The Watford Church of Christ Podcast
We are on a journey to that future life exploring the incredible plans God has for us on earth to love Him and to love others. Join us on this journey!
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
A sermon for the Watford Church of Christ in the series: "The Road to the Resurrection"
Handouts available here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/a-beautiful-thing-mark-141-11/
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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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
Friday Mar 04, 2022
Friday Mar 04, 2022
Join us as Akin explores what it means to be a friend to God and to one another.
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).
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
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
“Toiling to build the church well”: 1 Cor 15:58; Eph 3:20-21
1. Toiling in Vain
A. Meaningless
“when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”(Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV11)
“I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.” Eccl 2:18
1Cor. 9:26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
B. Unspiritual
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. Ps 127:1-2
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Cor 3:10-15
2. Toiling in Thessalonica
1Th. 1:2-3 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Work…labour…endurance
faith…love…hope
salvation is all of God, but faith is busy
endurance: ‘fortitude of the stout-hearted soldier’
If we know what inspires us, the work will flow
B. Inspired by Paul
1:6; 2:7bff, 17
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. 1 Thess 1:6-8
Patient, long-term building"we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 1 Thess 2:7-12
But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy. 1 Thess 2:17-20
C. Relationships
Rom 16 etc.
Toiling together can be a joy
Studying with people together
Praying together
Learning together (AIM!)
All about investment below the surface - iceberg
Love one another
Love the neighbour (the lost one)
“Love one person a week”
Pray for one another
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Gal 5:6
Conclusion, 1 Cor 15:54-58
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
Victory - through the labour of Christ on the cross
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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Always Free, Yet SpiritualToday we are seeking to answer the following questions:Where does our freedom come from?What could compromise our freedom?What is this freedom for?This is an enormous spiritual topic. We will not do it for justice in one lesson. For the time being, I will concern myself with putting my sermon outline below along with the Scriptures referenced.“Always free, yet spiritual”, Gal 5:13Introduction, Luke 4:18-191. Where does our freedom come from?A. Jesus, John 8:31-36B. What kind of freedom?Is 61:1 - an event required every fifty years to restore Israelite slaves to freedom and Israelite land to tribal allotments.“To whatever extent the Gospel writers may have been influenced by other ways of thinking about freedom, the freedom they describe is neither the political freedom of individuals or states which was of primary interest to the Greeks, nor the inner philosophical freedom of the Stoics who abandoned themselves to circumstances, nor the freedom which the devout Jew found through observance of the Law, nor the freedom of separation from the material world found in much of gnostic thought.” IVP-Jesus and the GospelsC. How do we get it? Rom 6:1-142. What compromises our freedomA. Arguing for ‘rights’, Mark 15:5Jesus interested in doing will of father (John 6:38) and accomplishing his work of love for us, not in getting his ‘rights’Here, we do not look to get our rights from one another, but to serve each other's needsB. Legalism, Gal 5:1Cannot ‘earn’ approval of God, nor manufacture assurance of salvation.Easier to follow the law, than the sermon on the Mount.Here, we focus on the core, not disputable mattersC. Selfishness (libertarianism)Gal 5:13-15 - sin1 Cor 10:29 - damaging conscience of other ChristiansHere, we reject selfishness and embrace service3. What our freedom is forA. Love for the lostPhilip, Acts 8Peter, Acts 10B. Love for one anotherGal 5:6, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”Use your freedom to love one another here (relationship-based)C. Love for GodCreates intimacy with God, Eph 3:12, approach God with freedom, παρρησία parrēsia boldness; freedom of speech; loose tongueConclusion, John 10:14-18His offer of freedom creates his friendship circle (Jn 15:14-15).Questions to ponderDo you have this freedom in Christ?What does freedom in Christ mean to you?How can you grow into your freedom?What opportunities has God given you to express your freedom in a Christ-like way?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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Join us as Stefan explores the theme of the antichrist and its relevance to present-day Christianity.
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).
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
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
We are partway through our series on what it means to be a G.R.E.A.T. church. In other words, the kind of church that makes God look great and attracts people to him.
God-focussed Relationship basedEnabling our children to become ChristiansAlways free, yet spiritualToiling to build the church well
So far, we surveyed the Antioch congregation as an example of a God-focused church (Acts 11, 13, 14, 15). In addition, we have looked at what it means to love one another like Jesus loved his disciples (John 13:34-35).
This week we move on to what it looks like to be a congregation that enables our children to become Christians. The lesson is not about parenting as such (although we will look at parenting principles), it's about how we, as a community, can best prepare the children in this church to embrace the Christian faith.
Our key texts are:
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7 NIV11)
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NIV11)
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21 NIV11)
Other relevant passages include: Genesis 1:28; Deuteronomy 1:39; 31:13; Proverbs 15:5; 13:24; 22:6, 15; 23:13-14; 29:15; Luke 1:16-17 (see Malachi 4:6); Acts 21:9; 1 Timothy 3:4-5.
There's no way around it - bringing up children is hard! Yet, nuclear families and extended families in the church community are part of God’s plan to help nurture young people to become Christians.
Indeed, God has a vision for young people:
““ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17 NIV11)
In today's lesson we will be exploring God’s vision, compassion, provision, instruction and promises regarding children.
The Proverbs in particular contain a good deal of instruction under the heading of “discipline". My definition of ‘discipline’ as used in the lesson: “The application of training, correction and consequences that hurts, but bears fruit, and is done out of love, not frustration.”
What does it mean to raise children without exasperating them or embittering them? We will not have enough time to investigate this fully, but I can recommend the resources below under the heading "Good enough parenting”.
I believe that wherever we are at the moment regarding our own children, or children in the congregation, there is always hope. That hope resides in God, because God never gives up on people. We might be tempted to do so, but he will persevere because he is the God of everlasting compassion.
I invite all of us to consider our own part in helping the young people with whom God has blessed us, to come to love God, follow Jesus and be filled with his Spirit.
Questions to ponder1. Do I need to repent and turn my hearts to the children? (Luke 1:16-17)2. How can I grow in disciplining children effectively with love and without exasperating them?3. What is my role in the broader "children's ministry" in this congregation?
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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
This is the second lesson in a new series for the Watford Church of Christ. What does it mean for us to be a church who make God look great?
Our second foray into answering this question is to establish the significance of being relationship-based. We take inspiration from the God's vision, Christ's heart, the Spirit's power and the church's witness.
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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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
Friday Jan 21, 2022
Friday Jan 21, 2022
This week we begin a new series in the Watford Church of Christ. What does it mean for us to be a church who make God look great?
Our first foray into answering this question is to establish that we must first and foremost be God-focused. We take inspiration from the church in Antioch looking at what happened in Acts 11, 13, 14 and 15.
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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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
Friday Jan 14, 2022
Friday Jan 14, 2022
Penny and I were very privileged to be able to teach on this vital topic. Join us for this lesson we shared at the Thames Valley "Refresh 2022" conference.
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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Stefan continues his series on the first Epistle of John.
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 of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](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