My wife and I were privileged to be in Israel for two weeks recently. One of the highlights was a communion service in Gethsemane. Douglas Jacoby shared some thoughts before we took communion. I recorded the audio in the hope that it will give you special spiritual fuel for your next devotional time with God.
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.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
God bless, Malcolm
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
We take a stroll into Nazareth and the synagogue there. Inside we find Jesus reading the scroll of Isaiah. What will happen next?
Thank you for listening and watching. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org
I have just returned from a trip to Israel. Whilst there I was given reason to be grateful for my teaching mentors in the faith, such as Douglas Jacoby.
The church needs more and better equipped teachers. If they did in the first century we also do today:
“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1–3 NIV11)
Do you have a teaching mentor? Or even a network of mentors? I am contemplating setting up a teachers network. I would value your prayers and thoughts on how this might work.
Thank you for listening to this recording. You can find more teaching tips here and on the on the YouTube teaching tips playlist.
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.
Thanks again for listening. Have a terrific Tuesday, and a wonderful week.
On my recent trip to Israel I made a new friend. His name is Daniel Smith and he leads worship in the San Diego International church of Christ. We sat and chatted about all things worship. Today’s recording is the first of three. We talk about motivation in leading corporate worship.
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.
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
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up on coach.me.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
My wife is a GP. Recently she passed on to me an article from one of the journals she reads, the British Journal of General practice, October 2018.
The title of the article is “neuroscientific narrative consulting: how to engage our patients.” It contains a fascinating scientific approach to helping patients both pay attention to and remember advice given to them during a consultation. The key element is that of telling stories.
This has significant relevance to our desire as preachers and teachers to help our listeners engage with our content and remember our points – as well as take action on them. Listen to the podcast or watch the video to get more insight on these matters.
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.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
God bless, Malcolm
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
Recently I revisited a book I read a few years ago. It’s called “Worship Evangelism” by Sally Morganthaler.
In it she quotes Henri Nouwen”
It is not enough for the priests and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time. All of that is very valuable and important, but it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God’s presence, to listen to God’s voice, to look at God’s beauty, to touch God’s incarnate Word and to taste fully God’s infinite goodness?
As Nouwen says, we who lead others into worship must taste what we are offering. We do not have to be perfect, but at least tasting what we are sharing. We are required to be a worshipper before we can lead other worshippers. As Jesus said,
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”” (John 4:24 NIV11)
What helps you to prepare yourself spiritually to worship before you lead others in worship? I would love to know what helps you.
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.
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
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
I paid a visit to a local art exhibition at the invitation of my friend, Bill. He was exhibiting four of his paintings. Very impressive. It made me reflect on the amazing gift some people have been given in the area of creating art. And, of course it made me reflect on God as the supreme artist.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV11)
Do we take enough time to notice and reflect on the beauty all around us? Perhaps if we did so, we would connect better with the God who is the most supremely talented artist. Why not take some time today to contemplate the beauty in creation?
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.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
God bless, Malcolm
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
Nerves are the secret sauce in public speaking. They can be your friend, not your enemy. In this fourth of four episodes on the topic we look at how to handle nerves after the speaking is over.
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.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
God bless, Malcolm
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
I shared the following devotional with the worship teams of the Watford Church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ recently. I hope you find it helpful in preparing your heart and mind to leave others in corporate worship. If you use it with your group, please let me know how it is received.
“ A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom. LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
* THIS IS HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE WILL BE LEADING IN CORPORATE WORSHIP ARE FEELING
* But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
* WE TRUST THIS IS THE CASE – GOD IS OUR SHIELD
* I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
* WE BELIEVE HE WILL RESPOND TO OUR WORSHIP TODAY
* I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
* AT PEACE BECAUSE OF GOD – NOT BECAUSE WE MAKE NO MISTAKES / PERFECTLY PREPARED
* Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance.
* ANTICIPATE GOD ANSWERING, HELPING
* May your blessing be on your people.” (Psalms 3:0–8 NIV11)
* DAVID WANTS ALL GOD’S PEOPLE BLESSED, NOT JUST HIM
* WE MUST WANT THE SAME THING
* ALL PEOPLE BLESSED, NOT JUST US HAVE A GREAT TIME AS A WORSHIP TEAM
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.
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
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
We’d all like to have healthy spiritual habits. But how do we build them? And what we do if we feel guilty about the need for external support?
Encountering some dog walkers on my prayer walk this morning reminded me of how helpful it can be to have a friend when trying to establish healthy spiritual habits.
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.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
God bless, Malcolm
PS: If you would like some coaching in spiritual disciplines, look me up here.
PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
