Teaching Tip 368 | “Plain Speaking - preparing an expository sermon” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. Bercot focuses on topical sermons because "they are usually the easiest for beginning speakers". However, he has a helpful chapter on expo…

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, some more thoughts on how God changes us. This week we take a look at some practicals of spiritual growth put forward by Richard Foster. His bio can be found here, and many helpful articles here. His book, Celebration of Discipline changed my life. Fost…

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and change. How do we change?Last week we explored the nature of spiritual growth. That it is empowered by God, aimed at Christlikeness and enabled by Jesus. “[We]…are being transformed into the same image fro…

Teaching Tip 367 | “Plain Speaking - make your devotionals special” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. "A good devotional…should immediately capture your listeners' interest and sharpen their appetite..." Bercot offers the following thoughts.…

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by James Bryan Smith. By the way, I heartily recommend his book, The Good and Beautiful God. You can also find helpful arti…

You can find more notes on this lesson here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/who-is-rich-luke-16-19-31-malcolm-cox-09-june-2024/ 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 t…

Teaching Tip 366 | “Plain Speaking - Reading Scriptures with Zest” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. "...it's of utmost importance that when you read from the Bible, it enhances your sermon rather than detracts from it." 112 Bercot offers se…

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Trevor Hudson. His model is a variation on the model developed by Dallas Willard we explored in QTC 521. See a picture o…

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and change. How do we change?Before we can talk about change, we have to ask a question. Do we believe we can change? Do you believe you can change?You might like to pause this recording and discuss this with …

Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. "Bloopers and memory lapses are no big deal...you can conquer the fear they've held over you." Bercot offers the following advice. Own Up If something minor goes wrong, don't draw attention to it. Otherwise the congregati…

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 discip…

Embracing the Lord's Supper as a Joyful and Communal Event Luke 15.23 “Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.” This is why we come here—to celebrate! Part of that celebration is what we call ‘the Lord's Supper’. Another part is prayer - what can we celebrate in prayer this morning? Let's pray together... Part 2: Let'…

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, one model that may help us understand how God changes us. In previous episodes we have explored the nature of spiritual growth - that it is both practical and mystical. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Dallas Willar…

Teaching Tip 364 | “Plain Speaking - how to handle speaker’s fright” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. An old survey claimed that people fear speaking in public more than they fear death. That claim has been debunked, but it resonates becaus…

Our annual international Sunday was a blast! Wonderful international food, singing in different languages and much more. As part of the service we heard Joshua tell us his testimony and Malcolm spoke on how we find freedom in the peace of Christ. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. Do you have a …

I have been asked why we charge for AIM. It's a reasonable question and deserves an explanation. 1. Expenses: costs of admin; AIM US subscription; Travel and accommodation costs for speakers; venue hire; printing etc. 2. Para-church attendance: It would not be fair on one church to foot the bill when people attend from many different churches Concl…

Introduction Last week we explored the nature of spiritual growth. That it is empowered by God, aimed at Christlikeness and enabled by Jesus. “[We]…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV) This week we will take the last point further and look…

Teaching Tip 363 | “Plain Speaking - landing your plane on time” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. “Your message may be nearly perfect in every other respect, but if you preach longer than you are supposed to, you can quickly lose the good w…

Introduction Before we can talk about change, we have to ask a question. Do we believe we can change? Do you believe you can change? 1. God is the change-agent “…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV) We are in an ongoing, life-long process …

Introduction What is your picture of the gospel? If we are to fully embrace all that it means to be a new creation, we need a clear and compelling vision of the gospel. In the previous class we explored the fact that the gospel is good news, as well as the way Jesus defined the good news, and how we can cultivate a healthy view of the gospel. Today…

Teaching Tip 362 | “Plain Speaking - five things that can spoil an otherwise good sermon” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. As a delicious dish can be ruined by one lousy ingredient, so a good lesson can be spoiled by small distractions. Wha…

Malcolm Cox

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 518 | New Creation Series — Part 10 | “New Creation - New Learning” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and learning. Learning to Learn I was very impatient when learning to drive. I wanted to take as fe…

Matthew 6.26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Life makes us question whether God cares 1. Jesus Needed God's Care Luke 3.21-22 “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying…

Teaching Tip 361 | “Plain Speaking - Speak With an Interesting and Clear Voice” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. It is crucial to know what we are talking about and present it with confidence and conviction. However, what difference does th…

Introduction What is your picture of the gospel? Doubtless it is affected by your personal spiritual biography and formative spiritual experiences. Is it possible that your view could contain an incomplete or even distorted view of the gospel? For many, the gospel is mostly about forgiveness, going to heaven, and avoiding hell. Is that all? Today i…

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 517 | New Creation Series — Part 9 | “New Creation - New Spirit” | Malcolm Cox Introduction: Reflecting on Our view of the Spirit “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 11:19 NIV11) Ezekiel made this remarka…

Teaching Tip 360 | “Plain Speaking - Speak With Life” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. What does it mean to ‘speak with life’? Well, does your lesson have ‘life’ in it? Does it contain a spark? If so, it will fly from your mouth to your lis…

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 516 | New Creation Series — Part 8 | “New Creation - New Picture of the Gospel, Part 2” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Introduction: Reflecting on Our view of the Gospel What is your picture of the gospel? Doubtless it is affected by your personal s…

Teaching Tip 359 | “Plain Speaking - Listening to your Listeners” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. In the previous episode, we explored eye contact. What does this have to do with listening to our listeners? As Bercot says, ’When you make e…

Sean St. Jean brought us a deeply moving and assuring lesson based on: Matthew 6.27 ““And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” As he said, "Life is fragile. Anxiety is inevitable. Worry is not." Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. Do you have a question about teaching t…

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 515 | New Creation Series — Part 7 | “New Creation - New Picture of the Gospel, Part 1” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Introduction: Reflecting on Our view of the Gospel What is your picture of the gospel? Doubtless it is affected by your personal s…

Stefan gives us the reasons behind why it's important that we are a new creation. 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:…

Teaching Tip 358 | “Plain Speaking - Eye Contact” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. In the previous episode, we explored conversational preaching. What part does eye contact play? As Bercot says, ’None of us enjoy conversing with someone who…

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 514 | New Creation Series — Part 6 | “New Creation - New Picture of Self” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Introduction: Reflecting on Our Inner Image Have you ever seen yourself on video? I first saw myself on film during a preaching training session…

What is my picture of myself? Introduction - Do you like how you look? Have you ever seen yourself on video? How did you react. I'll never forget the first time I saw myself on film. We had a preaching training session. Each of us gave a short presentation while being videoed. We received immediate feedback from the people present, but were asked t…

Teaching Tip 357 | “Plain Speaking - Speak Conversationally” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. In the previous episode we explored being ourselves when speaking. As Bercot says, ’The ultimate expression of being yourself is speaking conversa…

Exploring Our Picture of God What is your picture of God? We're diving into deep stuff today: Our impressions of God and how they affect us. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and see how our views of God have evolved over the years. Childhood Impressions Remember when you were a kid? For me, God seemed distant and holy, except when I thought abo…

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 513 | New Creation Series — Part 5 | “New Creation - New Picture” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on the topic of ‘A new creation’. New Creation - New Picture Exploring Our Picture of God: A Journey of Understanding and Healing What is your picture of God? We're diving i…

Introduction QUESTION: Smell, touch, hearing, sight, taste - which sense is most important to you and why? 1. Death Smells Bad A. Lazarus, Jesus “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.”” (John 11:39 NIV11) Spices needed: “Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloe…

Teaching Tip 356 | “Plain Speaking - Be Yourself” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. Are you trying to sound like someone else when you speak? Please don’t. You have a personality for a reason. Be yourself. Reading the public teachings of Jes…

Sense of smell In terms of the number of distinguishable stimuli, our sense of smell can detect thousands of different odours. Additionally, smell is closely linked to memory and emotion. During the COVID epidemic many sufferers lost their sense of smell, and speaking for myself I’ve occasionally experienced phantom smells - quite often dog poo! Wh…

Sense of smell In terms of the number of distinguishable stimuli, our sense of smell can detect thousands of different odours. Additionally, smell is closely linked to memory and emotion. During the COVID epidemic many sufferers lost their sense of smell, and speaking for myself I’ve occasionally experienced phantom smells - quite often dog poo! Wh…

Paul Smith was our visiting speaker in Watford for Palm Sunday. He gave a fascinating insight into the triumphal entry to Jerusalem made by Jesus the week before he died. 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? …

Teaching Tip 355 | “Plain Speaking - your speaking notes” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on chapter 2 of the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. Different philosophies exist about the value or otherwise of using notes when you speak. What does Bercot think? He follows this process…

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 511 | New Creation Series — Part 3 | “What is a Spiritual Life” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on the topic of ‘A new creation’. QUESTION: What is a 'spiritual life'? A 'with-God' life that effects an on-going transformation towards Christ-likeness through the power of …

A New Creation, Matthew 20.29-37 — New Sight Introduction What is the question? Who does God accept? Rich law-keepers? Ethnic Israel? Leaders? Associates? What is revealed? About God? About Jesus? About following Jesus? “As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that …

Teaching Tip 354 | “Plain Speaking - rousing introductions and conclusions” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on chapter 2 of the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. "The introduction and conclusion of your sermon are like the appetiser and dessert of a meal.” Although a starter and …

In this class we explore the way Jesus models the new creation life. He is interruptible for the sake of those who need his help. Matthew 20. 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 sug…

A New Creation, 2 Co 5.17 Introduction Lessons from 'a new thing’ - Isaiah 43.19 Abraham: The promises of God (doing things his way) create a legacy far exceeding anything we can achieve by our own efforts Rahab: When you get an inkling of God's movements, follow along and fit in, even though it might mean you lose your house! Elijah: Get refreshed…