Malcolm Cox

One of the characteristics of a refugee is that they are unable to return to  the place from which they escaped. Or, at the very least, it is unsafe to do so. Many refugees are fleeing political, racial or religious persecution. To return might be suicide. The yearn to return is strong, however, no matter how dangerous. Israel struggled with this. Christian have a parallel experience. Temptation t...

Introduction 1605 Remember, remember, the 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent To blow up the King and the Parliament Three score barrels of powder below Poor old England to overthrow By God's providence he was catch'd With a dark lantern and burning match Holler boys, holler boys, let th...

Today we look at the ninth chapter of Haddon Robinson’s excellent book. How is our thinking ‘dressed’? Have you ever dressed inappropriately for an event you went to? It sends the wrong signals, confuses the observers, and embarrasses the wearer. Lessons that are badly dressed draw attention to the confused thought that led to this error. What do we mean by dressing a lesson? Haddon Robinson gives...

In this short series we have been exploring how security in the Father enables our willing submission to him and the difference that makes to our prayers. In the first episode we talked about the way in which we hear our Father’s voice. We considered the example of Jesus, and took inspiration from his ability to hear his Father’s voice in passages like: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am...

Refugees are running from something. Starvation, oppression, persecution, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, forest fires, war — the list is long. More than once God’s people found themselves running away from danger. God’s refugee people became expert escapologist - some of the time. However, at others they suffered from not heeding the warnings. What relevance does this have for our relati...

When God Makes You Go ‘WOW!’, Psalm 65 Introduction What makes you go, “WOW!”? 1. God yearns for our nearness, vv1-4 A. Answers prayer B. Forgives our sins C. Divan’s testimony D. God wants us near, Matthew 11:28 Application : 2. God has the strength you don’t, vv5-8 A. Nature B. Strength The Universe is not stranger than we imagine. It is stranger than we can imagine. British biologist JBS Haldan...

Stefan explored the idea of Christian unity looking at some of the writings of Paul. 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...

Today we look at the eight chapter: Start with a Bang and Quit All Over.  Outline of the chapter in Haddon Robinson’s book The introduction: an effective introducing commands attention; uncovers needs; introduces the body of the sermon; may exhibit other characteristics The conclusion: a summary; an illustration; a quotation; a question; a prayer; specific directions; visualisation  Introduction W...

Refugees are in the news. I’m sure they wish they weren’t. Around 35 million refugees exist today. That’s the equivalent of the combined populations of Ireland, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Lebanon, Palestine and Liberia. Sadly, refugees are not a modern issue. What relevance does this have for our relationship with God? Israel was a refugee from the promised land In fact, the status of Israel as a re...

Introduction QUESTION: What do you think his answer would be? God’s people involved in war in OT God’s people not involved in war in NT What changed? Scriptures Violence from the start “Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.” (Genesis 4:8 NRSV) Vision OT - time when the lion will lie down...

Today we look at the seventh chapter — ‘Making Dry Bones Live’. We have a point, it is relevant to our audience and the outline makes sense. Now what? It is time to make dry bones live! A skeleton is necessary for life, but it is inadequate on its own. Below I give you the outline of the chapter in Haddon Robinson's book. I won't repeat what he says for more eloquently and powerfully than myself....

Class 3 - Supplication: How to Convince God to hear Your Prayers In this short series we are exploring how our security in the Father enables our willing submission to him and what difference that makes to our prayers. In the first episode we talked about the way in which we hear our Father’s voice. We considered the example of Jesus, and took inspiration from his ability to hear his Father’s voic...

Today we look at the sixth chapter. But first, where are we? So far we have found the key idea that we believe the writer was writing about. We have then asked ourselves what it means, if it is really true, I want difference it makes two people today.  We have considered what that biblical concept means to us and our audience, and the precise purpose of the sermon. In other words, why am I telling...

Introduction Not making any points about the rights and wrongs of the conflict What are we to do? What are we to learn? Scriptures How does God think about refugees? What does he feel towards them? OT: Deuteronomy 10:18-19 "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, f...

I have been thinking about refugees a lot recently. Partly because we had some Ukrainians in our church community for a year, and partly because of the current events going on in the Middle East. I spoke on the subject last Sunday in Watford on the topic "what would Jesus do with refugees?" You can find out on my YouTube channel. But what's the relevance for our times of quiet with God?  Let's beg...

Today we look at the fifth chapter - The Arrow and the Target 🎯   1. In light of the audience's knowledge and experience, think through your exegetical idea and stated in the most exact, memorable sentence possible     - The summary statement for the parable of the prodigal could be that it tells us that God wants both the ‘sinner’ and the ‘righteous’ at his banquet.     - That statement might be...

Class 2 - Submission: How to Find the Will to do God’s Will even When it is Not Your Will In this short series we are exploring how our security in the Father enables our willing submission to him. Last time we talked about the way in which we hear Father’s voice. We considered the example of Jesus, and, I hope, took inspiration from his ability to hear his Father’s voice in passages like: “This i...

How do you feel about telling God what’s going on in your life and how you feel about it? Does it seem indulgent? Or perhaps redundant. Doesn’t he already know what’s going on and how you are feel about it?  I searched the internet using the phrase ‘justifications for telling God your feelings’. Almost every link was negative. The articles focussed on not following your feelings or emotions, but i...

When God Makes Us Go “Wow!” Psalm 24:1-2; Genesis 1:22, 28-30; Psalm 19; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1; Colossians 1:15-20 Introduction State of creation.  Does God care? Ps 24:1-2 - belongs to him! Is it our problem?  Do we care? God blessed the earth (water creatures and birds), Gen 1:22 God blessed us, Gen 1:28-30 We have been gifted this earth, Gen 1:29ff To ‘rule’ it (1:28) - but like God rul...

Today we look at the fourth chapter: The road from text to sermon  Point to consider At this point we have achieved something significant. We have clarified what we believe the text is saying. We can state it in one sentence. We are confident we have the big idea of the passage. However, this a good sermon does not make. There are further steps to take before the text can become a sermon. Before i...

In this sermon for the Watford Church of Christ Stefan Wolmarans explores the significance of Jesus as head of the church and what this means for unity within a congregation and between congregations. “He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1:18 NRSV) Please add your comments on...

A meditation on Psalm 19 Last week we took a look at the first two verses of Psalm 24 — The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2 NIV11) This week let's conduct a meditation on Psalm 19, another Psalm containing the theme of honouring creation and the God who made it. “The heavens...

A teaching class for the Thames Valley churches of Christ. Class 1 - Security: Finding Strength From Hearing the Father’s Voice In this short series we will explore how our security in the Father enables our willing submission to him. The critical issue before us today is the way in which we hear Father’s voice. We may intellectually understand many things with our mind, but it is the voice in our...

Tuesday Teaching Tip 331 | Biblical Preaching - Part 3 | Tools of the Trade | Malcolm Cox Point to consider When we talk about tools, we are not talking about engineering a sermon, nor producing a formula. My wife is a doctor, and once she described practising medicine as being part science and part art. She meant to convey that although the science needs to be robust, if that is your primary focu...

Introduction QUESTION: Why is unity/connection/cooperation between churches important? Why is it difficult? How Jesus approach difference between his followers? What does that mean for us and other churches today? “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you...