S1 Ep15: "Watch out for that leak!" Magic Moments from the week, Episode 15, 12 October 2019
Many of you will know that we are building a wildlife pond in our garden. I had thought the hard part was over. The pond had been dug, lined with carpet and underline with the UPVC liner on top. It was three quarters filled with rainwater. All seem to be going swimmingly well. Then, the next morning, we noticed the water level had dropped. Only one explanation. A leak. On Wednesday we emptied a...
14m Oct 12, 2019
14m
S1 Ep104: The Sunday Sample, Episode 104: "The worship leader is pastor and prophet"
How do you see your role? Musician? Worship organiser? Worship leader? How about Pastor (Shepherd)? How about prophet? In Mike Pilavachi's book “For the audience of ONE” the final chapter includes a section called, “Before leading, think”.  In it he emphasises the significance of thinking about the congregation before thinking about which songs to choose. Let me quote, “I think that the worship...
7m Oct 11, 2019
7m
S1 Ep109: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 109. "Beatitudes series: Blessed are the poor in spirit"
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:1–3 NIV11) What does it mean to be “poor in spirit?" And how is this connected to the kingdom of heaven? In this series we are immersing ourselves in the beatitudes - Matthew 5...
17m Oct 10, 2019
17m
S1 Ep177: "Dominate the Subject": Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 177
This Friday I’m starting a new class series for younger speakers in the Thames Valley churches of Christ (http://www.tvcoc.org/) . Recently I posted asking questions about what younger speakers would like to learn about and what more experienced speakers would like to have known when they started out. I’m very grateful for everybody who provided feedback. Today’s teaching tip is inspired by a r...
18m Oct 08, 2019
18m
S1 Ep13: "The blessings of knowing your limits", Malcolm's Major Moments, 05 October 2019
Sober Judgment “I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”  (Romans 12:3 NRSV) Knowing our limits is one thing. Accepting them is quite another!  We are building a wildlife pond in our garden.  I lifted the turf for the hole using a hand turf cutter and...
14m Oct 05, 2019
14m
S1 Ep103: The Sunday Sample, Episode 103: "How to overcome obstacles to Koinonia"
Koinonia is a key element in Christian community. Where is this word found? And what does it mean? Koinonia: To contribute; to have in common, share, Heb. 2:14; to be associated in, to become a sharer in, Rom. 15:27; 1 Pet. 4:13; to become implicated in, be a party to, 1 Tim. 5:22; 2 Jn. 11; to associate one’s self with by sympathy and assistance, to communicate with in the way of aid and relie...
18m Oct 04, 2019
18m
S1 Ep108: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 108. "Using technology to remind us of the presence of God"
On Tuesday I took a morning to pray and talk things over with God. It was one of my monthly 'sabbath' days.  I went walking and praying in Denham Country Park (https://www.colnevalleypark.org.uk/visitor-centre/) . I picked the location for two reasons.   The first was that it was a delightful spot with open countryside, rivers, a canal and wooded areas. The second was because it is close to the...
14m Oct 03, 2019
14m
S1 Ep176: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 176: "Comparisons are odious"
I heard someone say the other day that we should not compare ourselves to other people. Instead we should compare ourselves to who we were yesterday. There is much wisdom in that statement.  Especially when it comes to teaching and preaching in our church congregational context. I don’t know who first said that comparisons are odious, but it goes back to at least 1440. Shakespeare used a comic ...
9m Oct 01, 2019
9m
S1 Ep12: "All Things Worship Great And Small", Malcolm's Major Moments 28 September 2019
One in voice and joy I enjoy singing when we have house church. That's probably what it was like for Jesus and his disciples - “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:30 NIV11).  It doesn't matter how big or small the group, the quality of our worship can remain the same. However, I have to say that occasionally singing with close to a thousand people or s...
11m Sep 28, 2019
11m
S1 Ep102: The Sunday Sample, Episode 102: "Watch and Learn"
Something different this week. I spent Saturday and Sunday last weekend at our UK/Ireland annual conference in central London. I was privileged to participate in leading worship on Saturday evening, but on Sunday I was a humble congregant! I enjoyed being able to sing along with everyone else and not having any responsibility for a change. I loved many things about the atmosphere, the content a...
7m Sep 27, 2019
7m
S1 Ep107: "Beatitudes series: Introduction and Retreat Update", Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 107
I’m diving deep into Matthew 5-7.  it’s all in preparation for a teaching and preaching series for the Thames Valley churches of Christ (http://www.tvcoc.org/) , and a teaching day for the Watford Church of Christ (http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org/) based on the sermon on the mount.  Today I want to bring you an overview of the Beatitudes based on chapter 8 of the book “Unloading the Overlo...
25m Sep 26, 2019
25m
S1 Ep175: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 175: "Use Your Imagination"
Preaching and teaching without using your imagination robs your listeners of the power in God’s word. It looks to me as if Jesus used his imagination in his speaking. Considered the parables.  Stories with a powerful point informed by Jesus’ imaginative reflecting on old covenant themes illuminated by new covenant realities. This is on my mind because of a book I’m reading. This one is called, ...
13m Sep 24, 2019
13m
S1 Ep12: "Tambourines, Dancing to Bob Dylan and Connectedness", Malcolm's Major Moments, 21 September 2019
The importance of not getting above ourselves Last Sunday I had a fun experience. Bill plays guitar with our church in Walford, but he also plays tambourine on occasions with a band called "The Zimmermen" - a Bob Dylan tribute band. They play now and again at a pub called "The Horns" in Watford. I discovered they were performing last Sunday afternoon. Danny and I went along to support Bill as h...
11m Sep 21, 2019
11m
S1 Ep101: The Sunday Sample, Episode 101: "New Harvest Songs"
Do you have a “Harvest” service in the autumn?  If not, might you consider it? It’s not healthy to get too removed from the reality of God’s provision. It seems to me rather healthier to stop every now and again and consider the fact that we should not take for granted what we eat and drink. This is one of the reasons I really love our outdoor allotment service twice a year in Watford (spring a...
7m Sep 20, 2019
7m
S1 Ep106: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 106. "The story of my first overnight personal spiritual retreat"
In today’s quiet time coaching episode I tell you the story of my first overnight personal spiritual retreat which I took in 2003. This might be my most vulnerable and personal podcast yet. Truthfully, I feel nervous about sending it out into the world. However, I have benefited so much from taking these kinds of retreats that it would be wrong of me not to be transparent about the circumstance...
25m Sep 19, 2019
25m
S1 Ep174: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 174: "What All Younger Speakers Need To Know"
Are you a relatively inexperienced speaker? Are you younger than many of the people to whom you speak? I have a class series coming up that might be useful for you.  In the month of October I shall be teaching a three-part series in the Thames Valley churches of Christ for relatively young and relatively inexperienced speakers. The series will cover the basics of speaking in a church congregati...
9m Sep 17, 2019
9m
S1 Ep11: Malcolm's Major Moments, 14 September 2019, "Digging Deeper"
Digging deeperWe encourage the wildlife in our garden. Bird and bat boxes are up on trees and poles. Plants have been selected for their benefits to butterflies and bees. Nuts and fat balls are displayed for our feathered friends to enjoy. What's next?  What's next is the need to dig deeper. All our current wildlife offerings are primarily aboveground. But Penny wants a wildlife pond. Newts, fr...
11m Sep 14, 2019
11m
S1 Ep100: The Sunday Sample, Episode 100: "When to lose the leader"
We tried something different this Sunday in Thames Valley. A song with no leader!  How did that work? And why? Have a listen to the podcast for the details. How do you decide the right context for a ‘leaderless’ song? What works for 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, t...
4m Sep 13, 2019
4m
S1 Ep105: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 105. "Why You Need Friends That Make You Pray"
I have just got home from having breakfast with some friends. I wanted to record immediately some reflections on the significance of that breakfast and its impact on my prayers.
8m Sep 12, 2019
8m
S1 Ep173: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 173: "Illustrate From Experience"
Illustrations are the secret missiles of speaking impact. What makes the best illustrations? Illustrations which pack the right emotional punch to clarify and reinforce your point such that people take action.  These are often stories and anecdotes from past experiences. However, it’s often the case that the best illustrations are rooted in our areas of expertise.  Let me show you how Joe used ...
11m Sep 10, 2019
11m
S1 Ep6: "Reasons to be cheerful", Malcolm's Magic Moments: 7th September 2019
When you believe in love, when you have experienced love, when you trust that love never fails, you always have a reason to celebrate. No matter what is going on. Many of you will know that my mother had a hip replacement operation six weeks ago. It was a long and tortuous journey from diagnosis to surgery with many barriers to overcome. However, since waking up from the operation she has not h...
10m Sep 07, 2019
10m
S1 Ep99: The Sunday Sample, Episode 99: "When is it right to change a song on the fly"
Today I share an incident from our service on Sunday in the Thames Valley churches of Christ.  CJ made a helpful suggestion about changing the final song - during the service.  Let’s talk today about how we decide when it is appropriate or not to change a song on the ‘fly’. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.  Do you have a question about tea...
7m Sep 06, 2019
7m
S1 Ep104: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 104. "Jesus Never Said "Goodbye""
Goodbyes are hard at the best of times, but especially when it’s someone you love deeply. What about with Jesus? Do you realise that Jesus never really said “goodbye”? What does that mean for our times of quiet with God?
12m Sep 05, 2019
12m
S1 Ep172: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 172: "What to do when you don't know what to preach"
Sometimes we’re given a topic or text to preach. Sometimes we’re following a series we’ve already selected. But, from time to time, we have freedom to choose. What happens when you have this opportunity, but do not know what to speak about? Here are three tips: 1. Go ask  Pray to discover what is troubling you or exciting you. Ask God for insight as to what's going on in your own life and heart...
10m Sep 03, 2019
10m
S1 Ep6: "Open Your Eyes - God is Amazing!", Malcolm's Magic Moments: 31st August 2019
Podcast Version of the Newsletter The Feast Is Free This time last year I was regretting not having done some blackberry picking. The area in which we live is blessed with many blackberry bushes. In order to harvest this free food, all we need to do is walk out of our house turn left, left again and we are confronted with bush after bush bearing beautiful fruit. This year I decided not to pass ...
8m Aug 31, 2019
8m
S1 Ep98: The Sunday Sample, Episode 98: "Heaven is the Homeland of Music"
From “For the Audience of One” by Mike Pilavachi and Craig Borlase, this quote: “Heaven is revealed to earth as the homeland of music.” Christina Rossetti     “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into al...
7m Aug 30, 2019
7m
S1 Ep103: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 103. "Father God as Rescuer"
Today we explore the topic of Father God as ‘rescuer’. What comes to your mind when you think of a rescuer? These podcasts are my attempts to think through how to have a deeper walk with God. To enjoy more satisfying and meaningful times of quiet with him. As I explore topics on these recordings I hope they help you, and that you can reflect back what you are learning so that we can all grow an...
19m Aug 29, 2019
19m
S1 Ep171: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 171: "Why Hard Learning Makes For Better Lessons”
Desirable difficulty is an established aid to learning  https://youtu.be/nlzvM1wf8mc https://learningspy.co.uk/featured/deliberately-difficult-focussing-on-learning-rather-than-progress-2/   Learning slower  Making learning harder  What do you professional educators think?  True for our hearers, but also ourselves as we prepare to speak.  Today we’ll focus on reading  Paul knew his Old Testamen...
11m Aug 27, 2019
11m
S1: “34 Years and Counting”, Malcolm’s Major Moments, 25 August 2019
A short recording this week, because I’m away with Penny celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary! You will find all the usual posts on my website (https://malcolmcox.org) : Teaching Tips; Sunday Sample; Quiet Time Coaching. God bless and see you soon, Malcolm
6m Aug 25, 2019
6m
S1 Ep97: The Sunday Sample, Episode 97: "Songs With Stories"
Some songs have the most amazing stories behind them. If we shared them with our congregations, might we find greater engagement with the meaning of the songs? Take the hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus”, as an example. Written by Joseph Scriven in the 19th Century, it is a heartfelt cry of faith from a man who had seen more than his fair share of tragedy. His fiancee was accidentally drown...
7m Aug 23, 2019
7m
S1 Ep102: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 102. "Learning to Relax"
These podcasts are my attempts to think through how to have a deeper walk with God. To enjoy more satisfying and meaningful times of quiet with him. As I explore topics on these recordings I hope they help you, and that you can reflect back what you are learning so that we can all grow and learn together. We continue our series today based on the book, “Unloading the Overload: Stress management...
15m Aug 22, 2019
15m
S1 Ep170: Tuesday Teaching Tips, Episode 170: "How to avoid the skills trap"
I was asked a very good question this week.  “How can I avoid depending on my skills as a speaker, instead of on God?" Any speaker worth their salt will be adding to their skills as training and experience take affect. Skills are not the problem as such, but the temptation to depend on them is real. What to do? We began the discussion by considering how we might notice this tendency. Then we co...
12m Aug 20, 2019
12m
S1 Ep96: The Sunday Sample, Episode 96: "The right song in the 'wrong' place"
Have you ever selected a song for a time of worship that was the right song, but in the wrong place? By the way, it’s just a  short episode this week, because my daughter is getting married on Saturday! Let me report on something which happened at church today. I asked one of our worship team to select the songs this week (it’s always good to get different people to select from time to time, bu...
5m Aug 16, 2019
5m
S1: "Wedding Fever", “Malcolm’s Major Moments”, Week of 16th August 2019
The Joy and the Pain Flow Together Our daughter is getting married on Saturday! Hence a short newsletter and sent ahead of normal schedule. Just a couple of things to mention. First of which is to reflect briefly on the companionship of joy and grief. Lydia our daughter has been staying with us for the last few weeks. She left the parental home for the final time yesterday lunchtime. Off she we...
11m Aug 16, 2019
11m
S1 Ep101: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 101. "Access All Areas"
These podcasts are my attempts to think through how to have a deeper walk with God. To enjoy more satisfying and meaningful times of quiet with him. As I explore topics on these recordings I hope they help you, and that you can reflect back what you are learning so that we can all grow and learn together. Today I’m in Buckinghamshire on one of my prayer walks and I’ve come across a sign. The si...
9m Aug 15, 2019
9m
S1: “Abba, Father”: Romans 8.15-27
“Abba, Father”: Romans 8.15-27 Praying in the Spirit - Part 2 Intro “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16–17 “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the prai...
30m Aug 14, 2019
30m
S1 Ep169: Tuesday Teaching Tip Episode 169: "That's a good question"
Just a short one this week because my daughter is getting married this weekend. Exciting and busy! I want to share with you something I learned from a lesson I taught this last Sunday for the Watford Church of Christ. It’s about the significance of asking good questions.  I taught from Romans 15 about “Abba, Father”.  It was a sermon with a good proportion of discussion and sharing -  interacti...
8m Aug 13, 2019
8m
S1: "Malcolm's Major Moments", Week of 10th August 2019, "Access All Areas"
Access All Areas August began last week, but for me it began this Monday. On the first Monday of each month I take more of the day to pray, read and plan. It helps me to reflect on what God has been teaching me over the previous month, and fix my spiritual eyes on the right priorities for the month ahead.  This week I made a trip to a place called Ellesborough in Buckinghamshire. I parked by th...
11m Aug 10, 2019
11m
S1 Ep95: The Sunday Sample, Episode 95: "A cappella for a change"
This last Sunday we tried something a little different. We had a song service with no instruments. Actually, that’s not quite correct. The only instruments in use were human. Vocal cords were vibrating, but no guitar strings etc. It was a good example of a situation enforced upon us leading to a refreshing change. For some reason we were not able to get into our usual venue in time to set up fo...
8m Aug 09, 2019
8m
S1 Ep100: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 100. "The Value of 'Constant Use'"
Today I am out and about on the first Monday of August. I spend a bit more time on the first Monday of each month praying and planning and thinking about last month's lessons. I ask myself what God has taught me, and do some planning for the month ahead - looking at what’s coming up and what God might want me to be focusing on in my personal life, my relationship with him and my ministry respon...
6m Aug 08, 2019
6m
S1 Ep168: Tuesday Teaching Tip Episode 168: "How to use self-deprecating humour"
Self-deprecating humour can be marvellously useful in effective speaking.  On the other hand, it has the potential to be unhelpfully distracting if used poorly. Let me me bring you some tips about how to use self-deprecating humour from someone who may be the master of this genre, my friend Tony Heath.  He preached one of his typically straightforward and human lessons this last Sunday in Thame...
10m Aug 06, 2019
10m
S1: “We Cry”: Romans 8:15–27. Praying in the Spirit - Part 1
“We Cry”: Romans 8:15–27 Praying in the Spirit - Part 1 “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16–17 “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his gl...
32m Aug 05, 2019
32m
S1: "Malcolm's Major Moments", Week of 3rd August 2019 "Three Hospitals and a Wedding"
The Power and Pain of "threes" When I was a youngster I vividly remember my father complaining that bad luck always came in "threes". On that occasion it was the freezer, television and washing machine which all broke down at the same time. This week the Cox household had its own version of the same phenomenon. The difference being that this was people, not household appliances. On Saturday my ...
9m Aug 03, 2019
9m
S1: "By the Spirit” - Class 4: "The Unity of the Spirit"
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”  (Ephesians 4:3 NIV11)  1. Pre-Jesus  Phase 1, Oneness Enjoyed: Genesis 1.26; 2.25  Phase 2, Oneness Destroyed: Genesis 11  Phase 3, Oneness Misemployed  2. Jesus  Love, John 13.34-35  Oneness, John 17, John 14.17, 23  3. Early Church  Acts 8.14, 11.2, 15.1-2ff  4. Ephesians  References to unity/oneness  Eph. 1:10; 2:...
33m Aug 03, 2019
33m
S1 Ep94: The Sunday Sample, Episode 94: "What to do when the congregation isn't 'with you'."
Have you ever led worship and the congregation just weren’t “with you”? What did you make of it? This happened to me recently and I found myself uncertain about what to do.  In the end, we ran the church service through to its conclusion. The worship was not terrible. It just wasn’t as engaged as usual. And not as engaged as would be healthy. There was a listlessness in the room. A sense of dis...
8m Aug 02, 2019
8m
S1 Ep99: Quiet Time Coaching: Episode 99. "How to stay motivated in your relationship with God"
I'm recording this on the hottest day of the year in the UK so far. Possibly the hottest ever day since records began.  Sensibly, I went out nice and early for my morning prayer walk. I noticed something unusual. Most days I see the occasional cyclist and a few joggers. Today, well before 7 AM, I was dodging between powerwalkers, joggers, runners and cyclist of all shapes and sizes. I couldn't ...
13m Aug 01, 2019
13m
S1 Ep167: Tuesday Teaching Tip Episode 167: "Why you need to prepare in advance"
How far in advance do you prepare your lessons? A conversation I had with a friend comes back to mind. His opinion is that,”The best sermons come straight from the heart and don't need much preparation." To be fair he has a point in that over-prepared lessons can be dry. And indeed, we shouldn't need preparation to be able to take advantage of a situation that suddenly presents itself. The book...
11m Jul 30, 2019
11m
S1: "Malcolm's Major Moments", 27 July 2019
Adapt to thriveThursday this week was the hottest day of the year and one of the very hottest ever in UK history since records began. We were all complaining about the heat, whilst simultaneously feeling guilty that we were complaining about the heat! An odd thing happened that morning that gave me pause to think. I took my customary prayer walk through Cassiobury Park in Watford starting about...
7m Jul 28, 2019
7m
S1: "By The Spirit", Class 3, "Walk By The Spirit", Thames Valley churches of Christ, Malcolm Cox
"By the Spirit” - Class 3 Walk by the Spirit 1. Walk Away, 5:16-21 Romans 7 - to which Romans 8 is the answer - a Spirit-guided response - 8:27 Rom 8:9 - we are in the realm of the Spirit, v12-13 we can put to death the old life All I dislike about this world will be improved by a more Christ-like version of me. One of our aspirations: “always free but spiritual”, Galatians 5:13 Solution provid...
30m Jul 27, 2019
30m
S1 Ep93: The Sunday Sample: Episode 93. "Posture in Corporate Worship", Part 11 - Folding of hands. Malcolm Cox
What is the usefulness and relevance of movement and posture in corporate worship? This is the 11th in a series on this topic inspired by a chapter in “Participating in Worship” by Craig Douglas Erickson. Today we look at the issue of folding of hands.  What do you do with your hands when you pray? Do you hold your hands together? Do you interlace the fingers, hold palm to palm, steeple your fi...
5m Jul 26, 2019
5m