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!
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Episodes
Monday Aug 05, 2019
Monday Aug 05, 2019
“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 glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 NIV11)
“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22 NIV11)
1. “We”
“our father”, not “my father”, Matthew 6.9
Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 12.26; Acts 4; 2 Thessalonians 3.1; James 5.16
“How does the “we cry” help your life of prayer?”
“What is meaningful for you from this point?”
2. “Cry”
“cry” - deep emotion, in distress (see all NT refs to ‘kratzo' below)*
Matthew 14.30; 9.27; Mark 6.49; John 19.12; Luke 19.40
Creation groans, Romans 8.22
We groan, 8:23
Spirit groans, 8:26–27
“What kinds of life situations have we encountered that have caused us to “cry” to God in the Spirit?”
“What is the difference between moaning and groaning?
For what purpose? 8:28–29. Groan to grow.
Conclusion
What do these two points mean for you and your ‘group’?
We - communal
Cry - real
How will you adjust the way you pray as a result of what the Spirit has made possible?
Suggestion: Use Romans 8.15 as a prayer frame for a week - “We cry, “Abba, Father.””
*“Cry” (katzo): Matt. 8:29; 9:27; 14:26, 30; 15:22–23; 20:30–31; 21:9, 15; 27:23, 50; Mark 3:11; 5:5, 7; 9:24, 26; 10:47–48; 11:9; 15:13–14; Luke 4:41; 9:39; 18:39; 19:40; John 1:15; 7:28, 37; 12:44; Acts 7:57, 60; 14:14; 16:17; 19:28, 32, 34; 21:28, 36; 23:6; 24:21; Rom. 8:15; 9:27; Gal. 4:6; James 5:4; Rev. 6:10; 7:2, 10; 10:3; 12:2; 14:15; 18:2, 18–19; 19:17
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Aug 05, 2019
Monday Aug 05, 2019
The Watford week ahead, 05 August 2019
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Jul 29, 2019
Monday Jul 29, 2019
Hope matters - 1 Cor 13
Without hope, faith and love have no purpose.
Hope gives meaning to present suffering.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psa. 23:4 NIV11)
We are walking through suffering - not living there permanently.
Suffering times are part of life, walk through it.
Hope from the Past
Genesis 1.26-28, 31
Creation very good.
We are made in image of God.
Dignity and responsibility
Capacity to think and act like God
Creates confidence in our values. Rooted in identity.
Helps us treat others with dignity and respect.
We are created to represent Christ in this fallen world.
His ambassadors.
Therefore we treat all of creation with dignity - including the environment
Genesis 2
What went wrong?
Rebellion
Blame-shifting
Disobedience has consequences
God has a plan for restoration
Hope for the future
Surprised by hope - Tom Wright
Is 65.17
Rev 21-1.4
2 Peter .13
Rev 22.1-5
Hope in the present
Col 1.15-20
Jesus the perfect revelation of God
How can we live live our calling to follow Christ in this world?
Bring the glory of Jesus to people by helping them with areas they are poor
Poverty of resources, relationships, identity
Give material support, friendship and time.
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Jul 29, 2019
Monday Jul 29, 2019
The Watford week ahead, 29 July 2019
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Jul 22, 2019
Monday Jul 22, 2019
The Watford week ahead, 22 July 2019
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Sunday Jul 21, 2019
Sunday Jul 21, 2019
Striving in the storm
1 Sam 1.6-15
Hannah saw her life as a failure.
Her expectations of life were not met.
She faced unjust criticism and taunting.
Her personal pain was intense.
Her response was to pray.
Struggle is part of life.
Never feels good when we’re in the middle of it.
Keeping our faith in God
We need to learn to dance with God. Dance in the storm, not waiting for the storm to pass.
“To dance with God is our willingness to keep our faith in God.”
“Dance is self-expression of powerful impulses and physical release
James 1.2-5
“When we dance with God we can find a way to transcend our current struggles and the storms in our lives by creating different perception of our current realities by:
Finding our hope in God
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 NIV11)
"It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes." (Psa. 118:8–9 NIV11)
Maintaining our confidence to take action through God
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.” (Prov. 14:8–9 NIV11)
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?A As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” ¶No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:31–37 NIV11)
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Monday Jul 15, 2019
“What Happens When You Go With God”, Acts 14.20-28
Introduction, v20
Themes
•Numbers converted, word spread
•Making disciples everywhere
•Opposition / setbacks
•“Firsts’ all over the place!
•Overall feeling:Undiminished enthusiasm for the things of God
•Resulting in….
1. Bear God’s Fruit
•By bringing God’s Word to all kinds of people
A. Converts - variety
•Flexibility of approach: Jews / Gentiles / Pagans
•Undiminished enthusiasm for winning disciples for Jesus
B. Elders - leadership
•Evangelism and strengthening
•All churches need both
•That’s whey we need to meet up
•Leaders are not the most gifted, they are committed to strengthening
•Brave to go back to where persecuted
•High level of compassion for young Christians / new churches
•Undiminished enthusiasm for the strengthening of disciples
2. Bear With Setbacks
•Persevered despite these ….
A. External Setbacks
•Opposition; Poisoning; Persecution
•Brave to go back to sites of pain
•Compassion for young Christians drove them
•Undiminished enthusiasm despite external setbacks
B. Internal Setbacks
•Betrayal / Desertion
•John Mark
•Undiminished enthusiasm despite internal setbacks
Conclusion, 14.26-27
•Why did this happen? God - He is the focus.
•We don’t know how they felt day to day, but we do know they found their way back to undiminished enthusiasm for the things of God.
•Because motivated within the grace of God;
•Conscious of the presence of God;
•Confident in the love of God
•Because confident of the competency of God
•His power/strength
•His wisdom
•Do you believe God is loving and competent?
•When we go with God we see the fruit of God in new disciples and strengthened disciples
•When we go with God we see undiminished enthusiasm despite external setbacks and internal setbacks
•When we go with God we live for him with undiminished enthusiasm
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Jul 15, 2019
Monday Jul 15, 2019
The Watford week ahead, 15 July 2019
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Jul 08, 2019
Monday Jul 08, 2019
The Watford week ahead, 08 July 2019
“But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” (Acts 14:20–28 NIV11)
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Jul 01, 2019
Monday Jul 01, 2019
The Watford week ahead, 01 July 2019
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,