S1 Ep83: Tuesday Teaching Tips: "How to Overcome Preaching as a Problem"
Is the word ‘preaching’ the wrong word? We have some challenges with that word, or idea. I have three tips for us to overcome the stigma associated with 'preaching' and 'sermons': Style Substance Spirituality Notes: Rom. 14:10 "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat." “When you speak of he...
13m Nov 14, 2017
13m
S1 Ep11: Sunday Sample 13 Nov 2017
Reflections on Corporate Worship for services in Watford and Lower Earley. What to do with the song, "Above All"?
6m Nov 13, 2017
6m
S1 Ep12: Quiet Time Coaching, "What is the Point of Praying?"
Someone asked me recently what the purpose was in praying. Why do we pray? What is it for? It's a good question. Not only is prayer inherently confusing, but it's also uniquely mysterious. We pray and are not answered. We pray and find an answer. We pray and don't like the answer. We pray and like the answer. Abram, Moses, David, Job, Daniel, Nehemiah, Jesus and Paul all prayed. Their prayers o...
11m Nov 09, 2017
11m
S1 Ep82: Tuesday Teaching Tips 82, "How to Think about Preaching"
The way we think about preaching matters. I offer some thoughts on preaching definitions. What are yours? Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. Here are the preaching quotes mentioned in the episode: John Ruskin: “30 minutes the raise the dead in” Packer: “Preaching is incarnational communication from God, prophetic, persuasive and powerful...
8m Nov 07, 2017
8m
Corporate Worship Matters, Bonus Episode: "Children and Worship"
What's the best way to help children enjoy times of corporate worship? Leave your ideas as comments, and pass the link on to anyone who might benefit.
3m Nov 07, 2017
3m
S1 Ep10: The Sunday Sample, Episode 10, "Chaos Sunday"
I share here a different format to the service we had at the Watford church of Christ - "Chaos" Sunday!
8m Nov 03, 2017
8m
S1 Ep11: Quiet Time Coaching: "How To Have Fun in the Mist"
Have you ever got lost in the fog? The fog of war is well-known. But what about the fog of life? Mist can be an opportunity for fun. But it can also be an opportunity for soberness. As James wrote, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14 NIV11)
7m Nov 02, 2017
7m
S1 Ep81: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 81: "How to use handouts effectively"
Do you use handouts as part of your Sunday sermons? I have seven tips for making the most of handouts. 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. Thanks again for watching. Have ...
8m Oct 31, 2017
8m
S1 Ep2: Corporate Worship Matters: "I Love to Praise Him" - alternative chords
Freshening up familiar songs is a must for leaders of corporate worship. What's the best way to do this? One method is to vary the chords and harmonies. In the second of this series I offer here some thoughts on alternative chords for the song, "I love to praise Him". See the chord sheet here:
5m Oct 30, 2017
5m
S1 Ep1: Corporate Worship Matters: "Find the Trends"
It is our responsibility, as worship leaders, to examine the effectiveness of our corporate worship. In the first of a series I offer here some thoughts on the specifics of assessing trends in worship.
6m Oct 28, 2017
6m
S1 Ep10: Quiet Time Coaching: "How not to be a spiritual pushover", Psalm 62
Sometimes we feel spiritually strong. We'll take on all-comers. On those days I read Acts and can see myself backing up Paul as he preaches to the baying crowds. I'd be happy to keep him company in a Philippian jail. Not always, though. The days are all too frequent when I feel weak. On those days I avoid Acts. What to do on the 'weak' days?
6m Oct 27, 2017
6m
S1 Ep79: Tuesday Teaching Tips: "What to do when life gets in the way of sermon preparation"
What do we do when the unexpected happens? I offer some tips on how to cope when preaching with less than perfect preparation. What are your ideas? Thank you for listening to this podcast. 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 s...
6m Oct 17, 2017
6m
S1 Ep9: Quiet Time Coaching: "How to find strength from the Psalms"
I lead musical worship in Church congregations. It is a privilege, a joy, and hard work! I need spiritual strength to lead worship. Where is the supply coming from?
7m Oct 12, 2017
7m
S1 Ep78: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 78 "How to blend preaching and pastoral care"
What's the right blend of pastoral work and preaching preparation? How do we know whether we are getting it right? I share three tips to help us make wise decisions about both. Quote in the video taken from: https://churchleaders.com/pastors/preaching-teaching/157953-tim-keller-answers-10-preaching-questions.html. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in c...
12m Oct 10, 2017
12m
"How To Pray for Kings", Quiet Time Coaching, Episode 8
Have politicians and public authority figures ever been more derided? Perhaps, but not in my lifetime. We'd agree they need our prayers, but do we, in fact, pray for them? What does the Bible have to say?
8m Oct 05, 2017
8m
Tuesday Teaching Tips Episode 77 - How to speak through a translator.mp3
What's the best way to prepare to speak through a translator? And how do we make sure a lesson goes well on the day? I offer seven tips to help us speak with excellent impact even through the language barrier. 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 m...
12m Oct 03, 2017
12m
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 7: "What to do when you don't know how to love God"
Three tips to find and grow that connection with God.
7m Sep 28, 2017
7m
Mexico RVRNT Conference: Episode 6
Pictures and video of the Sunday service in Guadalajara. Watch out for the 13-year-old guitarist!God bless,Malcolm
3m Sep 26, 2017
3m
Tuesday Teaching Tips: "How to preach for the first time" - Part 2
What's the best way to approach preparing your first sermon? I offer some more tips to help first-time speakers. 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. Thanks again for watc...
7m Sep 26, 2017
7m
Mexico RVRNT Conference: Episode 5
A report on the Saturday morning workshops. Some points from one of the lessons and a few musical excerpts.
5m Sep 25, 2017
5m
Mexico RVRNT Conference: Episode 4
Today's report focuses on the opening session of the conference. Singing, prayer and a thee-part lesson on God's nature. Part of a musical performance and some of the worship is included. God bless, Malcolm
9m Sep 24, 2017
9m
Mexico RVRNT Conference: Episode 3
I give a summary of my breakfast conversation with Andy Ezeilo and threaten to kill a bird. Please continue to pray for Andy & I that we'll bring back what we need. God bless, Malcolm
5m Sep 23, 2017
5m
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 6 - "Three Ways To Protect Your Healthy Spiritual Eyesight"
What we look at affects us. Visual images influence us emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. If that were not so, we’d not have photographs framed. Nor would companies spend what they do on advertising. We cannot always control what we see, but we do have a choice about what we look at.
7m Sep 22, 2017
7m
Mexico RVRNT Conference - Episode 2
I'm waiting for a connecting flight from Mexico City to Guadalajara where Frank will be picking me up. What's the main question on my mind as I go off to pray in a deserted departure lounge at 4 AM? It is this. Why has God brought me to Mexico? What does he want me to learn? Please continue to pray for Andy & I that we'll bring back what we need. God bless, Malcolm
2m Sep 21, 2017
2m
Mexico RVRNT Conference - Episode 1
I'm going to Mexico to the RVRNT worship conference. Here are a few of the questions friends have posted.
4m Sep 21, 2017
4m
Tuesday Teaching Tips: "How to preach for the first time" - Part 1
What's the best way to approach preparing your first sermon? I offer seven tips to help first-time speakers. 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. Thanks again for watching...
7m Sep 19, 2017
7m
Tuesday Teaching Tips Episode 74: "How to Find the Answer to a Question"
Once we have identified the questions in a text, how do we go about finding the answers? I give you a peek into my method using MindNode. It's a tiny tip this week because I'm on holiday and this was pre-recorded. The podcast will not show you the screen recording, of course. But you can look at that on my YouTube channel if you prefer. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn ...
6m Sep 12, 2017
6m
"How to Love a God who Transcends" - Quiet Time Coaching, Episode 5
Is it possible to love a God who transcends? Can we connect with the creator of all we see and all we cannot see? What kind of relationship makes sense when we are mortal and God is not?  I'm not the first to wrestle with this question, but I have a particular reason for asking it now.
8m Sep 07, 2017
8m
Tuesday Teaching Tips Episode 73: "How to Find the Right Questions to Answer"
Before we preach from a passage in the Bible, we need to know what the questions are. Those questions need answering before we decide what to bring to the congregation. I share here one of my techniques to discover the questions using Accordance Bible software. Thank you for listening to this podcast. The video version of this recording features a screen recording, which, of course, you can't ...
12m Sep 05, 2017
12m
Sunday Sample, Episode 8: 3rd September 2017
The service in Bracknell this Sunday was a delight. Most summer wanderers had returned. It was good to see familiar faces again. Many of which had been significantly tanned.
10m Sep 04, 2017
10m
The Sunday Sample Episode 7 - 27 August 2017
Reflections on Corporate Worship.Location: Watford & Lower EarleyBoth Watford and Lower Earley were empty! Seriously think we should consider having house-church on the August bank-holiday weekend. Not only are many away on holiday, but a bunch of Thames Valley folk are off at youth camp. We had a good time anyway, but a more intimate home-based service would be better. The Watford service bene...
9m Sep 01, 2017
9m
Two Ways to Quickly Find Support From God When You Need It
Have you ever felt low? Lacking in energy and motivation? What picked you up? Let me tell you about something that strengthened my soul this week.
10m Aug 31, 2017
10m
HOW TO BE GRATEFUL IN ADVANCE
What my 32nd Wedding Anniversary taught me. Today's post will be shorter than usual. The reason for this is that my wife surprised me on Monday. She told me we were going away for the night on Tuesday. To the Grove hotel. It's a very nice hotel (one of our church members works there and got us a discount). Consequently everything this week has to be a little more compressed. However, I wanted ...
7m Aug 24, 2017
7m
The Sunday Sample 20th August 2017
My reflections on corporate worship this last Sunday.Please comment on what you’re doing locally with your services. What are you trying that’s working? What is God teaching you?Share reflections with us so we can grow and please God.You can leave a comment below.God bless, Malcolm
8m Aug 23, 2017
8m
Tuesday Teaching Tips: "HOW TO USE DRAFTS FOR SERMON IDEAS"
What's your method for collecting ideas for your next lesson? It's really annoying when you have a killer illustration come to mind - but no way to record it. I share my current method using Drafts and Evernote. What do you do? Please leave a comment - I'd like to know. So woud many other people. Teaching, preaching, lessons, Drafts, Evernote, illustrations, note taking, mccx, malcolmcox.org
6m Aug 22, 2017
6m
Quiet Time Coaching - "How to walk your way to better prayer"
Are your prayer times varied? Do they contain creativity? Have they become stale? You need to go for a walk. A prayer walk. Seven reasons why walking is good for your prayer life and three ways to build walking into your prayer life. And the case for owning a dog!
12m Aug 17, 2017
12m
Sunday Sample - 14 August 2017
I spoke in Watford. Ben Dannatt preached in Lower Earley. Both lessons are available via the Watford and Thames Valley YouTube channels and their respective podcasts. In Watford, we sat in a circle - lots of people on their holidays. My lesson was on Luke 21.5-19 with discussion and interaction. The situation was a challenge. Lots of interruptions for seeing to the needs of babies, and latecom...
7m Aug 16, 2017
7m
Tuesday Teaching Tips: "How To Finish a Lesson"
What's the best way to end a talk? We take some inspiration from Jesus and Paul. What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment.
4m Aug 14, 2017
4m
"How to ‘Stand’ Despite Your Sin", Psalm 130
“If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” Psalm 130.3. Who gets to stand before God confidently? Anyone? I’m not confident standing before my friends, let alone the Almighty! But confidence before God is available. We can, “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” Heb 4.16. We can have, “confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” Heb 10.19. Sound...
9m Aug 11, 2017
9m
The Sunday Sample, 6th August 2017
Reflections on our corporate worship this last Sunday in Watford and Bracknell. Personal vulnerability, congregational reading of a Psalm - and a colander!
7m Aug 08, 2017
7m
HOW TO FIND HOPE WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR DEPTH
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (Psalms 130:1–2 NIV)
8m Aug 04, 2017
8m
The Sunday Sample, 30 July 2017, Reflections on Corporate Worship
Reflections on personal vulnerability, opening sets and a new guitarist.
5m Aug 03, 2017
5m
Tuesday Teaching Tip: "How To Preach The Psalms"
What is the best way to preach the Psalms? I'm speaking on Psalm 130 on 6th August. What would you do with this Psalm?
5m Aug 01, 2017
5m
HOW TO FIND TIME TO PRAY
Seven Tips To Find the Time for Prayer You've already decided prayer is a priority. But life is busy. Crazy, even. You make resolutions about consistency. You have a good streak. But something trips you up. Inconsistency is the only consistency. What can you do? You don't want to give up or feel guilty. Well, I have good news. You can find what Michael Hyatt would call the 'margin' for prayer.
10m Jul 29, 2017
10m
Tuesday Teaching Tips: 6 sources for discovering your unique voice
We've all got something to say. But how do we discover our unique voice? We look at six sources for finding that special voice.
7m Jul 25, 2017
7m
"The Sunday Sample" 23rd July 2017, reflections on corporate worship
A quick look at lessons learned about corporate worship from our services in Watford and Lower Earley last Sunday.
4m Jul 24, 2017
4m
HOW TO PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE - HEBREWS 10.19-22
Coming into the presence of God without inappropriate fear. Would you like to pray with confidence? God wants us near him - otherwise why send Jesus? Yet, even so, why is it we lack confidence in approaching him? Or, when in the act of praying, suffer from debilitating doubt? Today we'll look at Hebrews 10.19-22 and discover three tips to help us pray with confidence. #Prayer, #coach.me, #He...
8m Jul 20, 2017
8m
The Sunday Sample, 16 July 2017 - reflections on corporate worship
4m Jul 17, 2017
4m
Psalm 100 - PREPARING TO LEAD CORPORATE WORSHIP”
This Sunday our pre-service devotional for the speakers, singers and instrumentalists involved in the service was focused on Psalm 100. The more I read it, the more I realise how appropriate it is to prepare us to lead others in collective worship.
7m Jul 17, 2017
7m
ARE YOUR PRAYERS A FENCE OR A GATE?
Do your prayers fence God in, or release the power of his Spirit?  Consider these verses: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name.......” (John 14:13) “...ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” (John 15:7 NIV) The rodeo bull is frustrated waiting for the gate to open but all explosive energy once let loose. I wonder sometimes whether my prayers are more fence than gate. Granted, ...
7m Jul 13, 2017
7m