Tag Archives: Praise

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“Why we should always be flexible with our song choices”

The Sunday Sample Episode 55

Last week in my interview with Mwamba Bennett she mentioned an occasion when they changed a song during their church service.  As it happened, this coming Sunday gave me reason to do the same thing.

TJ was preaching on the opening verses of Isaiah chapter 6:
“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1–4 NIV11)
While he was speaking, the words of the song, “I see the LORD” came to mind:

I see the Lord
Seated on the throne exalted
And the train of His robe
Fills the temple with glory
And the whole earth is filled
And the whole earth is filled
And the whole earth is filled
With His gloryChorus
Holy holy holy holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy holy holy holy
Holy is the Lord of lord

It seemed right to me that we sing that song after the sermon instead of the one we had prepared.  In the attached recordings I share how we did that and why.

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

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“The Mwamba Bennett interview”

The Sunday Sample, Episode 54

Welcome to my interview with worship leader Mwamba Bennett. She is part of the worship team in the Birmingham church of Christ. We discuss the strengths of the team, her own personal motivations in worship and much more.

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.

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

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“A tasty scripture-song sandwich”

The Sunday Sample: Episode 53

The website I refer to in the podcast is Resound 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 here.

PPS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool“, a devotional look at the Gospel of John

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“How to be lifted up by God”

The Sunday Sample: Episode 52

Would you like to be “lifted” by God as you lead others in worship? There’s a key to such an experience. I was reminded of that key at a recent Sunday service where I was preaching for the North West Region of the London International church of Christ.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6 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.

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

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“Don’t get tired of reminders”

The Sunday Sample: Episode 51

Do you realise the importance of your role in reminding other people of God’s attributes and what he has done?

We mine a couple of pithy sayings from Erickson’s book, “Participating in worship” and reflect on our opportunity to remind people of vital truths on which they can base their faith.

Thank you for listening to and watching this recording. You can find more Sunday Samples here and on the YouTube 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.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2

God bless,

Malcolm

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“The power of a well-placed poem”

The Sunday Sample: Episode 50

Do you use poems in your corporate worship settings?

I bring you the results of a poetic experiment from a recent Sunday service in the Thames Valley churches of Christ.

Thank you for listening to and watching this recording. You can find more Sunday Samples here and on the YouTube playlist.

Here’s the text of the poem I quote:

Lord, I come to you.

Let my heart be changed, renewed,

Flowing from the grace, That I’ve found in You.

And, Lord, I’ve come to know The weaknesses I see in me

Will be stripped away By the power of your love.

Hold me close, Let your love surround me.

Bring me near, draw me to your side;

And, as I wait, I’ll rise up like the eagle,

and I will soar with you.

Your spirit leads me on by the power of your love.

Lord, unveil my eyes,

Let me see you face to face: the knowledge of your love as you live in me.

Lord, renew my mind as your will unfolds in my life,

in living every day in the power of your love.

Hold me close, let your love surround me.

Bring me near, draw me to your side; and, as I wait,

I’ll rise up like the eagle, and I will soar with you.

Your spirit leads me on by the power of your love.

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.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2

God bless,

Malcolm

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“Making the most of the Psalms”

The Sunday Sample, Episode 49

Do you use the Psalms in your corporate worship settings?

I bring you a quote from Tom Wright from his book on Psalms, “Finding God in the Psalms: Sing, pray, live”:

“By all means write new songs. Each generation must do that. But to neglect the church’s original hymnbook is, to put it bluntly, crazy.”

Thank you for listening to and watching this recording. You can find more Sunday Samples here and on the YouTube 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: www.malcolmcox.org.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2

God bless,

Malcolm

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

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“The focussing power of centering silence”

The Sunday Sample: Episode 48

Do you use intentional silence as part of your corporate worship settings?

I bring you a quote from Erickson and an experience from the wartime Navy.

Thank you for listening to and watching this recording. You can find more Sunday Samples here and on the YouTube 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: www.malcolmcox.org.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2

God bless,

Malcolm

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

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“The value of a good hum”

The Sunday Sample: Episode 47

Do you use congregational humming as part of your corporate worship?

I share something we tried this last Sunday in Watford and Thames Valley.

“God is so good”

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psa. 84:11 ESVi)

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus. 3:4–7 ESVi)

Thank you for listening to and watching this recording. You can find more Sunday Samples here and on the YouTube 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: www.malcolmcox.org.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2

God bless,

Malcolmn

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

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“Savour the Silence”

The Sunday Sample: Episode 46

I give a report on the intentional use of silence in our services this last Sunday in Watford and Thames Valley.

Thank you for listening to and watching this recording. You can find more Sunday Samples here and on the YouTube 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: www.malcolmcox.org.
“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2
God bless,
Malcolm