklahoma. 1. Culture 2. Trauma 3. Jesus 4. Mentoring 5. Leadership You can watch live and recorded sessions of the conference by registering here: https://www.teleiosconference.com Leave a message with your response to my thoughts. Why not sign up for the Old Testament Survey module: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/old-testament-survey-aim-uk-ireland-tickets-531954449077 More information about AIM can be found here: https://www.aimukandireland.com. Send me an email expressing interest if you cannot find what you need on the site. 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. 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. Pleas

A Watford church of Christ lesson on God's love for the vulnerable and our part in loving those who need his care. 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

My thoughts on the second day of the Teleios conference.  The sessions I attended were: David Kinnaman: “The Open Generation” Nadine Templer: “Gen Z and their view of the Gospel” Hannah Desouza; “Gen Z: the Next Forty Years” Kyle Spears: “Gen Z and the The Role of Community” You can watch live and recorded sessions by registering here: https://www.teleiosconference.com Leave a message with your response to my thoughts. God bless, Malcolm

My thoughts on the excellent opening speech at the Teleios conference. Dr. Dan Rodrigues was the speaker, and his topic was, “Gen Z and Cultural Intelligence”.  You can watch live and recorded sessions by registering here: https://www.teleiosconference.com Leave a message with your response to my thoughts. God bless, Malcolm

My thoughts on the final day of the Teleios conference.  The main talk was by Dr. Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby, and her theme was, “Picking up the pieces: Cultivating hope in a traumatized age” You can watch live and recorded sessions by registering here: https://www.teleiosconference.com Leave a message with your response to my thoughts. God bless, Malcolm

This morning I was blessed to attend the service of our sister congregation in Oklahoma. We arrived early and I found myself talking to a delightful Gen Z young woman called Leslie. My reflections on this conversation are in the recording. You can watch live and recorded sessions of the conference by registering here: https://www.teleiosconference.com Leave a message with your response to my thoughts. This morning I was blessed to attend the service of our sister congregation in Oklahoma. We arrived early and I found myself talking to a delightful Gen Z young woman called Leslie. My reflections on this conversation are in the recording above. You can watch live and recorded sessions of the conference by registering here: https://www.teleiosconference.com Leave a message with your response to my thoughts.

You have found a daily devotional podcast on 1 Thessalonians. These recordings accompany the teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches of Christ. The brief devotionals are aimed at encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11 More notes, lessons and resources can be found here:  www.malcolmcox.org “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm

You have found a daily devotional podcast on 1 Thessalonians. These recordings accompany the teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches of Christ. The brief devotionals are aimed at encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11 More notes, lessons and resources can be found here:  www.malcolmcox.org “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm

You have found a daily devotional podcast on 1 Thessalonians. These recordings accompany the teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches of Christ. The brief devotionals are aimed at encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11 More notes, lessons and resources can be found here:  www.malcolmcox.org “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm

You have found a daily devotional podcast on 1 Thessalonians. These recordings accompany the teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches of Christ. The brief devotionals are aimed at encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11 More notes, lessons and resources can be found here:  www.malcolmcox.org “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm

You have found a daily devotional podcast on 1 Thessalonians. These recordings accompany the teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches of Christ. The brief devotionals are aimed at encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11 More notes, lessons and resources can be found here:  www.malcolmcox.org “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm

You have found a daily devotional podcast on 1 Thessalonians. These recordings accompany the teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches of Christ. The brief devotionals are aimed at encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11 More notes, lessons and resources can be found here:  www.malcolmcox.org “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm

You have found a daily devotional podcast on 1 Thessalonians. These recordings accompany the teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley and Watford churches of Christ. The brief devotionals are aimed at encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV11 More notes, lessons and resources can be found here:  www.malcolmcox.org “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:28 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ

Extra Notes Some final instructions and encouragements All are an expression of grace, or the results of receiving the grace of God. 'admonish' - '‘It denotes the word of admonition which is designed to correct while not provoking or embittering’ (J. Behm, TDNT, iv, p. 1021). It seems to carry a suggestion of blame for wrongdoing (cf. ‘warn those who are idle’, v. 14) and is aimed at correcting the wrong. Best sees it as addressed to the will rather than the mind.' Tyndale "while its tone is brotherly, it is big-brotherly." 166. Leon Morris NITCOTNT See 1 Cor. 4:14.         * 'highest'             * 'hyperekperissou is a very forceful word (see on 3:10), called by Findlay a ‘triple Pauline intensive’ meaning ‘beyond-exceeding-abundantly’' Tyndale         * 'love'             * agape - not affection, but much more. Not only respect your leaders, but love them. They are primarily there not to perform a function for your benefit, but to share in Christian love with you.        * help the weak             *